Tri-Rivers trio take aim at girls’ state basketball berths

They are Tri-Rivers Conference coaches.

And staunch Tri-Rivers Conference advocates.

“I’ve tried to tell people from the beginning, this is a tough conference (for girls’ basketball),” Springville Coach Christina Zaruba said.

“When the top four teams compete against each other ... there are other teams out there with better records, but ultimately, I think we play really good competition.”

And what say you, Scot Moenck?

“Any time you play North Linn twice, Springville twice, East Buchanan twice, (Edgewood-Colesburg) twice, it’s tough,” said the coach from Maquoketa Valley.

Judgment day for the Tri-Rivers West Division is Wednesday.

Led by reigning Class 1A state champion North Linn, the top three teams in the division shoot for state-tournament berths.

The second-ranked Lynx (22-1) face Bellevue Marquette (17-4 and the Tri-Rivers East champion) in a 1A regional final at Manchester while No. 7 Springville (19-4) tangles with No. 14 Sigourney (19-5) at Iowa City West.

In 2A, No. 8 Maquoketa Valley (21-2) meets No. 7 Denver (22-2) at Independence.

Also in 2A, No. 2 Iowa City Regina (22-1) is a massive favorite over Danville (15-8) at Muscatine.

The other area 1A games consist of No. 6 Montezuma (18-5) and No. 15 Lenox (19-5), at Indianola, and Lansing Kee (19-6) and Dunkerton (16-7), at New Hampton.

Winners advance to the state tournament next week.

Springville’s four losses consist of two to North Linn and two to Maquoketa Valley. And that’s it.

“We’re playing really well right now,” Zaruba said. “Defense has always been a strength for us. But we know we can score, too.”

The program has developed some top-notch players in the past 20 years (the 2009 crew, the Menster/Nachazel duo, Lauren Wilson among them). Junior Rowan Jacobi may end up being the best of all.

A recruit of the University of South Dakota, the 6-foot-2 Jacobi is good for 23 points and 13 rebounds per game. She also has hit a pair of half-court shots this season.

“Very versatile,” Zaruba said. “She does a lot of things well, inside and out.”

Springville and North Linn are favored Wednesday. Maquoketa Valley appears to be locked in a toss-up with Denver.

“They’re really athletic, good size across the board,” Moenck said of the Cyclones.

“We’re two different teams. They have length. Not that we’re small, but we’re not big like that.”

Wednesday’s Class 2A regional finals

(7 p.m. unless noted)

No. 2 IOWA CITY REGINA (22-1) vs. DANVILLE (15-8)

At Muscatine

Regina has won 13 consecutive games, and if the Regals aren’t a slam dunk in this one, they’re at least an uncontested layup to reach their third state tournament in the last four years. River Valley Conference South Division player of the year Morgan Miller, a senior, leads the Regals at 20.5 points per game, and freshman Addie McLaughlin is next at 17.1 (and 5.5 assists per contest). All told, the Regals score at a 69.5-point clip, best in 2A, and their 57-37 win over Cascade in the previous round may have been their toughest test of their regional run. Danville is coming off a 53-49 regional-semifinal win over Columbus Community and is led by junior Alaina Gourley (13.7 ppg, .619 FG%).

No. 8 MAQUOKETA VALLEY (21-2) vs. No. 7 DENVER (22-2), 7:30 p.m.

At Independence

Maquoketa Valley’s last state trip came in 2021, when the Wildcats reached the 2A championship game. They shared the Tri-Rivers West Division title with North Linn, and are an outstanding defensive club. Their 32.0-point defensive average is second in 2A (behind North Mahaska). Offensively, their chief threats are senior Bianka Ronnebaum (13.3 ppg) and freshman Audra Burbridge (13.0). Denver sports an all-junior starting lineup, and all five of them were key pieces of the Cyclones’ run to the 2A state volleyball championship last fall. Mylee Thurm, Channing Johnson and Grace Mullihan all score at an 11-point clip.

