Samantha Uhlenkamp does it all for Central City

It's a rare combination.

Samantha Uhlenkamp is the Central City girls' basketball career leader in blocked shots ... and 3-pointers.

Points and rebounds, too. But who's counting?

'She kind of does it all for us,' Wildcats Coach Mark Hazlett understated. 'When we are playing comparable teams, there are definitely times she can take over a game for us.'

Central City (9-13) is playing one of those 'comparable teams' Thursday in a survival game. The Wildcats host Midland (4-17) in a Class 1A first-round regional contest. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

A 5-foot-10 senior, Uhlenkamp leads the Wildcats in every statistical category — 17.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3.1 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. A win Thursday would give the Wildcats their first 10-win season since the 2011 team went 16-9 and reached the 1A regional finals.

'We've beaten Midland twice this year (by a combined five points), and it's tough to beat a team that third time,' Hazlett said.

Despite her height, Uhlenkamp isn't a post-up player. A member of the Springville-Central City state-qualifying cross country team, she's slender and long.

'Defensively, she hangs around the basket, and she can jump,' Hazlett said. 'She manages to stay out of foul trouble most of the time.'

Last year's 1A state champion and runner-up, Springville (19-2) and Turkey Valley (18-2) are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, and are favored to return to the state tournament. They have byes Thursday, and so does No. 5 Lansing Kee (15-4), a state quarterfinalist last season.

At 16-5, Lone Tree is the winningest area team in action Thursday. The Lions host Keota (0-21).

Regionals begin Saturday in Class 2A and Class 3A, next Wednesday in 4A and 5A.

THURSDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Riceville (6-16) at Mason City Newman (10-11)

North Iowa (3-18) at Northwood-Kensett (9-12)

Latimer CAL (1-18) at North Tama (6-15)

North Butler (7-11) at Ackley AGWSR (16-4)

Clarksville (9-12) at Tripoli (15-6)

Region 4

West Central (3-15) at Starmont (8-13)

East Buchanan (6-15) at Edgewood-Colesburg (8-13)

Valley Lutheran (2-18) at Gladbrook-Reinbeck (1-20)

Hudson (1-19) at Dunkerton (17-4)

Waterloo Christian (0-20) at Don Bosco (4-16)

Region 5

Midland (4-17) at Central City (9-13)

Cedar Valley Christian (8-13) at Iowa Valley (10-11)

English Valleys (6-15) at Tri-County (9-12)

Twin Cedars (3-17) at Wayne (10-10)

Mormon Trail (10-10) at Melcher-Dallas (1-18)

Region 6

Keota (0-21) at Lone Tree (16-5)

WACO (6-15) at Winfield-Mount Union (7-15)

New London (9-11) at Fort Madison Holy Trinity (10-11)

Moravia (9-11) at Moulton-Udell (7-13)

Region 7

Iowa Mennonite (0-18) at HLV (7-14)

BGM (7-14) at Meskwaki (11-10)

Iowa Christian (2-18) at Ankeny Christian (9-11)

East Union (4-17) at Murray (17-5)

Southeast Warren (7-15) at Lamoni (14-6)

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