Girls
State Tournament Preview, Class 1a
By
Andrew Gogerty
One of
these 8 schools will win their first-ever state championship. Ar-We-Va finished as the state runner-up in
2011, while Newell-Fonda was state runner-up in 1997, 2000, and 2008. Colo-Nesco was state runner-up in 1991 and 2002. Two schools (Burlington-Notre Dame and
Central Lyon) are making their first-ever appearance in the girls state
tournaments. Newell Fonda has the most
appearances at state with 9, followed by Colo-Nesco with 7.
Here's a short capsule of my 5 favorites to win it all:
Central
Lyon is the state’s top-ranked team, led by Class 1a’s best player, Lexi
Ackerman, a 5’10 point guard who leads the state in assists. Lexi’s twin sister, Kelsey, the team’s
third-leading scorer, tore her ACL during regionals.
Newell-Fonda
is the #2 team in the state and has the only returning Des Moines Register
All-State selection from Class 1a from last season (Renee Maneman).
Ar-We-Va,
the #4 team in the state, has five players that all average close to 10 points
per game or better, led by Paige Danner, who averages over 18 points per game.
Burlington-Notre
Dame is the #5 team in the state. The
Nikes average over 72 points per game, boast the tournament’s leading
three-point shooter, and are #2 in the state in steals behind Colo-Nesco.
Colo-Nesco
is the #7 team in the state and has defeated the most ranked opponents of any
team in the Class 1a field. They boast
the tournament’s top-ranked defense, can score inside and out, and can also
create points off of turnovers. They are
the only team in Class 1a to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive
scoring averages.
Players
to Watch:
--Amanda Focht, Villisca, 5’10 Senior (14
points; 11 rebounds per game)
--Jill Vanderhoof, Villisca, 5’9 Senior (13
points; 8 rebounds; 3 assists; 4 steals per game)
--Morgan Myers, Burlington-Notre Dame, 5’8
Senior (15 points; 4 steals per game)
--Taylor Hickey, Burlington-Notre Dame, 5’6
Sophomore (12 points; 8 assists; 5 steals per game)
--Lexi Ackerman,
Central Lyon,5’10 Senior (16 points; 4 rebounds; 8 assists; 5 steals per game)
--Renee Maneman,
Newell-Fonda, 5’5 Junior (17 points; 5 rebounds; 6 assists; 4 steals per game)
--Madison Eley, Colo-Nesco, 5’10 Senior (13
points; 6 rebounds; 3 assists; 3 steals per game)
--Caitlyn Riese, Colo-Nesco, 6’1 Junior (11
points; 6 rebounds per game)
--Shayla Dean, Colo-Nesco, 5’2 Sophomore (8
points; 4 assists; 6 steals per game)
--Paige Danner, Ar-We-Va, 5’7 Junior (18
points; 3 steals per game)
--Brittany Stoelk, Ar-We-Va, 5’8 Senior (11
points; 4 rebounds per game)
Villisca (21-4); Unranked; State
Tournament Appearances: 2
*Overview: Villisca upset Bedford, the #3 team in Class
1a to get to the state tournament.
Bedford had beaten Villisca by 19 points earlier in the season. This is Villisca’s first state tournament
since 1968.
*Key
Wins: Bedford (#3 team in 1a)
*Losses:
49-30 @ Bedford (#3 team in 1a); 48-46 @ Stanton (16-6); 48-42 vs Heartland
Christian; 49-46 @ Fremont-Mills (16-6)
*Starters:
Morgan Haer, Sr. 5’7 (13.5 ppg); Jill
Vanderhoof, Sr. 5’9 (13.0 ppg; 8.6 rpg; 3.4 apg; 4.1 spg); Mikayla Dolch,
Jr. 5’9 (6.3 ppg; 4.3 rpg); Amanda
Focht, Sr. 5’10 (14.2 ppg; 11.1 rpg; 2 bpg); BreeAnn Fisher, Sr. 5’5 (3.4
ppg)
*Strengths:
Three players that average over 13 points per game. Veteran team with four senior starters. Top 10 in rebounding in Class 1a (#8).
*Weaknesses: Not many big wins outside of the upset win
over Bedford in substate.
Newell-Fonda (19-2); Ranked #2; State Tournament
Appearances: 9
*Overview:
Six foot center Claudia Larsen scored 28 points in the substate game to lead
Newell-Fonda to its 9th state tournament appearance. Renee Maneman is one of the top players in
Class 1a.
