Iowa high school girls’ state basketball 2024: Class 3A qualifiers, bracket, schedule

The 2024 Iowa high school girls’ state basketball tournament has its first eight qualifiers following Saturday’s Class 3A regional finals. Here’s a look at Saturday’s games, plus the 3A bracket and schedule released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Saturday’s Class 3A girls’ basketball regional finals

No. 4 Mount Vernon 61, Mediapolis 34

The Mustangs (21-3) built a 30-14 halftime lead and advanced to state for the first time since 2016.

No. 2 Des Moines Christian 45, No. 11 Algona 41

Back-to-back state tournament trips are in store for Des Moines Christian (23-1), which gets a first-round rematch after falling to Benton Community in last year’s quarterfinals.

No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central 57, No. 10 Spirit Lake 38

Estherville-Lincoln Central (22-2) stretched a 9-8 first-quarter advantage to 27-17 at the half and continued to pull away for its third straight state berth. ELC, top-ranked for the second year in a row, will look to write a different story this time after it was upset by Vinton-Shellsburg in last year’s first round.

No. 12 Forest City 67, No. 5 Roland-Story 55

Forest City (21-3) is state bound for the first time in school history after upsetting Roland-Story (22-2) on the road.

No. 3 Solon 73, No. 14 Chariton 41

A Class 3A state semifinalist last season, Solon (21-3) is heading back to the state tournament. The Spartans trailed 14-13 after one but outscored the Chargers 20-5 in the second quarter. Iowa recruit Callie Levin had 26 points for the Spartans.

No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert 49, Center Point-Urbana 31

Upset-minded CPU (10-14) led Wahlert 24-22 heading into the fourth, but the Golden Eagles (19-5) outscored the Stormin’ Pointers 27-7 in the final frame to get back to state for the third time in four years. The Golden Eagles get a first-round rematch with Solon.

No. 6 Harlan 50, No. 15 Cherokee 47

Erica Rust scored on a post-up out of a timeout with 34 seconds left to break a 46-46 tie and Harlan (20-3) held on to return to state for the first time since 2021.

No. 8 Benton Community 42, No. 9 Monticello 35

Last year’s 3A runner-up, Benton Community (18-6) earned its third straight trip to the state tournament.

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Benton Community earns its third consecutive girls’ state basketball berth

Class 3A Iowa high school girls’ state basketball tournament

Quarterfinals — Monday, Feb. 26 and Tuesday, Feb. 27

No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central (22-2) vs. No. 12 Forest City (21-3), 5 p.m. Mon.

No. 4 Mount Vernon (21-3) vs. No. 6 Harlan (20-3), 6:45 p.m. Mon.

No. 2 Des Moines Christian (23-1) vs. No. 8 Benton Community (18-6), 8:30 p.m. Mon.

No. 3 Solon (21-3) vs. No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert (19-5), 10 a.m. Tue.

Semifinals — Thursday, Feb. 29

1:30 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

Championship — Friday, March 1

8 p.m.

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com