Tuesday’s best: 5 area Iowa girls’ basketball regional games to watch

In Laney Pilcher, Jesup has the area’s leading girls’ basketball scorer.

In Ally Olmstead, Alburnett owns the area’s second-leading rebounder.

For a little over an hour, they’ll be under the same roof Tuesday, when the J-Hawks and the Pirates collide in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal at Alburnett.

It’s one of the most attractive games in the area, and probably one of the most evenly matched. Here are five of Tuesday’s best area 2A and 1A regional quarterfinals:

Jesup (12-9) at Alburnett (12-9)

Class 2A Region 1

These teams last met in a regional game in 2015. Jesup has won four straight games, highlighted by a 71-43 rout of No. 12 Aplington-Parkersburg. A 5-foot-8 senior, Pilcher averages 25.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Olmstead (6-2, junior), on the other hand, does her work inside, shooting 54 percent while posting 12.5 points and 13.2 boards per contest. The Pirates will try to regain momentum after dropping two of their last three regular-season games.

West Branch (6-16) at East Buchanan (15-6)

Class 2A Region 1

This figures to be a lot closer than it looks simply by glancing at records. West Branch got past Lisbon in a first-round test, 36-31, behind 16 points from junior Kylie Pickett. At 58.6 points per game, East Buchanan certainly is the team with more offensive firepower; the Buccaneers have three players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore Laynee Hogan (16.8 points, 5.3 assists per game). The Bucs answered a three-game losing streak with four consecutive wins.

Dyersville Beckman (11-10) at MFL MarMac (13-7)

Class 2A Region 5

Beckman raised some eyebrows in its regular-season finale, knocking off previously unbeaten Cascade. Senior Shelby Pirc averages 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while junior Reese Osterhaus adds 10.4 points and 3.6 assists per contest. Give the Blazers a sizable advantage in strength of schedule: 16th in 2A (according to BC Moore), compared to 74th for MFL MarMac. Grace Anderson is a 60-percent field-goal shooter for the Bulldogs, averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Edgewood-Colesburg (11-11) at Elkader Central (19-2)

Class 1A Region 6

For the first time since 1976, Central wears the crown in the Upper Iowa Conference. The Warriors won their first 16 games, and one of those victories was a 63-57 conquest at Edgewood on Dec. 19. Central has an excellent guard in senior Delaney Scherf (19.8 points, 3.0 assists, 3.4 steals per game). Ed-Co counters with junior post Audrie Helmrichs (18.9 ppg, 14.1 rpg, .594 FG%). The Vikings throttled Lansing Kee, 79-29, in the first round behind Addy Kirby’s 21 points.

Maquoketa Valley (14-9) at Turkey Valley (17-5)

Class 1A Region 6

Both teams did as expected and won their first-round games decisively; Turkey Valley won its sixth straight game, 33-13, over West Central, and Maquoketa Valley whipped Central City, 68-26. The Wildcats possess good scoring balance, with three players (junior Haley Ronnebaum, sophomore Bianka Ronnebaum and freshman Grace Richter) averaging about 10 points per game. Senior Jacqlyn Schmitt is the unquestioned leader for Turkey Valley at 15.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg.

Tuesday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Waterloo Columbus (6-15) at Dike-New Hartford (20-1)

Jesup (12-9) at Alburnett (12-9)

West Branch (6-16) at East Buchanan (15-6)

Northeast (9-11) at Bellevue (14-7)

Region 5

Clayton Ridge (7-15) at Cascade (18-2)

Dyersville Beckman (11-10) at MFL MarMac (13-7)

South Winneshiek (7-15) at Aplington-Parkersburg (17-4)

Denver (9-13) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (13-7)

Region 6

Durant (7-15) at Iowa City Regina (18-4)

Columbus Community (7-15) at Wilton (9-12)

Van Buren County (6-15) at Mediapolis (18-3)

Danville (9-12) at West Burlington (16-5)

CLASS 1A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Glidden-Ralston (13-10) at Newell-Fonda (19-2)

Collins-Maxwell (16-5) at Baxter (15-4)

HLV (6-16) at Ackley AGWSR (21-1)

BGM (8-15) at Ankeny Christian (19-2)

Region 3

Iowa Valley (15-6) at North Linn (19-1)

Bellevue Marquette (15-7) at Calamus-Wheatland (18-5)

Midland (10-12) at Montezuma (18-3)

Highland (10-12) at Springville (18-4)

Region 6

Dunkerton (10-12) at West Fork (21-0)

Don Bosco (10-9) at Clarksville (15-7)

Edgewood-Colesburg (11-11) at Elkader Central (19-2)

Maquoketa Valley (14-9) at Turkey Valley (17-5)

Region 8

Fort Madison Holy Trinity (13-8) at Winfield-Mount Union (19-1)

Burlington Notre Dame (17-6) at WACO (18-4)

Sigourney (16-7) at North Mahaska (18-3)

Seymour (8-13) at Lynnville-Sully (15-7)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com