Who are the top challengers to Audi Crooks for Miss Iowa Basketball 2023?

DES MOINES — Perhaps, this is an exercise done in vain.

Sportswriters will meet Saturday morning at Wells Fargo Arena to select the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association girls’ basketball all-state teams.

The top award is Miss Iowa Basketball 2023. As chronicled earlier this week, Algona Garrigan’s Audi Crooks has the inside track to the award. The Iowa State University recruit is averaging 32.6 points and 14.3 rebounds per game for the Golden Bears, who play in the Class 1A semifinals Friday.

Crooks ranks No. 4 all-time in Iowa in both career points (2,659) and rebounds (1,313).

Who are Crooks’ challengers? Or, at least, who else warrants nomination? Here’s a short list, and remember, only seniors are eligible.

Jenna Hopp, 6-0 guard, Glenwood — A South Dakota State signee, Hopp averaged 24.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.6 steals per game as the Rams made the 4A field.

Kelsey Joens, 5-10 guard, West Liberty — Will follow older sister Ashley to Iowa State University. Spent her first three years at Iowa City High, then transferred to West Liberty to play for older sister Courtney Joens. Finished with 1,647 career points, averaging 24.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season.

Addison Klosterbeur, 5-11 guard, Central Lyon — A future rival of Hopp (she’ll play at the University of South Dakota), Klosterbeur tied the tournament record with eight 3-pointers in the Lions’ quarterfinal win Wednesday. Averages 19.9 points per game and shoots 45 percent from long range.

Halli Poock and/or Sahara Williams, Waterloo West — You really can’t mention one without the other. This duo has led the Wahawks to four straight state tournaments, highlighted by a 5A runner-up finish last year. Williams (5-foot-11, 21.2 ppg, 10 rpg, 5.2 apg) probably gets the nod based on her Power-5 scholarship to Oklahoma, but the intangibles and leadership of Poock (5-6, 22.4 ppg, 4.2 apg, Bradley signee) can’t be understated.

Gracie Schoonhoven, 5-11 forward, Unity Christian — A key member of Unity’s 2021 3A championship team, Schoonhoven averaged 22.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.1 steals per game. Will play at Dordt College.

Jenna Twedt, 5-9 guard, Benton Community — Led the Bobcats to the 3A state final; they’ll face Sioux Center for the crown Friday night. The school’s all-time leading scorer and a Kirkwood Community College commit, Twedt averages 20.3 points per game and shoots over 40 percent from long range.

Halle Vice, 6-2 guard, Pleasant Valley — Headed to Marquette University, Vice averages 21.0 points per game and shoots 58.4 percent from the floor. A major cog in the Spartans’ defense that allows 28.0 points per game. Unbeaten PV faces Johnston for the 5A championship Friday night.

Call to the Hall

Former Iowa State player Jadda Buckley, a 2013 graduate of Mason City, highlights this year’s IGHSAU Basketball Hall of Fame class, which will be honored at halftime of the Class 1A championship Saturday.

Buckley helped elevate the Mason City program, leading it to its first three state appearances (2011-12-13), then scored 1,196 points at ISU despite lingering issues with a stress fracture in her foot.

The rest of the Hall of Fame class consists of Connie Kraai (Holstein, 1966), Zoey Artist (Anita CAM, 1998) and Alexis Conaway (MOC-Floyd Valley, 2014).

Conaway scored a then-tournament record of 46 points in a 2014 quarterfinal win over Mediapolis, and the Dutch eventually captured the 3A title that year.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com