Baxter boys use big fourth quarter to eliminate Iowa Valley

BAXTER — Eli Dee put in 24 points, Perrin Sulzle and Cainan Travis produced double-doubles and the Baxter boys basketball team rallied past Iowa Valley in their Class 1A District 9 quarterfinal matchup.

The fourth-seeded Bolts trailed by six at halftime but dominated the fourth quarter to rally for a 58-51 victory.

Baxter led 8-6 after one but was outscored 20-12 in the second. The hosts closed the gap to two after three but won the fourth 24-15 to advance to the district semifinals where they will face top-seeded North Mahaska (19-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday in New Sharon.

Sulzle and Travis led the Bolts with a pair of double-doubles. Travis totaled 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals, Sulzle finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists and Dee chipped in 24 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Dee was 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and Baxter finished 14-of-19 as a team, while Iowa Valley was only 6-of-12.

Stadan Vansice registered two rebounds and four assists, Maddux Tuhn posted two rebounds and three assists and Colten Damman grabbed two boards.

The Bolts (14-8) shot 36 percent from the floor, made only 2-of-13 from 3-point range and was out-rebounded 38-31 but committed only nine turnovers.

Iowa Valley (12-11) shot 40 percent from the floor and was 5-of-17 from the 3 but turned it over 13 times.

Caleb Haack led the Tigers with 24 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and six blocks.