PELLA 52, SPENCER 51

Eighth-ranked Pella weathered Spencer's fourth-quarter rally to earn a return trip to the Class 3A semifinals.

Isabel Metcalf sank a free throw for the final point with 24.4 seconds left and Pella escaped with a 52-51 victory over No. 12 Spencer in a first-round game Tuesday night.

Pella blew a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, then overcame a seven-point deficit to win it. But the Dutch weren't sure of the victory until Spencer missed three shots in the final seconds, the last one falling short just before the buzzer sounded.

Last year's state runner-up, Pella now faces a semifinal date at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with Sioux City Bishop Heelan, the team that beat the Dutch in last year's championship game.

Brooke Gritters led Pella with 19 points and Makenzie Vander Molen scored 12. Brittany Peterson and Ally Mahrt sparked Spencer's comeback. Peterson finished with 19 points and six assists, while Mahrt had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Pella seemed to have things under control when it ran off six straight points to open a 39-32 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Spencer stormed back with a 17-3 run to go up 49-42 with 2:48 left. Mahrt hit two 3-pointers during that burst and Peterson finished it with a three-point play.

Then it was Pella's turn to come back. Vander Molen's two free throws drew the Dutch to 51-48 and they tied at 51 on Gritters' three-point play with 1:18 to play. Gritters scored and was fouled on Pella's third offensive rebound of that possession.

After a Spencer miss, Metcalf was fouled as Pella worked for a final shot. She missed her first free throw but made the second.

Pella advances with a 24-1 record. Spencer finishes 21-4.

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