State girls' basketball: West High wins battle of Iowa City teams to take Class 5A title
John Naughton
Paint the town green.
Iowa City West upset No. 1-ranked Iowa City High 56-45 to win the Class 5A state championship Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.
It was the first head-to-head matchup between two public schools from the same town in an Iowa championship. Both teams were ready for a crosstown showdown.
Facing each other across the court, green-and-gold-clad West fans and red-and-white-clad City fans cheered.
"It was one side against the other, like it always is," West guard Rachael Saunders said.
Three West players scored 10 or more points: Lauren Zacharias led her team with 15 points, Iowa-bound Logan Cook had 14, and Cailyn Morgan added 10.
The game also ended the career of City's Ashley Joens, who finished with 26 points. Joens is an Iowa State recruit.
She became the 19th player to surpass the 2,000-point mark in her career.
"It's been an amazing four years," Joens said. "This team has been special. I think they'll do great next year and in the years to come."
Joens was named captain of the all-tournament team. Zacharias, West's Cailyn Morgan and City's Rose Nkumu were named to the team, too.
City had won the team's two regular-season meetings. But the Little Hawks, who lost for the first time this season, fell behind early in the second quarter and trailed for the rest of the game.
West finished its season 19-7. City ended at 25-1.
West scored the first nine points of the second quarter to take a 21-16 halftime lead. Zacharias, who led her team with seven points in the half, hit a 3-point shot as time ran out in the second period.
Emma Koch scored all seven of her points in the second half. Zacharias and Cook each had eight.
Joens scored 20 points in the second half.
West stretched its lead to 14 points in the fourth quarter.
The Women of Troy used a strong defensive effort to win. The last time the teams met, City won, 79-70.
"We spent about eight hours working on (our defensive plan)," Saunders said.
West coach BJ Mayer said the defense was a man-to-man scheme with a few changes. Extra emphasis was placed on City's biggest scorers.
City's Ashley Joens, who led the state in scoring with a 31-point average this season, had 26 points but had to work hard for her shots.
The Little Hawks made 13 of 44 attempts from the field.
"We were off on our shooting," City coach Bill McTaggart said.
City will return four starters for next season, including Nkumu and Aubrey Joens, who each averaged 13 points.
"We'll be keeping this taste in our mouths of taking second for a long time," Nkumu said. "We'll be able to use that to motivate us."
Saunders, who overcame a knee injury to play this season, led all players with 12 rebounds. She joined the team in January.
"She's our emotional leader," Mayer said. "She wanted to come back for the start of the season. Our trainers, her doctor, wanted her to take it a little slower. At first, she was sitting on our bench as a cheerleader. And she ended her high school career winning a state title."
In the championship, she would give the team a boost after baskets, extending her arm and raising a fist.
"I love bringing that emotional energy," said Saunders, who will play at Creighton.
Cook said West was prepared for a state tournament run. The team beat Dowling Catholic, Indianola and now City — three ranked opponents.
"We had a really hard schedule (this season) and that really prepared us," Cook said.
Iowa City West (56)—Morgan 10, Zacharias 15, Saunders 7, L.Cook 14, E.Koch 7, Beckner 3. Also played—A.Koch, Tellis. Totals 21 11-15.
Iowa City High (45)—Nkumu 8, As.Joens 26, Au.Joens 4, Rocca 2, Greving 2, E.Cook 3. Also played—Lindsey, Kuennen. Totals 13 13-15
Iowa City West
Iowa City High
3-point goals—W 3 (Morgan, Zacharias, Beckner), C 6 (Nkumu 2, As.Joens 3, E.Cook). Fouls—W 17, C 14.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ashley Joens, Iowa City High (captain)
Rose Nkumu, Iowa City High
Lauren Zacharias, Iowa City West
Cailyn Morgan, Iowa City West
Jennah Johnson, Johnston
Grace Berg, Indianola