5A: State Qualifiers – Seeds 6-8

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#6 - Ankeny Centennial (17-6)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny Centennial snuck out of region 6 with a championship in a narrow margin against the Linn-Mar Lions the other night, 35-32. A region that was really up for grabs when you looked at all of the matchups on paper. This proved to be correct as the second round matchup's and finale were close games according to the score. So what does this all mean going forward for the Jaguars? It means that they will receive the #6 seed in the 5A playoff and face-off against the Waterloo West Wahawks in their first round matchup. A tough contest for anyone. The Jaguars have quantity in their favor as they have a few more weapons then the Wahawks offensively across the board but what the Wahawks lack in quantity, they make up for in quality in the form of 2 of the best players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='127622' first='Halli' last='Poock'] and [player_tooltip player_id='127635' first='Sahara' last='Williams']. This game should be a good one and a test for both of these programs to see what they are really made of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kennedy White","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ankeny Centennial","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kennedy White has been the senior leader and main offensive weapon this season for the Jaguars. Throughout their 23 games on the way to state she has been averaging 10.7 PPG, and 5.5 RPG. All while providing a spark to this team and also showing the young players how to compete at a high level. She does a good job of rebounding on both sides of the floor and being a force in the paint. She has shown that she has good footwork and a crafty mindset near the hoop to create an open look for herself in most situations. This team is going to rely on this during their first round matchup against Sahara in hopes of slowing down her production. If they can start with that and then have multiple players contribute on the offensive end, then they may just have a shot of winning this thing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["311377"],"_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":"On a team that is stacked full of young talent, [player_tooltip player_id='311377' first='Mya' last='Crawford'] stands out as one of the best. Earning herself a starting role this season and making the most of it for the Jags on the journey to the state tournament. Crawford, a prospect who is picking up more and more interest, has shown that she will have her hand in most positive statical categories in each game she players, from now until the end of her career. She is a well-rounded player that when given the chance, will show how dominate she can be in some facets of the game. That will come after this season when a good amount of the upper-class graduates. This program is going to be around the state tournament consistently for the near-seen future. They have played a lot of sophomores and freshman at this varsity level with success this season, giving them the foundation to grow on in the future with the group coming back. I expect to see a good showing the rest of this season by Mya and company along with an even better season next year, if that's going to even be possible. Who knows.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["311360"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The other sophomore leader to step up and start this season was [player_tooltip player_id='311360' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt']. While dong so Pratt made a big impact statistically and emotionally on the floor, acting as one of the team vocal leaders and playmakers. For her sophomore season she has averaged 9.7 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2 APG. The most consistent stat-line over all players on this squad this year. Pratt is an X factor in this game for me. The rebounding of Pratt and White is going to have to double the rebounding of Waterloo's [player_tooltip player_id='127635' first='Sahara' last='Williams']. Along with this, they have to be efficient together on the offensive side of the ball. Making their open shots and everything near the hoop. A job both of these girls can accomplish if they really put their mind to it and are dedicated. Pratt, just like Crawford, is a big prospect in her 2025 class and I'm sure this state run is going to add to that. Something both of these players deserve for how hard they have worked.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f90817cb665"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#7 - Southeast Polk (15-7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southeast Polk Rams have put together a great season thus far with a diverse group of players and they are winning when it counts and that is all that matters. After winning their region 7 championship in convincing fashion and beating both of their opponents by a combined 55 points the Rams will have to take on the toughest opponent of their season up to date in the Johnson Dragons. A matchup that will be happening for the third time this season. In their two prior matchups the Dragons came out on top of both contests. The first one by 13 points on a neutral court and the second by 5 at Southeast Polk just a few weeks ago. There is something to take away from both of these games, in the first game I think it's important to know that the neutral court it was played on was Wells Fargo, the court they will be playing on once again. In the second matchup it's important to show that the Rams had a good chance to win this game and showed everyone that they were a better/more well seasoned team the second time around compared to at the beginning of the year. When you account