Class 4A State Basketball Semifinals
Dallas Center-Grimes 33, Ballard 32

Emma Miner’s free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining sent top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes into the Class 4A finals with a 33-32 victory over fourth-seeded Ballard Thursday afternoon.

The Mustangs will be making their first-ever trip to the state basketball finals, where they will face Sioux City Bishop Heelan or North Polk Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Dallas Center-Grimes held the Bombers scoreless in the opening quarter and led 12-0. Ballard recovered to outscore Dallas Center-Grimes, 14-7, in the second quarter to cut the halftime deficit to 19-14.

The Bombers continued to chip away in the fourth quarter and held Dallas Center-Grimes without a field goal for the last 5:21 of the game and tied the at 32-32 with six seconds left. Miner was fouled on a drive to the basket and made the second of two free throws for the win.

 Vanessa Bickford led Dallas Center-Grimes with seven points and 11 rebounds while Josie Lampe and Sydney Miller each added six points. Alliyah Thompson, Lily Hillebrand, and Kiley Calvert all scored eight points to lead the Bombers, who end the season at 19-4.