Western Christian won its rubber match with Estherville-Lincoln Central and is now one victory from playing for the Class 2A state championship.

Kim Kroeze scored on a putback with 4.9 seconds left to break the game's final tie and fifth-ranked Western Christian held on to beat No. 6 Estherville-Lincoln Central 47-45 to advance to Thursday's semifinals.

The Wolfpack rallied from 10 points down early in the fourth quarter to beat Estherville-Lincoln Central for the second time in three ties. It was Western Christian's 10th straight victory and 13th in the last 14 games, including a 19-point win over Estherville-Lincoln Central in the regular season finale.

Alissa Pollema and Jamie Gesink led Western Christian with 12 points each and Brooke Wolterstorff added nine. Pollema scored six straight Western Christian points down the stretch to key the Wolfpack's final charge.

Alyssa Johnson's 13 points led Estherville-Lincoln Central, the state runner-up last year. Allie Sievert added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Midgettes, while Emily Kirchner had six points and 13 rebounds.

Western Christian survived 28 percent shooting by causing problems with its pressing, trapping defense. The Wolfpack came up with 10 steals, four by Gesink.

Trailing 39-29 less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Western Christian forced several turnovers during a 14-3 run that pulled the Wolfpack into a 43-42 lead with 1:26 left.

Estherville-Lincoln Central tied it twice, the last time at 45 on Johnson's bank shot with 49 seconds remaining. Western Christian worked for the final shot, then missed twice before Kroeze rebounded the second miss and scored, drawing a foul as the ball went through.

She missed the free throw, but Western Christian forced a jump ball and retained possession with 1.1 seconds remaining. The Wolfpack inbounded the ball and the clock ran out.

Western Christian, which has no seniors in its starting lineup, moves into a semifinal game at noon Thursday with a 23-3 record. Estherville-Lincoln Central finishes 24-3, with two losses to Western Christian and one to Class 3A qualifier Bishop Heelan of Sioux City.