IKM-MANNING 60, MANNING 47

IKM-Manning needed a couple of big plays to stem the tide. So the Wolves turned to Katie Schechinger and Bailey Halbur and they came through at just the right time.

The two seniors scored back-to-back baskets to lead a fourth quarter surge that stopped a Manson-Northwest Webster comeback and carried third-ranked IKM-Manning to a 60-47 victory Thursday in the Class 2A semifinals.

With the victory, the letters IKM will appear in a championship game for the third time in four years. IKM won the Class 1A title in 2006 and finished second in 2007. IKM joined with Manning for the current school year and the combined program will play for the 2A title at 8 p.m. Friday.

For a while, IKM-Manning looked as though it would win easily. The Wolves made 10 of their first 14 shots in jumping to a 28-15 lead and could do no wrong. Then they hit a cold stretch and second-ranked Manson-Northwest Webster came back, putting together a 16-5 run to cut the lead to 44-39 at the end of the fourth quarter.

IKM-Manning was leading 50-43 midway through the fourth quarter when Schechinger, who has signed with Drake, took the ball the length of the court, spun in front of the basket and dropped in a layup. Halbur scored inside on the next possession and the Wolves went on to run off eight points in a row to put it out of reach.

Halbur finished with 19 points to lead IKM-Manning, which is now 25-2. Schechinger added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ashley Hagedorn scored 12 points.

Kelsey Sukovaty's 17 points led Manson-Northwest Webster, which finished 26-1. Sukovaty made seven of 10 shots and grabbed nine rebounds. Morgan Markert added nine points for the Cougars and Lauren Christianson scored eight.