Class 1A Regional Preview: Solomon, Washington County

The class A post-season tournament gets started Monday, February 18, with regional action. The 108 schools in the class will be battling to be one of two teams advancing to sub-state out of each regional. I will continue breaking down each region with analysis, predictions, and identify players to watch. Let's take a look at the Solomon and Washington County regionals. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="204"> <h2>Solomon Regional</h2> </td> <td width="90"> <h2> </h2> </td> <td width="210"> <h2>Washington County Regional</h2> </td> <td width="84"> <h2> </h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">St. John's-Tipton</td> <td width="90">(15-2)</td> <td width="210">#3 Frankfort </td> <td width="84">(18-1)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Southern Cloud</td> <td width="90">(10-6)</td> <td width="210">#7 Hanover </td> <td width="84">(17-3)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Lincoln</td> <td width="90">(8-11)</td> <td width="210">Clyde-Clifton </td> <td width="84">(12-8)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Solomon</td> <td width="90">(6-13)</td> <td width="210">Blue Valley - Randolph</td> <td width="84">(10-9)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Pike Valley</td> <td width="90">(4-12)</td> <td width="210">Washington County</td> <td width="84">(8-12)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Tescott</td> <td width="90">(3-14)</td> <td width="210">Wakefield</td> <td width="84">(5-14)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="204">Rock Hills</td> <td width="90">(1-14)</td> <td width="210">Linn</td> <td width="84">(4-13)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3>Soloman Regional</h3> St.John's-Tipton can be expected to run the table in this region with some ease. With only two losses on the season, losing two of three against Thunder Ridge in close games, the Bluejays thrashed second seed Southern Cloud by 31 and third seed Lincoln by 33. They will start their roll with a bye, awaiting the winner of Solomon and Pike Valley. The Bluejays beat Pike Valley by 22. Solomon has not faced any of the other teams in the region this season. I look for the Gorillas to take out Pike Valley by double figures. They match up well physically but Solomon has better and deeper guard play, especially in the full court, and are far more active defensively. Solomon does not have the fire power to advance further. Southern Cloud can be expected to advance to the finals after making short work of Rock Hills and then rolling by the winner of the coin flip game between Lincoln and Tescott. Lincoln beat them twice this season in close games and I expect this third meeting to not be any different. Neither team stayed with Southern Cloud during the regular season. My Picks: St. John's Tipton over Southern Cloud by 25. <h3>Washington County Regional</h3> Second seeded Hanover arguably has a better draw than top seeded Frankfort has. The Wildcats open with seven seed Linn and should have as little trouble with them as they did when they defeated them by 27 earlier this season. Hanover then will face the victor of Clifton-Clyde and Wakefield in the semi-finals. In their lone meeting this year Clifton-Clyde downed the Bombers by 33 and another decisive win is expected. The Wildcats should then decisively beat them but I would expect the game to be closer than the 30 point loss that was absorbed earlier this month. The Frankfort Wildcats, who received a first round bye, await the winner of Blue Valley-Randolph and Washington County. Frankfort, in 13 point wins over both teams this season, did not have an easy time and will not this time either, regardless of which team they face. Washington County earned a four point win at home over Rams. The rematch will be on the Rams' own floor. Should the Tigers win again, Frankfort will be taking them on on the Tigers' home floor. Hanover would clearly would like to face Tigers considering they dismantled them by 31 less than a week ago. Frankfort and Hanover split their meetings in close games. Blue Valley-Randolph was blown out by Hanover in mid-December and lost by 13 to Frankfort. My Picks: Frankfort over Hanover by 3. Players Lauryn Dubbert, St. John's Tipton, 5'7", 2021, G - averages 14.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.5 spg. 31 made threes on 33% shooting, honorable mention all-state Class 1A-I in 2018 Kara Eilert, St. John's Tipton, 6'0", 2019, C/PF - averages a double-double (12.8 ppg, 13.1rpg) Elle, Eilert, St. John's Tipton, 5'11", 2019, F - averages 12.6 rpg Kaitlyn Morris, Southern Cloud, 5'6", 2019, G - averages 13.6 ppg Makenna Reeves, Pike Valley, 5'4", 2020, PG - averages 11.8 ppg, 3.1 spg Jessica Jensen, Pike Valley, 5'9", 2020, F - averages 9.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg Kayla Webb, Solomon, 5'9", 2019, PG - averages 10.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.5 apg. Dara Robertson, Solomon, 6'0", 2019, C - shot blocker Carson Walter, Lincoln, 5'9", 2022, F - averages 10.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg Emily Ebert, Frankfort, 6'0", 2019, G/F - first team all-state class 1A-I in 2018. Missouri State commit. Macy Doebele, Hanover, 5'11", 2019, F - Washburn commit Tina Lohse, Hanover, 5'8", 2020, G - honorable mention all-state 1A-I in 2018. Brooklyn Zoeller, Blue Valley-Randolph, 5'7", 2020, G - averages 16.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 spg. 24 made threes on 33% shooting Allie Cassel, Blue Valley-Randolph, 5'8", 2020, G - averages a double-double (13.5 ppg, 10 rpg) Kate Budenbender, Blue Valley-Randolph, 5'11", 2019, C - averages 7 ppg, 7.8 rpg Kalista Hubert, Clifton-Clyde, 5'6", 2019, G - averages 12.2 ppg, 33 made threes on 31% shooting Jaysie Bowser, Clifton-Clyde, 5'4", 2020, PG - averages 11.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.9 spg Mallory Callihan, Clifton-Cyde, 5'8", 2021, F - averages 8.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg Grace Otott, Washington County, 5'7", 2020, G - best scorer