Sioux Center Iowa — South O’Brien converted from the free throw line and behind the arc to key a 61-41 win over George Little Rock in the 1A District 1 final Thursday night. The Wolverines will square off against Bishop Garrigan in a Substate game Saturday in Spencer. Garrigan advanced with a 75-58 win over Harris Lake Park in the District 2 title game Thursday night at the Pocahontas Area High School Gym.
The Wolverines led at all the breaks. A three at the buzzer by the Mustangs Payton Mauldin cut the lead to 19-16 at the end of the first quarter. Mauldin finished with 12 points. At the half South O’Brien built a 33-23 lead. They were led by the 3-point shooting of Caden Hale who had knocked down four threes in the first half. He hit another one in the fourth quarter for 15 points on the night all from behind the arc. At the end of the third quarter the lead was down to eight at 43-35. With the Mustangs over the limit on fouls early in the fourth quarter, South O’Brien took advantage hitting 10-of 13 as a team from the line over the final eight minutes.
Jackson Louscher joined Hale in double figures leading all scorers with 21 points including a 7-of-8 performance at the line in the fourth quarter. On the night he would go 12-of-13. Matt Haken led the Mustangs with 19 points.
With the win South O’Brien improves to 21-3 on the year while George Little Rock ends the year at 12-12 with an appearance in the District title game.
