Hampshire 59, Rockford Christian 42

POPLAR GROVE -- Hampshire just needed to slow down. With the adrenaline running high, the Whip-Purs struggled offensively in the first half. But once they settled down, the offense started clicking and they cruised to an easy 59-42 victory against Rockford Christian in the semifinal of the Class 2A North Boone regional here Wednesday.

Hampshire (14-12) will face top-seeded and No. 8 ranked Winnebago (23-2) for the title at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

T.J. Burzak scored 17 points and James Goebbert added 16 for Hampshire, which used a 9-1 run in the third quarter to break open a close game. Evan Brenner added 13 for the Whips.

Rockford Christian defeated Hampshire handily in a regular-season game in which Burzak got hurt early. Apparently the Lions anticipated a similar result.

"We heard them talking in the bleachers about how they were going to beat Winnebago, and that kind of motivated us before the game," said Goebbert. "Now we're going to be playing Winnebago."

Hampshire led 22-18 after a sloppy first half that saw both teams shoot around 30 percent from the field.

After intermission, the Whips seemed much more in sync. Justin Bieber hit a pair of 3-pointers and Goebbert scored twice in the third period.

"It was nerves," said Hampshire coach Bob Barnett of his team's first-half struggles. "We were too quick to get rid of the ball instead of letting things come to us. But we settled down and started handling the pressure better."

Hampshire led 29-23 midway through the third quarter when Bieber hit his second 3-pointer. After a Christian free throw, Goebbert scored. Burzak and Will Bush each made a free throw, and Goebbert scored again, completing the big run.

Brenner's 3-pointer ignited a 7-0 spurt in the fourth quarter that gave the Whips a 46-31 lead with 4 minutes to play.

Bieber and Bush each finished with 6 points for Hampshire and neither made a 2-point basket. All Bush's points came on free throws.

Burzak also had 9 rebounds, and Goebbert added 7, as Hampshire outrebounded the much taller Lions, 30-28.

With 6-foot-5 Jeffrey Rehfeldt and 6-7 Drew Anderson patrolling the paint, Rockford Christian made things tough for Hampshire inside. Jeffrey Rehfeldt finished with 6 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Justin Rehfeldt led the Lions with 10 points.

Rockford Christian finished the season 14-11.