for all this I still give the edge to the Dragons but this one could turn out to be a time-less classic, so defiantly keep an eye out for this one to be played on Monday and who ends out on top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["63020"],"_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='63020' first='Brooklin' last='Dailey'] has been the Swiss army knife of the Southeast Polk Rams this season for her last good around. She has been a player the team has been able to rely on, play through, and most importantly turn too in the biggest moments of the biggest games. Her game is versatile. She has great height, speed and size for her position while being able to spread the floor and shoot the ball from deep. This is important because it keeps the defense honest in how they play her, making them work even more for every defensive stop against Dailey. In this next game she is going to have to just do her job, let her game come to her and trust in the work she has put in over the years. If she does all that then she is a very dangerous player that can change the outcome of this game. The Dragons will need to watch out and tread lightly.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["311394"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='311394' first='Alyssa' last='Bartlett'] has been a great leader who stepped up big time for her sophomore season for the Rams this year. She is a quick and shifty guard with good ball sense. She does a great job of playing up-tempo but in control at the same time. She stands only at around 5'6 but her game plays much bigger. You can tell just by seeing that she is a leading rebounder for her team. A team that is pretty good at rebounding the ball with the size they have I might add. Bartlett is their overall best player when it comes to production, statistics-wise. She is averaging 10.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 4 APG up until this point. I'm fully expecting her to be the player that takes over beginning next season once all the upperclassmen have graduated and she has the ball in her hands more but until then she is going to keep competing and trying to get this group close to the state championship, one game at a time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f90817cb7ca"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#8 - West Des Moines Valley (15-8) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Des Moines Valley comes into the state playoff as the last seed in the 5A class but it sure doesn't feel like it the Tigers or anyone else for a matter for fact. Valley played a great regional, showing that they have some stifling defense in the championship while holding the Cedar Valley Tigers to an outstanding 20 points throughout the entirety of the game. I don't know what to make of it all up till this point. I'm not sure if it was purely Valley's defense or if Cedar Falls just had a rough shooting day as well, either way Valley has secured a date in the state tournament against the #1 seed Pleasant Valley Spartans. A matchup that is going to be tough for a number of reasons. The size and strength advantage goes to the Spartans as well as the overall depth of team skill. Valley has a star in [player_tooltip player_id='246134' first='Elise' last='Jaeger']. She is going to need some big time help though in this one. It's going to be tough, but not impossible. If they can make it happen, I would like them to win their semi-final round matchup as well but they need to take it one game at a time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["246134"],"_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='246134' first='Elise' last='Jaeger'] has been the overall life force for this group this season on the way to the state tournament. Jaeger, who has done everything asked of her and more, will look to show everyone that her team is not going down without a fight this season. She is currently leading her team in scoring at 12.9 PPG, leading her team in rebounding at 9 RPG, and also dishing out 2.3 APG. Three big time stat lines that are going to need to be repeated going forward if this group wants a chance to win in Des Moines. This group is great on defense and really lives on that side of the floor to win games, it's what it has been all season. The question is going to be where does all their offense come from. They are really one dimensional when it comes to scoring and their options are some-what limited in my opinion. Elise needs to keep up her production on the offensive side of the ball while the team plays the best defense of their lives. If they do that and rebound, they will have a chance to move onto the Semi's before the season is said and done.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["63034"],"_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":"Brynee Katcher has been the other offensive life force for this team this season and will be hoping to do that again a few more times this year. She is really the only other compete player along with Jaeger at the varsity level this season and by that I mean that she has her hand in almost every statistical category, in a good way. She is averaging just over 11 PPG and 5 RPG, two impressive numbers that will need to stay consistent over this next week if they want to have a good shot of winning some games. Katcher's put together a solid season that has really played well off of Jaeger's. They do a good job of knowing where each other will be and how one another plays so that they can move to the right spots in the right moments to try to catch a rebound or put back on the offensive glass. I'm excited to see how these two end their season and what it's going to be like once they step onto that big stage next week. We will just have to wait and see.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f90817cb915"} /-->