IHSA STATE FINALS: Macon Out-Muscles Woodlawn in Class 1A

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Although it closed a double-digit gap to just four points with 1:35 left, the Woodlawn Cardinals could not pull off a Class 1A state championship Saturday afternoon, falling to Macon-Meridian 63-53 in the title game.

Woodlawn, which lost just its second game of the season, was in the game for the longest time. It led 17-15 after one period and took a 26-22 lead in the second half before falling behind 30-28 at the half.

M-M made its move in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 14-8 to lead 44-36. It then went to a slowdown game in the fourth quarter, hitting 15 of 20 free throws to pull out the win.

"Every adjustment we threw at them, they made the proper adjustment," Woodlawn coach Shane Witzel said. "It's unfortunate and I hate it for the kids, but we got beat by a good basketball team."

The Cardinals opened the game well, getting eight points from Josh Wiggs off the bench and five more from Dawson Verhines to lead 17-15.

Iowa football signee Dakota Getz proved to be a handful for Woodlawn in the first half. Getz, who will play tight end in college, scored seven points in the opening quarter, then added 11 second-period points to lead the Hawks to a 30-28 lead at the half.

Woodlawn had taken a 26-22 lead late in the half. Baskets by Bronson Verhines and Casey Hammond put it up by four points, but Getz answered with three buckets and Trent Swigert added a steal and layin to give the Hawks the halftime edge.

An 11-4 run by Macon started the second half and put it ahead 41-32 on Swigert's 3-pointer from the wing. Meridian led 44-36 as the final quarer began.

D. Verhines, who led Woodlawn with 16 points took an early exit in the fourh quarter, fouling out with 6:21 left. Macon was ahead 47-39 when he picked up his fifth foul.

"He does so much for us," Witzel said. "We took a chance (when he had four fouls) and it didn't work out, but the kids out there really worked hard to try and win the game."

Down 55-45 after two Jase Green free throws, Woodlawn scored 8 of the next 10 points to claw back into the game, down 57-53 with 1:35 left.

Hammond hit a 3-pointer to make the score 56-48, Wiggs hit from the baseline with 1:45 left and Green converted a three-point play for the 57-53 score.

Macon held on, though getting 3 of 4 free throws from Swigert and two more freebies from Kyle Fore to put the game on ice.

D. Verhines led Woodlawn with 16 points, Green adding nine.

Getz led all scorers with 22 for Macon-Meridian.

Lewistown took home third place with a 50-35 win over Annawan in the first game Saturday.

Macon 15 15 14 19-63

Woodlawn 17 11 8 17-53

Macon Meridian (30-2): Getz 9-13 4-6 22. Shasteen 4-10 4-5 12, Fore 1-4 2-3 4, Burns 3-5 2-3 8, Swigert 3-8 10-14 17. Totals 20-41 22-31 63.

Woodlawn (30-2): Green 3-6 3-3 9, B. Verhones 3-6 2-3 8, Boldt 0-0 2-2 2, D. Verhines 7-9 2-3 16, Hammond 2-13 1-2 7. Totals 20-44 11-16 53.

3-pointes: MM (Swigert), WL 2 (Hammond 2)