A-P girls basketball punches their ticket

OELWEIN – A third-quarter scoring run powered Aplington-Parkersburg girls basketball to a 50-38 win over Dyersville Beckman last Thursday in a Class 2A regional final at Oelwein High School, qualifying the Falcons for the state tournament for the first time since 2019.

The Falcons battled Dike-New Hartford in an NICL Central rematch at Wells Fargo Arena at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, after this issue went to press.

Ellen Waller led the Falcons with 22 points. Kendall Riherd added 15 points, four rebounds six assists, four steals and three blocked shots and Adison Williamson had nine points with seven rebounds and four steals.

A-P went on an 8-0 run in the last two minutes of the third quarter for a 41-25 lead heading to the last quarter, plenty of cushion to fend off the Trailblazers that had upended Cascade to reach the regional final.

Beckman outrebounded A-P 40-32 but committed 23 turnovers and made just 6-of-16 free throws.

It’s the first state trip for Brady Driscol as A-P head coach in his third season at the helm.