State Tournament Preview: Day 2

The state tournament is finally here! We have 40 teams vying to hold the trophy but only five teams will head home with it in their possession. Day 1 is in the books and now we look to have our last 3A quarterfinal, all four of the 4A quarterfinals, and two of the 2A quarterfinals on Day 2. We will look at each matchup below as well as give a few players to watch and finally give our prediction! View the complete schedule here: <a href="https://ighsau.org/upl/downloads/library/basketball-2020-finalpairings805.pdf">Girls State Tournament Schedule</a> <hr /> <strong>3A Quarterfinal</strong>: #3 Bishop Heelan (19-4) vs. #6 Des Moines Christian (22-2) This will be the first meeting all-time between these two teams. Both of these teams have been neck and neck in the rankings all year long with Bishop Heelan getting the slight edge due to strength of schedule. Des Moines Christian has one of the best juniors in the state while Bishop Heelan plays really well as a team. This one can go either way. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ella-skinner/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ella-skinner/">Ella Skinner</a></a> - 2020 - Bishop Heelan - Wayne State commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amber-aesoph/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amber-aesoph/">Amber Aesoph</a></a> - 2020 - Bishop Heelan <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/katelyn-stanley/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/katelyn-stanley/">Katelyn Stanley</a></a> - 2020 - Bishop Heelan <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/moriah-prewitt/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/moriah-prewitt/">Moriah Prewitt</a></a> - 2021 - Des Moines Christian <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kate-muller/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kate-muller/">Kate Muller</a></a> - 2021 - Des Moines Christian <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-miller/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-miller/">Megan Miller</a></a> - 2021 - Des Moines Christian <strong>Prediction</strong>: Bishop Heelan 62, Des Moines Christian 61 <hr /> <strong>4A Quarterfinal</strong>: #1 North Scott (23-0) vs. #8 Clear Creek-Amana (19-4) @ 11:45AM North Scott has motored through their schedule this year and they are looking to repeat as 4A champions. They are going to have a bit of a tough time this year as the 4A bracket is loaded. North Scott is the rightful top seed in the bracket. Clear Creek-Amana has the eighth seed after knocking off Marion in a shocker. They aren't going to back down though as they haven't all year long. These two teams haven't met in their history. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/grace-boffeli/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/grace-boffeli/">Grace Boffeli</a></a> - 2020 - North Scott - Northern Iowa commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/presley-case/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/presley-case/">Presley Case</a></a> - 2020 - North Scott - St. Ambrose commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/samantha-scott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/samantha-scott/">Samantha Scott</a></a> - 2021 - North Scott <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/karsyn-stratton/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/karsyn-stratton/">Karsyn Stratton</a></a> - 2020 - Clear Creek-Amana - Kirkwood commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/meagan-harvey/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/meagan-harvey/">Meagan Harvey</a></a> - 2020 - Clear Creek-Amana - Coe commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/calia-clubb/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/calia-clubb/">Calia Clubb</a></a> - 2022 - Clear Creek-Amana <strong>Prediction</strong>: North Scott 75, Clear Creek-Amana 58 <hr /> <strong>4A Quarterfinal</strong>: #4 Center Point-Urbana (21-2) vs. #5 Waverly-Shell Rock (20-2) @ 1:30PM Center Point-Urbana beat Waverly-Shell Rock once this season 40-38 in an early-season matchup and they will look to do it once again. Both of these teams have taken care of business easily all season long and are looking to come out champions. Center Point-Urbana won the 3A title last year and is looking to be a repeat champion. <strong>Players to Watch </strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbie-draper/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbie-draper/">Abbie Draper</a></a> - 2021 - Waverly-Shell Rock - Bradley commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/britney-young/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/britney-young/">Britney Young</a></a> - 2020 - Waverly-Shell Rock <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/adrianna-katcher/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/adrianna-katcher/">Adrianna Katcher</a></a> - 2020 - Center Point-Urbana - Southern Illinois commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ryley-goebel/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ryley-goebel/">Ryley Goebel</a></a> - 2022 - Center Point-Urbana <strong>Prediction</strong>: Waverly-Shell Rock 56, Center Point-Urbana 55 <hr /> <strong>4A Quarterfinal</strong>: #2 Glenwood (24-0) vs. Gilbert #7 (19-3) @ 3:15PM Another game in the opening round of the tournament that pits two teams against each other that have never played before. Glenwood is on a hot streak and has easily beaten everyone that has come in their way. They are a high scoring group that puts up a ton of points. Gilbert is a little more defensively minded and they don't put up near as many points. This is going to be a good game to see contrasting styles in action. