The Bombers' postseason run came to a close Saturday night as Ballard fell to Pella, 43–33, in a Class 4A Regional Semifinal matchup on the road.

Pella set the tone early, building a 17–4 advantage after the first quarter.  The Dutch converted early opportunities and forced Ballard into a difficult offensive start, as the Bombers managed just one field goal in the opening eight minutes.

Ballard responded in the second quarter, tightening up defensively and finding better rhythm offensively.  The Bombers outscored Pella 10–8 in the period to cut the deficit to 25–14 at halftime.  That momentum carried into the third quarter, where Ballard again edged Pella 11–8. By the end of three, the Bombers had trimmed the margin to single digits, 33–25, putting pressure on the home team entering the final frame.

However, Pella maintained composure down the stretch, matching Ballard's intensity in the fourth quarter and outscoring the Bombers 10–8 to secure the 43–33 victory.

Ballard finished 10-of-44 (22.7%) from the field and 4-of-18 (22.2%) from three-point range. The Bombers were 9-of-14 (64.3%) at the free-throw line and collected 26 total rebounds.

Freshman Grace Polewik led Ballard with 12 points, shooting 4-of-11 from the floor and adding three assists.  Fellow freshman Kaitlyn Dunn provided a spark from the perimeter with six points, knocking down two three-pointers.

Alea Kinzenbaw delivered a strong all-around performance with nine rebounds, four points, three steals, and two assists.  Brooklyn Shoen added four rebounds and three points, while Kaylor Johnson contributed four points and a block.

Ballard forced 10 steals defensively but was hindered by 19 turnovers and struggled to establish consistent offensive efficiency against Pella's half-court defense.

The loss concludes the Bombers' season with a 9–14 overall record and a 7–9 mark in conference play.

Photo Credit: Kevin Rowedder