2024 Playoff Preview – Class 1A: Region 3-4
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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…
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Continue ReadingAs 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 & 4 of the 1A Class.
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Region 3
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.
Teams & Their Impact Players:
- Martensdale St. Marys (15-5): Sophia Shannon Sophia Shannon 5'10" | SG Martensdale-St. Marys | 2024 State IA (13.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG), Brynnly German Brynnly German 5'5" | PG Martensdale-St. Marys | 2024 IA (13.1 PPG, 5 RPG, 6.6 APG)
- 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)
- 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)
- Melcher-Dallas (17-3): Addison 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)
- 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)
- Sigourney (17-4): Carly Goodwin Carly Goodwin 5'9" | SG Sigourney | 2024 IA (13.3 PPG, 3.7 APG), Josephine Moore (10.2 PPG, 9 RPG), Erin Dawson (7.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
- Pekin (6-14): Anna Hadley Anna Hadley 5'9" | C Pekin | 2026 IA (13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG), Alex Parsons (7.9 PPG, 1.8 APG), Abby Guise Abby Guise 5'9" | SG Pekin | 2026 IA (4.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 APG)
- Fremont-Mills (21-0): Ella Thornton Ella Thornton 5'11" | CG Fremont-Mills | 2026 IA (13 PPG, 6.6 RPG), Izzy Weldon Izzy Weldon 5'8" | PG Fremont-Mills | 2024 State IA (11.6 PPG, 4.1 APG), Ryleigh Ewalt Ryleigh Ewalt 5'2" | PG Riverside School | 2025 IA (7.6 PPG, 3.6 APG)
- Bedroom (9-12): Alexis Perkins Alexis Perkins SG Bedford | 2026 State IA (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)
- 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)
- Lamoni (14-5): Taylor Henson (14.4 PPG), Emaleigh Pierschbacher (9.1 PPG, 1.5 APG), Lauren Olson (7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG)
- Hamburg (1-16): Emma Barrett (10.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1 APG), Hailee Barrett (6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1 APG), Hannah Thompson (4.9 PPG, 1 APG)
- Mount Ayr (14-6): Izzy Gilbertson Izzy Gilbertson 5'10" | SF Mount Ayr | 2027 IA (15.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG), Breya Nickle (13.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG), Jaxy Knight Jaxy Knight 5'7" | PG Mount Ayr | 2025 IA (11 PPG, 4.6 APG)
- Sidney (6-13): Lilly Peters (12.7 PPG, 11.9 APG), Bobbi Mills (5.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG), Addyson Foster (4.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 APG)
Statistics That Matter
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.
Prediction
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.
Region 4
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.
Teams & Their Impact Players:
- Remsen St. Marys (20-0): Carmindee Ricke (12.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.9 APG), Mya Bunkers Mya Bunkers 5'7" | SF Remsen St. Marys | 2024 State IA (12.9 Peg, 4.9 RPG), Whitney Jensen Whitney Jensen 5'9" | PF Remsen St. Marys | 2024 State IA (11.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.9 APG)
- Boyden-Hull (4-15): Ashtyn Kelderman (13.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.9 APG), Elly Moret (8.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG)
- 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)
- West Bend-Mallard (11-10): Kierstin Montag (13.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG), Tiffany Fehr Tiffany Fehr 5'5" | PG West Bend-Mallard | 2025 IA (8.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG), Abi Schmidt (5.9 PPG, 2.1 APG)
- 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)
- GTRA (7-14): Madisen Fay (13.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.6 APG), Shaylee Wise (7.4 PPG), Addison Hansen Addison Hansen 5'5" | PG GTRA | 2027 IA (6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.4 APG), Josi Reiman (5.6 RPG)
- 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)
- George-Little Rock (14-5): Lindsey Haken Lindsey Haken 5'10" | SF George-Little Rock | 2027 IA (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)
- 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)
- Gehler Catholic (2-19): Rysaiah Sitzmann Rysaiah Sitzmann 5'8" | SG Gehlen Catholic | 2025 IA (15.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2 APG), Larissa Pohlen (5.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG), Samantha Zubrod (5 RPG)
- Akron-Westfield (12-7): Makenzie Hughes Makenzie Hughes 5'8" | CG Akron Westfield | 2025 State IA (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)
- Whiting (2-13): Jaeley 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Statistics That Matter
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.
Prediction
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.