2024 Playoff Preview – Class 1A: Region 3-4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer to Spring and into the month of February, it means one thing and one thing only for Iowa Women's High School Basketball. Post-Season Play. We begin a journey to see who is the best of the best throughout the state in each perspective Class. Below we will start our coverage by highlighting Regions 3 &amp; 4 of the 1A Class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 3 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we stumble upon Region 3, I would consider this Region as one that is "wide open". There are going to be some favorites with the top seeds but I think that they are beatable. The teams that fall below them, all have individuals that have stood out this season in one way or another from their perspective squad. If they come out and have the night of their career's, an upset could happen almost right off the rip. As it pertains to Region 3, anything could really happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Teams &amp; Their Impact Players: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Martensdale St. Marys (15-5): [player_tooltip player_id='246128' first='Sophia' last='Shannon'] (13.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='314132' first='Brynnly' last='German'] (13.1 PPG, 5 RPG, 6.6 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Seymour (7-11): Gracie Peck (13.1 PPG, 1.7 APG), Olivia Power (7.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG), Taylor Ruby (6.1 PPG), Gabrielle Mitchell (5 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moravia (4-15): Kaylen Robinson (9.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG), Alexa Bedford (8.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.9 APG), Jaime Self (5.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Melcher-Dallas (17-3): [player_tooltip player_id='842539' first='Addison' last='Wadle'] (20.8 PPG, 3.8 APG), Gabby Overgaard (8.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.2 APG), Paetyn Anderson (7.7 PPG, 1.9 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moulton-Udell (1-17): Miah Burgher (8 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.4 APG), Rachel Ogden (5.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.9 APG), Madison Barber (5.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sigourney (17-4): [player_tooltip player_id='314130' first='Carly' last='Goodwin'] (13.3 PPG, 3.7 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='1145665' first='Josephine' last='Moore'] (10.2 PPG, 9 RPG), Erin Dawson (7.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pekin (6-14): [player_tooltip player_id='839342' first='Anna' last='Hadley'] (13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG), Alex Parsons (7.9 PPG, 1.8 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='839348' first='Abby' last='Guise'] (4.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fremont-Mills (21-0): [player_tooltip player_id='896746' first='Ella' last='Thornton'] (13 PPG, 6.6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='314134' first='Izzy' last='Weldon'] (11.6 PPG, 4.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='883735' first='Ryleigh' last='Ewalt'] (7.6 PPG, 3.6 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bedroom (9-12): [player_tooltip player_id='560336' first='Alexis' last='Perkins'] (12.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG), Vanessa Hill (7.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 APG), Bridgett Murphy (7.5 PPG, 2.2 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Essex (6-14): Brooke Burns (15.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.4 APG), Tori Burns (9.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.3 APG), Cindy Swain (4.9 PPG, 1.7 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lamoni (14-5): [player_tooltip player_id='1145150' first='Taylor' last='Henson'] (14.4 PPG), Emaleigh Pierschbacher (9.1 PPG, 1.5 APG), Lauren Olson (7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hamburg (1-16): Emma Barrett (10.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1 APG), Hailee Barrett (6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='1228935' first='Hannah' last='Thompson'] (4.9 PPG, 1 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mount Ayr (14-6): [player_tooltip player_id='832208' first='Izzy' last='Gilbertson'] (15.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='1055375' first='Breya' last='Nickle'] (13.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='873170' first='Jaxy' last='Knight'] (11 PPG, 4.6 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sidney (6-13): Lilly Peters (12.7 PPG, 11.9 APG), Bobbi Mills (5.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='1055366' first='Addyson' last='Foster'] (4.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Statistics That Matter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A common theme in Region 3 is each teams ability to defend the basketball. In a Region that has some power-house programs, defense is going to matter the most. It doesn't matter how much you can score, if you can't stop the opponent and that's why the #1 and #2 seed in this Region have had so much success this year. Any team that wants to win the contest in front of them, is going to have to stop the Star players of the other team, while slowing down their role players. It's obvious that there are two main teams here that we need to pay attention too but don't be surprised if we see an upset early on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Prediction </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 3 is where we find out first "big" upset of the 2024 Playoffs. I have the Fremont-Mills Knights coming out on top here for a few reasons. I think across the board, they have more weapons than anyone else out of this Region. I also think that they play a different style or tempo of basketball than everyone else out of this Region. My only concern or hesitation is the fact and reality that the Knights didn't play a competitive opponent all regular season. Their closest margin of victory was 12 points and there wasn't really a game that was ever close in the second half. I'm assuming they