Three for the show: Mount Vernon, Solon, Clear Creek Amana chase girls’ state basketball finals berths Thursday

DES MOINES — Get ready for a Wamac Conference semifinal bonanza at the girls’ state basketball tournament.

Mount Vernon. Solon. Clear Creek Amana. Back-to-back-to-back.

All with a legitimate shot to play for a championship this weekend.

“We came here to play three games,” CCA Coach P.J. Sweeney said Tuesday, after the Clippers blitzed Gilbert in a Class 4A quarterfinal.

Here’s a reset:

* No. 4 Mount Vernon (22-3) faces No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central (23-2) in the first 3A semifinal, at 1:30 p.m.

* In the second 3A semifinal, No. 3 Solon (22-3) meets No. 2 Des Moines Christian (24-1) at 3:15.

* Thursday’s Wamac finale is a 4A battle at 5 p.m. between top-rated Clear Creek Amana (24-0) and No. 5 North Polk (23-2).

The champions of the East and West divisions, Mount Vernon and CCA both were jaw-droppingly impressive in the first round.

Mount Vernon “played really free,” according to Coach Nate Sanderson and hammered No. 6 Harlan, 67-25.

The Mustangs will need to be sharp again against ELC, which got 44 points from junior whiz Haylee Stokes in a 61-47 first-round win over No. 12 Forest City.

Clear Creek Amana was 0-2 in its short state-tournament history before Tuesday. But it was clear quickly that this is a different team.

Averie Lower scored 17 points, Bliss Beck added 16 and Ava Locklear (14 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists) very nearly posted a triple-double.

“We’re definitely not satisfied,” Locklear said.

While the Mustangs and the Clippers appear to be destined for coin-flip games, Solon looks like a significant favorite to advance to the 3A final despite Des Moines Christian’s higher ranking.

The Spartans emerged from a 39-39 third-quarter tie to hold off No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert; DMC edged No. 8 Benton Community.

“I think we have a good chance (in the semifinals),” Solon senior Hailey Miller said. “I don’t want to take anything for granted. We’ve got to keep up the intensity.”

The Wamac has three teams in the semifinals for the second straight year. Benton Community, Solon and Vinton-Shellsburg made up three-fourths of the 3A final four last season.

If you’re into looking ahead, the 3A championship game is at 8 p.m. Friday, and the 4A title tilt is at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.

Makenzie Meyer headed to the Hall of Fame

Former Iowa player Makenzie Meyer is among the three 2024 inductees into the Iowa Girls’ Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meyer was named Miss Iowa Basketball 2016 for Mason City, which won the 4A championship that year. She was a starter on Iowa’s Elite Eight team in 2019.

Pat Hodgson (Glenwood, 1974) and Caitlin Ingle (Southeast Polk, 2013) round out this year’s Hall of Fame class.

The induction ceremony is at halftime of the 2A title game Saturday.

Other award recipients include:

E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship — Jessie Clemons, Pleasant Valley

Golden Plaque of Distinction — Kristin Meyer, coach at West Des Moines Dowling

Jack North Basketball Award — Audi Crooks, 2023 graduate of Algona Garrigan and a current Iowa State freshman

First Lady Award — D’Anne Kroemer, athletics director at Pleasant Valley

Character Counts Coach of the Year — Darcy Fair, Riceville

Executive Director’s Award — Chuck Brittain, IGHSAU, and Molly Phillips, Iowa PBS

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com