Iowa girls’ state basketball 2024: 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 Mount Vernon (22-3) vs. No. 1 Estherville ELC (23-2)

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Top players: A Louisville volleyball commit, Chloe Meester (6-2, jr.) is Mount Vernon’s leader in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounds (8.1) and blocks (3.1). Sydney Huber (6-0, jr.) adds 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. ELC has a superstar in Minnesota State commit Haylee Stokes (5-6, jr.), who averages 24.0 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 steals per game. Rylee Yager (5-9, jr.) adds 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest for the Midgets.

Coaches: Nate Sanderson has compiled a 249-217 record in 22 seasons, including 50-22 in three years at Mount Vernon. He coached Springville to a pair of 1A titles in 2016 and 2017. Don Martindale owns a 360-207 record in 25 seasons, including 122-49 in seven years at ELC.

How they got here: Mount Vernon advanced by blistering No. 6 Harlan, 67-25. Four players scored in double-figures, led by Huber’s 14, and the Mustangs hit 14 of 24 shots behind the arc. Led by 44 points from Stokes, ELC got past No. 12 Forest City, 61-47.

BC Moore computer projection: ELC by 3.

No. 3 Solon (22-3) vs. No. 2 Des Moines Christian (24-1)

Time: 3:15 p.m.

Top players: Iowa recruit Callie Levin (5-9, sr.) is averaging 22.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 5.1 steals per game. Hailey Miller (5-7, sr.) adds 13.5 ppg. Abby Hall (5-8, sr.) paces Des Moines Christian at 12.0 points per game.

Coaches: Jamie Smith has compiled an 90-49 record in six seasons at Solon and is 220-140 in 17 years overall. Christopher Harken is 58-56 in five seasons overall, 24-1 in one year at DMC.

How they got here: Both teams met stiff quarterfinal challenges and took care of business. Solon broke away from a third-quarter tie with No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert and won, 58-47, behind Levin’s 20 points. Trailing Benton Community by three points in the third quarter, DMC parlayed a 17-5 run into a 49-46 victory.

BC Moore computer projection: Solon by 25.

Class 4A semifinals

No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (24-0) vs. No. 5 North Polk (23-2)

Time: 5 p.m.

Top players: Averie Lower (5-11, soph.) averages 17.6 points per game, shooting 59 percent from the field, 49 percent from distance and 87 percent from the line. Ava Locklear (5-11, sr.) adds 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. UNI commit Abby Tuttle (5-9, jr.) paces North Polk at 15.4 points and 4.2 assists per game.

Coaches: P.J. Sweeney has coached 10 years at Clear Creek Amana and owns a record of 150-74. Clint Albertsen is 206-62 in 11 seasons at North Polk.

How they got here: CCA earned its first state-tournament win in three tries, routing Gilbert, 68-30, in the first round. Lower scored 17 points, Bliss Beck added 16 and Locklear posted 14 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists. Down five points at halftime, North Polk rallied in the second half and beat defending 4A champion Dallas Center-Grimes, 48-42.

BC Moore computer projection: CCA by 3.

Thursday’s other games

Class 5A semifinals

No. 1 Johnston (24-0) vs. No. 4 Waukee (15-8), 10 a.m.

No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (20-4) vs. No. 7 Cedar Falls (23-1), 11:45 a.m.

Class 4A Semifinals

No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock (24-0) vs. No. 3 Sioux City Heelan (23-1), 6:45 p.m.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com