Region Preview: Class 1A, Region 1

Mason Asher

February 5, 2021 @ 01:36 PM

On Thursday afternoon, the IGHSAU announced the region brackets for the upcoming race to the Well. The 1A portion of the tournament gets underway on February 11th, in just six short days. Whether you were 18-0 or 0-18 this season, it does not matter. Each team is now 0-0 and are looking to end their season with a win. Below you can view the best first round match-up, the best potential match-up, our pick to win the region, a sleeper to win the region, an "X-Factor" player, and players to watch. Take a look at the Region 1 bracket here: Class 1A, Region 1

Best First Round Match-up: Gladbrook-Reinbeck vs. Colo-Nesco This is going to be the most evenly matched game of the first round in this region. Colo-Nesco sits at 10-7 while Gladbrook-Reinbeck is 7-9 but both have played some tough competition. The only thing holding these two teams back is that they do not have many wins against teams over .500 since they are a combined 2-12 against those teams. Both teams are due for a big win and winning this one may catapult them to a run to the finals.

Best Potential Match-up: BCLUW vs. Bishop Garrigan BCLUW has a solid draw in the region having to face Valley Lutheran in the first round followed by the #2 seed Clarksville in the second. I don’t think Clarksville is as good as their record might show so I think that BCLUW could pull that one out. The thing that makes me think that BCLUW and Bishop Garrigan would be the best matchup of the region is because BCLUW rosters four players at 5’10. That could cause some problems for the post of Bishop Garrigan if their guards have an off night. Our Pick to Win Region 1: Bishop Garrigan Bishop Garrigan is the going away favorite to win the Region and I don’t think anyone will really test them. They have two of the best players in not only the 2023 class, but the state. For a 1A team that is incredibly helpful to have. is averaging 20.4 points a game and 10.0 rebounds a game while is scoring 18.6 points a game. That duo itself outscores close to 40 1A teams across the state by themselves. Bishop Garrigan does not just rely on those two players to get them wins, however. Senior has been the glue for the team this year and is efficient in everything she does. She scores 11.8 points a game while shooting 40 percent from deep, dishes out a team high 3.9 assists a game, and grabs 6.9 rebounds per game. Freshman Abby Capesius’ impact on the boards can’t be understated either as she grabs over five a game. I would say that at this point undefeated Bishop Garrigan has to be the favorite to win state. Our Sleeper Pick to Win Region 1: Colo-Nesco Colo-Nesco is 10-7 but their record doesn’t tell the whole story. They have lost to Collins-Maxwell twice, Baxter, and West Marshall and those teams have a combined seven losses. Looking at this team as solely a 10-7 team is tough to do because I think they are much better than that since they’ve played such a tough slate of teams. If Colo-Nesco is to come out on top it will be on the back of senior Jenna Banks, their leading scorer at 12.7 points a game. X-Factor Player: Allison Engle Allison Engle 5'10" | SF BCLUW | 2022 State IA - BCLUW - 2022 - 5’10 SF Engle is capable of putting her team on her back each night and pulling her team to a win. This season she is scoring 17.1 points a game and grabbing 7.4 rebounds a game, both of which are team highs. She also shoots 38 percent from behind the arc making her a very dangerous player. Engle has the ability to lead BCLUW to a few wins in this bracket. Players to Watch , 2023, Bishop Garrigan , 2023, Bishop Garrigan , 2021, Bishop Garrigan Cheyenne Behrends, 2021, Clarksville , 2021, AGWSR , 2022, AGWSR Jenna Banks, 2021, Colo-Nesco Saari Kuehl, 2021, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rylee McLean, 2021, South Tama , 2021, Newman Catholic