Royals Onto Substate

BGM's defense shook us.  And it rattled us.  But midway through the second quarter, it was the Royals that went on a roll to finally take the lead, thanks in part to a slew of three-point baskets (two by Shelby Anthony and one by Madison Eley).  It was a lead the Royals would never surrender. 

Kayleen Beck and the Bears' defense was "as advertised," but through four quarters, the Royals defense was even better.  BGM jumped to a 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Royals defense clamped down, and the lid finally came off the basket for Colo-Nesco as they used several three-pointers to take a 30-26 lead at the half.

The lead grew to 47-36 by the end of the third quarter, and, despite point guard Shayla Dean battling foul trouble and eventually fouling out, BGM was never able to pull close in the fourth quarter.  The Royals advance to the substate game in Newton on Monday night with a 62-49 win.

The rubber match is set.  It will be Colo-Nesco vs. Meskwaki for the right to go to the state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.  Meskwaki handed the Royals one of their two losses on the season, but Colo-Nesco exacted revenge on the Warriors home court the final game of the regular season to secure the conference championship. 

This is a special team.  A well-balanced, defensive-minded team that deserves a trip to Des Moines.  With a record of 22-2, it's already one of the better teams in Colo-Nesco history.  Let's hope the exciting story of the 2012-13 Royals is just beginning...