State Tournament Preview: Day 3
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 and Day 2 are in the books and we now will…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 and Day 2 are in the books and we now will look to finish up the quarterfinal games as the last two 2A quarterfinals and all four 1A quarterfinals are on Day 3. We will look at each matchup below as well as give a few players to watch and finally give our predictions! View the complete schedule here: Girls State Tournament Schedule
2A Quarterfinal: #2 West Hancock (24-1) vs. #7 Logan-Magnolia (21-3) @ 10AM
West Hancock has played well all year long and has only lost a single game. Their offensive output has been high octane all season long and that has gotten them off to a great start to the season and a 24-1 record. Logan-Magnolia has been very good this season as well with its 21-3 record. They aren’t as potent offensively but just as good defensively. This is the first game between the two teams in their history.
Players to Watch
Amanda Chizek – 2020 – West Hanock – Grand View commit
Rachel Leerar – 2021 – West Hancock
Kylie Morrison – 2020 – Logan-Magnolia – Northwestern College commit
Violet Lapke – 2020 – Logan-Magnolia
Prediction: West Hancock 73, Logan-Magnolia 66
2A Quarterfinal: #3 North Linn (22-2) vs. #6 Western Christian (17-7) @ 11:45AM
North Linn is back and ready to compete for a state title. They have played a tough schedule and have prepared themselves for a run in the state tournament. Western Christian have done the same as they have played multiple state contending teams and top out of state teams. Their record is deceiving for how good they actually are. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams and Western Christian holds a 2-1 all-time advantage. The last time these teams met was in 2017.
Players to Watch
Olivia Granstra – 2020 – Western Christian
Abby Postma – 2020 – Western Christian
Grace Flanagan – 2020 – North Linn – DMACC commit
Ellie Ware – 2021 – North Linn
Prediction: North Linn 68, Western Christian 65
1A Quarterfinal: #1 Newell-Fonda (24-0) vs. #8 St. Albert (13-11) @ 1:30PM
Newell-Fonda has been by far the best team in 1A the entire year and it has really been a sustained run of domination. They are a team that likes to press the ball and get easy baskets in transition. They are an athletic group that has had no problem all year long. St. Albert is also an athletic group and they are full of athletes at every spot on the floor. They will be the best team to compete with Newell-Fonda athletically in the tournament. Their regular-season schedule is composed of about half 3A and 4A teams. These two have never met in action before.
Players to Watch
Isabel Pershing – 2020 – St. Albert – Grand View commit
Jordyn Blaha – 2021 – St. Albert
Allie Petry – 2021 – St. Albert – Iowa State volleyball commit
Maggie Walker – 2021 – Newell-Fonda
Bailey Sievers – 2021 – Newell-Fonda
Macy Sievers – 2022 – Newell-Fonda
Prediction: Newell-Fonda 71, St. Albert 55
1A Quarterfinal: #4 Montezuma (23-1) vs. #5 Saint Ansgar (21-2) @ 3:15PM
Montezuma has only lost one game this season and Saint Ansgar has only lost two games. Montezuma relies on a 1-2 punch for their scoring but they have a bunch of capable scorers who can score if needed. Saint Ansgar is the same way but they have a trio of scorers that they have relied upon this year. Both of these teams are very evenly matched and should produce a very good game. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Players to Watch
Shateah Wetering – 2020 – Montezuma – Iowa commit
Elise Boulton – 2021 – Montezuma
Hali Anderson – 2021 – Saint Ansgar
Brooklyn Hackbart – 2021 – Saint Ansgar
Prediction: Montezuma 57, Saint Ansgar 50
1A Quarterfinal: #2 Marquette Catholic (23-1) vs. Gehlen Catholic (15-9) @ 5:00PM
Gehlen Catholic beat the odds to win their region after taking down three very good teams. They struggled at times during the season but have turned it on and are streaking at the right time this season. They will look to take down another very good team in Marquette Catholic. Marquette Catholic has capable scorers at each spot on the floor and that makes them a very tough team to defend. This is the first meeting between the two teams.
Players to Watch
Lauren Heying – 2021 – Gehlen Catholic
Addison Weber – 2021 – Gehlen Catholic
Miranda Peters – 2020 – Marquette Catholic
Tori Michel – 2020 – Marquette Catholic
Prediction: Marquette Catholic 56, Gehlen Catholic 53
1A Quarterfinal: #3 Bishop Garrigan (23-1) vs. #6 Martensdale-St Marys (18-8) @ 6:45PM
Bishop Garrigan has cruised through their schedule this year with just a loss to 2A West Hancock, a team that they ended up beating later on in the season by a point. They are led by a freshman duo that hasn’t been stopped yet this season. Martensdale St-Marys has been solid once again this year and bring a ton of scoring options to the table. Martensdale St-Marys likely isn’t likely as potent as Bishop Garrigan but they can more than hold their own defensively. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Players to Watch
Audi Crooks – 2023 – Bishop Garrigan
Molly Joyce – 2023 – Bishop Garrigan
Maddy Stott – 2020 – Martensdale-St Marys – Hastings commit
Jensen Archibald – 2020 – Martensdale-St Marys
Prediction: Bishop Garrigan 73, Martensdale-St Marys 55