NEW SHARON — Odds were not necessarily in North Mahaska favor when facing rival Lynnville-Sully in the Class 1A Region 8 semifinal Friday night in New Sharon. The host Warhawks were facing LS for the third time this season, had won the previous nine meetings and the January 27 game was a two-point contest.

North Mahaska, 20-3, put on a zone defense in the second half to break away from a five point lead to score the 59-37 win. They will face top seed Winfield-Mount Union in Williamsburg on Wednesday for the right to go to the state tournament.

The final score was no indication how close this game was contested. Lynnville-Sully, 16-8, stayed close trailing 18-16 after one period. NM stretched the lead to 27-22 at halftime. In the second half North Mahaska switched defenses due to foul trouble and Lynnville-Sully went cold from the field hitting just five second half baskets.

“We had to make some changes because of foul trouble,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “We don’t play a lot of zone but we did in second half. The team played tough. It was a great team win.”

North Mahaska came out firing in the second half when Regan Grewe hit a pair of buckets and Breckyn Schilling drilled a 3-pointer forcing LS coach Jerry Hulsing to call a timeout just two and a half minutes into the half. Tatum Huyser listened to her coach and knocked down a bucket to cut the score to 34-24. Greenlee Smock hit a 3-pointer to keep the Hawks within striking distance after NM made another run. From there NM took over limiting the Hawks to 5-of-9 from the free throw line. Following Smock’s trey the Hawks would not hit another basket until Huyser scored with 2 minutes 50 seconds to play. Kate Harthoorn drained a three in the final minute, but the game was decided.

“I’m not sure many people thought we would be here,” said Moore. “I knew could and the kids knew they could. We were able to take advantage of some things underneath.

“We have some things to clean up before Wednesday, but we will be ready.”

North Mahaska shot 36 percent from the floor hitting 21-of-57 shots. The defense held LS to 23 percent from the floor. The Hawks were 12-of-19 from the foul line while NM went 13-for-20.

Schilling and Grewe gave the Warhawks the floor game they needed. Schilling had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Grewe finished with 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists. Jessica Castaneda came off the bench to score eight points with seven rebounds.

Sydney Andersen finished with six points and two steals while Libby Hargis had five points.

Smock led Lynnville-Sully with 10 points and Huyser had nine.

If there is a ballgame that could be an instant high school classic, Friday’s matchup between Pekin and North Mahaska may be one of those games. The contest saw six ties and 10 lead changes before North Mahaska scored the 66-60 win in overtime. The Warhawks advance to the district final against Lynnville-Sully on Tuesday at Knoxville.

North Mahaska held the lead at six twice while Pekin’s largest lead was three. North Mahaska held a two-point lead at the first two breaks. Pekin’s Cade Bemis drilled a trey at the close of third period to tie the game at 37-37 and teammate Sven Dahlstrom did the same at the end of regulation as the teams headed to overtime tied 54-54.

In the OT period Braden Steel gave North Mahaska the lead 56-54 but Pekin’s Jaedon Wolver answered with a trey to give the Panthers the lead again. Steel added a pair of baskets and Lane Harmon hit a free throw as NM took a 61-57 lead with 1 minute 26 seconds to play. Again, Dahlstrom came to the rescue hitting a long ball, but Pekin would not score again. In the final 50 seconds NM soaked the game away going 5-of-6 at the free throw line.

Nolan Andersen and Steel battled Pekin’s Luke Long and Wolver under the basket for rebounds. NM outrebounded the Panthers 33-25, which provided extra possessions for each squad.

“We had some big possessions and big rebounds when we needed it the most,” said NM coach Seth Streebin. “I was proud of how we finished the game. Nolan hit some huge shots for us. Nash (Smith) and Lane hit some key free-throws. Braden rebounded well. Ethan (Huffman) and Nate (Sampson) played good defense. A nice team effort.”

Andersen had an impressive line with 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals while Harmon had 19 points, six rebounds and four steals. Two of the latter resulted in breakaway baskets. Steel finished with another double-double scoring 12 points with 11 boards. He had three steals and blocked a shot. Smith had nine points and a block.

Pekin, 12-11, had four players reach double figures. Wolver led with 16 while Long and Dahlstrom each had 14. Ben Ehret scored 11. Long led the rebounding with nine and Wolver had six.

North Mahaska, 19-4, will face their long-time rival Lynnville-Sully (21-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It is the same two teams who went head-to-head in last season’s substate final with NM earning the trip to state. Tuesday’s winner will face either Gladbrook-Reinbeck(21-2), who is ranked fourth in Class 1A or South Iowa Cedar League foe Keota (21-3), at a site to be determined.