Standouts on Day Two of the State Tournament
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On day two of the state tournament in Des Moines, there weren’t many competitive games in 4A, 3A, or 2A, but plenty of kids played well during the seven games in the Wells Fargo Center. Today, we’ll talk about a…
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Continue ReadingOn day two of the state tournament in Des Moines, there weren’t many competitive games in 4A, 3A, or 2A, but plenty of kids played well during the seven games in the Wells Fargo Center. Today, we’ll talk about a few kids who played well throughout the day in Des Moines.
Alliyah Thompson Alliyah Thompson 6'1" | SF Ballard | 2024 State IA
The Ballard forward was a problem on the defensive end all game for Decorah. Her length helps her make so many plays on the defensive end, and she blocked seven shots and altered countless others. There was a stretch of the game where Decorah had no answers about how to score the ball when Thompson got going defensively in the second half. Watching her move and defend around the basket was one of the most entertaining portions of the day.
Makayla Boatman Makayla Boatman 5'6" | SG North Polk | 2023 State IA
North Polk and Boatman boat raced Clear Creek Amana in their 4A Quarterfinal game. Boatman made everything she put up toward the rim in the first quarter. Boatman got into a rhythm early on and did not let up until the halftime break, and the Comets were up more than comfortably. She’s a quick guard and confident enough to take and make tough shots. I loved how she operated in the mid-range area and how well she pressured the ball at the point of attack.
Cori Harald
Harald made half of Sioux Center’s eight 3-pointers in the Warriors’ dominant 3A Quarterfinal win over West Marshall. Harald shooting will be significant. The Warriors’ defense looked like one of the better defensive units in 3A because of all the pressure they put on the ball. Harald and the other guards created 18 turnovers off of West Marshall, and most of those turnovers turned into transition opportunities that usually led to points. I thought the Warriors did a good job making West Marshall uncomfortable, and they’ll probably look to do the same against Solon in the semifinals on Thursday.
Madison Brouwer Madison Brouwer 6'0" | PF Sibley-Ocheyedan | 2023 State IA
Brouwer scored the most points in a single game thus far at the state tournament with 28 points in the Generals’ dominant win over Regina Catholic. She made plays on both ends of the floor all game and jumped most of the passing lanes when the Reagles tried to make aggressive passes up the floor. Her athleticism was exceptional, and it helped the Generals get extra possessions and easy second-chance points around the basket, which added up throughout the first half.