Oskaloosa 63, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 47

Class 3A Quarterfinals

Oskaloosa 63, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 47

DES MOINES – It took a half for Oskaloosa to sort out nerves in its return to the state tournament. But once the third-seeded Indians (22-3) started playing like they had all season, Sergeant Bluff-Luton couldn’t slow them down.

Oskaloosa used an impressive second half to storm past the 2017 runner-up, shooting 70 percent to claim a 63-47 win on Tuesday evening. Sergeant Bluff-Luton held a 28-23 lead at intermission, but were outscored 21-6 in the third quarter and saw Oskaloosa’s star Xavier Foster score a game-high 18 points.

The 6-foot-11 sophomore kept Oskaloosa in the contest with three early 3-pointers and capped the win with an emphatic alley-oop with 45 seconds left. It was the program’s first state tournament appearance since 1996 and a strong crowd turned out to support the return, which has been rewarded with a semifinal berth.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton (15-10) entered the game on a nine-game win streak, showing toughness and balance to take an early lead on Tuesday. All five starters had either five or six points at halftime. Sam DeMoss would finish with a team-high 11 points, but it wouldn’t be enough to lift 29 percent shooting after halftime and an SBL defense that would allow 17 assists by Oskaloosa.

The Indians will meet Waverly-Shell Rock (19-6) in Thursday’s 3:45 p.m. semifinal back at Wells Fargo Arena.

Quarterfinal Round – March 6

Xavier, Cedar Rapids 67, Marion 60 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Glenwood 67, Norwalk 58 – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Waverly-Shell Rock 59, Mount Pleasant 51  – Final | BOX SCORE | GAME STORY

Oskaloosa 63, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 47 – Final | BOX SCORE

Semifinal Round – March 8

2:00 p.m.—Xavier, Cedar Rapids vs. Glenwood

3:45 p.m.—Waverly-Shell Rock vs. Oskaloosa