Iowa girls’ state basketball 2023: A closer look at Thursday’s games

DES MOINES — Capsules for Thursday's games involving area teams at the Iowa high school girls' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

Class 3A semifinals

No. 4 Benton Community (22-3) vs. No. 10 Vinton-Shellsburg (18-7)

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Top players: Kirkwood Community College commit Jenna Twedt (5-9, sr.) is Benton’s all-time leading scorer and averages 20.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. Much of the rest of the lineup is junior-driven, with McKenna Kramer (5-8) and Emma Townsley (5-8) scoring 9.5 and 9.2 points per game, respectively. Alyssa Griffith (5-11, sr.) paces a balanced Vinton-Shellsburg team at 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Abby Davis (5-6, sr.) adds 10.9 points per game, Julia Johnson (5-3, jr.), the lone non-senior in the rotation, scores at an 8.3-point clip.

Coaches: Jeff Zittergruen has compiled a 77-39 record in five years at Benton. Rich Haisman owns a 63-32 mark in four years at Vinton-Shellsburg.

How they got here: Both teams had breakthrough victories in the quarterfinals. Benton got out fast, then held off No. 5 Des Moines Christian, 40-34, for its first state-tournament triumph. Vinton-Shellsburg preceded that with the upset of the tournament, 54-46 over No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central, snapping the defending-champion Midgets’ 38-game win streak.

BC Moore computer projection: Benton by 2.

No. 2 Solon (23-2) vs. No. 6 Sioux Center (19-5)

Time: 3:15 p.m.

Top players: University of Iowa commit Callie Levin (5-9, jr.) is Solon’s star, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game. Hailey Miller (5-7, jr.) adds 10.9 ppg, and had a big game in the quarterfinals. Willow Bleeker (5-8, sr.) is the leader for a balanced Sioux Center outfit, scoring 12.2 points and distributing 3.3 assists per game. Margo Schuiteman (6-0, soph.) is a spark off the bench, adding 8.6 ppg.

Coaches: Jamie Smith owns a 66-48 mark in five years at Solon and (at 198-137 in 16 years overall) can reach the 200-win milestone if the Spartans win the title. Doug Winterfeld has amassed a 378-166 record in 23 years at Sioux Center.

How they got here: Down 44-41 late, Solon closed with a 13-2 run and escaped No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert, 54-45, in the quarterfinals. Sioux Center had no problems at all with No. 3 West Marshall, rolling, 79-53.

BC Moore computer projection: Sioux Center by 2.

Thursday’s other games

Class 5A semifinals

No. 2 Johnston (23-1) vs. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial (18-6), 10 a.m.

No. 1 Pleasant Valley (24-0) vs. No. 4 West Des Moines Dowling (20-4), 11:45 p.m.

Class 4A semifinals

No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes (21-3) vs. No. 4 Ballard (19-3), 5 p.m.

No. 2 North Polk (22-2) vs. No. 3 Sioux City Heelan (23-2), 6:45 p.m.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com