Class 5A Regional Championship Previews

The Top Three Games   Pleasant Valley (18-4) vs Waukee (13-10)   Pleasant Valley welcomes in Waukee High School tonight. You might not believe it but this battle is one that could fall either way. The Spartans return most of their skilled prospects from years past as they attempt to make another State appearance next week. They have their PG, [player_tooltip player_id='311385' first='Reagan' last='Pagniano'], who will be the one to run and lead her team's offense with her quick pace-of-place. They have 6'3 Forward/Center, [player_tooltip player_id='617226' first='Quinn' last='Vice'], who will be at Drake following this season competing with the Bulldogs because of her natural height, coordination, and soft touch on the basketball. Along with a few others that could make an impact. For Waukee, they bring [player_tooltip player_id='880901' first='Abbajay' last='Peters'] with them. Their starting Freshman PG, that has proven to be one of the top 2028's throughout the state and SG - Emilie Sorensen, who is committed to Northern Illinois and she is someone that happens to be a lights out shooter from behind the arc. With these four individuals on the floor at one time, it should turn out to be a highly contested battle. Not mentioning all of the other prospects that could make a name for themselves throughout this one.   IC - Liberty (16-6) vs IC - City High (16-7)   The top game of the evening for the 5A Class in my opinion is between IC - Liberty and IC - City High, in a "cross-town rivalry" - type of matchup. This game is interesting for several different reasons. First off, these teams have met two times prior this season and they are 1-1 against each other, both securing victories on their home floor. Second, the strength's of Liberty is what City High does really well defending. The Lightning play through [player_tooltip player_id='837358' first='Natalie' last='Ramsey'] with her natural mismatching ability but City High should be able to match that length with their own. From there, I'm not sure where the Lightning are going to turn too. Third, the prospects that both programs possess. For Liberty, you have [player_tooltip player_id='837358' first='Natalie' last='Ramsey'], who is putting together debatably the best individual season throughout the state of Iowa this Winter with her versatile ability to make plays. They also have players like [player_tooltip player_id='788566' first='Maddie' last='Casey'], who is someone that can make it rain from deep and she is also a D2 commit to Quincy (IL). [player_tooltip player_id='1201885' first='Ava' last='Casey'], who is the team's starting PG and leader in several aspects coming down the floor with the ball in her possession, she will one day be a college commit. [player_tooltip player_id='502097' first='Kennedy' last='Goodheart'], who is a knock-down shooter from deep off the catch, who has been talking to D1 schools ever since she as a Freshman. Along with a few others that could step up to make some vital plays. As for the Little Hawks, they aren't going to be too outmatched. They will have D2-Minnesota State Commit, [player_tooltip player_id='311373' first='August' last='Palmer'] leading the action for her side. This is someone that has a calculated but aggressive attitude. She can defend multiple positions, she is someone that her team looks up to in their most important moments, and she can take over the game if you let her at this Varsity level. Next to Palmer will be prospects like [player_tooltip player_id='667953' first='Tessa' last='Driscoll'], one of the state's most well rounded three point shooters. [player_tooltip player_id='833956' first='Kaitlin' last='Loria'] at the C/PF position. She will be controlling the lane from anyone that might try to step inside. While Emmy McComas and [player_tooltip player_id='832209' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'] also contribute. I could dissect this game for days but overall, I think it's going to be a must-watch at this 5A Class level.   CR - Praire (19-4) vs IC - West High (15-8)   We had questions coming into this Winter about CR - Prairie High School. The main question was will they be able to make State, now that they have a different coach and system being ran. Well this game is going to decide that and it's not going to be that easy. They will have to face IC - West High, who has prospects, a good support system, and some solid victories on their Winter so far this season. Their best prospect right now, who CR - Prairie has to tag immediately is [player_tooltip player_id='641977' first='Grace' last='Fincham']. Fincham is a mismatch waiting to happen. She has solid size for her CG position at 5'10 and she is willing to mix it up with everyone and anyone that might get in her way of accomplishing her goals. As of most recent, Fincham was offered by UNI to compete following her high school career in a few short years. This is her first D1 offer but I'm sure it's not her last. With her ability, there is a lot of promise here as we move forward. West also has prospects like [player_tooltip player_id='833955' first='Sasha' last='Baldwin'], another guard that can let it fly and make a lot of baskets if given time or space in the open court. In reality, the Hawks are the type of team that will only be able to stop themselves at a certain point. There aren't too many programs out there that have 5+ future college players on their roster but the Hawks are one of them. They have 5-8 players that have the capabilities to make it to that next level if they stay focused with their eyes on the prize and that goes for this State run as well. If they want to make this happen, they just have to worry about what they can control and the rest will be history.   Upset Alert   Davenport North: The Davenport North Wildcats are going to be an interesting position this evening if [player_tooltip player_id='311381' first='Divine' last='Bourrage'] is still sidelined with an ankle injury. If that is the case, the Wildcats are going to have to rely on [player_tooltip player_id='311365' first='Journey' last='Houston'] to take over and bring this one home for them. Something that is more than do-able. People forget that Houston can hoop. Plain and simple. She is going to Iowa to be a Hawkeye following this season and that just speaks to what she could bring to the hardwood at any given time. In their last contest, they won by a lot and Houston led the way with 27 points and 11 assists. This performance isn't anything shocking if you know her game or what's up. The reason this isn't going to be so easy is because of who Cedar Falls has on the other side in Drake commit, [player_tooltip player_id='582805' first='Karis' last='Finley']. Finley has an uncanny ability to make the ball go into the hoop and she doesn't need a lot of space or time to do it. She can fill up the basket in a hurry if you don't tag her early on in a contest. Not to mention, she has a swift handle, she creates at a consistent rate by playing the game the right way, and she has able prospects on the floor around her as teammates. I mean some players that work really hard on both ends and it shows as soon as you sit down to watch the Tigers compete.   IC - Liberty: Styles make fights. I mentioned above that IC - Liberty worries me in this contest this evening because of their style of play. They will have several talent prospects on the floor at one time but if they don't show up, anything could happen. With City beating this group once already this Winter, they do have the blue-print on how to win if they do things correctly. On paper, IC - Liberty wins this one at home by 4-5 points but games aren't played on paper so we will just have to wait and see how things unfold this evening.   Pleasant Valley: Pleasant Valley may be underrated this season. They came into this year looking a little different from years past but they have seemingly picked up where they left off by winning a ton of games and keeping their successful culture alive within the program. With that being said, I'm not sure if PV vs Waukee turns into a close battle or a blowout for either side. Waukee has D1 committed prospects and young talent. If they aren't scouted correctly, they could have huge games. For me, this one comes down to who can execute the best because of the 3-2 defense that PV will most likely play. This zone is built to wear teams down. The Spartans try to keep you close and then they beat you with experience later in the contest. A really solid strategy overall, that tends to work often.   Picking All 8 Regional 1 Championship: Johnston over Ames Regional 2 Championship: Dowling Catholic over CR - Washington Regional 3 Championship: Waukee NW over Ankeny Regional 4 Championship: Ankeny Centennial over SE Polk Regional 5 Championship: CR - Prairie over IC - West High Regional 6 Championship: Pleasant Valley over Waukee Regional 7 Championship: Davenport North over Cedar Falls* Regional 8 Championship: IC - Liberty over IC - City High

The Top Three Games