Southeast Polk relied on two fundamental principles, defense and rebounding, to win its first five-player state championship.

The Rams limited Dowling Catholic to eight field goals in the first three quarters, then held off a late rally by the Maroons to win the Class 5A title with a 43-34 victory.

Annie Penquite scored 14 points to lead Southeast Polk and sank five of six free throws in the final 1:43 to help the Rams protect their lead. Caitlin Ingle added eight points for Southeast Polk and was voted captain of the all-tournament team, while Jacey Huinker scored six.

Penquite and Huinker each grabbed six rebounds to help Rams build a 30-18 edge on the boards.

Southeast Polk's only other state championship came in the 1977 six-player tournament. The Rams finished 20-5 and denied Dowling a fifth state championship. The Maroons made it to the title game after losing three of their final four regular-season games and finished 21-5.

Sophomore Audrey Faber led Dowling with 15 points and Alyssa Beck scored six.

Southeast Polk led from the opening tip but had to work for everything it got against a Dowling team that also played strong defense. The Rams led 16-15 late in the second quarter when Penquite hit a 3-pointer, starting an 11-0 run that extended into the second half and put Southeast Polk up 27-15.

Dowling then started getting the ball to Faber on the low block and she scored nine of the Maroons' next 11 points, cutting the lead to 35-30.

But Dowling got no closer. Penquite sank five free throws over the next minute before Victoria Bricker made one and Megan Bianchi hit a pair to finish it off.

Penquite, Faber and Dowling's Becca Hittner also made the all-tournament team, along with Mason City's Jadda Buckley and Ankeny's Jaali Winters.