2024 State Tournament: Championship Game Recap (Class 1A-3A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday and Saturday were the days that every player has dreamt about since they were a little girl. Those two days had five matchups in which we crowned a State Champion in each and every Class. In the article below, we highlight how those Championship games went and who stood out the most in their efforts. Whether their team came out on top or not.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 1A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>North Linn vs Newell-Fonda - </strong>The North Linn Lynx brought home another 1A title last night after defeating the Newell-Fonda Mustangs by a 67-51 final. These two teams were destined to meet since the 1A brackets came out but once they got there, It was all Lynx. In a game that started off close in the first half, it was all Lynx in the second, propelling them to a large victory in the end by 16 points. The Mustangs had their usual trio take over in [player_tooltip player_id='314161' first='McKenna' last='Sievers'], [player_tooltip player_id='246160' first='Kierra' last='Jungers'], and [player_tooltip player_id='873160' first='Kinzee' last='Hinders'] as they combined for 48 of their total 51 points scored. On the Lynx side, their own "three headed monster" of [player_tooltip player_id='246105' first='Kamryn' last='Kurt'], [player_tooltip player_id='311393' first='Molly' last='Boge'], and [player_tooltip player_id='314107' first='Macy' last='Boge'] combined for 48 of their 67. In a sport where I firmly believe it's not all about scoring, this game was. The Lynx's shot over 70% from the floor in the first half and because of that, they never looked back, bringing home the ship. At the beginning of the season and even last week, I predicted that the Mustangs were going to get into this game against the Lynx and I thought they would come out victorious but I was wrong. North Linn shot the leather off of the ball this season and that never slowed down. They proved it all the way up into the Championship then during that game as well as you can see. Hats off to a great program, that put together a heck of a season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246105' first='Kamryn' last='Kurt'] - <em>23 Points (9-13), 3 Rebounds, 7 Assists</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Noteworthy Stat Lines: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='314107' first='Macy' last='Boge'] (17 Points , 3 Rebounds, 3 Steals), [player_tooltip player_id='311393' first='Molly' last='Boge'] (8 Points, 2 Rebounds, 3 Assists), [player_tooltip player_id='246160' first='Kierra' last='Jungers'] (17 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1 Block), [player_tooltip player_id='873160' first='Kinzee' last='Hinders'] (16 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Steal), [player_tooltip player_id='314161' first='McKenna' last='Sievers'] (15 Points, 3 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Blocks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 2A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Dike New Hartford vs Panorama - </strong>On Saturday evening the Dike New Hartford Wolverines won their fourth straight State Title but it wasn't as easy as some might think. In a game that we expected the Wolverines to be in, I didn't think that the Panorama Panthers would be the opponent standing across from them but they made this contest one of the most competitive at the State Tournament. Whenever Dike would come out and hit them with their best shot, the Panthers would reply. The duo of [player_tooltip player_id='595147' first='Tyme' last='Boettcher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='595146' first='Jaidyn' last='Sellers'] was something beautiful to watch. Boettcher at the Guard position was doing all that she could around the outside while Sellers dominated the middle. There are not many, if ANY players that I've seen who can stand up to [player_tooltip player_id='314094' first='Payton' last='Petersen'] of DNH in the paint but Sellers showed that she is more than up for the task. If the Panthers would have won this game, you would have to have given the MVP to Sellers. She was that much of a factor and difference maker on the both side of the floor. From the point of view of the Wolverines, this was a team effort. Everyone has their stars and their productive Senior group of [player_tooltip player_id='314094' first='Payton' last='Petersen'], [player_tooltip player_id='314149' first='Jadyn' last='Petersen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='878157' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'] finished off their careers how they would imagine, hoisting up the 2A State Trophy one more time by a final score of 58-56. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='314094' first='Payton' last='Petersen'] - <em>27 Points (11-16), 14 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1 Block, 2 Steals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Noteworthy Stat Lines: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595146' first='Jaidyn' last='Sellers'] (20 Points, 9 Rebounds, 9 Assists, 4 Blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='595147' first='Tyme' last='Boettcher'] (13 Points, 6 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 3 Blocks, 4 Steals), [player_tooltip player_id='314149' first='Jadyn' last='Petersen'] (7 Points, 9 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 2 Steals), Mia Waddle (8 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists), [player_tooltip player_id='878157' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'] (8 Points, 3 Rebounds), Izzy Norton (6 Points)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 3A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Solon vs Estherville Lincoln Central - </strong>The matchup between the Solon Spartans and ELC was one for the ages. This game included two top end recruits in in the Senior class in Iowa commit, [player_tooltip player_id='246099' first='Callie' last='Levin'] and Minnesota State commit, [player_tooltip player_id='311389' first='Haylee' last='Stokes']. When the final buzzer sounded, the Spartans secured their first State Title in over 20 years while Levin scored half of their points with 27. On the Midgets side, they may of lost the contest but they should keep their heads held high. Their star player, Stokes, ended with a game high 30 points along with 9 Rebounds. Though the stars are always a major factor in a contest, the role players are something that we need to talk about in this one. Stokes and Levin did their thing but if it wasn't for the role player of the Spartans, they don't get this done. Prospects like Annie Quillin who recorded 16 Rebound or [player_tooltip player_id='314120' first='Hailey' last='Miller'], who had 14 and 6. Without their efforts, none of this season would have been possible for the Spartans but in the end, they got it done and accomplished what they set out to do. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='246099' first='Callie' last='Levin'] - <em>27 Points (8-16), 7 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Steals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Noteworthy Stat Lines: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='311389' first='Haylee' last='Stokes'] (30 Points, 9 Rebounds, 5 Steals), [player_tooltip player_id='1055324' first='Hillary' last='Ruschy'] (7 Points, 6 Rebounds), Annie Quillin (16 Rebounds, 1 Assist), [player_tooltip player_id='314120' first='Hailey' last='Miller'] (14 Points, 6 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 1 Block), Mia Stahle (9 Points, 1 Rebound, 2 Assists, 1 Block) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->