A-P girls play for state spot Thursday

PARKERSBURG – Aplington-Parkersburg girls basketball is returning to the regional final after wins against South Winneshiek and Denver last week.

The Falcons flattened South Winn, 72-37, on Feb. 14, and pulled away from Denver, 52-32, on Friday.

A-P (19-4) takes on Dyersville Beckman (13-10) in Oelwein on Thursday - the winner advances to the 2A state tournament that begins next week.

Ellen Waller poured in 32 points in the rout of the Warriors last Tuesday. Peyton Klooster added eight points and Kendall Riherd contributed six points - the Falcons led 45-24 at halftime.

The win against the Cyclones avenged last year’s postseason loss to Denver in the regional final. Kendall Riherd logged 19 points and nine rebounds, Quinnlyn Schultz added 14 points with four assists, six rebounds and three steals and Ellen Waller scored 10 points.

The Falcons are statistical favorites against Beckman but the Trailblazers are coming off an upset of Cascade in the regional semis last Friday, the second time in the last 10 days that Beckman had defeated the sixth-ranked Cougars.