Girls’ state basketball: Friday’s games

DES MOINES — Friday's games at the girls' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena:

CLASS 4A SEMIFINALS

No. 7 MARION (20-4) vs. No. 8 PELLA (22-2)

* Time: 11:45 a.m.

* Coaches: Corby Laube has compiled a 56-35 record in four seasons at Marion. Jerod Garland is in his seventh season at Pella and owns a 116-44 mark.

* Top players: Marion is driven by youth. Chloe Rice (5-10, soph.) leads the way at 14.3 points per game. Mia Laube (5-9, soph.) adds 9.7. Pella is fueled by a sophomore/junior mix led by Katie Vander Molen (5-9, jr.) at 14.1 points per game and Kiara Bradley (5-10, jr.) at 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.

* How they got here: Marion tripped two-time defending 4A champion Harlan, 46-38, in the first round, holding the third-rated Cyclones to six first-half points. Pella beat the other Hawkeye Ten 4A entry, knocking off No. 2 Lewis Central, 47-41.

CLASS 5A SEMIFINALS

No. 6 LINN-MAR (20-4) vs. No. 1 JOHNSTON (21-3)

* Time: 1:30 p.m.

* Coaches: Linn-Mar's Jaime Brandt has compiled a 36-12 record in two years at her alma mater. Chad Jilek is 59-35 in four seasons at Johnston, and is 78-103 in nine years overall.

* Top players: University of Iowa recruit Amanda Ollinger (6-1, sr.) keys Linn-Mar, averaging 17.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Kamryn Finley (5-8, soph.) adds 12.3 points per game. Johnston's Taryn Knuth (6-4, jr.) averages 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Rachel Hinders (5-11, sr.) adds 16.7 points per contest, Elle Brown (5-11, jr.) tallies 11.9 ppg.

* How they got here: Ollinger posted 25 points and 22 rebounds as Linn-Mar whipped No. 5 Indianola, 60-38, in the first round. Johnston eliminated No. 9 Southeast Polk, 60-48.'

MORE: Linn-Mar, Marion on similar streaks

CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 TURKEY VALLEY (26-0) vs. No. 3 SPRINGVILLE (25-1)

* Time: 6 p.m.

* Coaches: Carletta Nymeyer and Dan Stepan serve as co-coaches for Turkey Valley. Nymeyer is 62-12 in three seasons; Stepan is 66-28 in four. Nate Sanderson is in his sixth year at Springville and has notched an 84-56 mark. He is 153-152 in 14 years overall.

* Top players: Shelby Reicks (5-10, jr.) leads Turkey Valley with 15.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.0 steals per game. Emily Busta (5-8, soph.) adds 10.9 points per contest off the bench. The sophomore duo of Mikayla Nachazel (5-foot-10) and Rylee Menster (5-4) lead the Orioles at 14.7 and 14.0 per game, respectively. Megan Wagaman (5-8, sr.) adds 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

* How they got here: Turkey Valley advanced with victories over Mount Ayr (55-51) and Burlington Notre Dame (79-67). Last year's runner-up, Springville picked up wins over Kingsley-Pierson (60-53) and Newell-Fonda (59-52) along the way.

OTHER GAMES

* Class 4A semifinals: No. 5 Keokuk (22-2) vs. No. 9 Mason City (16-8), 10 a.m.

* Class 5A semifinals: No. 3 Ankeny Centennial (21-3) vs. No. 4 Cedar Falls (22-2), 3:15 p.m.

* Class 2A championship: No. 1 Western Christian (24-2) vs. No. 3 Unity Christian (24-1), 8 p.m.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com