Orioles have returned to prosperity

The transition to varsity basketball turned out to be not much transition at all.

'These freshmen, they grew up in our system using the same language and doing the same drills that we do at the varsity level,” said Springville Coach Nate Sanderson. 'They've played quite a bit of basketball, and I think the fact that they've already done what we're doing has allowed them to come in and contribute right away.”

That contribution has led to major progress, and harkens memories of glory days gone by.

Six years have passed since the Orioles last played at the state tournament. The next run to Des Moines is a win away.

No. 11 Springville (20-3) meets No. 10 Lynnville-Sully (22-1) in a Class 1A regional final at 7 p.m. Monday at Iowa City West. It's one of seven games Monday - four in 1A, three in 2A - involving area teams.

In other 1A games, English Valleys (18-5) gets its shot at top-rated, defending-champion Burlington Notre Dame (22-1) at Mount Pleasant, No. 5 Turkey Valley (23-1) meets No. 7 Newell-Fonda (19-4) at Clarion, and Lansing Kee (21-3) faces No. 6 Colo-Nesco (22-1) at Hudson.

In 2A, No. 3 North Linn (22-1) faces Sumner-Fredericksburg (18-5) at Arlington while No. 13 Cascade (20-3) takes on Durant (16-7) at Clarence. Also, No. 12 Iowa City Regina (20-3) meets No. 5 Dike-New Hartford (21-2) at Independence.

Regional finals are Tuesday in 5A and 4A.

Springville won a state title in 2008 and finished a point short of a repeat in 2009. After five straight losing seasons, prosperity has returned.

'Not to take anything from the kids we had the past few years, but we just have more talent now,” Sanderson said. 'The freshman class, obviously, has made a huge impact. But we also have great chemistry. This team works hard, and the kids love each other. You can tell by the unselfishness they play with.”

Ninth-graders Mikayla Nachazel and Rylee Menster are the scoring leaders at 12.8 and 11.5 points per game, respectively. Sarah Matus (11.4 ppg), a senior, hit six 3-pointers in the Orioles' regional-semifinal win over Bellevue Marquette.

'Marquette had been our nemesis in a lot of sports the last couple years,” Sanderson said. 'Matus wasn't going to lose to them again. She played with the most fire I've ever seen from her.”

Cascade has advanced to the state semifinals two straight seasons; North Linn joined the Cougars in the 2A final four last year.

Turkey Valley and Lansing Kee both are shooting for their first state tournament.

MONDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL-FINAL CAPSULES

No. 3 NORTH LINN (22-1) vs. SUMNER-FREDERICKSBURG (18-5), Region 4

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Arlington

* Overview: One of only two teams (Panorama is the other) to win 20-plus games in the past five seasons, North Linn pursues its second consecutive state trip. The Lynx were 2A semifinalists last year. Drake recruit Nicole Miller is second in the state in scoring at 26.1 points per game and one of 14 girls in Iowa five-player history to tally more than 2,000 points in her career. Maddie Boer and Morgan Boer add 12.5 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. The Lynx are 22-0 against Iowa competition, with the lone loss coming to Barnaveld (Wis.) on Jan. 10. Like the Lynx, Sumner-Fredericksburg won its first two regional games convincingly. The Cougars are seeking their first state berth since their merger. Gabbie Mohs leads S-F at a modest 8.3 points per game, but five others are at 5.5 ppg or more.

No. 13 CASCADE (20-3) vs. DURANT (16-7), Region 5

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Clarence

* Overview: This is a River Valley Conference North-South battle. North Division champion Cascade is shooting for its third straight state berth. The Cougars advanced to the 3A semifinals in 2013, then to the final four in 2A last year. They got to this round by forcing Maquoketa Valley into 22.6-percent shooting (including 23 straight misses in a 14-minute stretch) in a 50-43 semifinal win. Durant beat West Branch for the third time this season, 50-35. The Wildcats will try to avenge a 43-37 loss to the Cougars Jan. 30 at Durant. Cascade again has one of the state's best defenses, allowing about 33 points per game. Carolyn Trumm averages 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Durant possesses three girls scoring 10 points per game - Shannon Telsrow, Courtney Ralfs and Janey Botkins.