will have to get through MsTM to move on and that game is going to be their biggest test up until this point. For MsTM, they have been tested this season and they have taken their L's. They are going to be the other team out of this Region that I could see moving through to Des Moines, if it's not Fremont Mills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 4</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remsen St. Marys, George-Little Rock, and Akron-Westfield. These are the three teams I am going to pay close attention to out of Region 4 this next week. Each of these teams has demonstrated their Will to win this season, putting together some memorable years. Whoever comes out on top of this Region is going to be one of the most battle tested groups at State and that should play into the factor of Seeding, once that conversation is had. For a lot of other Regions in this Class, it's a cake walk to get to where they want to go. So that they need to battle and fight to make it to the Well, should mean a little more in that discussion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Teams &amp; Their Impact Players</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Remsen St. Marys (20-0): Carmindee Ricke (12.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.9 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='314118' first='Mya' last='Bunkers'] (12.9 Peg, 4.9 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='314129' first='Whitney' last='Jensen'] (11.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.9 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Boyden-Hull (4-15): Ashtyn Kelderman (13.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.9 APG), Elly Moret (8.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South O'Brien (4-17): Addison Hedberg (7 PPG, 1.3 APG), Reese Farquhar (6.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.4 APG), Marissa Ebel (6.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>West Bend-Mallard (11-10): Kierstin Montag (13.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='842621' first='Tiffany' last='Fehr'] (8.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG), Abi Schmidt (5.9 PPG, 2.1 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ar-We-Va (4-18): Delaney Schurke (9.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, .8 APG), Gabrielle Hundling (6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1 APG), Amber Ragaller (5.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.1 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>GTRA (7-14): Madisen Fay (13.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.6 APG), Shaylee Wise (7.4 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='833963' first='Addison' last='Hansen'] (6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.4 APG), Josi Reiman (5.6 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Storm Lake St. Mary's (1-19): Neely Bacon (8.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.1 APG), Isabelle Landgraf (3.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>George-Little Rock (14-5): [player_tooltip player_id='839332' first='Lindsey' last='Haken'] (19.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2 APG), Taryn Odens (11 PPG, 5.6 RPG), Wyleigh Steenhoven (6.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Harris-Lake Park (5-14): Gracie Gunderson (8.4 PPG, 1.2 APG), Kendal Niemeier (8 PPG, 2.1 APG), Peyton Reverts (6.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gehler Catholic (2-19): [player_tooltip player_id='525596' first='Rysaiah' last='Sitzmann'](15.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2 APG), Larissa Pohlen (5.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG), Samantha Zubrod (5 RPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Akron-Westfield (12-7): [player_tooltip player_id='342167' first='Makenzie' last='Hughes'] (21.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, Josie Jacobs (8.2 PPG, 3.1 APG), Boe Harris (5.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Whiting (2-13): [player_tooltip player_id='996556' first='Jaeley' last='Kooiker'] (16.7 PPG), Caitlyn Jacobson (7.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1 APG), Abigail Phillips (5.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.8 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Trinity Christian (10-11): Madelyn Vis (9.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG), Makiah De Jager (8.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2 APG), Karyn Uittenboogard (6.7 PPG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Woodbury Central (3-16): Genna Widman (10.1 PPG, 1.4 APG), Emma Lambert (6.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG), Ella O'Mara (6 PPG, 4 RPG, 2 APG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Statistics That Matter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think that Remsen St. Mary's has an easier path them most to the Well, out of the 1A Class as a 1 seed. With that being said, you still have to play the games in front of you to move on so if they don't take it seriously, this is another team that COULD be in upset alert. The common theme of this Region is WE vs ME. Some teams only have 1 or 2 players that have been their main producers this winter. Some teams play from a group aspect. No matter who you play, if a team wants step up and beat those elite players, it's a group effort, like in any game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get to Region 4, things stay interesting. This is a Region that has several teams that have seen each other this season already up until this point. Most everybody is familiar with each others play styles and what they would like to accomplish when they take the floor. Which means, it's going to come down to who can execute the best. I like the #1 and #2 seed to meet in the Region 4 finale here, with Remsen St. Mary's coming out on top. I imagine that there are going to be a few tights games for George-Little Rock before they have to meet up with RSM and that is going to play a fatigue factor. When you combined that with the size and offensive domination that is the RSM offense, it becomes difficult to keep up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->