DES MOINES — The Ballard Bombers delivered a commanding performance Monday afternoon, defeating Gilbert 70–40 in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at the Casey's Center to advance to the state semifinals.

Ballard set the tone early and never looked back, building an 18–9 lead after the first quarter before completely taking control in the second. The Bombers held Gilbert to just four points in the period while adding 17 of their own, taking a 35–13 lead into halftime.

The defensive effort proved to be the difference early, as Ballard forced difficult shots and controlled the glass. The Bombers finished with 35 total rebounds and limited Gilbert's offensive opportunities throughout the first half.

Offensively, Ballard was led by a balanced scoring attack. Jude Gibson paced the Bombers with 20 points while also distributing the ball effectively with eight assists. Evan Abbott added 16 points and five rebounds, while Easton Ersland contributed 15 points and two blocks. Parker Miller added seven points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

Ballard continued to extend its lead in the third quarter, outscoring Gilbert 19–15 to push the margin to 54–28 heading into the final period. The Bombers closed the game with a 16–12 fourth quarter to secure the 30-point victory.

As a team, Ballard shot 49 percent from the field and was strong at the free throw line, converting 17 of 20 attempts (85 percent). The Bombers also shared the ball well, finishing with 14 assists and forcing Gilbert into a difficult offensive night.

With the win, Ballard advances to the Class 3A state semifinals where they will face conference rival Carroll at 5:30 PM Wednesday in Des Moines.

The Bombers now sit one win away from playing for a state championship as they continue their postseason run.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography