Things started to go off the rails for the Lynx in the eighth minute and there was only one place to go from there — a complete train wreck.

Ballard had plenty to do with that too.

Sixth-seeded Ballard scored back-to-back three-point plays in the final 10 seconds of the first period to grab the lead and they ignited a 19-0 run that quickly put the postseason contest on the path of a rout for the Bombers, 77-48.

If it could go wrong, it did go wrong for WCHS (11-10) over the final three periods. The Lynx were out-rebounded 28-18, they gave up 15 offensive caroms to the bigger Bombers (16-6) and they committed 19 turnovers, many of which turned into uncontested buckets at the other end of the floor.

Webster City sophomore forward Jamin Stuhr is knocked to the floor after colliding with Ballard forward Connor Drew during Monday’s Class 3A Substate 2 quarterfinal in Algona. Drew scored a game-high 19 points in Ballard’s 77-48 win over the Lynx. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“They’re good and we knew that coming in here,” WCHS head coach Marty McKinney said minutes after his team saw its season end. “They’ve got athletes, they’ve got guys that can shoot, they’re aggressive … I don’t think you can pinpoint one thing. But we had to score points and when we’re sitting at 23 at halftime and 48 for the game, you’re just not going to give yourself a chance to win, and 19 turnovers are a big part of that.”

WCHS went more than seven minutes without a field goal before Carter Neuroth scored in the lane with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter. Ballard outscored the Lynx 31-5 during the extended dry spell.

The Bombers’ margin was 19 points, 42-23, at the half.

McKinney was pleased with how his team started the contest. WCHS caught Ballard off guard with a 2-2-1 zone press and it allowed the Lynx to hang around. The Bombers answered with their own press late in the first quarter though and WCHS didn’t have an answer.

“In the first quarter we did what we needed to, but at the end of the quarter we had two turnovers that they scored on with fouls and that swung the momentum,” McKinney said. “We knew they’d make some adjustments and they came with some pressure, but we didn’t handle it well.

WCHS junior Tyler Olson (20) attempts to shoot over Ballard big man Kale Krogh (54) on Monday in Algona. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“We were OK offensively in the first half, but when you have that many turnovers that lead to layups you’re just taking yourself out of the ballgame.”

Ballard outscored WCHS 30-14 in the third quarter to up the advantage to 35 points and start the running clock. It would have been worse had Tavis Eklund not gotten hot from the perimeter. The Lynx guard buried three 3-pointers in the third, four in the second half and five in the game. He finished with a team-high 17 points, and Neuroth pitched in 12 more.

“That was a good way for (Eklund) to finish the season,” McKinney said. “He looked really good with his shot and he was confident. He had some looks inside too, which is something he’s going to have to do to expand his game before next season because everyone knows how well he can shoot.”

Tyler Olson added seven points, but he was hobbled for much of the game after taking a knee to the thigh on a baseline drive midway through the first quarter.

With its starters on the bench throughout the fourth quarter, Ballard led by as many as 38

WCHS head coach Marty McKinney talks to his son, Ty (4), and Will Tasler on the bench on Monday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“The frustration kicked in (during the second half),” McKinney aid. “It was just something we couldn’t battle through.”

Six-foot-6 forward Connor Drew led Ballard and all scorers with 19 points. Ashton Hermann erupted for 17 more and the Bombers other tower inside, 6-5 Kale Krogh, finished with 12.

Monday marked the end of the line for six WCHS seniors — Neuroth, Drake Doering and Will Tasler, all starters, as well as reserves Lincoln LaSourd, Elijah Killian and Casey Kolbeck. Doering had three points in his final outing, Tasler and LaSourd two each. Tasler and Jamin Stuhr also ripped down three rebounds each.

Ballard, which is 8-1 over its last nine games, advanced to Thursday’s regional semifinal against second-seeded and ninth-ranked Algona (18-4), which knocked off Hampton-Dumont/CAL, 60-50, in another quarterfinal on Monday. The semifinal will be back in Algona.

Ballard 77, Webster City 48

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Class 3A Substate 2 Quarterfinal

Monday at Algona

Webster City (11-10) — Ty McKinney 0 1-5 1, Drake Doering 1 0-0 3, Trey Lyons 0 0-0 0, Tavis Eklund 6 0-0 17, Tyler Olson 3 1-2 7, Carter Neuroth 4 3-5 12, Lincoln LaSourd 1 0-0 2, Jamin Stuhr 0 2-4 2, Casey Kolbeck 0 0-0 0, Will Tasler 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 7-16 48.

Ballard (16-6) — Mason Murphy 0 2-3 1, Nic Edwards 4 0-0 10, Sam Petersen 1 0-0 2, Kade Reinertson 3 0-0 7, Drake Wunder 0 0-1 0, Isaiah Peasley 1 0-0 3, Ashton Hermann 8 0-0 17, Colby Calvert 0 0-0 0, Connor Drew 8 1-3 19, Kyler Watson 1 0-0 2, Alex Upah 0 0-0 0, Jacob Ihle 2 0-0 5, Bryce Haessig 0 0-0 0, Kale Krogh 6 0-1 12. Totals: 34 3-7 77.

Web. City 12 11 14 11 — 48

Ballard 15 27 30 5 — 77

3-point field goals — WC 7 (Eklund 5, Doering, Neuroth); Ballard 8 (Edwards 2, Drew 2, Reinertson, Peasley, Hermann, Ihle). Rebounds — WC 18 (Tasler 3, Stuhr 3). Steals — WC 5 (Neuroth 3). Assists — WC 2. Turnovers — 19. Team fouls — WC 15, Ballard 16. Fouled out — none.