Des Moines, Iowa — Western Christian came away with their 10th State Championship with hard fought 56-50 win over Boyden-Hull at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Friday afternoon.
The game started with small ball down low and both teams trading baskets. Western was able to take the lead late in the quarter and take a 13-10 lead after one. Ty Van Essen put in 7 first quarter points for the Wolfpack. Western went on a 8-0 run in the second quarter to pull ahead by 10 with 4:27 left in the first half. Western took a 29-20 lead into the intermission. Van Essen had 17 first half points for the Wolfpack. Cold shooting plagued the Comets in the half, shooting 30.4% from the field, 1 of 10 from beyond the arc, and 5 out of 10 from the free throw line.
Boyden-Hull started the second half off on a 6-0 run to get to within 3 points with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. Western then responded with 5 points of their own in the next minute of play. The Comets would pull to within 2 points off of a Tanner Te Slaa 3 pointer with 3:45 left in the 3rd quarter and Te Slaa would tie the game at 36-36 with a jumper at the 1:46 mark. After a 38-38 tie, Western would score 2 quick buckets and take a 42-38 lead into the final eight minutes.
The fourth quarter was back and forth, and the Comets tied the game back up at 46-46 by a Marcus Kelderman put back with 2:30 left in regulation. Western pulled ahead by 4 with free throws, 50-46 with a minute to go. The Comets pulled to within 2 points 8 seconds later with a Kelderman layup. Van Essen went to the free throw line with 27.7 seconds left, draining both to put the Wolfpack up by four. Te Slaa then went to the free throw line for the Comets and made both of his to keep the Comets with a bucket, 52-50 with 19 seconds left. Van Essen went back to the free throw line and again made both, giving Western the 2 possession lead 54-50 with 13 seconds left. Wyatt Gulker hit 2 free throws for the Wolfpack to ice the game and give Western the 2A State Championship 56-50.
Western got a game high 32 points from Ty Van Essen, and Wyatt Gulker added another 10. Boyden-Hull got a team high 22 from Tanner Te Slaa, and Marcus Kelderman added 10 points.
Western won the 2A Championship and ends the year with a 22-5 record. Boyden-Hull ends the season at 26-1 and a State Runner-up finish.
Named to the 2A All Tournament Team was:
Wyatt Gulker – Western Christian
Marcus Kelderman – Boyden-Hull
Jaden Mackie – Aplington-Parkersburg
Tanner Te Slaa – Boyden-Hull
Ty Van Essen – Western Christian – Captain
