SIOUX CITY BISHOP HEELAN 46, DUBUQUE WAHLERT 34

The defending champs are still alive in their quest for a repeat in Class 3A.

Sioux City Bishop Heelan stayed in control with steady free throw shooting in the fourth quarter and beat Dubuque Wahlert 46-34 in a first-round game Tuesday night.

Two of the stars from last year's championship team led the way for Bishop Heelan, which improved to 19-4. Carli Tritz scored 23 points, including 10-for-12 free throw shooting, and Millie Niggeling added 13.

Tritz also had nine rebounds and six steals, while Niggeling grabbed 12 rebounds. Niggeling was voted captain of the all-tournament team last year.

Shelbi Schmitz led Wahlert with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Kayla Koppes scored eight for the Golden Eagles.

The lead changed hands five times in the early going before Wahlert went up 16-14 when Koppes converted a three-point play late in the second quarter. But Bishop Heelan scored the final eight points of the quarter -- Tritz capping that run with a 3-pointer -- to build 22-16 halftime lead and the Crusaders stayed in front the rest of the way.

After falling behind by as many as 11 points, Wahlert drew to 36-30 on Koppes' two free throws with 4:32 to play. But Bishop Heelan made eight free throws down the stretch -- five by Tritz -- to keep Wahlert at bay.

Bishop Heelan moves into a semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Wahlert finishes the season 18-7.