Saturday’s best: Five area girls’ basketball regional games to watch (2A first round, 3A quarterfinals, Feb. 15, 2025)

Let’s simply call this a Kuper & Krogmann Career Appreciation Post.

Monticello’s Jayden Kuper and West Delaware’s Brooke Krogmann are two of the state’s best under-the-radar girls’ basketball players.

Neither of the seniors have reached a state basketball tournament (though Krogmann was a state-volleyball fixture), but both have crafted standout careers.

Kuper has accumulated 1,589 points, 909 rebounds and 358 steals, leading Monticello (15-7 this season) to a 67-25 four-year record. A signee of the University of Missouri at St. Louis, she is averaging 20.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season.

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A future volleyball player at Upper Iowa University, Krogmann has led West Delaware (13-8) to its first winning season during her career.

Her career totals are 1,471 points, 769 rebounds and 358 blocks while shooting 53.7 percent from the field. This season, she is averaging 19.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per contest.

Kuper and Krogmann both will be in action Saturday, when their respective teams begin postseason play.

Here is a look at Saturday’s area highlight games:

Davenport Assumption (9-12) at Solon (11-10)

Class 3A Region 1 quarterfinal

The reigning 3A state champion, Solon won its final three regular-season games to get to the plus side of .500. Senior Kobi Lietz is the lone returning starter from last year. She and junior Delainey Durr both are averaging 12-plus points per game. Assumption finished 9-9 in the 4A/5A-heavy Mississippi Athletic Conference, and is led by sophomore Anna Timmons (11.5 ppg). The winner, more than likely, will play at No. 1 Mount Vernon in a regional semifinal Wednesday.

Camanche (12-9) at Monticello (15-7)

Class 3A Region 2 quarterfinal

Monticello swept the two regular-season encounters between the River Valley Conference North Division rivals by verdicts of 43-30 and 60-29, the second of which was the regular-season finale Tuesday. Monticello has won eight of its last 10 games, highlighted by a 50-49 triumph over 2A top-10 Maquoketa Valley on Monday. Camanche’s 12 wins are its most in a season since 2017-18. The Storm have won eight of their last 11. The victor likely faces a regional-semifinal date at No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert.

Anamosa (12-10) at Tipton (15-6)

Class 3A Region 2 quarterfinal

These teams squared off Feb. 6, with Tipton claiming a 36-28 home-court victory thanks to a 13-4 advantage in the second quarter. Tipton’s top five scorers consist of four sophomores and a junior, led by soph Jordyn Schmidt at 11.7 points per game, so this might be the start of something significant. Anamosa is one of the area’s most improved teams; the Blue Raiders’ 12 wins matches the total of the previous five seasons combined. An all-state volleyball player, junior Sophie Sander averages 12.0 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Crestwood (12-8) at Waukon (14-7)

Class 3A Region 3 quarterfinal

Waukon has won 11 of the last 12 in the series between the Northeast Iowa rivals and captured both meetings this season, 48-39 and 43-35. That enabled the Indians to finish second behind Decorah in the final season of the NEIC. Waukon senior Keira McCormick is good for 19.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Crestwood is led by junior Charley Curtis (15.3 ppg). If Waukon wins, it likely faces a 115-mile drive for a regional-semifinal game at No. 4 Forest City.

North Fayette Valley (11-10) at West Delaware (13-8)

Class 3A Region 3 quarterfinal

West Delaware has posted its winningest season in a decade, and the Hawks have done it as part of a highly competitive Wamac Conference East Division. Krogmann is one of four senior starters, along with Josie McMahon, Susie Funke and Kirstyn Kolbet. North Fayette Valley snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Clayton Ridge in its regular-season finale. A road test against West Marshall is the likely fate for the winner.

Saturday’s Class 3A Regional Quarterfinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Vinton-Shellsburg (5-16) at No. 1 Mount Vernon (20-1)

Davenport Assumption (9-12) at Solon (11-10)

Washington (6-15) at No. 13 Mediapolis (20-1)

Benton Community (7-14) at West Liberty (9-12)

Region 2

Oelwein (4-18) at No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert (16-4)

Camanche (12-9) at Monticello (15-7)

Wilton (5-16) at Center Point-Urbana (13-8)

Anamosa (12-10) at Tipton (15-6)

Region 3

New Hampton (5-15) at No. 4 Forest City (21-1)

Crestwood (12-8) at Waukon (14-7)

Union Community (2-20) at West Marshall (16-5)

North Fayette Valley (11-10) at West Delaware (13-8)

Region 4

Fairfield (1-20) at No. 3 Williamsburg (20-2)

Central Lee (11-11) at Mid-Prairie (15-5)

South Tama (2-19) at No. 10 Monroe PCM (19-3)

Davis County (10-12) at Albia (16-5)

Saturday’s Class 2A Regional First Round

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Northeast (5-15) at Bellevue (8-13)

West Branch (3-18) at West Burlington (7-14)

Region 5

Colfax-Mingo (6-15) at Pella Christian (7-14)

East Marshall (3-19) at Lisbon (8-13)

Region 8

Dyersville Beckman (2-19) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (7-15)

Postville (1-18) at South Winneshiek (9-12)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com