5A Standouts From the Day One at the State Tournament

Brady Peterson February 27, 2023 @ 11:10 PM

To begin the state tournament, we had the four 5A Quarterfinals. In those games, there were plenty of standouts in the first four games at the Wells Fargo Center. However, there are a few players I want to single out and highlight what they did today.   [player_tooltip player_id='246101' first='Aaliyah' last='Riley']   Riley's burst off the dribble created problems all game long for Southeast Polk, and once Riley got going downhill, she was tough to stop. She had some strong finishes around the rim and consistently beat her defender off the dribble. Her threat to shoot from the perimeter this season has made her ability to attack the basket more lethal. I love her toughness and how she's not afraid to put her body on the line to help her team win a game.   [player_tooltip player_id='311396' first='Ava' last='Zediker']   The Dowling Catholic guard had an absurd first half for the Maroons, including a 4-point play after they trailed in the first quarter. She's got a quick first step and routinely got past her defender off the dribble. The sophomore's ability to win games with her skill and quickness helped the Maroons get the lead and extend it throughout the game. She drew fouls and got the Wildcats' guards in foul trouble, which eventually did them in. All the Wildcats' issues had stemmed from not having anyone to stay in front of her all game long.   Quinn Vice   Most of the eyes around the midwest will go to Halle, but Quinn is quite the player herself. Vice's size, length, and athleticism made it challenging for Valley to get any consistent offense around the rim. Vice's also a talented offensive player, and she showed off her jump shot early on when she hit a 3-pointer from the right corner in the first quarter. She's only a sophomore, but she'll be one to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='63017' first='Makenna' last='Clark']   The Waterloo West-Ankeny Centennial game was a struggle for both teams on the offensive end, but Clark stood out at the end for the Jaguars. The senior had to close the game out from the free-throw line and made all the free throws she had down the stretch to end any hope for the Wahawks to get back into the game. Her poise was next level tonight, and they'll need that and more from her in the next round, where the Jaguars will meet up with the No. 2 seed Johnston.

To begin the state tournament, we had the four 5A Quarterfinals. In those games, there were plenty of standouts in the first four games at the Wells Fargo Center. However, there are a few players I want to single out and highlight what they did today.