When Johnston gets rolling, the Dragons are quite a sight and they were just that in the Class 5A semifinals against Waukee.
Johnston dominated in all areas in rolling past the Warriors 74-33 to reach the championship game for the fifth consecutive year -- the first time a school has played in the state finals in five straight seasons. Johnston also is working on a string of 10 straight state tournament appearances, which is the third-longest of all time.
The top-seeded and unbeaten Dragons will try for their third championship at 6 p.m. on Friday, looking to add to the crowns they captured in 2020 and 2022. They go into that game with a 25-0 record this season and a five-year mark of 117-6.
This last victory was among their more impressive performances. They outscored the Warriors 34-9 in the second half after building a 39-24 halftime lead and held Waukee to just two field goals over the final two quarters.
Sophomore Jenica Lewis led the way in this latest victory, knocking down four 3-pointers and finishing with 22 points. Iowa State recruit Aili Tanke hit three shots from long range in a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Jaliyah Kinnetz and freshman reserve Ari Phillips each scored nine. Aaliyah Riley contributed six points, six rebounds and three assists.
Johnston outrebounded the Warriors 45-26 and came up with 12 steals, which led to a 12-1 edge in points off turnovers. Lewis led that effort with four steals and she was sharp on offense, too, going 7-for-14 from the field and making all four of her free throws.
Kirsten Hauck, Emilie Sorensen and Lydia Smith each scored six points to lead Waukee, which lost to Johnston twice during the regular season and was seeking its first berth in the finals since beating Johnston 71-43 for the 2021 state championship.
Johnston was at its best in outscoring Waukee 18-1 to start the second half. Tanke hit all three of her 3-pointers during that surge and knocked in a mid-range pull-up jumper and Lewis did the rest. She made two free throws and capped the run with a flourish, spinning into the lane for a layup and then dribbling between her legs before burying a deep 3 from the right wing for a 57-25 lead.
Lewis also had a highlight reel play in the first half, whipping a pass behind her back to Tanke of a layup to cap and 11-0 run that quickly erased Waukee’s early 2-0 lead.
Johnston led 61-31 heading into the fourth quarter and reserves finished it up after the lead grew to 34.
Waukee reached the state tournament for the first time since the district split into two high schools in 2021. The Warriors finished 19-5 – three losses to Johnston and the two others to 5A semifinalist Dowling Catholic.