4A: State Qualifiers – Seeds 4 & 5

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#4 Ballard (18-3) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ballard Bombers are coming off of a big win in their region 4 championship game against a very capable and skilled Carlisle team of a final score 58-41. After this big 17 point victory the Bombers have received the #4 seed in the 4A state bracket, matching them up against the #5 seed Decorah in round 1 of the state tournament. A team who possesses two stellar players that headline their offensive attack and keep them grounded defensively. This Bombers group is going to put up a fight. They are a team that is led by the production of its upperclass on a regular basis. The three losses that this Ballard has suffered this season are to the #2 seed North Polk Comets twice by a slim margin on both occasions and Carlisle high school, who they just ended up defeating. It's also important to note that to start their season they defeated the #1 seed DCG by double digits, so this team is very capable of beating anyone on any given night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["314114"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Aaliyah Thompson has been a virtual walking double/double this season for the Bombers and because of that she has been picking up a lot of college interest. Thompson, a long and lengthy forward, has a good balance to her game. She makes good choices and knows when to play aggressively or passive. She has put up great numbers this year for her team on this big playoff run. To me she is the X factor of this group. When her production is up and she has confidence, she has had some of the best production in the state on a game to game basis. I'm looking to see big things in this tournament from her and moving forward in her AAU season. She is going to be on a bunch of radars with her size, strength, and IQ alone. When you mix-in her basketball talent you see a player that has a big ceiling at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Paige Noe","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Ballard ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"For Paige Noe this season is about having one final ride to remember with this group that has grown so close together, id even say that if their season ended tomorrow that they would have accomplished that goal but their season doesn't end tomorrow and they don't plan on it ending until they are the state champs. The ultimate goal for all teams at this point in the year. Noe has been a solid piece for the Bombers. She is playing a stretch 3/small forward position on a nightly basis and doing the best she can to contribute from those positions. She makes good choices and trusts in her teammates. I would like to see her become more aggressive as teams are going to hone in on their teams most skilled offensive players, production wise when it comes to state. This will force Noe and company to make some big time buckets. Something that they have done all season long and will continue to do until the final buzzer.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fa733b6d2a9"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#5 Decorah (21-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Decorah Vikings have put together a two loss season in which their 2 losses come at the hands of two very successful teams. The first loss to start the season was to Dike-New Hartford, who is currently the #1 seed in the 2A class in the state playoff while the other loss was in a "boarder battle" and came to the hands of a high school from a different state. When viewing their first round playoffs pairing they matchup well with the Ballard Bombers. They possess size, skill, and smarts just like the Bombers while actually putting up a better overall record this season. Their offensive attack is headlined by two main players with many more behind them, ready to contribute in their own ways. This contest should be the closest according to the seedings given but we won't know until game time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["314100"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='314100' first='Yazmeen' last='Whitsitt'] has been the consistent scoring threat for the Vikings this season and a big reason for their success. For them to keep this up she is going to have to really turn it on as she is going to be the target of the Bombers defensive game plan in the first round. Whitsitt plays at the shooting guard position with the ability to move around. She is a great scorer, solid rebounder, and good passer so when it's needed she is able to move to the point guard position or the combo guard spot for her squad. During this run the team is going to really rely on Yazmeen, especially on the offensive side of the floor as after her and their second leading scorer there is a drastic drop off in production. A worry that some may have but not the Vikings as they are going to stick to the game plan that got them here and handle their business.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["63021"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The team leader and floor general of the Vikings is none other than [player_tooltip player_id='63021' first='Bryar' last='Duwe']. Duwe is a quick and efficient point guard who has done a great job of creating for herself and others this season on their way to the state tournament. She plays with control of pace, IQ, and most importantly is patient with the ball in her hands while running the offense. There isn't many occasions where she is sped up by a defender or seems out of sorts. Other than being a solid PG who can pass, she is not lacking in the scoring department either, averaging just about 17 PPG for this group. Like I mentioned above, this teams u0022two headed dragonu0022 is going to have to carry them offensively in their games, if they do that and have some other players step up to help like they have all season, it's going to be a happy post season run for the Vikings. After this run ends, no matter the outcome, Duwe will be attending Truman State to play at the next level. A program and place that I think fits perfectly for her game.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fa733b6d35a"} /-->