Heading into the Class 2A State Tournament on Wednesday the Valley Heights girls knew they would need someone to step up in order to get past a formidable first round opponent in Wabaunsee who entered the tournament with a 20-3 record.

The Mustangs got just that and then some from sophomore Emma Yungeberg, who exploded for 17 points and 20 rebounds as Valley Heights built a big lead and hung on late to move on to the semifinals inside Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan with a 51-45 win over Wabaunsee.

Yungeberg was great throughout as she finished with eight offensive rebounds which helped the Mustangs outrebound the Chargers 47-32.

Early on Valley Heights looked like they may run away with the game as they jumped out to an 11-7 lead after the first quarter with junior Emma Toerber notching six points in the opening frame.

The Mustangs then extended that lead to double digits in the second quarter behind six points from Yungeberg in the quarter and five more from fellow sophomore Cat Toerber, but Wabaunsee made a late run and pulled back within 23-15 at the half.

Toerber came out hot again in the third quarter and scored six more points out of halftime as the Mustangs built a 13-point lead going into the fourth.

That lead then ballooned to as many as 15 points in the fourth, but the Chargers wouldn’t go down without a fight as they forced five Mustang turnovers and took advantage of missed free throws in the fourth to pull within five with under two minutes to go.

In the final 90 seconds the Mustangs were able to hit just enough free throws including at one point three straight by senior Kennedy Stevenson to hang on for the five-point victory despite shooting just 18-of-36 (50%) from the line.  

Besides Yungeberg’s big night it was another solid outing for Emma Toerber who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds while defensively the Mustangs held Wabaunsee to just 26 percent shooting from the floor in the game.

The Chargers end their season at 20-4 while the Mustangs (22-2) advance to the 2A State Semifinals Friday night against unbeaten Spearville who took down Pitt-Colgan Wednesday 55-41.

Tip off for Friday’s semifinal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Manhattan with live coverage on 92.1 KMZA.

Valley Heights: Emma Yungeberg – 17, Emma Toerber – 12, Cat Toerber – 7, Maddy Vermetten – 7, Sam Vermetten – 4, Kennedy Stevenson – 4.