Class 3A: Region 5-8 Champions
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Below I will be briefly highlighting which teams are headed to the state tournament from the 3A class after their win’s on Saturday evening. Enjoy & thanks for tuning in! Region 5 – Des Moines Christian Lions (21-3) The Des…
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Continue ReadingBelow I will be briefly highlighting which teams are headed to the state tournament from the 3A class after their win’s on Saturday evening. Enjoy & thanks for tuning in!
Region 5 – Des Moines Christian Lions (21-3)
The Des Moines Christian Lions capped off a beautiful post season regional championship on Saturday night in a win against Harlan Community high school, 64-38. The Lions, who have now solidified their position at the state tournament, have had a season to remember up until this point but aren’t finished just yet. Recording an overall record of 21-3 thus far is a successful year in any aspect, at any level but the Lions won’t be satisfied until they are holding the championship trophy at the end of this season. A task that won’t be easy in any imagination of the word but something that is do-able for this squad. This is a team that is highlighted by a group of upperclassmen in Kaitlyn Mumm Kaitlyn Mumm 6'0" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2023 State IA , Maren Miller Maren Miller 5'11" | C Des Moines Christian | 2023 State IA , and Abby Hull, along with some help at times from the underclassmen they have on their roster. Looking toward their first state playoff game, they will be given the task of Jenna Twedt Jenna Twedt 5'8" | SG Benton | 2023 State IA and the Benton Community Wildcats. A team with the same exact record as the Lions. This game is all going to come down to how the the Lions will attack Bentons stifling defense. If they run their offense like I’ve seen in the past with multiple options and scorers it’ll help them in the long run throughout this contest. This is the #4 and #5 seed matchup in the 3A class so I expect a close one, just like most games at this point. If the Wildcats get stops like they have been all season it could be a long night for Des Moines Christian but we will just have to wait and see.
Region 6 – Sioux Center Warriors (18-5)
The Region 6 champion was going to be a tough one to pick as there were several teams in this region that had great years and could of gotten the job done but in the end it was the Sioux Center Warriors who will move onto the state tournament. The Warriors defended the Unity Christian Knights on Saturday evening by a final of 72-62. A game that was led by a majority of upperclassmen. For the Knights it was Gracie Schoonhoven Gracie Schoonhoven 5'11" | PF Unity Christian | 2023 State IA with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and Tyra Schuiteman with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. On the Warriors side it was Willow Bleeker and Reagan Jansen carrying their squad. Bleeker with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and Jansen with 11 points, 4 rebounds. Four impressive performances but in the end it was the Warriors who got the W. In the first round of the state playoff the Warriors will be faced in their toughest challenge of the year when they matchup against Katy Reyerson Katy Reyerson 6'2" | PF West Marshall | 2023 State IA and the West Marshall Trojans. The Trojans are going to have the edge, being the higher seed in this matchup with a little bit more star power but I wouldn’t expect this to be a blowout. While the Trojans are 23-1 up until this point, they haven’t looked invisible during their regional play, barley escaping Clear Lake in the ship. I’d expect this game to be a low scoring, physical battle between both groups. The Warriors need to keep up with the system that got them here and if they do that, they will have a chance of moving forward to the second round of these playoffs.
Region 7 – Wahlert Catholic Golden Eagles (18-6)
The Wahlert Catholic Golden Eagles are one of only two teams in the 3A class to advance out of their regional to the state playoff who were not ranked as the #1 seed in their region coming into the playoffs. Meaning a few things. I’d like to think that this makes this group so much more deadly when it comes to the state playoff. They have nothing to lose, have beat some good competition and have done it by a good margin until this point. They had to go through two programs, in my opinion, that could of also been state competitors if things would have fallen their way a little bit more in the end in the Monticello Panthers and Osage Greens Devils. Two programs with very little losses this season combined. On top of that this is a group that won those games because of the their team effort and play. They had 4/5 players in each contest contribute in all facets of the game, showing that their depth is going to be a problem for any other programs that may face them down the road this season. The first being Solon. The Spartans are returning to state for the first time in 17 years and are HUNGRY. It’s going to take all hands on deck for the Golden Eagles to win this one, but it’s possible. Both of these teams have faced some tough losses this season that are definitely being seen by each other on film, so the game strategy is going to be vital here. It’s going to be an “underdog” vs a “top-dog” situation but you know what they say, “a hungry dog runs faster”, so we will just have to wait and see who wants it more. Either way, both teams are going to leave everything they have on the floor. There is not doubt in that.
Region 8 – Vinton – Shellsburg Vikings (17-7)
The other team that I was speaking of above about not being a top seed in their region but moving onto the state tournament is the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings. The Vikings come into the tournament at 17-7 after somewhat breezing through their region 8 assignments, winning most games by double digits and the championship by 9 over the #1 seeded Grinnell high school. This group is going to have the toughest task to start their state run but if they can come out on top, it’ll prepare them for a state championship. They will be the #8 seed in the tournament and matched up against the #1 seed in the tournament in the Estherville-Linocln Central Midgets. A team who has been ranked #1 ever since they won state a year ago. This would be a tough challenge for any group but the Vikings are up for a tough challenge. An advantage they have here is that they have nothing to lose and have been winning as an underdog all year long, including their regional like I mentioned. This seems to be a spot they love to be in. Coming in as a team that may not look to impressive on paper but on film or live, they can play with the best of em. No matter how this game goes this Vikings group should be proud. They fought all season long up until this point and they aren’t going to quit now. If there is a will, there is a way, and this team definitely has will.