Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Given the choice BJ Mayer would prefer to have his West High team playing for a spot at the Class 5A state tournament on its home floor.

Given the challenging nature of the road trips West High packed into its regular season schedule it seems only fitting the road to the state tournament ends with another road test against a ranked team.

Ninth-ranked West High (15-7) faces one more road trip on Tuesday as it travels to No. 8 Pleasant Valley (21-1) for the Class 5A, Region 2 title game.  

Three of seven losses for ninth-ranked West High this season have come to ranked opponents on road trips to Illinois, Minnesota and Des Moines.

To reach the state tournament for the third time in four seasons the Women of Troy will need to win its first road game against a top-10 team this season.

“It’s something where it would be great to be at home but I think it takes a little pressure off of you because you aren’t at home,” BJ Mayer said. “You probably aren’t favored so it gives our kids a little chance to relax and hopefully just go play.”

Two of the four road losses for West High came during a four-game January losing skid.

West High has won four straight since that stretch that featured losses to top-ranked City High, second-ranked Cedar Falls, No. 12 West Des Moines Valley and Illinois power Montini Catholic.

“We were able to get back some of the swagger the confidence,” Mayer said. “I don’t even know that we were really unconfident in some of those games that we played against the really good teams it’s just that they are really good and little things make big differences.”

West High won regional finals at home while making its last two state tournament appearances in 2015 and 2017.

The win in 2015 was a 45-27 victory over Pleasant Valley.

To win a regional final on the road for the first time since the state began playing them at home sites West High will need to get past a Pleasant Valley squad that is 29-3 at home over the past three seasons.

“We will have our hands full,” Mayer said. “They are really aggressive in their 2-3 zone. They really read eyes well and try to jump passes and if we don’t take care of it they are going to shoot layups.”

Pleasant Valley has three players averaging double figures led by 5-foot-11 senior Ellie Spelhaug.

Spelhaug averages 17.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and

Kira Arthofer averages 12.8 points and Carli Spelhaug adds 10.5 points per game.

“Ellie Spelhaug is their best player and she is just a phenomenal athlete, I know she has pitched in the state softball tournament,” Mayer said. “She has a younger sister that is a really good shooter. Tare very guard oriented, they all seem to shoot the 3. It’s a lot of trying to drive to get to the rim and kick outs for 3s.”

Class 5A, Region 3 Final

No. 1 City High (22-0) vs. No. 13 Bettendorf (17-5)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: City High

Top Players: City High – Ashley Joens, 6-0, Sr. 30.8 points, 11.5 rebounds; Rose Nkumu 13.6 points, 3.3 steals. Bettendorf – Emily Ivory, 5-5, Sr. 13 points; Kylie Wroblewski, 6-1, Jr. 12.9 points, 7.2 rebounds.

About the Little Hawks: City High is 44-2 over the past two seasons and is seeking its second consecutive state tournament berth after failing to qualify since 2014.

The Little Hawks have been dominant for much of the season and haven’t had a game decided by less than 18 points since a nine-point win at West High on January 23.

About the Bulldogs: Four of the five losses for Bettendorf this season have come to eighth-ranked Pleasant Valley and 4A No. 4 North Scott, all by seven points or more.

The Bulldogs are led by 6-foot-1 junior post Kylie Wroblewski who averages 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

What to Watch: Ashley Joens leads the state in scoring and averages a double-double with 30.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. The senior guard has been at her best as her career begins to wind down. Joens has scored at least 30 points in seven of the last eight games averaging 33.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game during that stretch.

Class 5A, Region 2 Final

No. 9 West High (15-7) at No. 8 Pleasant Valley (21-1)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. 

Where: Pleasant Valley High School

Top Players: West High – Logan Cook, 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds; Emma Koch, 5-11, Jr. 10 points, 6.5 rebounds. Pleasant Valley – Ellie Spelhaug, 5-11, Sr. 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds; Kira Arthofer, 5-8, Sr. 12.8 points, 4.2 steals.

About the Women of Troy: West High has won four straight following a four-game, January losing skid to ranked teams. The Women of Troy are seeking a second straight state tournament trip and their sixth in the last eight seasons after reaching the 5A semifinals last year.

West High has five players averaging more than nine points per game led by senior Iowa recruit Logan Cook at 14.3.

About the Spartans: Pleasant Valley won 16 straight games to open the season before its only loss to defending 4A state champion North Scott on January 26. The Spartans have won five straight since, all at home.

Pleasant Valley is attempt to return to the state meet for the first time since 2010. 

What to Watch: A key for West High will be attacking the extended 2-3 Pleasant Valley zone and using its height advantage rather than settling for perimeter jump shots.

West High forwards Logan Cook and Emma Koch give the Women of Troy a height advantage against the back end of the Spartans’ zone that doesn’t have a player taller than 5-foot-11.

Look for West High to attempt to find space in the high post and short corner against the extended zone looks from the Spartans.