Wednesday’s best: 5 area girls’ basketball regional games to watch (5A, 4A quarterfinals and 3A semifinals, Feb. 13, 2024)

In mid-January, this appeared to a lost season for Center Point-Urbana.

The Stormin’ Pointers were 2-10, and apparently going nowhere.

But a home upset of Marion signaled a turnaround, and now, after a 38-point first-round regional road win, this is a dangerous outfit.

CPU has won seven of its last 10 games, including a 53-45 victory over West Delaware on Feb. 2, squaring the season series between the Wamac Conference East Division rivals.

The rubber match is Wednesday in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Manchester.

It is one of the top games of the night, which also features 5A and 4A regional quarterfinals.

Here is a look at the highlight games:

Waterloo West (9-13) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-14)

Class 5A Region 8 quarterfinal

Kennedy concluded the regular season with seven losses in its last nine games, but one of the bright spots was a 60-33 win over West on Jan. 30, the Cougars’ first victory over the Wahawks since 2018. Junior Ella Moser and senior Kyla Wright scored 16 points apiece in that game. Another recent highlight for the Cougars came Saturday, an overtime victory over Marion. The winner advances to play at No. 8 Ankeny (12-9) in a regional semifinal Saturday.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (8-13) at North Scott (9-12)

Class 4A Region 6 quarterfinal

For the Saints to make their third consecutive state-tournament appearance (and their 16th in program history), they’ll have to win three consecutive regional games on the road. The winner advances to play at No. 10 DeWitt Central (15-5) in a Saturday semifinal. Xavier has an ace in its possession in junior Libby Fandel, one of the top players in any class. Fandel is averaging 24.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Like the Saints, North Scott is experiencing a rare sub-.500 season. Senior Sydney Skarich (10.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg) leads the Lancers.

Tipton (16-6) at Mediapolis (17-4)

Class 3A Region 1 semifinal

Tipton is in the midst of its first winning season in 13 years, and the Tigers’ 47-43 win over West Liberty on Saturday marked their first postseason victory since 2018. Seniors Carly Langenberg (12.9 ppg) and Chloe Klabo (6.8 ppg) have led this climb. Mediapolis’ offensive firepower presents a big challenge; the Bullettes’ 67.0-point scoring average is tops in 3A. Mediapolis has three double-digit scorers, led by Grace Holsteen (15.2 ppg and 94.1 FT%).

Center Point-Urbana (9-13) at West Delaware (10-12)

Class 3A Region 6 semifinal

These teams traded home wins by identical scores of 53-45, with the Hawks winning Jan. 16 and the Stormin’ Pointers prevailing Feb. 2. No doubt, West Delaware will have the best player on the floor in junior Brooke Krogmann, who averages 18.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per game. The Hawks dropped their last five regular-season games, mostly against top-flight competition, before rebounding with a 65-35 rout of Union Community in the first round of regionals. Both teams are driven by juniors and sophomores.

Williamsburg (14-8) at No. 8 Benton Community (16-6)

Class 3A Region 8 semifinal

Last year’s 3A state runner-up, Benton is a slight favorite to advance to its third consecutive state tournament. But two significant hurdles stand between the Bobcats and Des Moines, and the first comes Wednesday. Benton notched verdicts of 60-58 and 47-34 over Williamsburg in the regular season. Winners of 10 of their last 12 games, the Bobcats are fueled by senior guards Emma Townsley (15.1 ppg) and McKenna Kramer (13.7). Williamsburg has won seven of its last eight, including a 53-52 quarterfinal thriller over West Marshall. The Raiders’ top six scorers consist of two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.

Wednesday’s Class 5A Regional Quarterfinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Davenport Central (2-18) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (5-16)

Region 4

Urbandale (4-17) at Waterloo East (8-12)

Region 6

Davenport West (4-17) at Iowa City High (7-13)

Region 7

Dubuque Senior (1-20) at Dubuque Hempstead (6-15)

Region 8

Waterloo West (9-13) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-14)

Wednesday’s Class 4A Regional Quarterfinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Mount Pleasant (4-16) at Oskaloosa (10-10)

Burlington (11-9) at Fort Madison (13-6)

Region 2

Bondurant-Farrar (9-12) at Nevada (10-12)

Charles City (2-19) at Decorah (14-7)

Region 5

Des Moines Hoover (1-19) at Indianola (5-16)

Clinton (4-17) at No. 11 Maquoketa (19-3)

Region 6

Webster City (2-19) at Gilbert (12-9)

Cedar Rapids Xavier (8-13) at North Scott (9-12)

Wednesday’s Class 3A Regional Semifinals

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Davenport Assumption (10-11) at No. 4 Mount Vernon (19-3)

Tipton (16-6) at Mediapolis (17-4)

Region 5

Davis County (10-12) at No. 3 Solon (19-3)

Mid-Prairie (11-10) at No. 14 Chariton (19-3)

Region 6

Waukon (13-7) at No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert (17-5)

Center Point-Urbana (9-13) at West Delaware (10-11)

Region 7

Williamsburg (14-8) at No. 8 Benton Community (16-6)

Monroe PCM (15-6) at No. 9 Monticello (19-3)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com