Long trips await area Iowa high school girls’ basketball state-tournament hopefuls

Grab your sneakers. Pack your uniforms, the road ones of course.

A pillow, a snack and a GPS, that’s a good idea, too.

Seven area girls’ basketball teams are involved in Class 5A and Class 4A regional finals Tuesday. Six of them are making lengthy road trips:

* Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-4) to Cedar Falls (21-1): 70 miles.

* Cedar Rapids Washington (11-11) to Davenport North (21-2): 81 miles.

* Western Dubuque (17-6) to Waverly-Shell Rock (22-0): 96 miles.

* Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-13) to Gilbert (14-9): 113 miles.

* Iowa City West (13-9) to Waukee (17-4), 123 miles.

* Then there’s this monster trek: Maquoketa (20-3) to North Polk (21-2), 177 miles. Three hours, 3 minutes.

Of course, any of those late-night trips home will seem a lot shorter if a blue state-qualifying banner is among the traveling party.

“We’re not afraid to go to Gilbert,” Xavier Coach Tom Lilly said. “The kids are confident; they like their blue uniforms. I don’t think they’re upset going on the road again.”

Xavier won at North Scott in the first round, then toppled No. 10 DeWitt Central in the regional semifinals. Gilbert, meanwhile, went to Mason City and upset the No. 6 River Hawks.

“They are streaky shooters, and they shot lights-out against Mason City,” Lilly said. “We’re going to have to contest the perimeter.”

Prairie and Cedar Falls are meeting for the second time in two weeks. The Tigers won the first chapter, 52-47 on Feb. 8, in a game that determined the MVC Mississippi Division title.

“Their supporting cast made some plays in the fourth quarter, and we didn’t match it,” Prairie Coach Kenyon Murray said. “Defensively, we were pretty good. Offensively, we’ve got to be a little better.”

The Hawks, laden with depth, must contend with Cedar Falls’ Grace Knutson, a Drake signee who scored 44 points in a game earlier this season.

“We’re not going to stop her. We’ve got to make things tough for her,” Murray said. “Our seniors know it’s their last go-around.”

Maquoketa is pursuing its first state-tournament appearance in school history.

The top-ranked team in 4A, Clear Creek Amana is the only area team to host Tuesday. The Clippers (22-0) welcome Keokuk (19-3).

Tuesday’s Class 5A regional finals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Cedar Rapids Washington (11-11) at No. 2 Davenport North (21-2), Region 2

At first glance, Washington appears to be a prohibitive underdog. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll determine that the Warriors have a legitimate shot to make the one-year leap from 1-21 to the state tournament. North has been without junior Journey Houston (an Iowa commit) for the last six games (knee injury), and that levels the playing court immensely. The Wildcats still have a star in junior Divine Bourrage (19.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.6 apg). Washington’s swift climb this winter should be just the beginning. The Warriors’ top three scorers consist of two sophomores (Samantha Becker, 16.1 ppg, and Lily Belle Barker, 10.3) and a freshman (Elysionna Westerfield, 9.3). BC Moore projection: North by 22.

Iowa City West (13-9) at No. 4 Waukee (17-4), Region 4

An 18-point outing by sophomore Grace Fincham enabled West to upset No. 13 Southeast Polk, 38-37, in the regional semifinals. Now, the Trojans seek a bigger shocker of a CIML foe. Waukee finished third (behind Johnston and West Des Moines Dowling) in the state’s toughest conference and has beaten its four non-CIML opponents by an average of 35.5 points. Four Waukee players average at least 9.5 points per game, led by junior Emilie Sorensen (14.5). West has won its last four games. Fincham has blossomed into one of the best players in the MVC, averaging 15.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting 54.4 percent from the floor. Freshman Sasha Baldwin adds 11.0 ppg. BC Moore projection: Waukee by 23.