*Key
Wins: Manson-NW Webster (#6 Class 2a); South Central Calhoun (19-5);
Hinton (#11 Class 2a)
*Losses:
51-50 @ Sioux Central (15-7); 60-47 vs Estherville Lincoln Central (#3 team in
Class 3a)
*Starters:
Renee Maneman, Jr. 5’5 (17.3 ppg; 5.0 rpg; 6.1 apg; 4.0 spg); Andrea
Christensen, Sr. 5’10 (10.5 ppg; 4.7 rpg); Taiyler Schrank, Jr. 5’7 (6.6 ppg);
Claudia Larsen, Jr 6’0 (9.6 ppg; 7.2 rpg; 3.1 bpg); Brianna Wells, Jr. 5’5 (7.0
ppg)
*Strengths:
Rank #2 in Class 1a in three-pointers made (behind Burlington Notre Dame). Rank #2 in Class 1a in scoring at 65.0 ppg. Renee Maneman was a Des Moines Register 2nd
Team All-State selection last season as a sophomore.
*Weaknesses:
Hard to pinpoint any, which is why they are rated #2 in the state.
Marquette Catholic (16-6); Ranked #13; State
Tournament Appearances: 5
*Overview:
Used a 1-3-1 zone to rattle #6 Grundy Center in the substate game, securing a
53-48 upset win.
*Key
Wins: Defeated Grundy Center (#6 Class 1a) to advance to the state
tournaments. Also beat Preston (#14 Class 1a).
*Losses:46-35@
Western Dubuque (#11 Class 4a); 59-52 @ Goose Lake; 64-28 vs Bellevue; 58-42 @
Preston (#14 Class 1a); 46-43 @ Prince of Peace; 59-42 vs Goose Lake
*Starters:
Kelsey Tebbe, Sr. 5’6 (11.9 ppg); Theresa Koos, Sr. 5’8 (5.4 ppg); Danielle
Bender, Sr. 5’11 (10.6 ppg; 9.4 rpg); Sarah Lampe, Sr. 5’5 (7.2 ppg; 5.2 rpg;
5.0 apg); Grace Sieverding, Jr. 5’11(2.6 ppg; 5.9 rpg)
*Strengths:
Senior leadership. Start 4
seniors and a junior. Athletic:
Qualified for state in softball and volleyball this year.
*Weaknesses:
One of worst defensive teams in tournament field, surrendering 43 points per
game (#48 in Class 1a). Not a good
three-point shooting team.
Ar-We-Va (21-3); Ranked #4; State Tournament
Appearances: 4
*Overview:
This will be the third year in a row Ar-We-Va has made the state tournament. Paige Danner leads a dangerous offensive
attack for the perennial powerhouse from western Iowa.
*Key
Wins: Woodbury Central; LeMars
Gehlen Catholic (#12 Class 1a); OABCIG;Exira EHK
*Losses:
78-62 @ Lawton-Bronson (ranked #2 Class 2a); 75-53 @ IKM-Manning (#3 Class 2a);
79-65 vs IKM Manning
*Starters:
Paige Danner, Jr. 5’7 (18.0 ppg; 3.9
spg); Brittany Stoelk, Sr. 5’8 (11.9
ppg; 4.0 rpg; 52 three pointers); Megan Ehlers, Sr. 5’6 (9.4 ppg; 3.1 apg;
4.1 spg); Lexie Vande Hoef, Sr. 5’8 (8.2 ppg; 4.4 rpg); Amy Hinners, Sr. 5’10
(9.4 ppg; 7.0 rpg)
*Strengths:
Amazing scoring balance with five players that average close to ten points per
game or more.
*Weaknesses:
Haven’t beaten many high-quality teams other than Gehlen Catholic in substate.
Colo-Nesco (23-2); Ranked #7; State Tournament
Appearances: 7
*Overview: The Royals defensive average of 33.75
points per game ranks #2 in the state in Class 1a. The contest with Burlington-Notre Dame will
be a classic matchup of the state’s #1 offense versus one of the state’s top
ranked defenses. The Royals rank in the
top 10 in Class 1a in both offensive scoring average and defensive scoring
average (the only team in the Class 1a state tournament field to rank in top 10
in both). According to BCMoore Rankings,
the Royals are actually the third-best team remaining in Class 1a, behind
Central Lyon and Newell Fonda. The Class
1a record for steals in a state tournament game (9), could be eclipsed by
Shayla Dean, who ranks #2 in the state in steals (all classes).