State

No. 1 Eddyville EBF (23-0) vs. No. 13 Guthrie Center ACGC (22-1), at Norwalk

No. 3 Hinton (22-0) vs. No. 12 Westwood (18-4), at Sioux City Heelan

No. 4 North Mahaska (21-2) vs. Hudson (18-6), at Marshalltown

No. 5 Central Lyon (18-4) vs. No. 14 West Fork (20-3), at Estherville

No. 6 Rock Valley (19-3) vs. Pocahontas Area (19-5), at Kingsley

No. 10 Treynor (20-3) vs. Exira-EHK/Audubon (18-5), at Underwood

Wednesday’s Class 1A regional finals

(All games, 7 p.m.)

No. 2 NORTH LINN (22-1) vs. BELLEVUE MARQUETTE (17-4)

At Manchester

It’s (winning) business as usual at North Linn, which has met or eclipsed the 20-win plateau for the 15th consecutive season. If the Lynx prevail in this one, it will mark their 10th state appearance in the last 12 years, and seventh in a row. North Linn scores at a robust 65.6 points per game, led by seniors Molly Boge (19.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.1 spg) and Emilee Beuter (14.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .593 FG%). Beuter will square off in the paint with Marquette senior Gwen Schroeder, who averages 16.0 points and 16.1 rebounds per contest. The Defenders were undefeated champions of the Tri-Rivers East Division. Three of their losses came against West Division teams (the Defenders and the Lynx didn’t play in the regular season).

No. 6 MONTEZUMA (18-5) vs. No. 15 LENOX (19-5)

At Indianola

South Iowa Cedar League West Division co-champion Montezuma has been a steady winner in alum Janel Burgess’ tenure as head coach. A win would send the Bravettes to state for the sixth time in her eight years. Montezuma has rallied after an 0-3 start, and the Bravettes are 14-0 this season against 1A competition. Led by senior Ellen Cook (14.6 ppg) and sophomore Vivian Cook (13.3 ppg), this team is beholden to the 3-point shot, averaging 28.4 attempts and 9.4 makes per game from deep. Lenox won the rubber match with Pride of Iowa Conference foe Mount Ayr in the regional semifinals, 36-32. The Tigers’ top three scorers are seniors, led by Sadie Cox (15.9 points, 14.1 rebounds per game).

No. 7 SPRINGVILLE (19-4) vs. No. 14 SIGOURNEY (19-5)

At Iowa City West

Springville is riding an eight-game win streak, by an average margin of 41.5 points. The Orioles have allowed 48 points in their two postseason contests. All four of their losses have come against Tri-Rivers West co-champions North Linn and Maquoketa Valley. South Dakota recruit Rowan Jacobi, a 6-foot-2 junior, is the leading scorer in 1A at 23.0 points per game, and adds 13.0 rebounds per contest. Sophomore Addison Merritt adds 12.6 points and 4.7 steals per game. South Iowa Cedar League East Division champion Sigourney raced to a 22-6 lead after one quarter, then held off Lone Tree, 64-60, in the regional semis behind 24 points and 15 rebounds from senior Josephie Moore.

LANSING KEE (19-6) vs. DUNKERTON (16-7)

At New Hampton

Bracket busters unite! Kee High knocked out No. 5 Riceville 51-42 in the regional semifinals, and Dunkerton took down No. 10 East Buchanan, 50-40. Kee High is on a 10-game win streak, allowing 33.3 points per game in that span. Junior Addison Winters (16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds per game) and sophomore Rylee Mudderman (14.3 ppg and 5.6 steals per contest) are the Hawks’ big guns. Kee reached the state tournament in 2016 and 2018. Dunkerton’s win streak stands at eight games behind the all-around contributions of sophomore Kylee Pexa (15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 5.6 steals per game). Neither team is ranked, but this might be the closest of the eight 1A regional finals.

State

No. 1 Council Bluffs St. Albert (21-1) vs. No. 13 Oakland Riverside (20-3), at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln

No. 3 Newell-Fonda (19-4) vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard (18-4), at Fort Dodge

No. 4 Algona Garrigan (21-3) vs. No. 12 Saint Ansgar (18-5), at Mason City

No. 8 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (20-3) vs. No. 11 Lynnville-Sully (18-5), at Nevada

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com