Class 4A State Basketball Semifinals
North Polk 53, Bishop Heelan 41

 A 24-7 run midway through the first quarter propelled second-ranked North Polk into the Class 4A state championship with a 53-41 win over Sioux City Bishop Heelan in the Class 4A semifinals.

The Comets, who are headed to the state championship game for the third time in five seasons, will face top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes in the 4A title game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Bishop Heelan jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead before the Comets outscored the Crusaders 13-1 in the final 4:35 of the first quarter. North Polk, behind Abby Tuttle’s 15 first half points, extended its lead to nine points before going into halftime holding a 30-23 edge.  Heelan pulled to within four points at 45-41 in the fourth quarter but North Polk’s Liza Miller sank three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt to ice the game.

 Tuttle led North Polk with a game-high 20 points while MaKayla Boatman added 13 points. Becca Aagard added seven points with a game high 14 rebounds.

 Bishop Heelan’s Brooklyn Stanley paced Bishop Heelan with 13 points. The Crusaders end the year with a 23-3 mark.

 North Polk improves to 23-2 and will face Dallas Center-Grimes in the championship game. The Comets lost to the Mustangs, 61-52, in a November 22 regular season contest.