Members of the South Tama girls basketball team collapse in excitement following their win over West Marshall. The win punched the Trojan’s ticket to the Girls State Basketball tournament which will begin for the Trojans on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Chronicle Photo/Darvin Graham

For just the fourth time in school history the South Tama girls basketball team is headed to the State Tournament. It’s an accomplishment that has been somewhat of a surprise but one they will surely never forget.

Road to The Well

Round 1 STC vs. PCM

The road to Wells Fargo Arena began with Round 1 on Saturday, Feb. 10. The Trojans were able to get home court advantage and hosted PCM (7-15).

It was the second meeting between the South Tama Trojans and PCM Mustangs. The Trojans topped PCM 45-34.

Jessica Musgrave led the Trojans with 24 points and PCM’s Cameron Wignall led the Mustangs with 14 points, going 4-6 from the three point line.

Round 2 – STC vs. Roland-Story

In round two, the STC Trojans travelled to Story City to face the No. 6 ranked Roland-Story Norseman. Roland-Story had lost only two games this season. Despite the record and the ranking, comparing Roland Story’s schedule to South Tama’s, it becomes clear STC has faced a tougher slate in the WaMaC than the Norsemen did in the Heart of Iowa Conference. STC played aggressive defense and pulled out the upset against Roland-Story, 56-52.

Still it was a good battle between two teams who neither wanted their season to end. J. Musgrave once again led the Trojans with 24 points. Musgrave’s teammates also helped to fill in the gaps. Carissa Musgrave ended with nine points. Tylese Rosenberger with eight. Rosenberger came through for the Trojans in the fourth quarter hitting 5 of 6 free throws after being sent to the line three times in a row. She was 6 of 8 on the night.

The Trojans got into some foul trouble with both Musgraves and Madison Rohach with three a piece in the third quarter. While those players had to sit, STC’s bench players picked up where they left off. STC’s Makayla Backen sunk a jump shot that gave the Trojans their largest lead of the game in the third quarter. Those moments are just what head coach Todd Dale has been looking for from his bench all season. Three point shots by Rohach and Carissa Musgrave also contributed to the Trojans’ success.

Round 3 – STC vs. West Marshall

Following the upset of Roland-Story the Trojans met up with West Marshall’s Trojans on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Marshalltown High School Round House. Coming into the night, STC was one of only three unranked teams still alive in the Class 3A playoff race. After Saturday, the Trojans were the only unranked team still standing.

South Tama would once again call on the skills of Jessica Musgrave to carry them through for a 38-36 victory. Musgrave and the Trojans harassed West Marshall and kept their leading scorer, Isabelle Gradwell, in check most of the night. Gradwell led her team with 14 points, eight points under her season average. The matchup was quite literally a knock down, drag out fight. Both teams scraped hard and the result was a low scoring game full of steals, jump balls, and foul shots.

With a State berth on the line, the two teams each took turns leading the night throughout the first half. But right before halftime, the Trojans’ Makayla Backen, would once again make a big play, this time from the free throw line. Backen sank two free throws with just seconds on the clock and STC never gave up the lead.

Musgrave had another stellar performance finishing the night with 26 points. The Trojans shot just 11 field goals and 10 were Musgrave’s. The Trojans’ defense helped to whittle down West Marshall’s roster as 6-0 starting forward, Teresa Disney exited the game with a leg injury early in the first quarter and starting guard Kayla Cripps was forced to the bench for much of the second half after picking up her fourth personal foul in the opening possession of the third quarter.

The score remained close up to the final seconds of the game when West Marshall missed a trio of shots and STC finally gobbled up the rebound to finish things off. What happened next was pure emotion and celebration. As soon as the buzzer sounded, STC players ran and collapsed in a heap of joy near center court. Tears, smiles, and lots of hugs were in abundance as the Trojans were presented a royal blue state qualifying banner to hang in The Roundhouse, for just the fourth time in school history.

The 2018 team joins the ranks of the 1989 and 1990 teams when girls basketball was still played in the six-on-six format and the 2011 team long after the switch to five on five.

South Tama will face No. 1 Crestwood at The Well on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 11:45 a.m.