2024 Playoffs: Noteworthy Contributors (Class 5A)
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We had eight programs secure their bid to the State Tournament last night. In the article below, we highlight five prospects and their noteworthy performances from yesterday’s contest. Whether their team won or lost, each player listed is someone that…
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Continue ReadingWe had eight programs secure their bid to the State Tournament last night. In the article below, we highlight five prospects and their noteworthy performances from yesterday’s contest. Whether their team won or lost, each player listed is someone that stood out for their efforts.
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We have seen some really nice performances this season as it pertains to the Playoffs but with a trip to State on the line, Maryne Szalo Maryne Szalo 5’10” | SF Waukee | 2026 State IA last night may have put together one of the best so far. When the final buzzer sounded and the Waukee Warriors secured their bid to the Well, Szalo had ended up with 24 Points on 10-12 shooting, including going 4-5 from behind the three point line. She also recorded 6 Rebounds and 3 Assists in her efforts. If you know anything about Szalo, you know her skill is there. She is a competitor that was getting some D2 interesting last AAU season and I expect that to pick up more this upcoming summer. She has size, athleticism, and great knowledge of the game. I think the best part about her play-style, is her understanding. Not just on situational stuff, but understand of her own ability and the moves she is able to make. This Waukee Warriors team have a squad that can play and that been proven. If they continue to roll with this momentum, who knows how far they could take things.
Highlights
From last season to this season, Reagan Pagniano Reagan Pagniano 5’7″ | SG Pleasant Valley | 2025 State IA has had to switch up roles a little bit. Last winter she was a Point Guard, that had to set the pace of play for her team and facilitate at a high rate. When she did this, her team was successful and because of that, they brought home their first State Title. This season Pagniano has had to move into move of the scoring mindset. The group around her at the moment is younger and is still trying to find their groove in the high school game. Last night in the Spartans 9 point win, Pagniano ended with 24 points (4/10), including going 10-14 from the free throw line with 3 Steals. I would usual expect more of a spread out stat line from a player at the Point position with a good team but like I said above, her role this season has changed and things are different. You can’t knock it because this has helped the Spartans up until this point in their season and into the State Tournament next week. It’ll be intriguing how they play in Round One. Most of their players have experience from last year but anything can happen when you make it this far.
Divine Bourrage Divine Bourrage 6’0″ | CG Davenport North | 2025 State IA almost recorded a triple-double in her team’s win yesterday against CR Washington High School. She finished the contest with 17 Points (6-10), 11 Rebounds, and 7 Assists. This stat line is impressive against any competition, on any level but especially when there is a trip to State on the line. Earlier on this season, the Davenport Wildcats lost their second leading scorer in Iowa Commit, Journey Houston Journey Houston 5’11” | CG Davenport North | 2025 State IA . Since then, everyone on this team has had to step up more and Bourrrage has done a fantastic job of that. Not only is she killing it in her own right but she is playing selflessly and getting everyone around her involved at an equal rate. If this team wants to continue on winning over this next week, they are going to need a lot more of this. These teams that they will have to matchup with are beatable but it’s not a task for the faint of heart. They are going to have to lock in and make every moment count if they want to continue things into the weekend, next week.
On the other side of the Davenport Wildcats last night was the CR Washington Warriors. The Warriors may have lost in the end but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have a few players, do their thing and stand out in their own way. The most prominent being their Point Guard, Samantha Becker Samantha Becker 5’8″ Cedar Rapids Washington | 2026 State IA . Becker has grown into her game over the past year and it has been really impressive. She has always been someone that we have considered a leader but she has been doing everything right as of late on the hardwood. Last night she finished with 20 (8/16) of her teams 40 Points, along with 5 Rebounds, and 1 Assist. Her Warriors group may have lost but the future is bright for Becker. She is going to be someone who can play at the next level if she wants. She is a leader and she makes things happen. Simple as that.
Highlights
The Post-season is all about who shows up. If teams were to show up how they usually play in the regular season, the Post season wouldn’t be as fun. Every outcome would be pretty obvious and things would get boring. This winter, The CR Prairie Hawks put together a really promising season as a whole. They made strides as a group and put the foundation into place to build for the future. Speaking of the future, one of their most important pieces for the foreseeable future is their starting PG, KeaOnna Worley KeaOnna Worley 5’4″ | PG Prairie | 2027 State IA . Worley showed up all season long and again last night in her teams loss. She ended the contest as being the only Prairie player in double-digits in scoring, along with grabbing 4 Rebounds, and dishing out 2 Assists. In a contest where the next highest scoring player for the Hawks had 5 Points, these numbers were vital to keep this one close. Worley’s Freshman year of high school ball maybe over but I have a feeling she is going to kill it on the travel scene over the next few months and she will be ready to come back stronger as a Sophomore.