Winter Break-Down: (2A) Teams To Know Going Forward
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In the state of Iowa there are several great teams and programs to be known, stretching over all classes throughout the entire state. Below I will be highlighting a handful of these teams and who I think everyone should know…
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Continue ReadingIn the state of Iowa there are several great teams and programs to be known, stretching over all classes throughout the entire state. Below I will be highlighting a handful of these teams and who I think everyone should know returning from winter break. From what I have seen thus far these teams all have a solid chance to make a statement once playoffs begin.
Favorite To Win It All: Dike-New Hartford
Dike-New Hartford has started this season with a 9-0 record coming into break with an impressive margin of victory of 38.1 PPG. Now that is a large number when we are talking about a programs AVERAGE margin of victory per game so far. To add to this, they are coming off of a record season and have brought back a majority of their roster from their 21′-22′ campaign in attempts to make a deep playoff run once the post-season begins. In the Wolverines 9 victories thus far, 5 of them have been against opponents with a record of over .500, showing that the teams they are competing against do also have some wins under their belt. Their most impressive win coming in the form of a 71-52 routing against #3 Center Point-Urbana a few weeks ago. I anticipate big things from this team when it comes down to it and for us to see them in Des Moines, as they are one of the most experienced and rounded teams in the 2A class.
Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5’10” | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA has been the life-force of the DNH Wolverines team going into break and showing a lot of promise to start of her junior season. Petersen, a versatile and lengthy forward, has been a big difference maker in the middle thus far this year. She is averaging 17 PPG on 57.9% shooting and 10.8 RPG while being a shot altering presence in the lane on the defensive side of the ball. Over this next season and a half I anticipate for Petersen to receive more and more interest as her size and skill level is very intriguing on the next level. She has a good enough head on her shoulders and possesses the ability to move around and play a guard position on a consistent basis at the next level.
Next-Best: Iowa City-Regina
Iowa City-Regina has came back this year with a chip on their shoulder after losing in the first round of the state playoffs last season. While last year was a successful year for the Regals they return hungry and ready to make it back to Des Moines once again to show that they were not just a “flash in the pan” type team during the 21′-22′ season but instead a consistently good program with a lot of depth. Starting this year at 10-1 with their only loss coming to 3A – top ranked Benton Community high school, it’s been going as to plan so far this season for this squad and I’m sure that’ll continue. While looking ahead at the Regals schedule for the rest of the year and there are only two contests in which I can see it being a competitive contest. If they can keep up their momentum, compete hard in close games and learn something about themselves then I think this team will make it to the state tournament and win a game or two this time around.
Morgan Miller Morgan Miller 5’9″ | PG Iowa City Regina | 2025 State IA has been the point guard, leader, scorer, and teammate that everyone would want to have on their side this season. Miller, who is a quick guard with an efficient shooting stroke, has been putting teams on blast with her passing and scoring this year. Coming into her sophomore year the biggest question I had about her was her consistency shooting the ball from deep but her hard work and dedication in the off-season has been paying off as she has been lighting it up from deep going into break for the Regals. When you combined her ability to pass, score, defend, and the IQ she possesses on the court, you get a special talent. I can’t wait to see her take this Regina team to the state tournament this year and show everyone that she is a top point guard at the 2A level and through out the entire state of Iowa.
Underdog With A Chance: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
EBF high school hasn’t lost this season and I don’t think they will until the playoffs being in all honesty. This team has started off the year at a solid record of 9-0 with an average margin of victory of 31.4 PPG thus far. The young core of the Rockets mixed with the senior leadership that they possess have been the perfect mixture to keep their winning culture intact up until this point. Looking at their challengers ahead, it’s a lot of repeat opponents that they play for the second part of their conference schedule through the rest of their season. It’ll be interesting to see how this team does when they have to play some tougher competition toward the end of the year in the playoffs and they are really tested but until then this is a team that opponents shouldn’t sleep on, as they may just come out and win every game they play this year.
Whitney Klyn
Whitney Klyn
Whitney Klyn has been putting together a senior year to remember after leading her team to an overall 9-0 record. Klyn, the athletic combo guard who could play the 1-3 position in high school, has been scoring and dishing out the rock at a high rate this season, averaging over 19 PPG and 4 APG while being the senior presence on the squad. This team is balanced in almost every category and can really compete with anyone at any position, so that Klyn is putting up some numbers like this is impressive. It would be fun to see how Klyn would do on a more competitive floor all around, as she does a good job of dominating her competition currently with her size and speed. Looking toward the playoffs, if this team can keep up their balance and consistent play I think that they will have a really good shot to make it to Des Moines this year behind Klyn and some other experienced players they have on their roster.
Sleeper Out Of Nowhere: Cascade
Cascade is an interesting team when looking at the big picture of the 2A class this year as they are undefeated up until this point but haven’t really been in the conversation for one of the top teams in this class thus far. Well, I think that everyone should definitely have their eye on this team as they have the potential to upset anyone on any given evening during the second half of this season and moving into the playoffs. The Cougars come out of break with the most wins against opponents with a +.500 record and have been doing this convincingly so. I could see this squad really pushing toward the end of the season and making some big waves once it’s playoff time. They have a good amount of scoring and play defense well enough that they could win meaningful games in big spots before this year is said and done. They will have to match up with the Regina Regals during the later half of the regular season and that game should show us a lot about both programs right before post-season seeding is released.
Molly Rolling
Molly Rolling
Molly Rolling has been the point guard in charge so far this season going into the break for the Cougars. Rolling, who has been great at finding her open teammates this year, has really been putting together a solid campaign for her sophomore season while also averaging a good amount of points and rebounds at the same time. I think the best way to describe Rolling is that she is a play-maker who gets the job done. When her team is in need for a bucket, she can go and get that. When her team needs someone to create for an open shot, she can make that happen. If you combined these with a team oriented point guard like herself, you get a great team player and that’s what you have here.