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elle-scarborough/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elle-scarborough/">Elle Scarborough</a></a> - 2021 - Glenwood <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/madison-camden/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/madison-camden/">Madison Camden</a></a> - 2022 - Glenwood <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jenna-hopp/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jenna-hopp/">Jenna Hopp</a></a> - 2023 - Glenwood <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nessa-johnson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nessa-johnson/">Nessa Johnson</a></a> - 2021 - Gilbert <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/emma-bulman/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/emma-bulman/">Emma Bulman</a></a> - 2021 - Gilbert <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ava-hawthorne/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ava-hawthorne/">Ava Hawthorne</a></a> - 2022 - Gilbert <strong>Prediction</strong>: Glenwood 79, Gilbert 72 <hr /> <strong>4A Quarterfinal</strong>: #3 Ballard (22-1) vs. #6 Lewis Central (19-5) @ 5:00PM The last of the 4A quarterfinal games is another instance in which the two teams have never met before. Ballard has been on a roll after losing their opening game of the year to Gilbert and they find themselves in a great position. Lewis Central made easy work in their region and they are looking to do the same throughout the state tournament. Both of these teams play an exciting brand of basketball and it should come down to the wire. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/josie-fleischmann/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/josie-fleischmann/">Josie Fleischmann</a></a> - 2021 - Ballard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/molly-ihle/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/molly-ihle/">Molly Ihle</a></a> - 2021 - Ballard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-loewe/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-loewe/">Brooke Loewe</a></a> - 2022 - Ballard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-witte/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-witte/">Megan Witte</a></a> - 2020 - Lewis Central <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/delaney-esterling/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/delaney-esterling/">Delaney Esterling</a></a> - 2020 - Lewis Central <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/mckenna-pettepier/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/mckenna-pettepier/">McKenna Pettepier</a></a> - 2021 - Lewis Central <strong>Prediction</strong>: Ballard 75, Lewis Central 63 <hr /> <strong>2A Quarterfinal</strong>: #1 Cascade (25-0) vs. #8 Denver (17-8) @ 6:45PM Cascade had no trouble in their region and they have rolled into the 2A state tournament with ease. They have been the top team in the state all year long and they are looking to cap it off with another state title. Denver is an unlikely member of the state tournament as they had to knock off some good teams to get here. They can't be taken for granted though as they can really play. Denver took out Grundy Center and Maquoketa Valley on the way to the tournament. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-mcdermott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-mcdermott/">Nicole McDermott</a></a> - 2020 - Cascade - Clarke commit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/skylar-dolphin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/skylar-dolphin/">Skylar Dolphin</a></a> - 2020 - Cascade <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abby-welter/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abby-welter/">Abby Welter</a></a> - 2020 - Cascade Jaden McMahon - 2020 - Denver <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/reese-johnson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/reese-johnson/">Reese Johnson</a></a> - 2022 - Denver Grace Hennessy - 2023 - Denver <strong>Prediction</strong>: Cascade 67, Denver 58 <hr /> <strong>2A Quarterfinal</strong>: #4 Osage (22-2) vs. #5 West Branch (21-3) @ 8:30PM The seventh game of the day marks the sixth game in which the two teams have never met before. Osage is a high scoring defensive-minded team who doesn't foul when they are guarding the ball. On the year they have only committed five fouls a game. West Branch is led by <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sasha-koenig/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sasha-koenig/">Sasha Koenig</a></a> and they are in the exact spot they want to be in. They are tough on the inside and can knock down the team ball. This should be a very good game. <strong>Players to Watch</strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sidney-brandau/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sidney-brandau/">Sidney Brandau</a></a> - 2020 - Osage <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/dani-johnson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/dani-johnson/">Dani Johnson</a></a> - 2021 - Osage Ellie Bobinet - 2021 - Osage Taylor Thein - 2020 - West Branch <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sasha-koenig/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sasha-koenig/">Sasha Koenig</a></a> - 2021 - West Branch - Bradley commit Rylan Druecker - 2021 - West Branch <strong>Prediction</strong>: West Branch 65, Osage 61