WOLFFORTH — The Jim Ned girls basketball team will get another shot at a state berth.
Behind a smothering defense, Jim Ned took out Idalou 42-21 in a Region I-3A semifinal Friday at the Tiger Pit. The victors will face Shallowater in the region final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats didn't score more than seven points in a quarter. That was the second period, in which Idalou got as close as three when Kira Fox's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 14-11 midway through the quarter. Jim Ned scored the next six to take a 20-11 edge at the break.
Jim Ned allowed two field goals after halftime, the second coming in the waning seconds after the Wildcats swapped in a group of reserves.
"We play pretty solid defense," Jim Ned coach Hunter Cooley said. "The girls do a great job of listening to the game plan and doing what they're asked. … They play so well together. They're entangled on what's going on defensively. They know what their assignment is, and they know that they've got help, too. They trust their help, so that allows them to do their job."
Gracee Cooley led Jim Ned with 14 points, and Riley Grohman added 13.
"That's one of the best defensive teams we've faced all year long," Hunter Cooley said. "It was definitely a defensive battle."
Last season, eventual state champion Holliday ousted Jim Ned in the region final. The team will get a chance at redemption against Idalou's rival Saturday.
Coach Cooley's plan until then?
"Get a game plan together," he said. "Go over that in the morning and then try to execute it at 1:30."
REGION I-3A SEMIFINAL
Jim Ned 42, Idalou 21
Jim Ned 12 8 10 12 — 42
Idalou 4 7 5 5 — 21
Jim Ned (35-2): Emma Doran 6, Lexi Wishert 5, Gracee Cooley 14, Riley Grohman 13, McKenzy Morgan 2, Addison Bradshaw 2.
Idalou (30-7): Preslie Wall 5, Mallory Perez 1, Lily Moyers 6, Campbell Ross 2, Kira Fox 7.
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