Junior Maddie Bosworth capped off Dowling’s fourth quarter comeback by banking in a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds to play giving West Des Moines Dowling a 38-37 win over Xavier in a battle of ranked teams Saturday afternoon at Xavier High School.

No. 11 Xavier (12-4) had a last chance to win, but a long pass after multiple time outs was intercepted and No. 13 Dowling (13-2) had the win.

“I knew we had to make a big play and I was ready,” Bosworth said. “It felt good on the release, I was confident it was going in.”

The game was close throughout, making fr an exciting fourth quarter. Dowling cut what had been a Xavier seven-point lead to two that forced Saints Coach Tom Lilly to take a timeout. Xavier came back and extended its lead back to six with 3:30 to play. Dowling Coach Bob Hanson used a timeout of his own and got his team into an aggressive full court trapping man defense. The timeout served its purpose as Dowling again cut the lead to two. From there, it was an intense and great finish.

The teams went free throw for free throw late in the fourth to keep the game close. With Xavier clinging to a two-point lead, Bosworth gave Dowling its first lead of the half knocking down a 3-pointer with about a minute to play. Xavier senior Alex Saxen quickly answered back with a layup that gave Xavier the lead again.

Xavier sophomore Sarah Dickes gave the Saiints a 37-35 lead with 23 seconds left when she made one of two free throws.

Coach Hanson used a timeout to set up the heroics of Bosworth. Bosworth banked in a 3 from the top of the key with 2.4 seconds remaining to give Dowling a one point lead.

“We had recently run it (the same play) and were going to look for that same shot,” Hanson said. “She came off the double pick and got the shot.”

Senior Caitlyn Fuller and Bosworth each had nine for Dowling. Saxen led Xavier with 11 and Krissi Tow chipped in nine.

The Saints and Maroons played very fundamental man-to man defense all day and the score was just 2-1 in the Saints favor after five minutes of play. The first quarter ended with the Saints leading, 10-6.

The second quarter was a tale of two runs, one by each team. Dowling came out and looked to take control early with a 7-2 run to take a 13-12 lead. Xavier struck back with a 7-0 run, capped off by a half court 3-pointer by senior Alex Saxen to end the half that gave the Saints a 19-13 lead.

The third quarter was very evenly played as both teams continued to run patient offenses against very good man to man defense. Xavier went in to the fourth quarter holding a 28-21 lead.

Xavier hosts sixth-ranked Waterloo West on Tuesday night. 

XAVIER (37): Annie Dale 2 0-0 5, Sarah Dickes 2 1-2 6, Alex Saxen 4 0-0 11, Emily Walvoord 2 0-0 4, Krissi Tow 3 3-4 9, Katelyn Winker 0 0-0 0, Katlyn Anderson 0 0-0 0, Lisa Boomgarden 0 0-0 2, Alex Bartz 1 0-0 2. Total 14 4-7 37.

WDM DOWLING (38): Maddie Bosworth 3 0-0 9, Caitlyn Fuller 4 0-1 9, Morgan Mauro 2 0-2 6, Haley Faber 0 5-6 5, Lizzy Stachon 0 5-8 5, Sara Morrissey 1 0-0 2, Erin Brown 1 0-0 2, Sarah Triplett 0 0-0 0. Total 11 10-17 38.

Halftime – Xavier 19, Dowling 13. 3-point goals – Xavier 5 (Dale, Dickes, Saxen 3), Dowling 6 (Bosworth 3, Fuller, Mauro 2).