Analyzing the area girls’ basketball regional pairings in 3A, 2A and 1A

They’re out.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released its girls’ basketball regional pairings.

The postseason opens next Thursday, Feb. 13, with Class 1A first-round games. Class 2A first-rounders and 3A quarterfinals are Saturday, Feb. 15.

Here are five themes surrounding area 3A/2A/1A regions:

Mount Vernon didn’t exactly get a cakewalk

Top-ranked in Class 3A, Mount Vernon (18-1) probably expected an easier path to Des Moines than this.

Yes, the Mustangs will be heavily favored in Round 1 against Vinton-Shellsburg. But it gets a bit tricky after that.

They are likely to host archrival Solon in the regional semifinals. The Spartans currently are 9-10 (probably 11-10 at the end of the regular season), but because of a challenging strength of schedule — and because most of their losses have been close — Solon sits at No. 10 statewide in the BC Moore computer rankings.

Then, on the other half of the draw stands a one-loss Mediapolis club.

Regina’s regional redemption is on the table

Iowa City Regina was upset in the 2A regional finals last year by Cascade. The Regals’ bracket is likely to provide a shot at redemption.

Second-ranked Regina (18-1) is a potential host to Cascade (13-6) in the regional semifinal round Feb. 21.

The Regals topped the Cougars, 58-44, on Jan. 18.

No three-match between Orioles, Bucs

With Springville ranked No. 8 and East Buchanan at No. 9 in recent 1A rankings, a regional final meeting between the Tri-Rivers Conference West Division combatants seemed inevitable.

Instead, the Orioles and the Buccaneers were steered in different directions.

Now at No. 7, Springville (15-4) takes a southerly path to Des Moines; the Orioles are the top seed in a region that also contains No. 12 Sigourney (16-4), as well as Lone Tree (17-3) and Highland (15-6).

If No. 10 East Buchanan (13-6) is going to qualify for state for the first time, it must navigate a bracket headlined by No. 5 Riceville (17-1, with the only setback a one-pointer to North Linn).

A pair of deep regions in Class 3A

Led by second-ranked Dubuque Wahlert (14-3), six of the eight teams in Class 3A Region 2 are above .500.

The Golden Eagles are favored to reach their third consecutive state tournament, but regional challengers are numerous. Center Point-Urbana (12-7) is ranked 15th, and potential semifinal opponent Monticello (12-7) has the bracket’s best player in Jayden Kuper.

Region 3 is similarly stacked. No. 4 Forest City (19-1) is the favorite in a group that includes five teams with winning records and another presently at .500. That includes West Delaware (10-8), which — like Monticello — has a player in Brooke Krogmann capable of carrying a team deep.

The best early-round games

There’s nothing better than a regional final (regardless of sport), but this handful of first-round games bear a close eye:

* Crestwood (11-7) at Waukon (12-6), Class 3A Region 3.

* Camanche (12-7) at Monticello (12-7), Class 3A Region 2.

* Anamosa (10-9) at Tipton (12-6), 3A Region 2.

* Elkader Central (9-12) at Edgewood-Colesburg (10-10), 1A Region 5.

* HLV/Tri-County (9-9) at Iowa Valley (6-14), 1A Region 2.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com