BISHOP HEELAN 59, BALLARD 54

Bishop Heelan of Sioux City will finish the season in a familiar setting.

The Crusaders are headed back to the Class 3A state championship game.

In a rematch of last year's state final, top-ranked Heelan beat No. 5 Ballard 59-54 on Thursday night in a semifinal contest that had all the intensity and emotion of a championship game.

Heelan jumped to an early lead by making its first eight shots, fell behind by six points in the second half, then rallied in the fourth quarter to avenge last year's title game loss to Ballard.

It was the third consecutive year the two powers have met in the state tournament. Heelan beat Ballard in overtime in the 2008 semifinals, then defeated Pella to win the championship. The Crusaders will take a 25-1 record into this year's title game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

All-stater Carli Tritz again led the way for Heelan with 22 points, six assists, four steals and some clutch play down the stretch. The Crusaders also got a big game from Maggie Vondrak, who had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Vondrak also had two assists, two steals and a block.

Millie Niggeling added nine points and nine rebounds for Heelan.

Taylor Greenfield, a junior who is getting looks from several Division I college programs, led Ballard with 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting. Greenfield, who is right-handed, made three nifty left-handed shots around the basket and also knocked down four 3-pointers.

Jessie Wheeler scored nine points for the Bombers, while Sammy Jensen and Rachel Sage each had six.

Heelan took control after Greenfield scored on a left-handed follow shot to give Ballard a 44-38 lead with 1:54 left in the third quarter. The Crusaders held Ballard to one basket over the next 8:45 and put together a 14-3 run to open a 52-47 lead.

Heelan secured the victory by making nine of 12 free throws in the final 3:22, offsetting late 3-pointers by Wheeler and Greenfield.

Tritz sank nine fouls shots in that stretch and also made a couple of key plays on the defensive end, blocking a shot and then drawing a charge.

Ballard finishes 23-2. The Bombers' other loss was to Linn-Mar, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A.