State Tournament Standouts: Day 5

With Day 5 of the state tournament in the books, we look back at the ten players who had the biggest impact in the six games that we saw today. <hr /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="13949" first="Dani" last="Johnson"] - 6’ F - 2021 - Osage</strong> Johnson was very good in the win against Cascade as she used her height to power to the inside and score. Most impressive about her game was that she went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in big moments as Osage salted the game away. She scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the game as she imposed her will. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135015" first="Grace" last="Flanagan"] - 5’8 SG - 2020 - North Linn</strong> Flanagan was instrumental in the comeback win over West Hancock. She had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the game and while she didn’t shoot it great from the floor she was 12-of-15 from the charity stripe as she was able to draw contact and get to the line. It doesn’t show up in the box score but she was great on defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="131131" first="Rachel" last="Leerar"] - 5’7 PG - 2021 - West Hancock</strong> Leerar scored 17 points and played a big role in getting West Hancock out to a fast lead. She was attacking the basket hard and drawing contact. She was also getting her teammates involved and being a tough defender. She is a quick guard with a high motor and showed that on Friday afternoon with her play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129006" first="Macy" last="Sievers"] - 5’7 SG - 2022 - Newell-Fonda</strong> Sievers was able to score early and often in the game against Saint Ansgar en route to a game-high 20 points. Sievers was also very good on defense as she was able to pressure the ball and create turnovers. Sievers was 10-of-12 from the floor and added five steals and five assists in the game. It was a great performance that propelled Newell-Fonda to a hot start. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63033" first="Molly" last="Joyce"] - 5’6 PG - 2023 - Bishop Garrigan</strong> Joyce scored 23 points in the game but none were as important as the nine points that she scored at the onset of the third quarter. Those nine points were the last of the game for her but game Bishop Garrigan all the momentum. She handled the pressure well and showed the ability to make shots from all over the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63019" first="Audi" last="Crooks"] - 6’3 C - 2023 - Bishop Garrigan</strong> Crooks wasn’t as big of a force as she was the day before but she still was very good in the interior. Saint Ansgar defended her well and it took her a little bit to get going before she finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the game. She is a matchup nightmare and showed why on Friday afternoon. No one in the state can stop her in the halfcourt. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134327" first="Maya" last="McDermott"] - 5’5 PG - 2020 Johnston</strong> McDermott willed her team to the state title win on Friday night as she scored 14 points and added nine assists. She wasn’t needed to score the ball much but made the most of it when she did. Defensively she was great at forcing turnovers and blocking shots. She had four blocks in the game as well as two steals. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="64741" first="Katie" last="Dinnebier"] - 5’8 PG - 2020 - Waukee</strong> Dinnebier did all she could to try and lead Waukee to the state championship. Dinnebier had 29 points and handled the pressure of Johnston really well. She was a big reason that McDermott was held to just 14 points in the game and kept her team in it defensively. Dinnebier is one of the top 2021 players in the state and she showed why on Friday night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135011" first="Ella" last="Skinner"] - 6’ C - 2020 - Bishop Heelan</strong> Skinner had 19 points and nine rebounds in the 3A state title game as she was able to get into the middle of the North Polk defense and score the ball. She was also able to be a defensive stopper on the inside of the Bishop Heelan zone. She was able to stop the interior scoring of North Polk and because of that was able to shut down their inside out game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135009" first="Jaedon" last="Murphy"] - 5’11 SF - 2020 - North Polk</strong> Murphy was one of the best players all day long as tried to will her team to a big win. She had 17 points and 15 rebounds as she attacked the glass hard all game long. Murphy grabbed eight offensive rebounds and was able to be the one player that showed a consistent ability to score the ball.