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Here are 5 things we learned from Week 12 of the Iowa high school girls basketball season

Alyssa Hertel, Des Moines Register
·3 min read

Just one week remains before the start of the Iowa high school girls basketball state tournament, and in less than two weeks, five state champions will be crowned.

Anything can happen in the final week of regional play, but some things are certain. Johnston is the only undefeated team remaining in Class 5A. The sophomore class – statewide – is really something special.

Here is what we learned from Week 12 of the girls basketball season.

Ballard forward Brooklyn Baumgardner hopes to be a difference maker in the Bombers' run to the state tournament.
Ballard forward Brooklyn Baumgardner hopes to be a difference maker in the Bombers' run to the state tournament.

Stats and records are based on what was input to GoBound as of 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.

1. Are there any teams poised to win an Iowa state title?

Two obvious programs come to mind: Johnston in Class 5A and Clear Creek Amana in 4A. Both teams put together undefeated records through the regular season and remain undefeated now. Both Johnston and CCA’s rosters feature some of the best basketball players in the state. And both teams seemed to only get better as the season goes on.

More: Clear Creek Amana girls basketball caps off perfect 21-0 regular season

2. Brooklyn Baumgardner is the difference between winning and losing for Ballard

The 6-foot-3 center was forced out of the lineup in mid-December after suffering a stress fracture. Ballard dropped four games in a row after her injury, and then the Bombers lost another key piece of its offense – outside shooting ace Kiley Calvert, who tore her ACL and meniscus.

Baumgardner made an immediate difference in her return against North Polk on Feb. 2, and she continues to contribute as Ballard looks to make it into the state tournament.

3. Iowa City Regina needed overtime to get past its regional semifinal opponent

The Regals are so close to making the state tournament, but it wasn’t an easy road to this moment. Regina almost saw its season end on Friday when Maquoketa Valley held the lead in the final 10 seconds of the game. But then Regina picked up a 3-pointer, then a steal and then the game-tying score to force overtime.

Regina got things done in overtime, and now the Regals are just one game away from a trip to Des Moines.

4. Carlisle holds off ADM in wild back-and-forth matchup

ADM saw its season end on Wednesday, but the Tigers didn’t give up without a fight. Carlisle outscored the Tigers, 19-2, in the first quarter and then ADM outscored the Wildcats in the second and fourth quarters – including 20-9 in the final frame. In this game – decided by just two points – Carlisle sophomore Macy Comito was the difference maker.

Comito finished the game with an astounding 39 points, and she went 7-of-10 on 3-pointers. The sophomore star added six rebounds, four steals and two assists in the win.

5. Nakia Ollivierre fits right in at Waterloo West

Last season, Ollivierre played for AGWSR. This season, the sophomore transferred to Waterloo West and jumped from 1A basketball to 5A. She hasn’t missed a beat. Ollivierre is second in 5A with 20.5 points per game. She added 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.6 assists. Better yet, she recently surpassed the 1,000-point mark…and she’s only a sophomore.

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa high school girls basketball: 5 things we learned from Week 12