ESTHERVILLE, IOWA -- A trio of 3-pointers late in the second half allowed Iowa Lakes to pull away from Ellsworth CC and the Lakers went on to end the Panthers' season with an 84-75 win in the Region XI semifinal round on Sunday.  ECC found itself trailing 69-68 with less than 5 minutes remaining, but Iowa Lakes used the 3 threes in a 9-2 run to extend the advantage.  The Panthers didn't get closer than 5 points after that.

Ellsworth was on top by as many as 6 points in the opening period before a 12-4 spurt to end the half allowed the Lakers to go ahead, 46-38, at intermission.  ECC ran off 9 consecutive points in the early stages of the final period and eventually took a 3-point lead.  But the 3-pointers and free throws down the stretch let ILCC claim the victory.

Dior Davis led all scorers with 25 points for ECC.  Shawn Fulcher added 12 and handed out 5 assists.  Jordan Glenn-Hawkins also scored 12.

The Panthers' bench, so productive all season, could only account for 11 points and none of the reserves had more than 3 points.  Iowa Lakes also hurt ECC on the glass, winning the board battle, 51-36.

Ellsworth closes the season, the first under Bryan Bender, with 22 wins, the most for an ECC team in 9 years.  This year's squad matched that 2013-14 team's 22-10 record.