Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The state basketball tournament gets underway on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines with championship games set for March 1 and 2.

Before champions can be crowned the field must be set and that continues on Tuesday with regional finals taking place across the state in both Class 4A and 5A.

Top-ranked Clear Creek Amana hosts Keokuk in the Class 4A, Region 1 title game with the Clippers seeking the first ever back-to-back state tournament appearances in program history.

Before the ball is tipped off on Tuesday night we take a quick look at what to expect in the Region 1 title game.

Class 4A, Region 1  

Keokuk (19-3) at No. 1 Clear Creek Amana (22-0)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Clear Creek Amana High School

Statistical leaders: Clear Creek Amana – Averie Lower, 5-11, Soph., 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals; Ava Locklear, 5-11, Sr., 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2 blocks. Keokuk – Kendra Boatman, 5-7, Soph., 18.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.6 steals, 4 rebounds; Makenna Altgilbers, 5-9, Sr., 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana advanced to the state tournament for the second time in program history last season and the Clippers are now seeking their first back-to-back trips to state.

The Clippers have been dominant all season against a challenging schedule this season that includes wins over 1A top-ranked North Linn and Class 3A state qualifiers Benton, Solon and Mount Vernon.

Clear Creek Amana ranks second in Class 4A in points per game (63.5) and leads 4A in both points allowed per game (31) and point differential (32.5) and has had just three games decided by single digits.

The Clippers are led by sophomore sharpshooter Averie Lower who averages a team-high 17.6 points per game while ranking second in 4A in 3-point percentage (49) and is third in 4A with 3.3 made 3-pointers per game.

Behind Lower the Clippers have been balanced with senior Ava Locklear (11.5), sophomore Lena Evans (9.5), senior Bliss Beck (7.2) and sophomore Kennedy Stratton (5.6) all averaging better than five points per game.

About the Chiefs: Keokuk is seeking its first trip to the state tournament since 2016 after defeating Fort Madison 43-29 in the Region 1 semifinals.

The Chiefs have won 16 or more games in seven of eight seasons since making their last state tournament appearance but have lost in the regional title game in three of the past five seasons.

The lone loss for Keokuk to instate competition this season was a 53-39 loss to West High on February 5.

Keokuk ranks fifth in 4A averaging 60.8 points per game behind Boatman and Makenna Altgilbers who headline a list of four players averaging 9.1 points per game or better.

Junior Camryn Atterberg averages 9.9 points and a team-high 7 rebounds per game and Makayla Altgilbers averages 9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Who to watch: Clear Creek Amana – Senior forward Ava Locklear is one of only two players in Class 4A averaging a double-double this season putting up 11.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

In the biggest game of the season to date look for the Clippers to lean on their savvy senior post presence with a spot at the state tournament on the line.

Locklear is shooting 46 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line this season and also leads the Clippers with 4.1 assists and 2 blocked shots per game.

Keokuk – After a strong debut season last year as a freshman Keokuk sophomore standout Kendra Boatman has emerged as one of the top young guards in all of Class 4A.

Boatman leads the Chiefs in scoring at 18.7 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the floor and 39 percent from 3-point range.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore guard leads 4A with ranks fourth in 4A with 4.6 steals per game and ranks fourth in 4A with 5.1 assists per game to go with four rebounds per contest.

If Keokuk is going to pull the upset on Tuesday it will likely need a big game from its sophomore leader.

What to watch: Both teams have been efficient on offense and stingy on defense this season with Clear Creek Amana and Keokuk but averaging over 60 points per game while allowing less than 36 points per game.

There is a distinct style difference in how each team has put up those impressive numbers on both ends of the court.

Keokuk has used its pressure defense to lead 4A with 17 steals per game and wants to use that defense to turn into transition offense in a full-court style.

Clear Creek Amana will get and go on offense, as evidence of its 63.5 points per game, but the Clippers are an elite halfcourt team on both ends of the court.

The Clippers are second in 4A in blocked shots with 6.4 per game and are one of the toughest teams to defend in 4A in the half court with the shooting of Lower and the post duo of Locklear and 6-foot-2 senior Bliss Beck who averages 7.2 points per game while shooting a 4A-leading 64 percent from the field.

The breakdown: Clear Creek Amana has been one of the most impressive teams in the state regardless of class all season.

The Clippers led 4A in point differential while posting nine victories over ranked teams including five wins over teams ranked in the top eight.

Clear Creek Amana has state tournament experience from last season, veteran experience with four senior starters, balanced scoring with four players averaging better than seven points per game, height in the front court with Beck, Locklear and senior Sam Schrage and a dynamic shot maker in Lower.

If Keokuk is to play spoiler on the road it will need to get a big game from Boatman who is capable of putting the team on her back.

The key for the Chiefs will be forcing turnovers and creating easy scoring opportunities in transition.

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