2017 Jeff West Girls Sub-State Champions (photo courtesy of Faith Becker)

Heading into Friday the Jeff West girls’ basketball program had never had the feeling of making it to a state championship game.

That all changes Saturday afternoon, after the Tigers claimed a spot in the Class 4A-II state championship with a 57-41 win over Andale Friday afternoon inside White Auditorium in Emporia.

The Tigers ran into a red-hot shooting Indian team early on, though, as Andale drilled five 3-pointers in the opening quarter to lead 17-13 after one. Jeff West was never fazed, holding the Indians to just two points in the second quarter to take a 22-19 lead into halftime.

The Jeff West offense finally got going in the third quarter, as Alyssa Garza and Tayler Metzger combined for 14 points in the quarter as the Tigers pushed their lead to 10 after three and went 11-of-12 from the foul line in the quarter to ice the game away.

The Tigers held Andale to just 2-of-12 shooting from the perimeter in the second half after the Indians went 5-of-8 in the first two quarters.

Junior, Mariah Murdie of Jeff West finished with a double-double, four blocks and was the “Player to Bank On” on 103.9 KNZA.

Jeff West (20-4) will face off against top seed Girard (23-1) in the championship Saturday afternoon, with tip off at 4:00 on FM 103.9 KNZA or online here.

Jeff West: Mariah Murdie – 12, Alyssa Garza – 12, Aaliyah Negonsott – 11, Tayler Metzger – 10, Faith Becker – 7, Taylor Giltner – 3, Jordan Negonsott – 2.

Andale: Rachel Bergkamp – 11, Maggie Knoblauch – 10, Jill Bergkamp – 10, Tyler Winter – 5, Sophia Easter – 3, Bria Gutschenritter – 2.