*Key
Wins: West Marshall (Class 2a #8 team); Meskwaki (twice; Class 1a #9
team); Janesville (Class 1a #10 team); Clarksville (Class 1a #15 team); Pella
Christian (Class 2a state qualifier)
*Losses:
West Marshall (Class 2a #8 team); Meskwaki (Class 1a #9 team)
*Starters:
Caitlyn Riese, Jr. 6’1 (11.4 ppg; 6.8
rpg; 1.3 bpg); Madison Farren, Jr. 5’9 (7.7 ppg; 6.6 rpg; 2.2 spg); Madison Eley, Sr. 5’10 (13.2 ppg; 6.3 rpg;
3.5 apg; 3.5 spg); Shelby Anthony, Jr. 5’4(6.0 ppg; 1.9 spg); Shayla Dean, So. 5’2 (8.0 ppg; 4.8 apg; 6.4
spg)
*Strengths: Scoring balance; Defense. The Royals are #1 in the state in steals, #4
in the state in assists, and #4 in the state in average margin of victory
*Weaknesses: Turnovers.
Burlington-Notre Dame (21-3); Ranked #5; State
Tournament Appearances: 1
*Overview:
Nicknamed the “Nikes,” Burlington-Notre Dame enters the tournament as the #1
scoring team in Class 1a, averaging 72.7 points per game. This is the first-ever tournament appearance
for the school. The Nikes have scored 80
or more points NINE times this season with a season-high 92 points against
Cardinal of Eldon. They are defeating teams by an average of 31.7 points per
game; #1 in Class 1a.
*Key
Wins: @ Central Lee (#8 team Class 3a);
*Losses:
69-34 at Davenport Assumption (the #1 team in Class 3a); 74-69 against Central
Lee, Donnellson (the #8 team in Class 3a); 74-40 against Mediapolis (the #6
team in Class 3a).
*Starters:
Alex Yacko, Sr. 5’10 (9.4 ppg; 5 rpg); Kori Mesecher, So. 5’8 (7.0 ppg; 7.4
rpg); Morgan Myers, Sr. 5’8 (15.0 ppg;
4.4 spg); G—Taylor Hickey, So. 5’6 (12.5 ppg; 8 apg; 5.3 spg); G--Courtney
Coffin, So. 5’5 (11.1 ppg)
*Strengths: The Nikes shoot over 70 percent from the free
throw line. Courtney Coffin, a 94% free
throw shooter, has made 65 three-pointers this season. B-ND doesn’t turn the ball over much either,
and has the second most steals in the state (485) behind Colo-Nesco (492).
*Weaknesses:
With three starters that are sophomores, could the Nikes get rattled with the
type of defense the Royals play? Outside
of the three losses to 3a schools, their competition hasn’t been the greatest,
although they did beat one of those 3a schools that are currently ranked in the
top 10. They’ve also never been to the
state tournament before, which could rattle a young team.
Earlham (16-9); Unranked; State Tournament
Appearances: 2
*Overview:
Upset #8 Adair-Casey in regionals. This
is Earlham’s first state tournament appearance since 1981.
*Key
Wins: #8 Adair-Casey; Twin Cedars
*Losses:
41-39 vs Osceola; 58-55 vs DM Christian; 53-44 @ Woodward Granger; 45-44 @ Van
Meter; 65-36 @ Panorama (#7 Class 2a); 51-48 @ DM Christian; 68-42 vs Woodward
Granger; 44-43 vs Van Meter; 81-41 vs Panorama
*Starters:
Kristen Weber, So. 5’4 (10.7 ppg; 4.4 apg; 3.6 spg); Morgan Johnson, Jr. 5’8 (13.8
ppg; 6.8 rpg); Bri Arnburg, Sr. 5’6 (5.2 ppg); Addie Herman, Jr. 5’8 (4.6ppg;
3.8 rpg); Abbey Murphy, Jr. 5’9(9.8 ppg; 9.8 rpg)
*Strengths:
Top rebounding team in Class 1a.
*Weaknesses: A lot of losses, not a good shooting team,
and turns the ball over a lot.
