4A: State Qualifiers – Seeds 6-8

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#6 Cedar Rapids-Xavier (16-7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Xavier Saints have made it to the 4A state playoff for a second year in a row after coming off a state championship just last season. A lot of the same pieces have returned to show that they can do it once again while other players that didn't get as much of a chance to shine last season, got that chance and made the most of it this time around. In round 1 the Saints will face off VS the #3 seed in Bishop Heelan high school. A game that is more then winnable for the Saints as they possess a good amount of offensive fire power and a habit of winning in big games. In their regional final Xavier really pulled away in just one quarter, outscoring their opponent by 6 points, proving to be a crucial amount in their 8 point victory in the end. They are going to have to string some good quarters together though if they want to pull of this upset as the Crusaders are no joke and will be ready to play. They will tip-off at 5 PM on Tuesday evening for their quarter-final matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["598494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='598494' first='Kyla' last='Mason'] has been the reason for the Saints dominance in the paint this season, showing off that she is a problem on the offensive side of the floor for her opponents. Mason, a Central college women's basketball commit, has put together quite the season. She has been taking up space in the lane, scoring at will, rebounding efficiently and really making her presence know when she is on the floor, which is basically the entire game at this point for this group. Masons play down low speaks for itself. She is a physical player that is not afraid to get some bruises on the way to a victory for her team. Not to mention that her touch and offensive play shows all the work that she has put in over the past few years, all coming to fruition for her senior season. Going forward she is going to have to keep up her aggressive play style and smart decision making. If she does that and the pieces around her knock down some open looks then this team is in a prime spot to be right back in that state championship game once again.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["311363"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='311363' first='Libby' last='Fandel'] is leading her team in 2 of their 3 main statistical categories thus far this season, those include PPG, RPG, and APG. Pretty good numbers considering she is only in her sophomore season and trending upwards. Fandel is legit. She is a lengthy guard who could be pushed to the forward position on a high school floor in most situations. At the next level she will be a great size for an off-guard or combo guard at a big name program. She is already a top recruit in entire state of Iowa and that is only going to grow. Currently this season she is averaging 16.2 PPG, 6 RPG, and 3.1 APG. Showing that she can score, rebound and pass it to help to her teammates, with the best of them. I expect another big playoff run for the Saints led by Fandel. This group is to promising to make it this far and lose in the first round. If it's up to Libby that will not be the case but we will have to see come game time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["63010"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='63010' first='Aaliyah' last='Beier'] has been an un-sung hero for this team this season and just at the right times. Beier has put together a great senior season with the Saints and is peaking at the right moments in her career. She is playing defense with passion and tenacity, knocking down the open shots she is getting when the ball is rotated, and most importantly she is not settling for just jump shots offensively. She has been fantastic getting to the spot she wants to on the floor and making a real difference for this ball club this entire season. Like I mentioned above, players like Beier have really stepped up in big moments all season long and I hope that doesn't change this next week. This group is going to give it all they have and leave it all on the floor, especially those seniors like Aaliyah one last time.   Let's see what they got.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fbe1b2d1b00"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#7 Clear Creek Amana (18-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clear Creek Amana Clippers are one of the most slept on teams in the state tournament throughout any class in my opinion. This is a group with depth, poise, and a lot of heart when things get tough. They have put together an impressive season at 18-4 with the hope of running up that win column a few more times before the season comes to an end. Something that is more than possible but it's going to be a challenge as they will face off with a stacked North Polk Comets team in their quarter-final matchup. A game that is winnable but is going to take the effort from everyone across the board as a team. Both of these groups have a loaded roster backed by great coaching staffs, whoever executes better is going to win in my book. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545646"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='545646' first='Ava' last='Locklear'] is currently averaging a double/double while putting up 14 PPG and 11 RPG, not including that she is dishing out just under 3 assists as well in her efforts on the floor. Locklear is a versatile combo forward who can really do it all for her team. She is has an act for scoring from several different positions, she can rebound with the best of them while being physical, she can spread out the defense as she knocks down a shot, and lastly she plays some hard-nose defense. Though this team has so much talent, Ava is really the soul of this group. As long as she can keep up what she has been doing all season long, she is going to find even more success on the biggest high school stage she can over the next week, something I'm excited to see up close.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["509225"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='509225' first='Averie' last='Lower'] has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Clippers during her freshman year. Lower, a lengthy and long shooting guard, has been making it rain this season from all over the floor with how well she has been shooting the ball. Lower is a shooting specialist with a nice handle and some good floor IQ. She does a great job of being set and balanced before shooting a jumper, giving her the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to another spot or even the rim if given the opportunity. She is just one of the many freshman that has stepped up this season and helped this group achieve this run that they are on this year. With that being said she is definitely the freshman to stand out the most and that I am the most excited to see how she expands her game over the next few years. Her ceiling is high and I'm curious to see how high she can take things when it's all said and done.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["592181"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I like [player_tooltip player_id='592181' first='Bliss' last='Beck']s game. With [player_tooltip player_id='545646' first='Ava' last='Locklear'] getting so much attention in the middle of the floor and basically all game, Beck has found her moments to step in and make a big impact on both sides of the floor. There are lot of moments in basketball that have to do with timing, knowing when to to step into certain spots compared to not to, knowing when to be aggressive, stuff like that. Beck has done a terrific job of stepping up when Ava becomes double or triple teamed. Giving this Clippers team another big time player down low in the paint area and making this group extremely hard to plan against defensively. They can just kill you from so many angles. With Beck it's all about showing up and playing her game like she has all season long. Something very do-able for the junior. This will give the Clips a big edge in their QF matchup against the Comets.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fbe1b2d1ce6"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#8 Glenwood (16-8) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Glenwood Rams possess one of the best offensive players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='63558' first='Jenna' last='Hopp']. Hopp has been the X factor for this group all season long and that's not going to change in this one but she is going to need her teams second and third offensive options to have some big time performances if they are going to want to move past round 1 and the DCG Mustangs. A team that we all know is loaded with three major S's - skill, size and strength. The majority of the offensive production of the Rams this season has come in the form of three players in Hopp, Kate Hughes, and Danika Arnold. This is something their team is going to lean on in this upcoming contest and any to follow the rest of the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["63558"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"What can I say about [player_tooltip player_id='63558' first='Jenna' last='Hopp']. Not much that you probably don't already know at this point in her career. She is a bucket and big time playmaker for whatever team she is suiting up for. She has the ability to score all three levels while getting her teammates involved on more then a regular basis. I think everyone here is expecting a big game out of the future college stand-out and I concur. There isn't a player on defense in my mind that can stop her at this stage in the game and I want to see that this upcoming week. I'm sure that DCG will put a longer defender on her to try to reduce her production which means that her teammates are going to need to be ready to roll when she dishes them a potential assist.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fbe1b2d1d93"} /-->