Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Libby Fandel is Miss Iowa Basketball 2025

DES MOINES — Tom Lilly saw trouble early in the Class 4A girls’ state basketball championship game Saturday afternoon.

“When Libby (Fandel) misses a first throw, it’s always the first one,” Lilly said. “Then she always makes the second.”

At the 3:17 mark of the first quarter, Fandel missed the first, then missed the second.

Lilly’s thought?

“That’s not good,” he said. “That was a bad sign.”

Fandel’s response? “I got this.”

She made her next 12 free throws in a 36-point, 14-rebound gem, and Cedar Rapids Xavier went on to beat North Polk, 66-47, for the title.

It was the final statement on a verdict that had already been reached earlier that day; Fandel was voted Miss Iowa Basketball 2025 in a joint meeting of the Iowa Print Sports Writers Assocation and the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association.

“It’s amazing that my work has paid off like this,” Fandel said. “I couldn’t have done it without my family and friends.”

And the Saints (22-4) couldn’t have done this without Fandel. The University of Kansas signee averaged 26.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals per game this season, and finished her career with 1,995 points.

Her numbers went up in the five postseason games: 32.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.0 steals per contest.

That included a school-record 41-point effort in the regional-semifinal rout of Decorah, and it featured a 37-point, 25-rebound outburst against No. 1-ranked Sioux City Heelan in the state quarterfinals.

“Playing on the same team as Libby is a big privilege, and we don’t take it for granted,” teammate Reese Komenda said afterward.

Fandel was a four-time 4A first-team all-state selection. She bookended her career with state championships as a freshman and as a senior, and was the all-tournament captain both times.

“I’m so proud of Libby,” senior Taylor Rexroth said. “It’s crazy how much she has grown.”

Fandel is one of 12 area first-team selections. The others:

CLASS 5A

Natalie Ramsey, jr., Iowa City Liberty — Averaged 22.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as the Lightning (17-7) made their state-tournament debut. Shot 83.5 percent from the free throw line. South Dakota commit.

CLASS 4A

Averie Lower, jr., Clear Creek Amana — Averaged 22.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists as the Clippers (15-8) reached the regional finals. Shot 42 percent from 3-point range.

CLASS 3A

Sydney Huber, sr., Mount Vernon — Averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds as the Mustangs (26-1) won the 3A state championship. All-tournament captain. Signed with the University of Evansville.

Jayden Kuper, sr., Monticello — Averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game as the Panthers (16-8) reached the regional semifinals. Signed with the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Chloe Meester, sr., Mount Vernon — Averaged 13.8 points and 9.5 rebounds as the Mustangs (26-1) won the 3A state title. Shot 60.8 percent from the field. Signed with Louisville for volleyball.

Brooke Krogmann, sr., West Delaware — Averaged 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game as the Hawks (14-9) reached the regional semifinals. Upper Iowa volleyball commit.

CLASS 2A

Addie McLaughlin, fr., Iowa City Regina — Averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 steals per game as the Regals (24-2) reached the state semifinals.

Morgan Miller, sr., Iowa City Regina — Averaged 19.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.4 steals per game as the Regals (24-2) reached the state semifinals. Truman State University signee.

Bianka Ronnebaum, sr., Maquoketa Valley — Averaged 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game as the Wildcats (23-3) reached the state tournament.

CLASS 1A

Molly Boge, sr., North Linn — Averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 assists and 4.9 steals as the Lynx (24-2) reached the state semifinals.

Rowan Jacobi, jr., Springville — Averaged 22.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists as the Orioles (20-5) reached the state tournament. University of South Dakota commit.

2025 IPSWA ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS

Class 5A

FIRST TEAM

Divine Bourrage, sr., Davenport North

Mya Crawford, sr., Ankeny Centennial

Romey Croatt, soph., Waukee Northwest

Amani Jenkins, sr., Johnston

Jenica Lewis, jr., Johnston

Ellie Muller, jr., West Des Moines Dowling

Natalie Ramsey, jr., Iowa City Liberty

Ava Zediker, sr., West Des Moines Dowling

SECOND TEAM

Samantha Becker, jr., Cedar Rapids Washington

Karis Finley, jr., Cedar Falls

Journey Houston, sr., Davenport North

Emily Larsen, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Nakia Ollivierre, jr., Waterloo West

Jaeden Pratt, sr., Ankeny Centennial

Emily Sorenson, sr., Waukee

Quinn Vice, sr., Pleasant Valley

THIRD TEAM

Alyssa Bartlett, sr., Southeast Polk

Asia Beale, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Grace Fincham, jr., Iowa City West

Alyvia McCorkle, jr., Bettendorf

Reagan Pagniano, sr., Pleasant Valley

Ari Phillips, soph., Johnston

Layla Trytten, sr., West Des Moines Dowling

Jayla Williams, jr., Ankeny

Class 4A

FIRST TEAM

Braylyn Birmingham, fr., Norwalk

Macy Comito, jr., Carlisle

Libby Fandel, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier (Miss Iowa Basketball)

