Tatum beat Melrose 47-27 for its 29th consecutive game with in a quarterfinal matchup at Del Norte High School. The Coyotes (29-1) only loss this season was to Texico in their season opener.

Armitage grabbed the rebound on a missed Des Moines free throw and was fouled with 20 seconds left. She missed the one-and-one, but Elida got the ball back on an alternate possession after freshman Morgan McBride forced a held ball.

Armitage was fouled again on the inbounds play, and this time sank the first of two free throws. On Des Moines' possession, junior Lindsey Ward took a charge against the Lady Demons' Amaris Newkirk as time expired.

Ward came off the bench to get a personal-best 12 points for Elida. The Lady Demons (25-5), who won three consecutive 1A titles from 2002-04 before losing in last year's finals to Fort Sumner, were led by 16 points from Newkirk and 14 from 6-foot-1 senior center Kelli Goodan.

Goodan, though, was plagued by fouls. She picked up her fourth personal late in the third quarter and fouled out with just over a minute left in regulation.

The Lady Tigers led 10-4 early in the second quarter, but Des Moines scored the final six points of the half for a 16-14 lead. Des Moines broke away from a 24-24 tie after three quarters for a six-point lead early in the fourth before Elida turned up its pressure defense and mounted a comeback.

In contrast, Melrose started slowly, falling behind 7-0, but rallied to a 7-7 tie by quarter's end against Tatum. The Lady Coyotes, though, dominated the second period, building a 10-point halftime lead.

Melrose (13-18) was still within 10 points early in the final period before the Lady Coyotes pulled away. Senior forward Sage Jones scored 12 points to pace a balanced attack for Tatum, which didn't make a 3-pointer but helped itself with a 17-for-22 performance from the free throw line.

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