Des Moines, Iowa — #2 seed Western Christian and #3 seed Des Moines Christian will square off at noon Thursday for a spot in Friday’s 2A Championship Game.
Western Christian cruised in their state tournament basketball opener Tuesday against Camanche as they posted a 71-55 quarterfinal win.
Western Christian started off hot, with Wyatt Gulker going off for 9 opening quarter points. Heading into the 2nd quarter, the Wolfpack had an 18-13 lead. Western’s hot shooting continued in the second quarter as the Wolfpack started to pull away, leading by sixteen at the intermission 44-28. Gulker had 17 first half points and Ty Van Essen added another 13 points. As a team Western shot 64% from the field, Camanche shot 46% in the half.
Western continued to roll in the third quarter, leading 59-39 after three. Camanche then started to inch closer late in the contest, but Western was able to put the game away from the free throw line and get the 71-55 win.
Western was led in scoring by Gulker with 26 points, Ty Van Essen put in 18, and Brayden Van Meeteren added 12 points.
Camanche got a team high 17 points from Jordan Lawrence. With the win, Western Christian improved to 20-5 on the year.
Des Moines Christian trailed at the end of the first half 19-18 to Beckman Catholic in their Tuesday semifinal. In the third quarter DMC went on an 18-4 run to take control 36-23 going into the fourth quarter and went on to win it 58-38. With the win the Lions are 22-2 going into the match up with the Wolfpack.
Witty Adam led the offense with 20 points. Elijah Hess added 14 and Ben Loverude scored 12. Beckman had one player in double figures with Jack Gehling knocking down 11.
We’ll bring you the broadcast on KIWA FM 105.3 with pregame set for 11:45 and opening tip at noon as the second game of our state tournament broadcast double header. The lead in will be defending champ Boyden Hull the top seed and #4 Aplington Parkersburg with pregame for the opener at 9:45 with tip off at 10:00 Thursday morning from Wells Fargo Arena.
