2011 Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament

Class 2A First Round

Roland-Story 41, West Fork 28

Roland-Story's defense and Maddie Oliver's inside presence proved to be too much for West Fork.

Oliver, who has signed with Illinois State, scored 12 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked six shots to help second-ranked Roland-Story beat West Fork 41-28 in a first-round Class 2A game.

Britny Halleland added 10 points and Hannah Warburton scored eight for the Norsemen, who are in the tournament for the third consecutive year and reached the semifinals for the second straight time.

They'll take a 25-1 record into 1:45 p.m. game on Thursday.

Roland-Story's stingy defense was nothing new. This was the 22nd time the Norsemen have held an opponent to fewer than 40 points.

West Fork plays solid defense of its own and managed to get within striking distance after making only two baskets in the first half and falling behind 21-6.

After Roland-Story increased its lead to 28-9 when Oliver fed Kayla Nielsen for a jump shot, West Fork came back with seven straight points to draw to 28-16. Caitlyn Hanig's jumper in the lane and Ellen Stanbrough's two free throws drew the Warhawks to 33-25 midway through the fourth quarter, but they got no closer.

Warburton scored on a drive to start an 8-0 run that Halleland capped with a 3-pointer, putting it out of reach.

Nicole Schulz led West Fork with seven points, while Hanig and Maci Robeoltman each had six points and six rebounds for the Warhawks, who finish 21-4.