No. 12 IOWA CITY REGINA (20-3) vs. No. 5 DIKE-NEW HARTFORD (21-2), Region 6

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Independence

* Overview: Regina's game with Pekin in the regional semifinals figured to be a toss-up, but it sure wasn't. The Regals claimed control early and cruised to a 58-40 victory. The reward is a contest with DNH, which has most of the same cast that claimed four state championships in volleyball. The Wolverines have won 14 straight games, and their two losses have come against Northeast Iowa powers Waverly-Shell Rock and Crestwood. Regina captured the River Valley Conference South Division title behind a balanced lineup led by freshman Mary Crompton (11.4 points per game), one of the area's top outside shooters. Lizzy Blough leads DNH at 10.8 points per game, and 6-foot-5 post Brooke Morgan adds 9.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. DNH has not qualified for state, but Dike won a six-player championship in 1988.

MONDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL-FINAL CAPSULES

No. 5 TURKEY VALLEY (23-1) vs. No. 7 NEWELL-FONDA (19-4), Region 3

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Clarion

* Overview: Turkey Valley is a win away from its first state appearance, but one of the state's best small-school programs provides the final hurdle. Newell-Fonda was last year's runner-up, and has advanced to state 10 times since converting to the five-player game. Turkey Valley won the small-school crown of the Upper Iowa Conference, its first five-player league title, and has won 21 straight games after falling to Decorah, a 4A school. Sophomore Shelby Reicks leads the Trojans at 12.4 points per game, and adds 5.4 assists and 4.6 steals per game. Newell-Fonda hails from a powerful Twin Lakes Conference and averages a healthy 63.5 points per game. Brianna Wells leads the Mustangs at 12.4 ppg.

LANSING KEE (21-3) vs. No. 6 COLO-NESCO (22-1), Region 4

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Hudson

* Overview: Kee High was a Cinderella story in softball, advancing all the way to the 1A championship game. Many of those same athletes are striving to bring the school its first state-basketball venture. Two of the Hawks' three losses have come against Turkey Valley, another regional finalist. Front-courters Mikayla Gavin (12.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Kendra Cooper (9.9 and 7.1) are pulling much of the weight. Cooper and Ashley Schwartzhoff (8.4 ppg) are freshmen. Both teams have had to sweat it out throughout regionals. Kee won its first three postseason games by a total of 10 points - 48-42 over Elkader Central, 48-46 over Tripoli and 51-49 over No. 9 Janesville. Colo-Nesco's wins have come against Gladbrook-Reinbeck (41-38) and North Tama (41-39). Shayla Dean averaged 16.5 points, 5.6 assists and 7.5 steals per game for the Royals.

No. 11 SPRINGVILLE (20-3) vs. No. 10 LYNNVILLE-SULLY (22-1), Region 5

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Iowa City West

* Overview: The 2008 1A state champion (and runner-up in 2009), Springville is enjoying a rebirth after five straight losing seasons. The Orioles are 12-0 against 1A competition, taking down nemesis Bellevue Marquette in the regional semifinals, 51-35, behind 20 points by Sarah Matus, one of the Orioles' double-digit scorers this season at 11.4 points per game. The two leaders are freshmen - Mikayla Nachazel (12.8 ppg) and Rylee Menster (11.5 ppg, along with more than 5 assists and 5 steals per game). South Iowa Cedar League champion Lynnville-Sully won its first 20 games before slipping against English Valleys in its final regular-season battle. The Hawks rebounded to handle HLV and Belle Plaine in the first two regional rounds. Four Hawks average in double-figures, led by Lysandra James at 12.7 ppg.

ENGLISH VALLEYS (18-5) vs. No. 1 BURLINGTON NOTRE DAME (22-1), Region 6

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Mount Pleasant

* Overview: English Valleys faces a small-school Goliath. Defending 1A champion Notre Dame isn't afraid to pour on the points; the Nikes have hit the century mark on four occasions, including a 100-50 whipping of Fort Madison Holy Trinity in the regional semifinals. Notre Dame's 84.3 points per game is tops in all classes. English Valleys counters with a duo of Rylee Voss, who averages 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest, and Lauren Miller (13.6 ppg). Notre Dame's prolific attack is spearheaded by Taylor Hickey (19.5 ppg), Riley Kllbride (16.7) and Courtney Coffin (11.6). Class 3A No. 1 Mediapolis is the only team to have gotten the best of the Nikes this year, taking an 84-67 decision on Feb. 7.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com