Karlee Lynch scored 17 points to lead the Spartans, one of three in double-digit scoring along with Kali Aldrich (11) and Ava Mundt (10). The Spartans (15-7) head to New Sharon to take on No. 4 North Mahaska in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday.

Aldrich and Raelyn Steinmeyer hit a pair of 3-pointers before halftime to boost Grundy Center to a 26-18 lead in a physical first half where Alburnett was hanging around with the Spartans.

“The coaches reminded us that we could play a lot better than this,” Mundt said of the halftime message. “We could show everyone that we could play better.”

The Spartans drummed up an 8-0 run to start the third quarter fueled by tenacious defense creating turnovers and fast-break buckets for Maddy Hendershot, Lynch and Aldrich.

“There were some defensive errors in that first half that we just normally don’t make, and we weren’t communicating the best,” Grundy Center head coach Matt Lindeman said. “Those first couple minutes of the second half were different and dictated more of what we wanted to do. Hats off to Alburnett for making some shots in that first half that kept it close at key times.”

The Pirates went on an 8-0 run late in the third quarter but another Steinmeyer 3-pointer before the horn gave the Spartans the momentum going into the final quarter, where the hosts eventually peeled away with yet another 8-0 run that included six points from Aldrich.

“We really came together as a team, talked more, and just played a lot better,” Mundt said. “It was really physical in the paint and we just had to box out really good, communicate and use our athleticism.”

Friday will be the first meeting between the Spartans and North Mahaska since Dec. 4, 2023 when the Warhawks finished a home-and-away non-conference series with Grundy Center with a 53-46 win; the Warhawks also owned the other win in that series, 45-39 on Dec. 5, 2022.

While Grundy looks like a different team from two years ago, Lindeman said North Mahaska’s lineup is senior-laden, led by Breckyn Schilling averaging 13.6 points per game.

“We’ll have to take another step forward,” Lindeman said. “We’re going to be facing a really good North Mahaska team that just gets after you in man-to-man defense and has just enough offensive threats. You can tell they’ve played quite a bit of basketball together. We’ll have our hands full but look forward to the challenge.”

Grundy Center 58, Alburnett 40

ALBURNETT (9-13) — Kylie Cushman 0 0-2 0, Ingrid Landa 3 1-2 9, Jessye Bryant 4 5-5 14, Miranda Neighbor 1 2-4 4, Katelynn Bowler 1 0-0 2, Emma Stiffler 0 0-2 0, Haylee Flannery 0 0-0 0, Maci Jahnel 0 0-0 0, Ellie Schrader 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 13 8-15 40.

GRUNDY CENTER (15-7) — Maddy Hendershot 3 0-0 6, Kali Aldrich 3 3-3 11, Karlee Lynch 6 5-5 17, Caturella Brown 1 1-2 3, Ava Mundt 2 6-8 10, Raelyn Steinmeyer 2 1-2 7, Taitlyn Thran 1 0-0 2, Teresa Noble 0 0-0 0, Skylar Reding 0 0-0 0, Trinity Jirovsky 0 2-2 2, Kennedy Scott 0 0-0 0, Erin Richtsmeier 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 18 18-22 58.

ALBURNETT 8 10 14 8 — 40

GRUNDY CTR. 11 15 20 18 — 58

3-Point Goals–Alburnett 6 (Bowler 3, Landa 2, Bryant), GC 4 (Aldrich 2, Steinmeyer 2). Team Fouls–Alburnett 16, GC 14. Fouled Out–none.