Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The girls state basketball tournament gets underway in less than a week at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

Before the state tournament can get underway the fields for next week’s tournament need to be set.

Eight Class 3A teams have already secured spots at the state tournament set to run Marcy 2-7 and 16 more teams will secure their spots at state with regional finals in Classes 4A and 5A on Tuesday.

Before games tip off on Tuesday here is a look at the two Class 4A regional finals featuring Your Prep Sports area teams.

Class 4A, Region 4

No. 15 Clinton (15-8) at No. 4 Clear Creek Amana (19-2)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Clear Creek Amana High School

Statistical leaders: Clear Creek Amana – Averie Lower, 6-0, Sr., 23.6 ppg., 9.6 rpg., 2.9 apg., 3.3 spg.; Lena Evans, 5-8, Sr., 17.9 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 4.1 spg., 3.6 apg.,. Clinton – Jhaliana Guy, 5-10, Soph., 24.4 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 3.3 spg.; Alli Haskell, 5-8, Soph., 10.1 ppg., 4 rpg., 3.4 apg.

About the Clippers: First-year head coach Matt Hoepner has the Clippers one win away from a third state tournament trip in the past four seasons.
Clear Creek Amana lost consecutive games to top-five ranked teams Cedar Rapids Washington and Mount Vernon before a 59-31 win over Marion in its regular season finale.

The Clippers advanced to the regional final with an 82-36 win over Oskaloosa on Saturday.

Clear Creek Amana received a late boost from the return of senior guard Lena Evans who missed both losses with an injury.

Evans had 13 points off the bench in the win over Marion and scored 24 points in her return to the starting lineup in the semifinal win over Oskaloosa.

Evans joins senior Averie Lower in giving the Clippers one of the top backcourt tandems in the state.

Together Evans and Lower are averaging a combined 41.5 points, 15.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

Senior point guard Kennedy Stratton averages 8 points and 3.4 assists per game and freshman Lydia Keller is averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

About the River Queens: Clinton has been one of the best stories in the state this season posting its first winning record since 2010 and its most wins in at least 17 seasons.

The River Queens are seeking to add an exclamation point to an already impressive season with their first state tournament appearance since 1998 and second in program history.

Clinton won a combined 17 games the past five seasons but have taken a huge step forward this season behind sophomore standout Jhaliana Guy who ranks third in 4A in scoring at 24.4 points per game.

Sophomore Alli Haskell adds 10.1 points per game while senior Carryn Sattler is averaging 8.9 points per game and senior Aubrey Ferguson is averaging 7.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Clinton brings a four-game winning streak into the regional title game after defeating North Scott 51-49 in the regional semifinal on Saturday.

Since a 4-4 start to the season Clinton has gone 11-4, a stretch that includes wins over 3A No. 15 Davenport Assumption.

Who to watch: Clear Creek Amana – Senior guard Averie Lower is one of the top players in the state and is seeking to conclude a brilliant prep career with a third state tournament appearance.

The 6-foot Lower ranks 11^th in the state in scoring at 23.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 54 percent from the floor including 43 percent from 3-point range.

Lower also averages 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.9 assists per game.

Clinton – Sophomore guard Jhaliana Guy has quickly emerged as one of the top exciting young players in the state.

A Stanford recruit, the 5-foot-10 Guy ranks third in 4A in scoring at 24.4 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor including 36 percent from 3-point range.

Guy is a 90 percent free throw shooter and leads the River Queens in both free throw makes (62) and free throw attempts (69).

Guy has done more than just score averaging 2.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and3.3 steals per game.

What to watch: Clear Creek Amana wants to get out and run.

Clinton needs to limit the Clippers in transition and if they can turn the regional final into a half court game it is to its advantage.

Slowing the Clippers and their dynamic back court of Evans, Lower and Stratton is easier said than done.

Look for the Clippers to push the pace early and if Lower and Evans get out in transition it will go a long way in helping Clear Creek Amana return to the state tournament.

Class 4A, Region 6

No. 11 Solon (15-7) at No. 6 Central DeWitt (22-1)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Central DeWitt High School

Statistical leaders: Solon – Tenley Levin, 6-0, Fr., 18.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists; Delainey Durr, 5-7, Sr., 15.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3 apg, 2.8 spg. Central DeWitt – Ava Putman, 5-9, Sr., 17.2 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 3.3 apg., 3.1 spg.; Emma Putman, 5-7, Soph., 9.6 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 1.2 apg.

About the Spartans: Solon is seeking a third state tournament appearance in the past four seasons after reaching the 3A state tournament in 2023 and winning the 3A title in 2024.
The Spartans have been tested this season going 7-6 against ranked in-state opponents and have five losses to top-five ranked teams.

Solon has won four straight entering the Regional title game averaging 61.3 points per game in wins over 2A No. 13 Cascade, Vinton-Shellsburg, Urbandale and Marion.

The Spartans advanced to the regional final with a 54-45 win over Marion on Saturday, its third win this season over the Wolves.

Solon is led by freshman Tenley Levin who averages a team-high 18.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

Senior Delainey Durr is averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 3 assists per game while shooting 33 percent from 3-point range.

About the Sabers: Central DeWitt has followed up a 20-5 season that included a state tournament berth with an even better season rattling off 22 consecutive wins following a loss to City High in the season opener.

The Sabers will look to add another chapter to their already impressive season with a second consecutive trip to the 4A state tournament.

Central DeWitt has been among the most dominant teams in 4A this season ranking fourth in points per game (63.5), fifth in points allowed per game (37.6) and second in point differential (26).

The Sabers have seven wins over ranked teams during their current 22-game winning streak including a 49-46 win over 3A second-ranked Maquoketa.

Senior Ava Putman leads Central DeWitt in scoring at 17.2 points per game while sophomore Emma Putman (9.6), senior Kinley Birt (7.8) and sophomore Audey Fuglsang (6.5) all average better than six points per game.

Who to watch: Solon – Freshman Tenley Levin has quickly emerged as one of the top players in Class 4A leading the Spartans in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (8.8) in a stellar debut season.

Levin is shooting 39 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the free throw line and ranks second in Class 4A in both free throw attempts (8.9) and free throw makes (6) per game.

Central DeWitt – Senior guard Ava Putman is the player that makes it all go for the Sabers.

A four-year starter with 1,076 career points, Putman has increased her scoring output each of the past three seasons.

Putman averaged 8.3 points per game as a freshman, 9.7 as a sophomore and 11.8 per game last season while helping the Sabers reach the state tournament.

This season Putman has taken her game to another level, averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the flooring including 33 percent from 3-point range (37-of-115) and 67 percent from the free throw line.

The senior guard also averages 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and a team-high 3.1 steals per game.

What to watch: The first quarter could go a long way in determining the outcome in this game.

The atmosphere should be exceptional as Central DeWitt expects to have a big and raucous crowd on its side while playing at home.

The Sabers are 21-4 at home the past two seasons including a 12-1 mark at home this season.

Solon needs to weather the storm early against an experience Central DeWitt team that returns four starters from last year’s state tournament team.

If Solon can stay in the game early the Spartans should have a shot late but Solon needs to handle the atmosphere and match the intensity early from a Central DeWitt team that will look to thrive off its home crowd.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating