The win sends the top-ranked Indians into the 3A finals for the first time in school history, where they will face Charles City at 6 p.m. Saturday. The trip to the finals will also be the first for Coach Gene Klinge. Iowa's all-time active leader in coaching wins has never reached the championship game in his 11 previous appearances with West Central. He is in his first year coaching at Waukon.
Atlantic put the clamps on Waukon early as they held leading scorer Samantha Reiser to just two first half points as the Trojanns led 23-19 at the half. The Trojans built a 12 point becfore the Indian offense and Reiser came to life. Reiser scored seven fourth quarter points to pace Waukon's comeback. Tami Magner gave Waukon its first lead of the second half with her jumper with 46 seconds remaining gave the Indians a 42-40 lead.
Atlantic had a chance to tie the score but missed a baseline three-point attempt with two seconds left.
Reiser fueled the Waukon comeback with 17 points and five steals while Christa Hammel added 11.
Angie Jenkins led Atlantic with 19 points while Sarah Wernimont added 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Waukon (27-0) 10 9 9 16 -- 44
Atlantic (23-3) 10 13 13 6 -- 42