Ballard's third victory over Dallas Center-Grimes this season was its most important.

Amanda Zimmerman scored 21 points and second-ranked Ballard led from the start in beating the Fillies 58-45 to complete the first round of Class 3A play.

Ballard had defeated Dallas Center-Grimes by margins of 20 and 14 during the season. But this one wasn't as comfortable as the final margin made it appear.

After falling behind by eight points early, Dallas Center-Grimes drew to 34-32 on Kirstin Burns' putback midway through the third quarter. That was as close it as it got, however.

Ballad scored 11 of the next 13 points to open a 45-34 lead early in the fourth quarter and a couple of the supporting players in the Bombers' cast each hit a key shot during the run.

Freshman Taylor Greenfield scored on a turnaround to make it 40-34 and McKinsey Nessa, left open on the right wing, hit a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 43-34.

Dallas Center-Grimes made one more run, cutting the lead to seven with a little more than three minutes left. Ballard then sank eight of 10 free throws in the final 1:17 to secure the victory.

The Bombers (24-2) move into the semifinals against third-ranked Sioux City Heelan at 8 p.m. Thursday. Ballard beat Heelan 68-53 during the regular season.

Lauran Hansen led Dallas Center-Grimes (20-5) with 12 points and Erin Goldsmith scored 10.

Ally Jensen added 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Ballard. Nessa finished with 10 points.