MOUNT AYR 54, NORTH SENTRAL KOSSUTH 45

It just keeps getting better for the Raiderettes of Mount Ayr.

First there was a school-record 18-game winning streak to start the season. Then came a school-record victory total. And now, the first state tournament victory in school history.

Eighth-ranked Mount Ayr came from behind to beat No. 5 North Sentral Kossuth 54-45 Monday in a first-round Class 1A game.

The Raiderettes trailed 23-18 late in the first half, then went on a 17-4 run to take control. Bailey Myer contributed four baskets to the game-turning spurt and finished with 16 points to lead Mount Ayr, which had three others in double figures.

Becca Pennington scored 13, Claire Andresen had 12 and Tiffany Wimer added 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Mount Ayr outrebounded the Eagles 41-32 and came away with 15 offensive boards, resulting in 10 second-chance points.

Rebekah Rolling led North Sentral Kossuth with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Kelsey Gerhart scored 12 for the Eagles. Teammate Amber Goraczkowski collected 10 rebounds to go with nine points.

Mount Ayr lost in the first round in its two previous state tournament trips, in 1966 and 1998. Now 25-1, the Raiderettes move on to a semifinal game at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

North Sentral Kossuth, playing in the state tourney for the first time as a merged program, finishes 22-3.