MANSON-NW WEBSTER 55, ROLAND-STORY 53

Lauren Christianson came through at just the right time to help keep Manson-Northwest Webster unbeaten.

Christianson knocked down two straight shots to erase Roland-Story's final lead, then sank two free throws to put her team ahead to stay in a 55-53 victory in the first game of Class 2A play Monday night.

Second-ranked Manson-Northwest Webster survived a tense, back-and-forth game to move into Thursday's semifinals with a 26-0 record. Unranked Roland-Story had upset No. 8 North Polk in its regional final to get to state and almost pulled out an even bigger victory in this one.

Roland-Story took a 49-47 lead on Mackenzie Neely's basket with 2:36 remaining. But Manson-Northwest Webster tightened things up defensively and Christianson delivered on the offensive end. She tied it at 49 with a bucket, then hit a jumper for a 51-49 lead with just under two minutes to play.

After Roland-Story's Maddie Oliver sank two free throws to tie it at 51 with 1:34 remaining, Christianson was fouled and made two free throws to put the Cougars in front to stay. Morgan Troshynski dropped in two more foul shots for the Cougars with 17.6 seconds left to finish it off.

Troshynski led Manson-Northwest Webster with 15 points. Christianson and Morgan Markert each scored 12 for the Cougars, who are in the tournament for the third straight year.

Roland-Story, which made it to state for the first time since 1973, finishes 21-5. Oliver, a sophomore, led the Norsemen with 17 points and nine rebounds. She did most of her scoring at the free throw line, making 13 of 16. Neely and Nicole Strasko scored 11 points each for Roland-Story.

There were 14 lead changes in the game and neither team led by more than five points.