DES MOINES - In the end, Dunkerton lived to play another day.

But not before giving its coach a few heart palpitations.

In a contest that was airtight throughout, the top-ranked Dunkerton girls' basketball squad survived against unranked Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka, 70-68, Monday in the opening round of the Class 1A state tournament.

Unquestionably, WCLT (22-4) made the Raiders work for this one.

Although Dunkerton (25-0) seized momentum late after benefitting from the double-bonus, a last-second Raider turnover gave the Tigers a chance to claw this one out.

With just four-tenths of a second remaining, WCLT had a chance to in-bound the ball from inside halfcourt. Fortunately for the Raiders, forward Danielle Graham picked off the pass, allowing the clock to run out.

As a result, the Raiders' first appearance at the state tournament will continue.

"In the end, we outlasted them," said Dunkerton star Kayla Waskow, who produced a game-high 31 points.

Dunkerton, which also got 10 rebounds from Beth Kuenstling, now takes on unranked Newell-Fonda (22-3) in the second round Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Newell-Fonda knocked off fifth-ranked Southeast Webster-Grand, 80-75.

WCLT bounced Dunkerton from last year's postseason bracket in the regional finals. Thus, the Raiders appeared especially determined Monday.

Dunkerton entered the week as the highest scoring team in the state (82.9 points per game) and wasted little time lighting the fuse for its explosive offense.

Waskow, an all-state guard, ignited the pyrotechnics, scoring 14 first-quarter points to help Dunkerton take a 44-41 advantage at the half.

"It seemed like we were a step slow," said WCLT coach Matt Erpelding. "Every loose ball went to the white shirts (the Raiders)."

But the Tigers never relented. All five of WCLT's starters scored in double-digits, led by Stacey Schutjer's 16 points. A 6-foot all-stater, Schutjer also accumulated a staggering 22 rebounds and nine blocks.

WCLT, which prefers a slow-down game, began dictating the pace in the second half despite Dunkerton's 19 steals. But the Raiders' constant march to the free-throw line - where they made 17 of 25 attempts - proved pivotal. Waskow sank the two biggest shots from the charity stripe, putting her club up, 70-66, with just 16.5 seconds remaining.

"I wanted the ball in my hands," said Waskow, who averages 24.3 points per game.

Hovden, who has made coaching stops at Northeast Iowa spots like Oelwein, New Hampton, Cresco and Jackson Junction, had confidence in his club, however. And, in the end, his players justified their coach's faith.

"It was simply senior leadership," said the Dunkerton coach. "I expect that from our seniors."

Now, Dunkerton duels a Newell-Fonda club that is nearly its equal offensively. Newell-Fonda averaged 78.8 points per game this season. The Mustangs are unranked, however, making Dunkerton a heavy favorite for a second straight game, at least on paper.

"Ratings are for you guys," Hovden told reporters. "That'll be as entertaining of a game as we've seen here in awhile, I would think.

"I hope we rest enough."

TOURNEY TIDBITS: The Raiders won despite one alarming stat: They got beat on the backboards, 52-40. Included in that ugly stat was the fact that WCLT's 5-foot-5 freshman guard, Paige Heesch, reeled in 10 rebounds. … Dunkerton's Danielle Graham had seven steals. … Newell-Fonda, champion of the Northwest Conference, got 23 points from Susan Kies Monday in its win over No. 5 Southeast Webster-Grand. The Mustangs also made 10 of 26 3-point attempts.

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com

WCLT Mn FG-A FT-A Rb As PF TP

P. Heesch 30 6-15 1-2 10 3 4 13

M. Hoffmann 30 4-11 1-5 4 1 4 11

M. Eden 32 6-10 0-3 6 4 4 12

A. Schwartz 25 4-9 4-4 4 2 3 14

S. Schutjer 30 8-20 0-4 22 4 4 16

Bannister 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0

Studer 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0

Team 5

Totals 160 28-65 8-20 52 16 21 68

Dunkerton Mn FG-A FT-A Rb As PF TP

K. Waskow 25 10-17 11-15 4 5 1 31

A. Jacobsen 13 0-1 0-0 1 0 3 0

S. Waskow 26 4-11 3-4 6 1 1 11

S. Wheeler 6 0-2 0-0 0 0 4 0

B. Kuenstling 21 3-11 3-4 10 0 1 9

M. Joens 7 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 3

J. Nagel 15 3-6 0-0 2 1 0 8

A. Kimball 13 1-3 0-0 4 0 3 3

J. Etringer 11 1-3 0-0 1 1 1 2

D. Graham 23 1-10 1-4 6 4 2 3

Team 6

Totals 160 24-66 17-25 40 12 16 70

WCLT 17 24 14 13 - 68

Dunkerton 23 21 12 14 - 70

3-point goals - WCLT 4-11 (Heesch 0-2, Hoffmann 2-5, Schwartz 2-4); Dunkerton 5-14 (S. Waskow 0-2, Joens 1-2, Nagel 2-3, Kimball 1-3, Graham 1-4). Blocked shots - WCLT 9 (Schutjer 9); Dunkerton 3 (S. Waskow 1, Kuenstling 1, Kimball 1). Turnovers - WCLT 25 (Heesch 7); Dunkerton 15 (Graham 4). Steals - WCLT 7 (three with 2); Dunkerton 19 (Graham 7).

At a glance

Monday

Class 1A quarterfinals

Newell-Fonda 80, SE Webster-Grand 75

Dunkerton 70, WCLT 68

Lawton-Bronson 80, Exira 75

Springville 69, Holy Trinity 59

Class 2A quarterfinals

MFL Mar-Mac 61, North Polk 50

Manson-NW Webster 36, AGWSR 33

Today

Class 2A quarterfinals

10 a.m. - Treynor vs. Monticello

11:30 a.m. - Dav. Assumption vs. Unity Christian

Class 3A quarterfinals

1 p.m. - Marion (20-2) vs. Spencer (21-4)

2:30 p.m. - Williamsburg (21-3) vs. Pella (23-1)

6:30 p.m. - Cedar Rapids Xavier (17-7) vs. S.C. Heelan (22-2)

8 p.m. - Dallas Center-Grimes (20-4) vs. Ballard (22-2)

Wednesday

Class 4A quarterfinals

10 a.m. - D.M. Roosevelt (20-2) vs. Linn-Mar (21-2)

11:30 a.m. - Iowa City High (19-3) vs. Cedar Falls (19-4)

1 p.m. - C.R. Washington (20-2) vs. S.C. North (20-4)

2:30 p.m. - W.D.M. Dowling (19-4) vs. Waukee (21-1)

Class 1A semifinals

6:30 p.m. - Newell-Fonda (22-3) vs. Dunkerton (25-0)

8 p.m. - Lawton-Bronson (23-3) vs. Springville (23-3)

Thursday

Class 2A semifinals

1 p.m. - MFL Mar-Mac (25-0) vs. Manson-NW Webster (25-2)

2:30 p.m. - Treynor or Monticello vs. Unity Christian or Dav. Assumption

Class 3A semifinals

6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Friday

Class 4A semifinals

1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Class 1A championship

6 p.m.

Class 2A championship

7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Class 3A championship

6 p.m.

Class 4A championship

7:30 p.m.