D-NH outlasts Generals, returns to state title game

DES MOINES – Pressure is part of the deal for Jadyn Petersen and Dike-New Hartford girls basketball.

The top-ranked Wolverines got two much-needed free throws from Petersen to hold off a late charge from Sibley-Ocheyedan, winning 61-56 in a Class 2A state semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday morning.

D-NH (25-1) advances to its third-straight state title game, drawing Central Lyon in the finals at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s championship game, which D-NH won 59-52. The Wolverines are going for a third-consecutive state title.

Petersen was put on the line as a result of an intentional foul call on Bria Wasmund. D-NH’s lead had shrunk to 58-56 after a 3-pointer from Marissa Ackerman. Wasmund was chasing down Petersen and collided at full speed with Petersen and a General teammate with 9.6 seconds left in the game.

“It was chaotic all over,” Petersen said. “I think both teams were playing out of their heads a little bit.”

Off to the free-throw line for the junior, then - even with the chance to get the ball back, anything was possible with the relentless defensive pressure from Sibley-Ocheyedan.

D-NH head coach Bruce Dall acknowledges that the Wolverines are always trying to do better at the charity stripe.

But as Dall pointed out, when she needed to, Petersen drilled both.

“Pressure is a privilege,” Petersen said. “Knowing that we practice free throws for 10 minutes every practice, this was the moment I’ve been waiting for.”

It was the final touch on what was another standout game for Jadyn and twin sister Payton Petersen. Jadyn finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds, while Payton put together a remarkable triple-double performance with 28 points, 19 rebounds and 10 steals.

The 10 steals is a new Class 2A single-game record.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to do that,” Payton said. “But it’s just a number. What separates us is being able to work with our team, and the chemistry that we have. I’m just so thankful. And I couldn’t have those numbers without my teammates.”

Sibley-Ocheyedan, coming from the same conference as Central Lyon, showed no fear early in jumping out to an 8-4 lead, helped by three-pointers from Wasmund and Olivia Hensch.

The Wolverines settled in and finished on a 16-3 run for a 20-11 lead after the first quarter. 

D-NH led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, but the Generals never seemed out of it.

Sure enough, the Generals jumped into action at the start of the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run to get within one, 48-47. The Petersen twins combined for eight points to answer that run.

“We had to build a huge lead,” Dall said. “We knew they could run the floor, that was our number one concern was their transition game. Thank goodness we had that lead. And I think our experience in other games got us that lead. And we were able to hang on for dear life.”

Ackerman finished with 14 points; Wasmund scored 13 points and South Dakota track/cross country commit Madison Brouwer had 10 points, 11 rebounds, and a new Class 2A record eight blocks.

“We knew [Brouwer] was their go-to,” Payton said. “and when she was guarding me I wanted to take advantage of that and not only score on her but try to get her into foul trouble. It was a lot of motivation knowing that I needed to be a big part of this today.”

D-NH is far from the prohibitive favorite going into Saturday’s championship game, with Central Lyon returning enough firepower that has rolled through a tough conference on the west side of Iowa and has yet to take a loss this season.

But Friday’s win shows that the Wolverines will be up for the challenge once more.

“I think this game shows that in these close games, we’re gonna stick together, and finish it out strong,” D-NH senior Camille Landphair said. “I’m so blessed. Most girls don’t even get to come down here in the first place, and this will be my third championship game and my fourth time down here. This group of girls, they’re so fun, and I love them all.”