2025 State Tournament Report: Semi-Final Savages (5A)

Today was the Semi-Finals for a handful of different teams in each respective Class. Some teams called their seasons an end today and some will continue onto their Championship over the next two days. No matter how they ended the season though, each game that we got was competitive with each player leaving it all out on the floor. In this article we talk about five players that stepped up for their team's down the stretch.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    [player_tooltip player_id='582813' first='Ellie' last='Muller'] is a Top 5 prospect out of her 2026 Class for a reason. Muller, the 6'3 Forward, is starting to put her whole game together and it's been impressive to see this week, especially this morning to help her team move onto the 5A Title game against Johnston. Obviously this is always someone that controls the paint defensively with her ability to block anyone who comes near the basket. She has also always been efficient in her efforts in the paint offensively but now she is showing her range with a pull up jump shooting ability and the ability to put the ball on the court to take her defender off of the dribble for a score at the rim. I've seen it countless times over her past two contests, including today. With this ability, natural height, and who she is competing with - I'm sure her recruitment is going to really take off starting this next week.     To say that [player_tooltip player_id='311351' first='Amani' last='Jenkins'] is an X-Factor for her Dragons team might be an understatement after what she has been doing as of late. Jenkins is a mismatch waiting to happen. With her natural size at 6'2, her physicality, and her smarts at her Center position, Jenkins is tough to handle. Offensively, she can and will go through you as a defender but she can also score over the top of someone smaller or she could use a series of pump-fakes of get around whoever is standing in her way if need be. This season Jenkins has also been able to knock down the three ball at a consistent rate, showing her range on that side of the ball. All of these things have been on full display to end this season and that was the case once again on Thursday in their Semi-final matchup against the AC Jaguars. In the first half Jenkins started off by scoring next to the bucket off of some great cutting action without the ball, then she started to step back and knock down some jumpers as well. Defensively, I would say she was just as productive. This is someone that can be the definition of a rim protector. She recovers to space really well and that is always a difference maker when she is on the floor.       Bulldog. Hard-nosed. Strong Willed. These are a few phrases I would use to describe [player_tooltip player_id='777233' first='Romey' last='Croatt'] and the Winter she has put together a whole. Croatt loves physical play off the dribble, she is skilled in the categories of assisting, scoring, rebounding, and defending. On Thursday morning, Croatt was physically dominant at the PG position. She wanted all the smoke on both ends. She was consistently attacking [player_tooltip player_id='311396' first='Ava' last='Zediker'] off the dribble, looking to post her up on multiple occasions, sometimes in which it worked for an easy bucket. At other times she was as coming off screens and hitting the roll player for a look near the basket or she would look for a smooth pull up jumper. When she was on defense, she was using her quick feet to beat her opponent to their spot, along with using her body to physically control where the opposition might be trying to go. There have been several stock risers this week at this State Tournament and Croatt is definitely in that conversation.     If you want to compete with Dowling Catholic, you need size. The size for NW comes to us in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='686893' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg'] at 6'2 as she competes at the Forward position. Danburg held her own against the force that is [player_tooltip player_id='582813' first='Ellie' last='Muller'] and the Maroons. She was much more aggressive in this matchup than she was in their QF game and that was important to keeping this thing close. She scored early in the game at the hoop off of a solid take from the elbow. She made the bigs for DC come out to the outside to stick with her, opening up the middle of the court for her guards to attack. All while keeping great pace and continue to keep on moving the entire time. If Danburg continues to play like this during AAU season, I'm sure she is going to return next Winter with a handle of collegiate offers.     Whatever you need from [player_tooltip player_id='557120' first='Ellie' last='Olson'] at the guard position, she is willing to do. Throughout their battle against Waukee NW, Olson showed up over and over again. It wasn't always in the scoring department but more-so everywhere else. She made huge effort plays to retain possessions, she rebounded thoroughly on both ends to keep her team in front in the second half - especially in the 4th quarter, and she was willing to get her hands dirty with loose balls or having to match someone else physicality. In the end, Dowling Catholic moves on and everyone is going to talk about [player_tooltip player_id='582813' first='Ellie' last='Muller'] being their main producer but without Olson, I'm not sure if this game turns out the same way as it did and that says a lot.

Today was the Semi-Finals for a handful of different teams in each respective Class. Some teams called their seasons an end today and some will continue onto their Championship over the next two days. No matter how they ended the season though, each game that we got was competitive with each player leaving it all out on the floor. In this article we talk about five players that stepped up for their team's down the stretch.