April 16, 2024

Lynnville-Sully girls win 1A regional semifinal

By Jocelyn Sheets

Lynnville-Sully senior Lysandra James (5) puts pressure on the basketball against Belle Plaine in the team's Class 1A Region 5 semifinal game Friday night at Sully. Lynnville- Sully's girls won 65-47 to move into the regional final on Monday in Iowa City against Springville. (Jocelyn Sheets)

SULLY — Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks withstood a challenge from Belle Plaine’s Plainsmen Friday night in a Class 1A Region 5 semifinal basketball game. The 10th-ranked Hawk girls played on their home court for the final time this season, claiming a 65-47 win.

The Hawks advance to the Region 5 championship game Monday. Lynnville-Sully plays 11th-ranked Springville at 7 p.m. at Iowa City West High School.

Springville defeated Marquette Catholic, 51-35, Friday at home in a semifinal game.

Belle Plaine led the Hawks 5-2 before Lynnville-Sully’s offense got untracked. The Hawks were up 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, but the Plainsmen grabbed a 21-19 lead at true 6:52 mark of the second quarter.

A basket by senior Lysandra James followed by a driving layup from junior Kasiah Ehresman put the Hawks back on top. They never trailed again, opening a 36-26 halftime lead. An 8-0 run to begin the third quarter extended the Hawks’ lead, and despite Belle Plaine still pushing hard, it couldn’t catch Lynnville-Sully.

“I thought the girls did a good job of passing the ball and we did a good job of running the floor,” said Jerry Hulsing, Lynnville-Sully head coach. “The change in our defense was pretty good tonight and I thought we rebounded the ball well.”

James had a game-hit 20 points to lead the Hawks. Senior Madison Rasmusson added 15 points, plus had five steals and six assists. Junior Marissa Vos and sophomore Brenna Lanser each had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and 10 points and 16 rebounds, respectively.

Morgan Straight scored 14 points for Belle Plaine. Marisa Pope had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Makenzie O’Brien scored 10 points.

More on the semifinal game in Monday's Newton Daily News.