Drake sparks No.2 Eagles by Tritons

FORT DODGE - Kortney Drake scored a career-high 22 points Saturday as second-ranked Kirkwood topped Iowa Central, 68-59, in the final game of the regular season in Fort Dodge.

Kirkwood (19-1) will host Ellsworth (3-17) in the regional semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m.

The Eagles were clinging to a 49-46 lead in the fourth quarter when Drake popped in seven straight points in just 44 seconds, giving her team a 10-point bulge at 56-46.

Drake shot 8-for-11 from the field and was 4-for-6 on 3-pointers. She also had five rebounds and four assists.

Kemara Watson pitched in 12 points for Kirkwood.

The Eagles are the No. 1 seed for the Region XI-A tournament and will host the regional finals next Saturday, April 10 if they defeat Ellsworth in the semifinals.

The regional champion advances to the NJCAA Division II national tournament.

KIRKWOOD (68): Karsyn Stratton 4 1-1 9, Tatiana Hodges-Johnson 2 2-2 6, Kortney Drake 8 2-2 22, Kemara Watson 5 0-0 12, Ashley Tull 2 0-0 4, Dominique Rodriguez 2 0-0 4, Tasia Jordan 3 0-0 6, Naya Haymon 0 0-0 0, Maddie Paulsen 1 1-2 3, Corey Whitlock 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 6-7 68.

IOWA CENTRAL (59): Autumn Dykstra 5 0-0 13, Jordan Engbrecht 3 2-3 9, Nevaeh Galloway 4 2-4 10, Carley West 4 1-2 10, Isabell West 5 2-3 13, Nevaeh Moeschter 1 0-0 2, Taylor McKinney 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 7-12 59.

Halftime - Kirkwood 34, Iowa Central 25. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 6 (Drake 4, Watson 2), Iowa Central 6 (Dykstra 3, Engbrecht 1, C.West 1, I.West 1).