2024 Playoff Preview – Class 4A

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 dive into the 4A Class and take a closer look to see what it has to offer.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   Overview:   The 4A Class maybe the Class that is the most competitive out of the entire state. With the number of teams there are in each Region and now that everything is paired, we have the potential for some intense matchups throughout these next few weeks. If all of the top ranking teams come ready to go, they should escape out of their Region to the State Tournament but it's not going to be easy. There are a handful of teams that are waiting in the weeds. Teams that are patiently planning and waiting for their moment to strike so that they can move on and continue their basketball journey at the well. I'm not sure who is going to be crowed as the 4A Champs when it is all said and done but whoever it is, is going to have to get through a gauntlet to come out on the other side.   Top Teams & Their Impact Players:   <ul> <li>CCA (21-0): The CCA Clippers were the team that I picked in the preseason to win the 4A Class this winter and I still like them at this point. The Clippers have put together an undefeated season so far at 21-0 and they have a great shot at making it into the Elite 8 for the State Tournament. This group is not new to this situation. Last season they had a very good record coming out of their Region and into state but it didn't end so well. I think this season is different though. If you really break things down, everyone on this roster is older, more experienced, and honestly - it seems like they are more talented as a whole. Their star players like [player_tooltip player_id='545646' first='Ava' last='Locklear'] (11.5 PPG/10.5 RPG/4.5 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='592181' first='Bliss' last='Beck'] (6.7 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='509225' first='Averie' last='Lower'] (18 PPG/5 RPG/1 APG), and [player_tooltip player_id='782232' first='Lena' last='Evans'] (9 PPG/1.5 APG) are going to have to continue on producing if they want to get a win or three under their belt at the Well though. It's going to take some time and a few more good games but this is my favorite to win it all if they get to Des Moines.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Bishop Heelan (20-1): The Bishop Heelan Crusaders are my next choice in this Class to bring home some hardware. This is a group that got to the 3A State Tournament last year but they have recently moved up a Class, putting them in 4A. Their only loss on the season was an interesting one but they have bounced back from it just fine. From last season to this one, this roster has also gotten much better across the board. Not only do they have leaders like [player_tooltip player_id='246111' first='Brooklyn' last='Stanley'] (14 PPG/5 APG) at the Point and [player_tooltip player_id='817576' first='Abby' last='Lee'] (15 PPG/7.7 RPG) at Center but they also have star Freshman like [player_tooltip player_id='777232' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] (18 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG), who has been producing at a high rate. If players like this continue to do what they do, this is another team that I give a fair shot at the Title. </li> </ul>   <ul> <li>DCG (18-3): Coming off of a State Championship can be tough but the DCG Mustangs have done of good job of keeping it together down the stretch. I have to give respect where it is due and it's due with this team. They won it last year, have some of that same talent returning to the floor this season in the forms of [player_tooltip player_id='246119' first='Kayla' last='Reis'] (11.5 PPG/3.5APG) and [player_tooltip player_id='246106' first='Vanessa' last='Bickford'] 8.5 PPG/5RPG/4 APG), and they have a coaching staff who understands how to make adjustments. As long as they stay hungry and execute, they have a pretty simple path to the Well. They just need to worry about going 1-0 each night. If they do that, they should continue to keep on winning.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Waverly-Shell Rock (21-0): The Waverly-Shell Rock Go-Hawks have started off their season with an undefeated record and I think it's something that needs to be pointed out a little more because this team is legit and they continue to prove it each night. Going undefeated in any season is something special but it's nothing to hang your hat on unless you show up in the Post-season. I think that this Go-Haawks could continue this special run as long as they stick to their formula to success. This season they have really been killing teams with efficient play. They have been making the most of their chances and that is because of their game planning. Going into each contest, they understand what their team is trying to accomplish and how they want to go about accomplishing it. If they can continue with a strategy like this, I'm sure