2011 Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament

Class 3A Semifinals

Davenport Assumption 56, Ballard 42

Davenport Assumption is getting a chance to win another state championship.

The fourth-ranked Knights used sharp free throw shooting and sticky defense to sideline No. 1 Ballard 56-42 in the Class 3A semifinals.

Assumption built an early 15-point lead, then held off a late comeback bid by the Bombers and their star, Taylor Greenfield. The Knights improved to 24-2 and will play for the title at 6 p.m. Saturday. They won the Class 2A championship in 2008.

As usual, Assumption had good balance in the scoring column. Melissa Youngblut led the way with 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Kate Fennelly scored 10, including two big 3-pointers at the end of the third quarter. Abbey Strajack hit three first-half 3-pointers for the Knights to finish with nine points.

Greenfield, who has signed with Stanford, scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the final game of her outstanding career. She played in the state tournament each of her four seasons and helped the Bombers win the state championship in 2009.

A big difference in the game came at the free throw line. Assumption sank 23 of 28 free throws, including 11 of 14 in the final 2:26 to protect its lead. Ballard made just 11 of 22 free throws.

Rachel Sage added nine points for the Bombers, while Sammy Jensen and Grace Hall each scored six.

Trailing 31-20 at halftime, Ballard drew to 35-29 when Greenfield scored on a turnaround to cap a 7-0 run. But Fennelly nailed back-to-back 3-pointers from the right baseline in the final minute of the third quarter to return the momentum to Assumption.

Ballard made more one run at the Knights, cutting the lead to 45-41 when Greenfield made two free throws with 4:22 remaining. But Assumption held Ballard to one point the rest of the way and made its free throws at the other end to nail it down.

Ballard has been one of the state's top programs recently and played in the state tournament for the sixth straight year. The Bombers finish 24-2, with their only other loss coming to Class 4A semifinalist Linn-Mar.