Clutch shooting and solid defense down the stretch has put Pella Christian in the Class 2A state championship game.

Sparked by Paige Engbers' 50-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer ending the third quarter, the 15th-ranked Eagles pulled away to beat No. 3 IKM-Manning 60-49 in semifinal action.

They'll take on No. 5 Western Christian in the title game at 6 p.m. Friday, a rematch of a midseason game that Western won 74-72. Pella Christian has won 15 of 16 since then and is now 23-3.

Christina Nolte led three Pella Christian scorers in double figures with 14 points. Tayler Stursma added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jasmin Schelhaas scored 10. Nolte went 4-for-6 from 3-point range and handed out three assists.

Tember Schechinger, Kaylee Blake and Kenzie Cast led IKM-Manning with nine points each and Liz Halbur scored eight. Schechinger, who'll play at Northwest Missouri State next season, handed out six assists and blocked three shots. Blake led all rebounders with nine.

The Wolves, in the state tournament for the sixth time in eight years, finished the season 24-3.

Pella Christian rallied after falling behind 15-6 in the first quarter. A 14-0 run in the second quarter that included 3-pointers by Schelhaas and Cali Vink pulled the Eagles into the lead, but IKM-Manning came right back with three straight 3s to go up 26-22.

The Wolves led 26-24 at halftime and the game stayed close until Pella Christian made its move at the end.

Pella Christian was leading 44-42 when Engbers launched a desperation shot from just beyond half-court as the third quarter ended. The ball banked in, giving her team a 47-42 lead and momentum heading into the final quarter.

The Eagles started the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run and were in control the rest of the way, holding the Wolves to one field goal in the period.