Cedar Falls 67, Valley, W.D.M. 58

Class 4A Semifinals

Cedar Falls 67, Valley, W.D.M. 58

DES MOINES – The rubber match was not meant to be.

Class 4A’s championship game was decided by Iowa City, West and Valley, West Des Moines the last two years, and the pair of powerhouse programs split the titles, but Cedar Falls cut in for 2018. The third-seeded Tigers (20-5) pulled away from Valley in Thursday night’s last semifinal, capitalizing on opportunities to win 67-58 and claim the program’s first title game berth in the process.

Coach Ryan Schultz’s squad carried an eight-point lead into halftime, then trailed by one entering the fourth quarter, but regained control down the stretch to outscore the CIML’s Tigers (17-8), 23-13, in the final frame. Senior guard A.J. Green led all scorers with 25 points, hitting five shots from 3-point range and sinking all eight of his free throw attempts. Cedar Falls worked around Valley’s tough defense to shoot 50 percent from the field in a well-played semifinal.

Valley had its 11-game win streak snapped and its hopes of a fourth finals meeting with West over the last five years dashed. Guards Trayvon Williams, Carter Frey, and Derek Emelifeonwu all scored in double-digits, but strong shooting in the second half couldn’t overcome a long Cedar Falls defense and giving up 21 points off 10 turnovers.

The win sets up an all-Mississippi Valley Conference final in the state’s largest class. Iowa City, West has exponentially more title game experience – including the 2017 crown – but Cedar Falls can claim a 55-54 victory over the No. 1 seed back on Jan. 16. The title game is set to tip off at 8:15 p.m. on Friday.

Quarterfinal Round – March 6-7

Iowa City, West 62,  Muscatine 50 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Waukee 60, Johnston 58 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Valley, W.D.M. 52,  North Scott, Eldridge 44 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Cedar Falls 75,  Sioux City, East 47 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Semifinal Round – March 8

Iowa City, West 58,  Waukee 50 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Cedar Falls 67, Valley, West Des Moines 58 – Final | BOX SCORE

Consolation Round – March 9, 12:15 p.m.

Waukee vs. Valley, West Des Moines

Championship Round – March 9, 8:15 p.m.

Iowa City, West vs. Cedar Falls