3/9/2010
Written By: Tony Atzeni, Iowa Sports Connection
Category: High School Sports  

DES MOINES, Iowa - The 2010 Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament continued on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Arena with the completion of the Class 2A and the Class 3A quarterfinals.  In the first game of the day it was #7 and unbeaten IKM-Manning and Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction) playing for a spot in the second of the classes semifinals.  In the end the game was decided in early moments of the fourth quarter as the Wolves advance to the semifinals with a 55-48 decision over the Trojans.

The records may have looked a bit different with IKM-Manning coming into the contest unbeaten and Turkey Valley with 6 losses but the first half was played dead even as the two teams went to the break tied at 20-20.  Tyler Bruck led the Wolves with 8 points while the Trojans were led by Spencer Bruess and Brady Kuennen with 7 points apiece.

The Trojans took over in the third quarter and raced out to a 30-24 lead and held a 35-29 lead after three.  The fourth quarter was the Wolves as they erupted for a 14-0 run to erase a 7 point deficit and grab a 43-35 lead with 5:01 left in the game.  The Trojans could get not closer than six at 43-37 with 4:48 and 49-43 with 2:17 remaining in the game. 

IKM-Manning had matched their field goal attempts with free throws with 34.  Bryce Irbeck had 13 second half points, most from the charity stripe where he hit 11 of 15 attempts.

The loss ends the Turkey Valley seaosn at 19-7.  The Trojans were led by Justin Bakula and Brady Kuennen with 10 points each.

IKM-Manning improves to 25-0 and was led Irbeck and Jerad Croghan with 15 points and 8 rebounds.  IKM-Manning will face the winner of the #4 Solon and Mid-Prairie game in the semifnals on Thursday afternoon at 3:45.