-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Pocahontas Area celebrate beating Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont during 2A quarterfinals on Wednesday inside Wells Fargo Arena

DES MOINES — For three quarters, the frenetic pace set by the Pocahontas Area girls gave Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont fits.

Over the final eight minutes, the Indians simple wore the Rockets out.

All that added up to a 47-36 victory here inside Wells Fargo Arena for Pocahontas Area, which advanced to the Class 2A semifinals.

The Indians (21-4 overall) will take on another unbeaten in Central Lyon (23-0), who moved on with a 66-30 win over Panorama. That game is set for 11:45 a.m. on Friday. The winner of that game faces either Dike-New Hartford (24-1) or Sibley-Ocheyedan (22-3) for the title on Saturday.

“From the moment we knew it was EBF we were playing, we started preparing the girls for each role they had,” PAC co-head coach Robert Maske said. “We told them they would play in three-minute bursts and that is exactly what we did.

“We felt prepared to go 10 deep because we’ve done it a few times this year. I thought the girls responded and did exactly what we wanted and it worked exactly how we wanted it to work.”

In the state tournament for the first time since completing a run of back-to-back state titles in 2017, Pocahontas Area showed no nerves on the big stage. They took the lead over EBF with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter and never relinquished it.

Akaysa Duitscher, who is headed to Northwestern College in the fall, scored a game-high 20 points, knocking down six 3-pointers. Carly Janssen, a Simpson College commit, added eight points, while Abby Oberhelman, who will play at Wartburg College, chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.

“Once Akaysa gets going, she is tough to guard,” Maske said. “She has incredible range. We just feel like we have capable shooters and we have always told them that even if you miss a couple early, keep shooting and keep putting up the good looks that you get because they will eventually go in.”

The Indians used their depth and speed to overmatch the size advantage of the Rockets. They out-rebounded Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 40-34, including a 19-8 edge on the offensive glass.

Janssen sank a pair of 3-pointers midway through the second to push the Pocahontas Area lead to 20-12, as they would lead 22-17 heading into the break. An 8-2 lead in the third gave the Indians a commanding 10-point cushion with a quarter to play.

After really pushing the tempo and subbing in five different players at a time, Pocahontas Area was able to methodically pick the Rockets apart over the final eight minutes.

Paige Melohn, one of six seniors, had five rebounds and five assists, and moved the Indians into the next round on the official state tournament bracket.

“Everything we do starts with Paige,” Maske said. “We match her up with the best player on the opposing team regardless of the position that girl plays. I’ve told her after a game that I didn’t notice you once on defense because the girl she was guarding had no part in the offense.

“Her abilities on that end of the court are what really set the tone for us.”

For Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Molly Shafer scored 17 points and Kate Shafer grabbed 13 rebounds. The Rockets blocked 14 shots in the game, but were just 1-for-11 from the 3-point line.

POCAHONTAS AREA 47, EDDYVILLE-BLAKESBURG-FREMONT 36

Pocahontas Area — Carly Janssen 3-16 0-0 8, Akaysa Duitscher 6-10 2-2 20, Megan Sump 1-4 0-0 2, Paige Melohn 0-10 0-0 0, Abby Oberhelman 4-8 0-0 8, Delaney Janssen 0-2 0-0 0, Kristin Axman 0-0 0-0 0, Amanda Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Madison Vial 0-3 0-0 0, Jenna Vonnahme 0-2 2-2 2, Kaylynn Reed 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Point 1-3 0-0 3, Alayna Kakacek 2-4 0-0 4, Halee Hauswirth 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Rierson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-62 4-4 47.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont — Molly Shafer 6-12 5-6 17, Whitney Klyn 2-5 0-0 5, Ava Eastlick 3-9 2-2 8, Kate Shafer 1-9 0-0 2, Allya Wagamon 2-4 0-0 4, Cooper Champoux 0-0 0-0 0, Kaylee Helm 0-3 0-0 0, Lacey Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Neis 0-0 0-0 0, Chloe Lyon 0-0 0-0 0, Ella Ray 0-0 0-0 0, Bella Noble 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 14-43 7-8 36.

Quarter scores: Pocahontas Area led 14-10, 22-17, 35-25. Three-point goals: Pocahontas Area 9-32 (C. Janssen 2-10, Duitscher 6-9, Sump 0-1, Melohn 0-6, D. Janssen 0-2, Vial 0-2, Point 1-2), EBF 1-11 (M. Shafer 0-1, Klyn 1-1, Eastlick 0-4, K. Shafer 0-2, Helm 0-2, Noble 0-1). Total rebounds: Pocahontas Area 40, EBF 34. Turnovers: Pocahontas Area 16, EBF 23. Steals: Pocahontas Area 17, EBF 9. Blocked shots: Pocahontas Area 5, EBF 14. Points off turnovers: Pocahontas Area 11, EBF 6.