State Tournament Preview: Day 1
The state tournament is finally here! We have 40 teams vying to hold the trophy but only five teams will head home with it in their possession. We start off the week with the 5A quarterfinals and a few of the 3A quarterfinal games. We will look at each matchup below as well as give a few players to watch and finally give our prediction! View the complete schedule here: Girls State Tournament Schedule
5A Quarterfinal: #2 Iowa City High (22-1) vs. #7 Prairie (20-3) @ 10AM
These two teams matched up earlier this season in a game that saw Iowa City High come away with an 85-53 win. I would be shocked to see that big of a spread again as Prairie should come out ready. In a 10 AM tip anything can happen and if Iowa City High lets their guard down Prairie has more than enough ammo to win
Players to Watch
Mallory McDermott – 2020 – Prairie – Western Illinois commit
Sidney McCrea – 2020 – Prairie – Northern Illinois commit
Kamryn Grissel – 2022 – Prairie
Rose Nkumu – 2020 – Iowa City High – Marquette commit
Aubrey Joens – 2020 – Iowa City High – Iowa State commit
Paige Rocca – 2020 – Iowa City High – Missouri State commit
Kelsey Joens – 2023 – Iowa City High
Prediction: Iowa City High 61, Prairie 58
5A Quarterfinal: #3 Johnston (21-2) vs. #6 Southeast Polk (19-4) @ 11:45AM
Just under a month ago these two teams met and saw Johnston come out on top 79-70. Anytime these two teams meet there have been a lot of points put up the last three years. This is one game that can go either way once again. Johnston has won two in a row and has taken four of the last five.
Players to Watch
Grace Larkins – 2021 – Southeast Polk – South Dakota commit
Jessica Stuart – 2020 – Southeast Polk
Rylie Kruse – 2021 – Southeast Polk
Brooklin Dailey – 2023 – Southeast Polk
Maya McDermott – 2020 – Johnston – Northern Iowa commit
Kendall Nead – 2020 – Johnston – UW-Milwaukee commit
Maddie Mock – 2020 – Johnston – Western Illinois commit
Anna Gossling – 2022 – Johnston
Prediction: Johnston 75, Southeast Polk 72
5A Quarterfinal: #1 Waukee (21-2) vs. #8 Sioux City East (16-7) @ 1:30PM
These teams have only met once prior to this meeting and it was a Waukee blowout back in 2015 by 37 points. No player on either of these teams were on those teams so it is safe to say this one will be different. Sioux City East is a bit of a cinderella as they took down Dowling Catholic in the region title game. Waukee has been magnificent this season so far and they are looking to get off on the right note. Both of these teams are very good.
Players to Watch
Nyamer Diew – 2020 – Sioux City East – Butler commit
Kennedy McCloy – 2020 – Sioux City East
Katlynn Tucker – 2020 – Sioux City East
Katie Dinnebier – 2021 – Waukee – Drake commit
Peyton Kelderman – 2021 – Waukee
Lindsey Kelderman – 2021 – Waukee
Prediction: Waukee 66, Sioux City East 58
5A Quarterfinal: #4 Cedar Falls (19-4) vs. #5 Waterloo West (19-4) @ 3:15PM
These two teams have played twice this year and split the season series. Waterloo West won the first matchup in December as Cedar Falls was battling injury troubles. Waterloo West came out with a 60-43 win but in January Cedar Falls got revenge by winning 67-58. Before that win in December, Waterloo West had lost 11 in a row against Cedar Falls. This game should be a good test for both teams.
Players to Watch
Lauren Conrey – 2020 – Waterloo West – Grand View commit
Brooklynn Smith – 2022 – Waterloo West
Halli Poock – 2023 – Waterloo West
Sahara Williams – 2023 – Waterloo West
Emerson Green – 2020 – Cedar Falls – Northern Iowa commit
Anaya Barney – 2021 – Cedar Falls – Northern Iowa commit
Sydney Remmert – 2022 – Cedar Falls
Jasmine Barney – 2023 – Cedar Falls
Prediction: Cedar Falls 65, Waterloo West 58
3A Quarterfinal: #1 Dike-New Hartford (22-1) vs. #8 Jesup (20-4) @ 5:00PM
Dike-New Hartford has already beaten Jesup twice this season by large margins. They beat them in December 56-33 and again in January 66-40. Jesup has been on a very good run as of late and I won’t be surprised to see them really put some pressure on Dike-New Hartford in this one. I think the talent wins out in the end, but I’ve been wrong before.
Players to Watch
Payton McHone – 2020 – Jesup – Dubuque commit
Brittany Lingenfelter – 2020 – Jesup
Amanda Treptow – 2022 – Jesup
Ellie Foster – 2020 – Dike-New Hartford – UW-Green Bay commit
Katie Knock – 2020 – Dike-New Hartford – Northern State commit
Morgan Weber – 2020 – Dike-New Hartford – Wichita State volleyball commit
Prediction: Dike-New Hartford 68, Jesup 53
3A Quarterfinal: #4 Red Oak (21-3) vs. #5 North Polk (19-5) @ 6:45PM
This might be the best game of the day as both Red Oak and North Polk are so closely matched. It’ll be a contrast of styles with Red Oak running with the ball and North Polk looking to slow it down at times. Both teams are great in transition and this game might come down to who has the least amount of turnovers. This will be the first matchup between the two teams.
Players to Watch
Jaedon Murphy – 2020 – North Polk – Wartburg
Maggie Phipps – 2021 – North Polk – Drake commit
Lucy Schaffer – 2021 – North Polk
Makayla Boatman – 2023 – North Polk
Ellie Rengstorf – 2020 – Red Oak – Grand View commit
Chloe Johnson – 2020 – Red Oak
Sophie Walker – 2020 – Red Oak
Lexi Johnson – 2021 – Red Oak
Prediction: North Polk 63, Red Oak 62
3A Quarterfinal: #2 Clear Lake (22-2) vs. #7 Assumption (16-7) @ 8:30PM
Clear Lake has been great all season long with their ability to pressure the ball and play defense. Their offense is almost run by their defense as they look to create in transition. Clear Lake executes well and that serves them well in this environment. Assumption is a bit of a surprise as everyone thought that Crestwood would come out of that region. Assumption is very good despite their 16-7 record and is one of the tallest teams in the state as they will likely start a 5’5, 5’10, 5’10, 6’1, 6’1 lineup.
Players to Watch
Natalie Moore – 2020 – Assumption
Corey Whitlock – 2020 – Assumption
Ava Schubert – 2023 – Assumption
Sara Faber – 2020 – Clear Lake
Chelsey Holck – 2021 – Clear Lake
Darby Dodd – 2021 – Clear Lake
Prediction: Clear Lake 67, Assumption 59