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

How do you quantify the impact of a senior class?

Wins and losses, that’s certainly one way. And the legacy of Vinton-Shellsburg’s Class of 2023, no matter how it ends up, is one that re-elevated the program.

A consistent winner under Harold Shepherd, Vinton-Shellsburg went into a lengthy hibernation, with nine consecutive losing seasons from 2009-10 through 2017-18.

In the four years before this crew came aboard, Vinton-Shellsburg went 11-77. In the four years since: 60-32.

Those six seniors — Abby Davis, Sophia Kreutner, Ashley Meyer, Alyssa Griffith, Brylee Bruce and Kalinda Burke — account for 80 percent of the Vikettes’ scoring this season. They’ll try to extend their season Wednesday, when the 10th-ranked Vikettes (15-7) host Mid-Prairie (16-6) in a Class 3A regional semifinal.

Here are five of Wednesday’s best area 5A and 4A regional quarterfinals and 3A regional semifinals, all of which tip at 7 p.m.:

Cedar Rapids Washington (1-20) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-14)

Class 5A Region 7 quarterfinal

The winner advances to play at Southeast Polk on Saturday. Jefferson swept the regular-season series by verdicts of 58-46 and 62-37. The J-Hawks are a veteran, senior-laden crew full of three- and four-year contributors, led by Emma Slings (16.3 points per game). Washington has had a down year in its first post-Hannah Stuelke season, but better days probably are ahead. The top two players are freshmen: Samantha Becker (13.0 ppg) and Lily Belle Barker (7.2 ppg).

Davenport Assumption (13-8) at No. 11 Mount Vernon (15-7)

Class 3A Region 2 semifinal

Volleyball stars Ava Schubert (Assumption) and Chloe Meester (Mount Vernon) will be combatants under the basket. Schubert, a senior, is second among the Knights in scoring at 11.5 points per game; Maddy Nigey is tops at 12.3 ppg. Meester (9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has made massive progress throughout her sophomore season. Junior Peyton Simpson paces the Mustangs at 10.0 ppg. Both teams won their first-round game by 27 points, and both are on three-game win streaks. A trip to No. 2 Solon likely awaits the victor.

West Liberty (16-6) at Center Point-Urbana (13-9)

Class 3A Region 3 semifinal

Center Point-Urbana is two wins away from its eighth state appearance in the last decade. The Stormin’ Pointers certainly have the defense to break through again, but that defense will be severely tested by West Liberty’s Kelsey Joens. A senior transfer from Iowa City High and an Iowa State University recruit, Joens averages 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. CPU sophomore Mya Hillers has developed into a handy inside presence, averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Monticello (18-5) at No. 8 Dubuque Wahlert (16-6)

Class 3A Region 7 semifinal

These two teams, along with Osage and Waukon on the other side, comprise the most balanced remaining crew of semifinalists in 3A. Wahlert more than held its own in the 5A-heavy MVC, assembling an 8-6 mark in league play. Both teams are led in scoring by sophomores: Monticello’s Jayden Kuper (18.5 points, 9.9 rebounds per game) is one of the area’s top all-around athletes in the Class of 2025, while Claire Lueken scores at a 14.0-point clip for Wahlert. Four of Monticello’s five losses came by eight points or less.

Mid-Prairie (16-6) at No. 10 Vinton-Shellsburg (15-7)

Class 3A Region 8 semifinal

Two evenly matched, veteran squads collide. After dropping a two-point regional-final decision to Center Point-Urbana last year, Vinton-Shellsburg hopes to return to that stage, and advance another step further. The Vikettes have won their last five games, all by double digits. Mid-Prairie is 11-1 since the holiday break, including a 67-49 win over Prairie City-Monroe in the first round. Five of the Golden Hawks’ top six scorers are seniors, led by Landry Pacha at 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Wednesday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Davenport West (2-18) at Davenport Central (6-14)

Region 4

Sioux City North (4-17) at Sioux City West (9-12)

Region 5

Muscatine (4-17) at Iowa City High (5-15)

Region 6

Marshalltown (3-18) at Urbandale (5-17)

Region 7

Cedar Rapids Washington (1-20) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-14)

Region 8

Dubuque Hempstead (1-20) at Waterloo East (9-12)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Independence (6-15) at West Delaware (6-15)

Waverly-Shell Rock (15-6) at Charles City (1-19)

Region 6

Clinton (3-18) at Marion (10-11)

Western Dubuque (3-18) at Maquoketa (13-9)

Region 7

Mount Pleasant (11-11) at Fort Madison (15-6)

Burlington (4-14) at Keokuk (15-5)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Davis County (9-13) at Solon (20-2)

Davenport Assumption (13-8) at Mount Vernon (15-7)

Region 3

Union Community (5-18) at Benton Community (19-3)

West Liberty (16-6) at Center Point-Urbana (13-9)

Region 7

Waukon (14-8) at Osage (20-1)

Monticello (18-5) at Dubuque Wahlert (16-6)

Region 8

Chariton (14-8) at Grinnell (16-5)

Mid-Prairie (16-6) at Vinton-Shellsburg (15-7)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com