Central Lyon (23-2); Ranked #1; State Tournament
Appearances: 1
*Overview: This will be the first state
tournament appearance ever for Central Lyon.
The Lions trailed by six at halftime of their substate game, but went on
a 20-0 run in the third quarter to beat West Sioux. The Lions suffered a huge
blow when senior Kelsey Ackerman (10 ppg) tore her ACL during the regionals. She is the twin sister of Central Lyon’s best
player, Lexi Ackerman, a 5’10 point guard, who is one of the best players in
Class 1a, if not the best. She leads the state in assists. The Lions hale from a hotbed of traditionally
great high school basketball teams in the northwest corner of Iowa. Their only losses of the year were to MOC
Floyd Valley, the #2 team in Class 3a.
*Key
Wins: Sioux Center
*Losses:
58-45 vs MOC Floyd Valley (#2 team Class 3a); 53-49 @ MOC Floyd Valley
*Starters:
Lexi Ackerman, Sr. 5’10 (16.7 ppg; 4.8
rpg; 8.6 apg; 5.2 spg); Kori Schulte, Sr. 5’9 (13.8 ppg; 6.0 rpg); Wynter
Roths, Jr. 5’8 (4.5 ppg); Sarah Halse, So. 5’8 (8.2 ppg; 5.6 rpg; 2.8 spg); Ivy
Sieperda, So. 5’7 (3.1 ppg)
*Strengths:
Central Lyon is #1 in Class 1a in assists, #5 in steals, #3 in scoring. According to BCMoorerankings.com, Central
Lyon played the #2 most difficult schedule in Class 1a this season.
*Weaknesses:
Not a good three point shooting team, and they do turn the ball over quite a
bit.
How much will the loss of Kelsey
Ackerman affect them?
Offense:
1.
Burlington
Notre Dame 72.3
2. Newell
Fonda 64.3
3. Central
Lyon 63.4
4. Ar-We-Va 62.8
5. Colo-Nesco 57.9
6. Villisca 55.6
7. Earlham 52.8
8. Bellevue
Marquette 50.9
Defense:
1. Colo-Nesco 33.7
2. Villisca 35.6
3. Ar-We-Va 37.7
4. Newell
Fonda 38.6
5. Burlington
Notre Dame 41.09
6. Central
Lyon 41.6
7. Earlham 43.0
8. Bellevue
Marquette 43.4
Points Per Game:
1.
Paige Danner, AR-We-Va 18.0
2.
Renee Maneman, Newell Fonda 17.3
3.
Lexi Ackerman, Central Lyon 16.7
4.
Morgan Myers, Burlington ND 15.0
5.
Amanda Focht, Villisca 14.2
6.
Morganne Haer, Villisca 13.5
7. Madison Eley, Colo-Nesco 13.2
Rebounds Per Game:
1.
Amanda Focht, Villisca 11.1
2.
Abbey Murphy, Earlham 9.8
3.
Danielle Bender, Bellevue 9.5
4.
Jill Vanderhoof, Villisca 8.6
5.
Kori Mesecher, Burlington ND 7.6
6.
Amy Hinners, ArWeVa 7.0
7.
Caitlyn Riese, Colo-Nesco 6.9
Assists:
1.
Lexi Ackerman, Central Lyon 216
2.
Taylor Hickey, Burlington ND 192
3.
Renee Maneman, Newell Fonda 129
4.
Shayla Dean, Colo-Nesco 120
5.
Kristen Weber, Earlham 111
6.
Sarah Lampe, Bellevue Marq. 110
7.
Madison Eley, Colo-Nesco 89
Steals:
1.
Shayla Dean, Colo-Nesco 161
2.
Lexi Ackerman, Central Lyon 130
3.
Taylor Hickey, Burlington ND 129
4.
Morgan Myers, Burlington ND 107
5.
Jill Vanderhoof, Villisca 104
6.
Megan Ehlers, ArWeVa 100
7.
Paige Danner, ArWeVa 94
Three Point Baskets:
1.
Courtney Coffin, Burlington ND 65
2.
Brittany Stoelk, ArWeVa 52
3.
Madison Eley, Colo-Nesco 44
4.
Kristen Weber, Earlham 43
5.
Taiyler Schrank, Newell Fonda 39
6.
Renee Maneman, Newell Fonda 39
7.
Taylor Hickey, Burlington ND 38