(From IHSSA)

DES MOINES – Glenwood is going to the state championship for the first time.

In a thrilling 69-63 victory over two-time defending champ Xavier, Cedar Rapids, the Rams outlasted Class 3A’s top seed in a game that featured 12 ties, 13 lead changes, and tension until the final seconds. The southwest Iowa squad advanced with a pair of seniors, Nate Mohr and Andrew Blum, who first played at Wells Fargo Arena as freshmen, and clinched a spot in Friday’s final game by scoring 21 points each when it mattered most.

Xavier had won the 2016 and 2017 titles with consistent and clutch play, but important shots evaded coach Ryan Luehrsmann’s team on Thursday afternoon. Seniors Matthew Mims and Jackson Joens had 14 points each, but combined to shoot 9-of-35 from the field and were constantly fending off pressure coming from Glenwood’s guards and massive crowd. The game did mark a fourth straight season in the 3A semifinals for Xavier (19-7), which will play in Friday’s 10:30 a.m. consolation game.

Christian Stanislav chipped in 16 points to help Mohr and Blum down the stretch. As a team, the Rams hit 17 of their 18 free throws, cooling off a hot back-and-forth contest. Coach Curt Schulte’s team also hit 18-of-19 free throw attempts in the quarterfinals. Besides the quick quarterfinal appearance in 2015, Glenwood has just one other state tournament tally on its resume; a 1952 trip that included a first round win and quarterfinal loss in the single-class field. On Friday at 6 p.m., the program will get a chance to win the biggest prize in Class 3A.

The Rams will face Oskaloosa for the title on Friday at 6:30pm.