Five Takeaways: Sioux City West vs. Ames
Mason Asher
After a slow start in the Class 5A, Region 3 Semi-Final on Saturday afternoon, Ames got it together and jumped to a 18-13 first quarter lead and didn't look back. They easily took down Sioux City West 61-47. With the win, Ames moves on to the finals to take on Johnston on Tuesday night. Here are my five takeaways from the game.
Ames Sophomores Lead the Way The sophomore trio of Caroline Waite, Ashley Iiams, and Brooke Spraggins once again led Ames to the victory. Waite didn't shoot the ball as well as she normally does going 8-of-21 from the field and 3-of-9 from behind the arc. She still scored 19 points and also added in seven assists. Iiams scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the game. She is a really solid post who can hit it from the outside. She made three 3-pointers in the game and is able to score in the post pretty well too. Spraggins is known as a great defender, but you can't forget about her scoring ability too. Spraggins scored 13 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. When this trio is knocking down their shots, they will be tough to beat. Don't forget about Teagan Lipsey Lipsey was a bit under-the-radar in this one, and is a player that isn't looked at on this team as much as the three sophomores above. I thought that Lipsey played really well in this one even though she might not get a lot of credit. In the game I saw against Dowling Catholic, Lipsey grabbed five offensive boards. In this one, she grabbed five offensive rebounds and four defensive. She was paramount in extending possessions and giving Ames extra shots. She also added in three assists and two steals in the game. Nia Moore could explode next year While not a shooter, Moore was pretty effective in this game. She is solid at getting the ball in the mid-post, and then getting to the basket. The third leading scorer on her team this year, Moore led Sioux City West with 12 points. She is just a sophomore and has good ball skills, so I think that once she gets to the position where she can shoot it effectively it will grow her games leaps and bounds. Moore is a very good rebounder as well. She had a game earlier this year where she brought down 18 rebounds. She fouled out late in the game and I thought that once she did, it really put the nail in the coffin. After not playing much in the beginning of the year, she cracked the starting lineup and gave great minutes. What's Next for Sioux City West? With just one senior on the team this year, the future is bright for Sioux City West. Bricelyn Comstock, the senior, was the leading scorer on this team. While the loss of her services will hurt, this is a team with some talent. With the potential of Moore to breakout as a junior, and the fact that second-leading scorer Hope Wagner did not play in the game, this is a team that should be improved next year. The question remains to be seen if they could get past Johnston or even Ames in the region. Can Ames make it past Johnston and onto Des Moines? Short answer: maybe. Ames has fallen to Johnston in both previous contests. The first Ames fell at home 61-38, but the second was much closer as Johnston pulled out a 58-45 win one their home court. Ames has struggled with height this year, and Johnston has two very solid players who are over 6' tall. Ames is also going to have to play better offensively as in both games previously, Ames has been held below their average made 3-pointers. Johnston has shot over 50 percent in both prior games so the keys to a win are playing solid defense, and making their outside shots. I predict a Johnston win, but I think it'll be closer than people think and I would not be surprised if Ames pulled it out.
Ames Sophomores Lead the Way The sophomore trio of Caroline Waite, Ashley Iiams, and Brooke Spraggins once again led Ames to the victory. Waite didn't shoot the ball as well as she normally does going 8-of-21 from the field and 3-of-9 from behind the arc. She still scored 19 points and also added in seven assists. Iiams scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the game. She is a really solid post who can hit it from the outside. She made three 3-pointers in the game and is able to score in the post pretty well too. Spraggins is known as a great defender, but you can't forget about her scoring ability too. Spraggins scored 13 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. When this trio is knocking down their shots, they will be tough to beat. Don't forget about Teagan Lipsey Lipsey was a bit under-the-radar in this one, and is a player that isn't looked at on this team as much as the three sophomores above. I thought that Lipsey played really well in this one even though she might not get a lot of credit. In the game I saw against Dowling Catholic, Lipsey grabbed five offensive boards. In this one, she grabbed five offensive rebounds and four defensive. She was paramount in extending possessions and giving Ames extra shots. She also added in three assists and two steals in the game. Nia Moore could explode next year While not a shooter, Moore was pretty effective in this game. She is solid at getting the ball in the mid-post, and then getting to the basket. The third leading scorer on her team this year, Moore led Sioux City West with 12 points. She is just a sophomore and has good ball skills, so I think that once she gets to the position where she can shoot it effectively it will grow her games leaps and bounds. Moore is a very good rebounder as well. She had a game earlier this year where she brought down 18 rebounds. She fouled out late in the game and I thought that once she did, it really put the nail in the coffin. After not playing much in the beginning of the year, she cracked the starting lineup and gave great minutes. What's Next for Sioux City West? With just one senior on the team this year, the future is bright for Sioux City West. Bricelyn Comstock, the senior, was the leading scorer on this team. While the loss of her services will hurt, this is a team with some talent. With the potential of Moore to breakout as a junior, and the fact that second-leading scorer Hope Wagner did not play in the game, this is a team that should be improved next year. The question remains to be seen if they could get past Johnston or even Ames in the region. Can Ames make it past Johnston and onto Des Moines? Short answer: maybe. Ames has fallen to Johnston in both previous contests. The first Ames fell at home 61-38, but the second was much closer as Johnston pulled out a 58-45 win one their home court. Ames has struggled with height this year, and Johnston has two very solid players who are over 6' tall. Ames is also going to have to play better offensively as in both games previously, Ames has been held below their average made 3-pointers. Johnston has shot over 50 percent in both prior games so the keys to a win are playing solid defense, and making their outside shots. I predict a Johnston win, but I think it'll be closer than people think and I would not be surprised if Ames pulled it out.
