Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The start of the girls state basketball tournament is less than a week away.

Before the action gets rolling next week at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines teams need to secure their spots at the state tournament scheduled to run March 3-8.

Eight teams in Class 3A earned spots at state last Saturday.

On Tuesday 16 more teams will secure state tournament berths as regional finals will be held in the two largest classes in the state.

Before games tip off on Tuesday here is a look at the two Class 5A regional finals featuring teams from the Your Prep Sports area.

Class 5A, Region 5

No. 11 West High (15-8) at No. 6 Cedar Rapids Prairie (19-4) 

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Cedar Rapids Prairie High School

Statistical leaders: West High – Grace Fincham, 5-11, Jr., 16 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.3 apg; Sasha Baldwin 5-7, Soph., 11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg. Cedar Rapids Prairie – Emily Larsen, 5-11, Jr.. 15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 spg; Asia Beale, 5-8, Sr., 15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2 apg.

About the Trojans: West High is seeking its first trip to the state tournament since 2021 after falling in the regional title game each of the past three seasons.

The Trojans returned to the regional championship with a 69-49 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Saturday and will be seeking the eighth state tournament appearance in program history.

All seven losses to in-state competition for West High have come to ranked teams including a 65-57 loss at Cedar Rapids Prairie on January 17.

West High is 5-7 against ranked opponents this season with wins over City High, Liberty High, Clear Creek Amana, Dubuque Wahlert and Cedar Rapids Washington.

The Trojans have three players averaging in double figures led by junior Grace Fincham who leads the team with 16 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Sasha Baldwin is averaging 11.5 points per game while junior Abby Neumiller averages 10.2 points per game.

About the Hawks: Cedar Rapids Prairie is seeking to make its fifth all-time trip to state and first since 2020 in the first season under new head coach Bruce Dall.

Dall led Dike-New Hartford to its fourth consecutive state title last season before taking over at Cedar Rapids Prairie this season.

The Hawks have flourished under Dall this season with its four losses all coming to ranked opponents.

Cedar Rapids Prairie has an impressive resume with wins over 3A top-ranked Mount Vernon, 4A top-ranked Sioux City Heelan and a 9-4 record against ranked teams.

The Hawks have been balanced offensively with four players averaging double figures and five players scoring at least 7 points per game.

Junior Emily Larsen leads the team with 15.8 points per game while senior Asia Beale scores 15.7 points and grabs 5.8 rebounds per game.

Sophomore KeaOnna Worley is averaging 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and 5-foot-10 junior Brynlie Hadenfeldt is averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.

Who to watch: West High – Junior forward Grace Fincham enters the regional final coming off perhaps her best performance of the season in the regional semifinal.

Fincham had 28 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Saturday to continue an impressive late season stretch.

After being held to three points in a one-point loss to Cedar Falls on February 7 Fincham has averaged 19 points, 8.3 rebounds and four assists over the past three games.

On the season the 5-foot-11 Fincham is averaging 16 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Cedar Rapids Prairie – The Hawks have relied on offensive balance throughout the season but keep an eye on senior Asia Beale who will be attempting to make sure her career ends at Wells Fargo Arena next week.

Beale is averaging 15.7 points per game while shooting a team-best 54 percent from the floor and had 19 points and seven rebounds in the regular season meeting with the Trojans.

What to watch: The Region 5 final will be a rematch of the regular season meeting between the two Mississippi Valley Conference rivals won by Cedar Rapids Prairie 65-57 on January 17 in Cedar Rapids.

West High fell into a 17-6 hole after the opening quarter and trailed 35-20 at the half before outscoring the Hawks by seven points in the second half.

In the regional final rematch West High must get off to a better start in what should be a difficult road environment on Tuesday.

The Trojans are going to rely on the 3-point shot, however look for West High to try to find some offense going to the basket early after attempting 37 3-pointers in the first meeting, making 10.

Class 5A, Region 8

No. 9 City High (16-7) at No. 8 Liberty High (16-6)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Liberty High School

Statistical leaders: Liberty High – Natalie Ramsey, 6-0, Jr., 22 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.1 spg; Madeline Casey, 5-8, Sr., 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg. City High – August Palmer, 5-10, Sr., 14 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg; Kaitlin Loria, 5-10, Soph., 12 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.9 apg.

About the Lightning: Liberty High is attempting to put a big-time exclamation point on what has already been the best season in program history.

The Lightning have won a program-record 16 games and advanced to the regional title game for the second time in program history.

To earn the first ever state tournament appearance in program history Liberty High will need to go through one of its cross-town rivals.

Liberty High lost three of its final five games to close the regular season but bounced back with an impressive 61-44 win over West Des Moines Valley in the regional semifinals on Saturday.

The Lightning are led by junior Natalie Ramsey who ranks second in Class 5A and 10^th in the state in scoring averaging 22 points per game.

Ramsey is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 84 percent from the free throw line while adding 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists per game.

Senior Madeline Casey averages 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range.

Three Liberty High players average between 5.8 and 6.4 points per game led by sophomore guard Ava Casey who averages 6.3 points and a team-high 4.5 assists per game.

About the Little Hawks: It has been a steady climb back to the regional final for City High.

After reaching the state tournament in 2022 the Little Hawks won six games in 2022-2023 and eight games last season but have doubled their win total this season while advancing to the regional title game for the first time since 2022.

City High bounced back from a loss to Cedar Rapids Washington in its regular season finale on February 14 with a 75-37 win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the region 8 semifinal on Saturday.

Four City High players scored in double figures in the regional semifinals and the Little Hawks are at their best when they’ve got offensive balance.

Three players are averaging double digit points on the season led by senior August Palmer at 14 points per game.

Sophomore Kaitlin Loria is averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game and junior Tessa Driscoll is averaging 10.6 points and 2 assists per game.

Who to watch: Liberty High – Ramsey has emerged as one of the best players in this state with an impressive season in which she ranks in the top three in 5A in both scoring and rebounding.

One of only two 5A players averaging a double-double, Ramsey is coming off a 34-point, nine-rebounding effort in the regional semifinal win over West Des Moines Valley.

Ramsey had double-doubles in both regular season meetings with City High averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game against the Little Hawks.

However, City High defended Ramsey as well as any team limiting her to 11-of-36 shooting from the field in the two games combined.

City High – Loria has been excellent for City High this season shooting a team-best 55 percent from the floor while averaging a career-best 12 points per game.

However, Tuesday Loria will be a key part of the City High defensive plan as the Little Hawks attempt to slow Ramsey.

Loria has emerged as a strong defender and rebounder and she will need to be at her best in both areas if City High is to get the road win.

What to watch: A season rubber match between two cross-town rivals with a spot at the state tournament going to the winner?

It doesn’t get any better than that in a regional final.

Liberty High and City High meet for the third time this season after each team won on its home floor in the regular season.

City High won the first meeting 52-43 at City High on December 13 and Liberty High won the most recent meeting 56-51 at Liberty High on February 7.

These are two teams that know each other well which makes offense difficult.

Keep an eye on the 3-point shooting for both teams.

Ramsey gives the Lightning the ability to score in the post but with the defensive plan likely focused on the junior standout that should open up perimeter looks for the Lightning.

Liberty High was 2-of-31 from 3-point range in the loss at City High and 8-of-23 from deep in its home win over the Little Hawks.

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