This was no time to panic.

Jefferson built a 15-point lead in the first half, saw it shrink to two in the third quarter, then pulled away behind Maddie Koolbeck's 23 points and beat Marshalltown, 53-44, Wednesday night in a Class 4A regional girls basketball tournament game at Jefferson.

The J-Hawks (9-13) advance to play at Ames (14-7) Saturday in the regional semifinals.

Jefferson never trailed, but made it interesting in the second half, which started with an 8-2 Marshalltown run that cut Jefferson's lead to two points.

“We had it all the way,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said.

“It was breathtaking,” Niemeyer said on the stressful stretch. “It was not one of our better games but we got the win and that is what’s important.”

Koolbeck flexed her muscles late in the third going on her own 5-0 run to end the quarter and give the J-Hawks a 39-32 lead heading into the final quarter.

“It was getting too close for my comfort,” Koolbeck said. “I wasn’t going to lose. I got determined and went strong.”

The J-Hawks used the free throw line to hold off the Bobcats and push the final margin to nine. Jefferson had just one field goal in the final quarter but controlled the tempo and hit 12 of 17 free throws to wrap up the game.

“We pulled it out and tried to take care of the ball,” Niemeyer said. “We made some free throws at the end.”

All five starters contributed points in the first quarter as the J-Hawks built a 17-12 lead. Jefferson looked to pull away in the second as Koolbeck netted seven straight to push the lead to 15.

The Bobcats' physical play helped them bounce back and they ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to stay within striking distance at 32-24. The Bobcats were called for 28 fouls as they banged around the interior players for the J-Hawks.

“It was a very physical game,” Niemeyer said. “It set the tempo for the game.”

“I felt I was getting pushed around a lot,” Koolbeck added. “I just tried to recognize what was open and go strong through the contact.”

Marshalltown was led by Taylor Wagner with 15 points.

Kieley Brathwaite joined Koolbeck in double figures with 12 points for the J-Hawks.

“We got our ninth win tonight. That is a pretty good year considering all the injuries we have had,” Niemeyer said on his teams accomplishments with three starters sidelined due to injury. We have been playing with almost a new team now then with what we started with.”

“Our team has great chemistry and we are able to talk to each other to work through things,” Koolbeck added. “Girls have definitely stepped up with the three starters out.”

Marshalltown ended its season at 4-18.

MARSHALLTOWN (44): Madi Bellile 0 0-0 0, Eisha Oden 5 0-2 10, Taylor Wagner 6 1-2 15, Rachel Mattox 4 0-0 8, Lauren Mazour 3 1-2 7, Amanda Schrempf 1 0-0 2, Amanda Hughes 0 0-0 0, Emily Rebik 0 0-0 0, Abby Keith 1 0-0 2, Samantha Hughes 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 2-6 44.

JEFFERSON (53): Alleigha Church-Green 1 5-6 7, Maddy Blietz 1 0-0 2, Dani Stromert 1 7-10 9, Maddie Koolbeck 6 11-14 23, Kieley Brathwaite 4 3-4 12, Kylie Jonas 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 26-34 53.

Halftime – Jefferson 32, Marshalltown 24. 3-point goals – Marshalltown 2 (Wagner 2), Jefferson 1 (Brathwaite). Total Fouls – Marshalltown 28, Jefferson 9. Fouled out – Bellile, Oden, Mazour