Abby Lee, sr., Sioux City Heelan

Averie Lower, jr., Clear Creek Amana

Melina Snoozy, soph., Sioux City Heelan

Abby Tuttle, sr., North Polk

Lauren Walker, sr., Central DeWitt

SECOND TEAM

Becca Aagard, sr., North Polk

Bailey Birmingham, sr., Norwalk

Morgan Franken, soph., Sioux Center

Lizzy Frazell, soph., Waverly-Shell Rock

Macy Meyer, soph., Dallas Center-Grimes

Trishelle Miller, jr., Sioux City Heelan

Campbell Schulz, soph., North Polk

Cora Widel, jr., Maquoketa

THIRD TEAM

Kendra Boatman, jr., Keokuk

Lena Evans, jr., Clear Creek Amana

Ady Jeltema, jr., MOC-Floyd Valley

Aubrey Kroymann, jr., Maquoketa

Brooke Larsen, sr., Lewis Central

Maddie Pavelka, sr., Marion

Ava Smid, fr., Dallas Center-Grimes

Madden Wilson, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Class 3A

FIRST TEAM

Payton Harter, sr., Atlantic

Sydney Huber, sr., Mount Vernon

Brooke Krogmann, sr., West Delaware

Jayden Kuper, sr., Monticello

Claire Lueken, sr., Dubuque Wahlert

Chloe Meester, sr., Mount Vernon

Haylee Stokes, sr., Estherville ELC

Claire Turner, jr., Spirit Lake

SECOND TEAM

Isabella Borgos, sr., West Marshall

Colette Loges, sr., Forest City

Abby Oetker, jr., Des Moines Christian

Carly Rich, sr., Williamsburg

Ruth Tauber, jr., Dubuque Wahlert

Addy Wolfswinkel, soph., Cherokee

Savanna Wright, fr., Mount Vernon

Rylee Yager, sr., Estherville ELC

THIRD TEAM

Zoe Allen, jr., Williamsburg

Diedra Doeden, soph., Cherokee

Courtney Franck, jr., Mount Vernon

Claire King, jr., Dubuque Wahlert

Tori Lindsay, jr., Monroe PCM

Hillary Ruschy, sr., Estherville ELC

Aubrey Schwieso, sr., Harlan

Bethany Warren, sr., Forest City

Class 2A

FIRST TEAM

Sydney Doeschot, jr., Hinton

Ava Eastlick, sr., Eddyville EBF

Izzy Eisbach, jr., Nodaway Valley

Addie McLaughlin, fr., Iowa City Regina

Aubrey Metzger, sr., Central Lyon

Morgan Miller, sr., Iowa City Regina

Hudsyn Ranschau, jr., Rock Valley

Bianka Ronnebaum, sr., Maquoketa Valley

SECOND TEAM

Lynnae Green, sr., Shenandoah

Nora Konz, jr., Treynor

Shay Lemke, sr., Guthrie Center ACGC

Taryn Peterson, soph., Exira-EHK

Molly Roling, sr., Cascade

Molly Shafer, sr., Eddyville EBF

Avery Wilson, jr., Sioux Central

Mylie Zomer, sr., Rock Valley

THIRD TEAM

Audra Burbridge, fr., Maquoketa Valley

Addison Glass, jr., Hinton

Cora Sauer, soph., Lake Mills

Mylee Thurn, jr., Denver

Trista Ohlmeier, sr., Mapleton MVAOCOU

Rachel Schany, jr., Emmetsburg

Madison Vial, sr., Pocahontas Area

Leah Weaver, sr., West Fork

Class 1A

FIRST TEAM

Molly Boge, sr., North Linn

Kennedy Brant, jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Graclyn Eastman, soph., Algona Garrigan

Rowan Jacobi, jr., Springville

Kinzee Hinders, sr., Newell-Fonda

Charlie Pryor, sr., Woodbine

Ainsley Ulrich, soph., North Union

Avah Underwood, jr., Council Bluffs St. Albert

SECOND TEAM

Ellen Cook, sr., Montezuma

Kamryn Fink, fr., Highland

Izzy Gilbertson, soph., Mount Ayr

Laynee Hogan, sr., East Buchanan

Paige Kampman, jr., Clarksville

Maura Ryan, soph., Council Bluffs St. Albert

Ellie Sievers, fr., Newell-Fonda

Emie Tuhn, sr., Baxter

THIRD TEAM

Sacha Alesch, jr., Algona Garrigan

Emmi Bartolo, jr., Algona Garrigan

Emilee Beuter, sr., North Linn

Lilee Boriskey, jr., Edgewood-Colesburg

Brynn Clarahan, fr., Sigourney

Kate Harthoorn, jr., Lynnville-Sully

Kylee Pexa, soph., Dunkerton

Maddie Richter, sr., Anita CAM

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com