No. 11 Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-4) at No. 7 Cedar Falls (21-1), Region 7

The second high-stakes game between these teams in less than two weeks carries ramifications of postseason survival. Cedar Falls earned a 52-47 victory at Prairie on Feb. 8, which determined the MVC Mississippi Division championship. The Tigers have won 19 consecutive games and possess a gem in senior Grace Knutson, a Drake commit who averages 22.8 points per game, including a school-record 44 against Iowa City West. Prairie is one of the deepest teams around, with nine players capable of biting you. Sophomores Emily Larsen and Brynlie Hadenfeldt lead the way at 12.4 and 8.8 points per game, and junior Asia Beale (8.4 ppg) spearheads the Hawks’ potent bench. BC Moore projection: Cedar Falls by 6.

State

No. 14 Des Moines Roosevelt (15-7) at No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (18-4)

No. 10 Sioux City East (18-5) at No. 5 Ankeny Centennial (13-8)

Sioux City West (12-10) at No. 1 Johnston (22-0)

No. 12 Waukee Northwest (11-11) at No. 6 Pleasant Valley (18-4)

No. 9 West Des Moines Valley (12-10) at No. 8 Ankeny (13-9)

Tuesday’s Class 4A regional finals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Keokuk (19-3) at No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (22-0), Region 1

In raw terms of points allowed (31.1 per game), Clear Creek Amana owns the best defense in 4A. That includes a stretch of five games in a six-game span in which the Clippers held opponents below 20. Sophomore guard Averie Lower averages 17.6 points per game and shoots 58.8 percent from the floor, and senior Ava Locklear adds 11.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. Keokuk is the Southeast Conference champion and is 16-1 against Iowa competition. Four Chiefs have scored more than 200 points this season, led by sophomore Kendra Boatman (18.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.6 steals per game). BC Moore projection: CCA by 22.

No. 14 Western Dubuque (17-6) at No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock (22-0), Region 2

The seeds for Western Dubuque’s season of tremendous progress were sewn late in last year’s 5-19 campaign, in which it reached the regional finals. The Bobcats claimed the MVC Valley Division title and carry a 10-game winning streak that includes a 62-36 regional-semifinal win over Decorah. Junior Karrington Asp averages 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Waverly-Shell Rock’s identity is defense; the Go-Hawks’ 31.2 points per game allowed is second-best in 4A. WSR has three double-digit scorers, led by seniors Katelyn Eggena (13.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Brenna Bodensteiner (11.5 ppg). BC Moore projection: WSR by 5.

No. 11 Maquoketa (20-3) at No. 5 North Polk (21-2), Region 5

Maquoketa is one win — and a 350-mile round trip — from its first state-tournament berth in school history. The Cardinals have won 18 of 19 since starting the season 2-2. The top two scorers are 6-foot-plus sophomores, Cora Widel (16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds per game) and Aubrey Kroymann (13.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg). North Polk went 16-0 in the Raccoon River Conference, and the Comets’ top six scorers consist of four juniors (including Abby Tuttle at 15.4 ppg) and two freshmen. North Polk is on a 14-game win streak. BC Moore projection: North Polk by 14.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-13) at Gilbert (14-9), Region 6

Not quite the regional final that most projected, is it? The fourth and fifth seeds in the region are the last two teams standing. Xavier already has won two road games in the postseason, over North Scott and DeWitt Central, and Gilbert knocked off No. 6 Mason City in the regional semifinal. The Saints are a state-tournament regular, and they are seeking their third straight appearance and their 16th overall. Xavier has an ace in junior Libby Fandel, who leads the team in scoring (24.5 points per game), rebounds (9.2), assists (3.6) and steals (4.0). Gilbert has three double-digit scorers in Ella Henningsen, Mollie Schnormeier and Mia Kautman, and all are juniors. BC Moore projection: Xavier by 8.

State

No. 9 Norwalk (18-4) at No. 8 Lewis Central (18-4)

No. 13 Pella (16-6) at No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes (19-3)

Sioux Center (16-6) at No. 15 Humboldt (18-4)

Winterset (12-11) at No. 3 Sioux City Heelan (21-1)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com