ALGONA 57, STORM LAKE 49

Algona is still perfect and still playing.

But the Bulldogs latest victory didn't come without a struggle.

Third-ranked Algona held off 13th-ranked Storm Lake down the stretch and advanced to the Class 3A semifinals with a 57-49 first-round victory Tuesday night.

Laura TerHark sank seven of 10 free throws in the final 2:44 to keep Algona in the lead and finished with 16 points to lead the Bulldogs, who are in the state tournament for the first time. Natalie Hackbarth and Kirsten Lipps each scored 13 for Algona, now 25-0. Lipps also had five steals and seven rebounds.

Algona will play No. 2 Waukon in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Slone Masters led Storm Lake with 20 points on near-perfect shooting. Masters made eight of nine shots, including all four of her 3-point attempts. She also grabbed five rebounds, handed out two assists and made two steals.

Morgan VanDerSloot added 11 points for Storm Lake and Cassie Meylor scored 10.

Storm Lake made a late charge after trailing 48-41 with less than 4 minutes to play. VanDerSloot hit a 3-pointer and Masters drove down the middle of the lane for a basket, cutting the lead to 48-46 with 2:51 remaining.

But TerHark began her parade to the free throw line seven seconds later and Storm Lake managed only a 3 by Masters the rest of the way.

Storm Lake, making its first trip to state since 1999, finishes 20-3.