North girls begin title defense
By Steve Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2008
DES MOINES -- Sioux City North begins serious defense of its Class 4A girls state basketball title today against familiar rival Cedar Rapids Washington.
The two collide at 1 o'clock at Wells Fargo Arena. North is 20-4 and Washington 20-2.
"We've played them once in the state tournament and in the Sacajawea tourney so we both know exactly what we'll be up against,'' said North Coach Kirk Walker. "We both play for keeps, all-out, all over the floor.
"It'll come down to who gets the job done. We're concerned about their three outstanding guards, but I'm sure they're wondering how to handle our inside game.''
Washington's two Division I recruits (Northern Iowa) Katelin Oney and Kaitlin Armstrong, average 15.3 and 15.2 points, respectively. The third guard, Wayne State recruit Micha Mims, averages 11.8 points.
North's 5-10 Jalyssa Ceasar averages 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds and 6-foot Sarah Jane Bowden 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Also 5-10 Erica Denney averages 7.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
In a bristling and entertaining first-round game in 2006, North and Washington put on a show that many observers, at the conclusion of the contest and even after the state championship game, felt was the year's real title game.
After beating North, 76-69, Washington yawned its way past Cedar Rapids Prairie, 57-53, in the '06 semifinals and then yawned too much in losing to Roosevelt in the title game, 63-53.
Then, in December 2007, North routed Washington 75-40 in the Sacajawea title game and then beat Roosevelt last March to become the first Sioux City girls state basketball champion.
Lawton-Bronson and Newell-Fonda will find out tonight if the Class 1A state title game Friday will be a Siouxland bragging rights affair.
In the 1A semifinals tonight, Lawton-Bronson (23-3) faces Springville (23-3) and unranked Newell-Fonda (22-3) takes on unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Dunkerton. Lawton-Bronson plays at 8 o'clock following the Newell-Fonda contest.
No. 1 Davenport Assumption and No. 11 Manson-Northwest Webster square off in the 2A title game Friday night, the answer as to the question about Assumption's superiority in the paint will be determined.
M-NW faces second-ranked MFL-Mar-Mac and Assumption meets Monticello in Thursday semifinals.
Six-footers Mike Rodewald and Kristen Twait will have their hands full dueling 6-1 Lauren Lybbert, 6-2 Annie Smith and 6-2 Alyson Spinas-Valainis of Assumption.
Spencer senior Abby Salton, a 3.97 student who plans to study pre-medicine at either Iowa or Creighton, is believed to be the only county fair queen participating in the tourney this year.
After Abby was named Clay County Fair queen she became one of 102 girls vying to the title of Iowa State Fair queen. She reigned over the state fair, too, and was also named Miss Personality Plus.
And, it is no wonder the president of the Spencer senior class, wowed reporters in a post-game interview session after the Tigers lost Tuesday to Marion.
Back to the 2A subject.
MFL-Mar-Mac has a highly touted 6-1 sophomore center in Whitney Wubbena, some longtime older fans from the far Northeast Iowa communities of Monona, Farmersburg, Luana, Marquette and McGregor might wish the team had a 6-4 post player like former all-stater Norma Schoulte.
Schoulte, a Hall of Famer, finished her career at old Monona High in 1952 as Iowa's all-time leading scorer in the six-player game.
The two collide at 1 o'clock at Wells Fargo Arena. North is 20-4 and Washington 20-2.
"We've played them once in the state tournament and in the Sacajawea tourney so we both know exactly what we'll be up against,'' said North Coach Kirk Walker. "We both play for keeps, all-out, all over the floor.
"It'll come down to who gets the job done. We're concerned about their three outstanding guards, but I'm sure they're wondering how to handle our inside game.''
Washington's two Division I recruits (Northern Iowa) Katelin Oney and Kaitlin Armstrong, average 15.3 and 15.2 points, respectively. The third guard, Wayne State recruit Micha Mims, averages 11.8 points.
North's 5-10 Jalyssa Ceasar averages 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds and 6-foot Sarah Jane Bowden 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Also 5-10 Erica Denney averages 7.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
In a bristling and entertaining first-round game in 2006, North and Washington put on a show that many observers, at the conclusion of the contest and even after the state championship game, felt was the year's real title game.
After beating North, 76-69, Washington yawned its way past Cedar Rapids Prairie, 57-53, in the '06 semifinals and then yawned too much in losing to Roosevelt in the title game, 63-53.
Then, in December 2007, North routed Washington 75-40 in the Sacajawea title game and then beat Roosevelt last March to become the first Sioux City girls state basketball champion.
Lawton-Bronson and Newell-Fonda will find out tonight if the Class 1A state title game Friday will be a Siouxland bragging rights affair.
In the 1A semifinals tonight, Lawton-Bronson (23-3) faces Springville (23-3) and unranked Newell-Fonda (22-3) takes on unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Dunkerton. Lawton-Bronson plays at 8 o'clock following the Newell-Fonda contest.
No. 1 Davenport Assumption and No. 11 Manson-Northwest Webster square off in the 2A title game Friday night, the answer as to the question about Assumption's superiority in the paint will be determined.
M-NW faces second-ranked MFL-Mar-Mac and Assumption meets Monticello in Thursday semifinals.
Six-footers Mike Rodewald and Kristen Twait will have their hands full dueling 6-1 Lauren Lybbert, 6-2 Annie Smith and 6-2 Alyson Spinas-Valainis of Assumption.
Spencer senior Abby Salton, a 3.97 student who plans to study pre-medicine at either Iowa or Creighton, is believed to be the only county fair queen participating in the tourney this year.
After Abby was named Clay County Fair queen she became one of 102 girls vying to the title of Iowa State Fair queen. She reigned over the state fair, too, and was also named Miss Personality Plus.
And, it is no wonder the president of the Spencer senior class, wowed reporters in a post-game interview session after the Tigers lost Tuesday to Marion.
Back to the 2A subject.
MFL-Mar-Mac has a highly touted 6-1 sophomore center in Whitney Wubbena, some longtime older fans from the far Northeast Iowa communities of Monona, Farmersburg, Luana, Marquette and McGregor might wish the team had a 6-4 post player like former all-stater Norma Schoulte.
Schoulte, a Hall of Famer, finished her career at old Monona High in 1952 as Iowa's all-time leading scorer in the six-player game.
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