DES MOINES, Iowa – The Ballard men's basketball team's season came to a heartbreaking close Tuesday afternoon in the Class 3A state quarterfinals, as they fell to MOC-Floyd Valley 55-51 at Wells Fargo Arena.  The loss ended a stellar campaign for Ballard, which finished with a 21-3 record (15-1 conference).

A sluggish first half put the Bombers in an early hole, as they shot just 20% (4-of-20) from the field and went 0-for-10 from beyond the arc.  Despite their offensive struggles, the Bomber's defense kept them within striking distance, trailing 23-12 at halftime.

The second half saw a much more aggressive Bombers squad, led by senior Jude Gibson, who poured in a game-high 22 points while knocking down three triples.  The Bombers improved their shooting to 46.2% in the final two quarters and clawed their way back into the contest.

Easton Ersland made his presence felt in the paint with 11 rebounds and eight points while adding an impressive six blocked shots.  Jackson Brown contributed seven points, and Parker Miller added six despite being limited by foul trouble.

Ballard's second-half rally fell just short as MOC-Floyd Valley was able to withstand the pressure and convert key free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography