Iowa girls’ state basketball 2025: A closer look at Tuesday’s games

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

Class 3A quarterfinals

No. 3 WILLIAMSBURG (23-2) vs. No. 9 DES MOINES CHRISTIAN (21-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Top players: Carly Rich (5-6, sr.) is the leading scorer for a balanced Williamsburg squad at 12.8 points per game. Zoe Allen (6-1, jr.) adds 11.1 points and a team-high 4.5 rebounds per game. Addy Oetker (5-6, jr.) is the statistical leader in several categories for Des Moines Christian: 15.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 6.1 steals per game.

Coaches: Stephanie Dacey is in her third year at Williamsburg and sports a record of 42-28. Chris Harken has coached two seasons at DMC and is 45-5 there. In six years overall, he is 79-60.

Tournament history: Williamsburg has qualified for the fourth time, and the first since 2014. Des Moines Christian is here for the third straight year and the eighth time overall.

BC Moore computer projection: Williamsburg by 2.

Class 4A quarterfinals

No. 8 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (19-4) vs. No. 1 SIOUX CITY HEELAN (21-2)

Time: 11:45 a.m.

Top players: University of Kansas recruit Libby Fandel (6-0, sr.) is Xavier’s leader and one of the top players in the state. Fandel averages 25.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.1 steals per game. Madden Wilson (5-7, jr.) adds 10.1 ppg. Heelan has three big guns in Abby Lee (6-0, sr., 19.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Melina Snoozy (5-11, soph, 18.2 ppg) and Trishelle Miller (5-10, jr., 14.1 ppg).

Coaches: Xavier’s Tom Lilly is in his 40th and final season of coaching. He owns a record of 641-301, including 452-198 in 27 years at Xavier. Darron Koolstra is in his 15th year at Heelan and owns a 298-74 record.

Tournament history: Xavier is making its 17th appearance. The Saints have five championships to their credit, most recently in 2022. Heelan is here for the 14th time, the fourth in a row, and has won three titles (2008, 2010, 2020).

BC Moore computer projection: Even.

No. 3 MAQUOKETA (21-2) vs. No. 6 DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES (19-4)

Time: 5 p.m.

Top players: Maquoketa’s all-junior starting lineup is headlined by 6-foot-1 Cora Widel (14.4 points per game) and 6-foot Aubrey Kroymann (13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds per contest). Macy Meyer (5-6, soph.) is the lone DCG scorer in double figures at 16.6 ppg, but each of the other four starters average between 7.4 and 9.5 points per contest.

Coaches: Chad Specht owns a 41-6 record in two years at Maquoketa and is 91-18 in five seasons overall. Adam Jones is 174-54 in 10 years at Dallas Center-Grimes.

Tournament history: Maquoketa is a first-time qualifier. Dallas Center-Grimes is here for the eighth time, the fifth consecutive year. The Mustangs were 4A champions in 2023.

BC Moore computer projection: Even.

Tuesday’s other games

Class 4A quarterfinals

No. 4 Norwalk (22-1) vs. No. 5 Central DeWitt (20-4), 1:30 p.m.

No. 2 North Polk (22-2) vs. No. 7 Sioux Center (21-2), 3:15 p.m.

Class 2A Quarterfinals

No. 1 Eddyville EBF (24-0) vs. No. 10 Treynor (21-3), 6:45 p.m.

No. 4 North Mahaska (22-2) vs. No. 5 Central Lyon (19-4), 8:30 p.m.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com