Advertisement

Iowa high school girls state basketball tournament predictions: Who will win in each class?

alyssa hertel, des moines register
·4 min read

History will be made in Des Moines on Friday and Saturday as five girls basketball teams etch their names into the history books at the Iowa state tournament.

The field across all five brackets is stacked, with several teams in each class capable of walking away with the state title. Five undefeated teams remain, but how many of those programs can win a state championship?

The Register combed through the brackets, analyzed potential matchups and came away with predictions for five state championship games.

More: 2024 Iowa high school girls state basketball tournament schedule released for all classes

Class 5A: Johnston

Johnston's Aaliyah Riley attempts a shot against Dowling Catholic's Ava Zediker on Jan. 19 at Dowling.
Johnston's Aaliyah Riley attempts a shot against Dowling Catholic's Ava Zediker on Jan. 19 at Dowling.

The Dragons are on a mission this season, one that ends with Johnston hoisting the championship trophy. A title win would fit with Johnston’s pattern of success, after all. The Dragons won the championship in 2020. Johnston settled for a runner-up finish in 2021, and then won the title again in 2022.

Last season, the Dragons lost to Pleasant Valley by three points in the championship game. So, if the pattern continues, Johnston is poised to win a state title.

But predictability aside, Johnston (23-0) is the only undefeated team remaining in Class 5A, and the Dragons roster is seriously loaded. Led by some of the top recruits in Iowa – Aili Tanke, Aaliyah Riley, Amani Jenkins and Jenica Lewis – and a deep bench that makes the most of every opportunity, Johnston isn’t going away anytime soon.

Runner-up: Davenport North

More: Freshman Tylee Weite finds her role on senior-heavy Valley girls basketball team

Class 4A: Dallas Center-Grimes

Dallas Center-Grimes' Kayla Ries drives to the basket against North Polk High School on Nov. 21.
Dallas Center-Grimes' Kayla Ries drives to the basket against North Polk High School on Nov. 21.

There are two undefeated teams – Clear Creek Amana and Waverly-Shell Rock – in the Class 4A bracket, and our prediction is that neither wins the title.

Both of the undefeated teams have talented players, a proven track record and a serious bit of motivation. But the Mustangs won the title last season, and Dallas Center-Grimes has the potential to win it all again.

Two of the Mustangs’ losses were to 5A squads: Johnston and Ankeny. Those experiences certainly made DCG stronger as a team.

That third loss was to Bishop Heelan. The Crusaders crushed Dallas Center-Grimes 60-29 in January. If these two teams meet in the tournament – like we’re predicting – and that score doesn’t light a fire under the Mustangs, nothing will.

Runner-up: Bishop Heelan

Class 3A: Solon

Solon’s Callie Levin (23) blocks Clear Creek Amana’s Ava Locklear’s shot on Dec. 12.
Solon’s Callie Levin (23) blocks Clear Creek Amana’s Ava Locklear’s shot on Dec. 12.

This is an interesting bracket because several teams’ rosters boast a player who can singlehandedly turn the tide in a game. But we predict that this one will come down to Solon and Mount Vernon.

Those teams met twice in the regular season. Mount Vernon got the best of Solon first, beating the Spartans 44-37 in January. Solon got its revenge in early February, defeating the Mustangs in a 55-54 thriller.

Callie Levin was the difference-maker in that final matchup, leading the Spartans with 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. She scored 23 in the loss. If it comes down to these two teams, it will come down to Levin once more.

Runner-up: Mount Vernon

Class 2A: Dike-New Hartford

Dike-New Hartford celebrates winning the Class 2A state championship last year in Des Moines.
Dike-New Hartford celebrates winning the Class 2A state championship last year in Des Moines.

Ah, a prediction where the No. 1 seed wins the title and the No. 2 seed is the runner-up … not creative at all. But that’s just what makes sense in this bracket.

The Wolverines are led by a trio of state-champion volleyball players, including Iowa’s Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, Payton Petersen. Winning almost comes naturally to this group, and Dike-New Hartford has an undeniable connection and chemistry among the players on its roster. The Wolverines did win the state basketball title last season, after all.

The Wolverines played up a class a couple times this season and held their own against talented teams. Dike-New Hartford lost to Solon by just one point and to North Polk by three. Panorama can give the Wolverines a run for the title, but DNH’s championship track record wins out.

Runner-up: Panorama

Class 1A: North Linn

There are a few teams in this bracket that could win a state championship, and quite a few players who know how to take over a game.

This one goes to North Linn. Kamryn Kurt is an undeniable force, averaging 18.6 points and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 41.8% from 3-point range. She’s backed up by Macy and Molly Boge, both of whom regularly score in the teens.

North Linn has lost one game this season, by one point to an undefeated Clear Creek Amana squad that is a title contender in 4A. That experience had to be valuable for the Lynx, and it will carry them through the state tournament.

Runner-up: Newell-Fonda

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 state basketball tournament 2024 predictions