this is a group that we will be seeing at Well in the Elite 8 at the end of the month. Every ranked matchup that they have come across, they have dealt with and I see that continuing as things move forward. </li> </ul>   Dark Horse Teams To Make A Run:   <ul> <li>LeMars (18-3): The LeMars Bulldgos have only fallen three times this season. Twice to two highly ranking opponents out of Iowa on the road and once at home against a team from another state. When you take that into consideration, you can say that this group has put together a memorable year so far. A season to remember but not a season to be satisfied with yet. The Bulldogs are the #1 ranked team out of Region 7 and I'm sure they have their eyes on another State appearance. They are going to have to beats teams like Sioux Center and Humboldt to get there but it's do-able. If they take each possession seriously and defend, they could matchup with anyone in this Class. </li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Norwalk (17-4): If you have heard anything about Norwalk and their Girl's program this season, you have heard about their culture change. With a new coach coming in, the players around the program have really boughten in and that has helped this group put together a successful winter until to this point. Looking at the Regional matchups, Norwalk has a decent path. They have a path where I wouldn't be surprised if they won their next two games, getting them to the State Tournament. Their usual stars, [player_tooltip player_id='311370' first='Bailey' last='Birmingham'] (28 PPG/6 RPG/3 APG) and [player_tooltip player_id='1117190' first='Ava' last='Carlson'] (9 PPG/8 RPG), are going to have to continue their hard work while others chip in around them to piece together a complete ball game. If they can do that, they will be tough to stop. I would consider this team a really good one but they are still a "dark horse" in this situation. If they make it to the Well, we can revisit that statement but for now, that's how I see this group. </li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Central DeWitt (15-5): Central DeWitt is a team that is based on hard-work and discipline. They have won a lot of games this season and the reason for that is because of their efforts on the defensive side of the ball. They love to bring pressure, creating havoc for their opponents and they feast off of that. This Sabers team is another one that has a decent path. They will most likely have to face off with Xavier in their Second Round matchup but if they can get through that, I think it's anyone's game in their Regional Final. In this Region, there isn't a team that is going to come out and blow the doors off of their opponent so it's really anyone's for the taking. Whoever stays more consistent, should move onto the Well.</li> </ul>   Interesting Matchup That Could Happen (Prior to State):   <ul> <li>North Polk vs Maquoketa (2/20/24) - The most interesting potential matchup for myself in this 4A Class would be between the North Polk Comets and the Maquoketa Cardinals on 2/20/24 at North Polk. It's interesting because of the talent level on both sides of the floor. As a team, it's not shocking to say that the Comets have the better overall group but the skilled players on the Cardinals side can change the outcome of a game in a hurry. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='534428' first='Aubrey' last='Kroymann'] (13 PPG/6 RPG) and [player_tooltip player_id='435773' first='Cora' last='Widel'] (16 PPG/6 RPG/2 APG), are collegiate level talents and if the Comets don't prepare properly for them, they could win the game because of their play alone. Don't get me wrong, the Comets have their own skilled group of talented individuals. If player like [player_tooltip player_id='311369' first='Greta' last='Dillinger'] (9.3 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='311383' first='Abby' last='Tuttle'] (16 PPG/4 RPG/5 APG), and Becca Aagard (7.7 PPG/6.2 RPG/2 APG) show what they can really do, they should have no problems but who knows. This is truly a game where I could see anything happening if it gets sloppy. It all just depends on who wants to show up and execute that night. Whoever does that the best, while limiting their mistakes, should come out on top.</li> </ul>   Prediction:   There are three main teams that I am looking at as "favorites" moving forward from this Class and those teams are CCA, Bishop Heelen, and Waverly-Shell Rock. I'm not saying anyone else can't make it or bring home the Gold here but these three programs have the best personal, coaching, and momentum to help their own chances at this point. They have the best, "head start", you could say. If they go into every single game, locked in and ready to roll, these three programs should make it to the Final 4 in the end and from there, it's anyone's championship.

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 dive into the 4A Class and take a closer look to see what it has to offer.