Titans end third straight season for IKM-Manning

 ROCKWELL CITY -- A slow start to each half proved tough to overcome for the IKM-Manning girls basketball team Tuesday night.
 Crawling out of a 9-0 hole to start the game, IKM-M led 27-25 at halftime but South Central Calhoun controlled the third quarter (13-5) and held off the Wolves, 53-48, in a Class 2-A, Region 6 quarterfinal.
 The Titans (17-4) ended IKM-Manning’s season for the third straight year - twice in regionals, once at state - and advanced to Friday’s regional semifinal round at 12th-ranked Des Moines Christian (20-2). The other semifinal will pit 7th-ranked Manson-Northwest Webster vs. Dike-New Hartford.
 “We had a great second quarter ... then another slow start in the third, (but) we were able to battle back,” said IKM-M head coach Gene Rasmussen. “It was close down the stretch. We had to foul and they made free throws.”