Playoffs 2022: 4A Teams To Watch

This year’s 4A girls playoff’s is going to be intense. I feel the eventual state champs will come out of the Little Hawkeye Conference this year. Two of the strongest teams I feel in the state are Grinnell at 17-3, and Dallas Center-Grimes at 17-3 as well. In the head to heads this year Grinnell took the first game by three points. The mustangs took the second game by three. One of the two looks to go big or go home this year. Keokuk at 17-3 also is my sleeper for class 4A this year. <img class="wp-image-212291 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/114-Haidyn-Hull-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="155" height="233" /> Grinnell is a problem when all three scorers are clicking. Coach Trent Edsen has the program playing solid basketball for years now. He has an extremely tough junior class that will get another chance next year if they don’t go all the way this year. Lead by Senior [player_tooltip player_id="163322" first="Ivey" last="Schmidt"]. The kinda guard you love to have run your team. Ivey’s game is very polished and she knows when to score and when to get her team involved. If she looks for her deadly sharpshooters. [player_tooltip player_id="127616" first="Haidyn" last="Hull"] Junior and [player_tooltip player_id="63044" first="Meredith" last="McKnight"] Senior. Grinnell scores big at 65 points per game and has a 24 point difference in games which shows they know how to control the game. They will have to step up their defense if they want that title. <img class="size-medium wp-image-361958 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/CKR_1827.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Dallas Center-Grimes is by far the most balanced attack in 4A I feel. Only allowing 33 points per game their defense is high pressure. They make you work the whole game. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="127617" first="Emma" last="Miner"] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="246106" first="Vanessa" last="Bickford"] need to have big games to help push them. Sister’s [player_tooltip player_id="129052" first="Ella" last="Lampe"] senior and [player_tooltip player_id="246129" first="Josie" last="Lampe"] sophomores will make a difference to me and help them go far. DCG maintained a 22 point difference against opponents this season showing when they want they control the game. They will need to stay consistent in scoring and steal’s. <img class="size-medium wp-image-360505 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/IMG_1305.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> My sleeper for class 4A this year is Keokuk. The Chiefs put up around 60 points per game. Only allowed 38, and kept a good 21 point difference in most games.  Led by Senior [player_tooltip player_id="129077" first="Abby" last="Wolter"] and Kayde Martin Junior. Keokuk has a good chance of making a deep run if super sophomores Makenna and Makayla Altgilbers can step up and play big.