Wednesday’s best: Five area girls basketball regional games to watch (5A/4A quarterfinals, 3A semifinals, Feb. 18, 2026)

At long last, the Decorah High School girls basketball team is complete.

And it shows.

A program beset by unfortunate circumstances through the past three years — most notably, a series of ACL injuries — the Vikings (14-7) open Class 4A regional play at home Wednesday against Mason City (8-13).

In each of the past three seasons, Decorah has lost a player, each of whom are now key members of this current surge:

* During a JV game in her freshman year, Sydney Thompson tore the ACL and some meniscus in her left knee.

* During a practice over Christmas break of her sophomore year, Brooklyn Fromm tore her left ACL.

* During a varsity game at home last season against New Hampton, current junior Claire Storhoff tore the ACL in her left knee.

Storhoff had her surgery last February and returned to the court for the Vikings’ fifth game of the season, Dec. 11.

Fast forward to now.

Storhoff leads the Vikings at 13.1 points per game and shoots 85 percent from the free-throw line. Thompson adds 13.1 points and 3.0 assists per contest, Fromm 8.8 points per game.

Decorah has won five consecutive games and is 13-4 since Storhoff’s return.

The postseason continues Wednesday with 5A and 4A regional quarterfinals and 3A regional semifinals.

Two Metro teams open at home: Linn-Mar (4-17) is a prohibitive favorite against Des Moines North (3-18), and Marion (7-14) welcomes Grinnell (7-14).

Here is a look at Wednesday’s top area games:

Grinnell (7-14) at Marion (7-14)

Class 4A Region 6 quarterfinal

Marion owns a 3-0 series lead on Grinnell since the Tigers joined the Wamac Conference, and that includes a 48-21 verdict Jan. 22. The Wolves have been steeled by a challenging schedule (0-8 in an unforgiving East Division; the fourth-strongest 4A schedule by BC Moore). No. 12 Solon (14-7) welcomes the winner in a regional semifinal Saturday.

Mason City (8-13) at Decorah (14-7)

Class 4A Region 7 quarterfinal

Decorah’s first year as an independent has been bountiful, especially since Storhoff’s return. The Vikings’ late-season surge included a 59-36 victory at Mason City on Jan. 26, a game that they led by 28 points at the end of the third quarter. Thompson scored 22 points in that game, Storhoff 18. The victor advances to play at No. 7 Waverly-Shell Rock (20-1) in a regional semifinal Saturday.

Crestwood (13-9) at No. 14 Center Point-Urbana (14-8)

Class 3A Region 4 semifinal

All eight of CPU’s losses have come against top-10 teams — six to high-end Wamac foes. The Stormin’ Pointers stifled Charles City in the first round, 55-16, their fourth win in succession. Junior Grace Estling leads the squad at 13.1 points per game, while sophomore Adelyn Stien provides 11.4 points and 8.0 boards per contest. Crestwood got past New Hampton in Round 1, 51-47 in overtime.

Roland-Story (17-5) at No. 5 Williamsburg (18-5)

Class 3A Region 5 semifinal

Williamsburg has suffered only one loss to 3A competition, an overtime setback to Mount Vernon on Dec. 12. The Raiders have rattled off seven straight wins, including a 72-14 rout of Vinton-Shellsburg in the first round. The balanced Raiders have six players averaging at least 7 points per game, led by Zoe Allen (11.9). Three of Roland-Story’s five losses were by six points or less.

Washington (12-10) at No. 11 Tipton (20-2)

Class 3A Region 5 semifinal

Both teams were stingy defensively in the opening round: Tipton got past South Tama 45-24, while Washington stifled Fairfield 63-21. Champions of the River Valley Conference South Division championship, the Tigers earned a 48-40 non-conference victory over the Demons on Jan. 19. Tipton’s top five scorers consist of four juniors and a freshman, led by Jordyn Schmidt (11.8 ppg).

Wednesday’s Class 5A regional quarterfinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Des Moines North (3-17) at Linn-Mar (4-17)

Region 3

Des Moines Lincoln (7-14) at Marshalltown (12-9)

Region 6

Davenport Central (3-17) at Dubuque Senior (4-17)

Region 7

Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (0-21) at Southeast Polk (3-18)

Region 8

Muscatine (3-18) at Davenport West (7-14)

Wednesday’s Class 4A regional quarterfinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Perry (4-17) at Lewis Central (8-13)

Western Dubuque (4-17) at Waterloo East (12-10)

Region 4

Mount Pleasant (4-16) at Oskaloosa (4-17)

Burlington (12-8) at North Scott (13-9)

Region 6

Keokuk (14-7) at Fort Madison (13-8)

Grinnell (7-14) at Marion (7-14)

Region 7

Mason City (8-13) at Decorah (14-7)

Knoxville (0-21) at Gilbert (11-11)

Wednesday’s Class 3A regional semifinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Alburnett (14-8) at No. 2 Maquoketa (19-4)

Monticello (14-8) at No. 15 Davenport Assumption (13-8)

Region 3

Dike-New Hartford (13-10) at No. 1 Mount Vernon (20-2)

Pella Christian (10-12) at No. 12 Mid-Prairie (17-5)

Region 4

Waukon (13-9) at No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert (16-5)

Crestwood (13-9) at No. 14 Center Point-Urbana (14-8)

Region 5

Roland-Story (17-5) at No. 5 Williamsburg (18-5)

Washington (12-10) at No. 11 Tipton (20-2)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com