Class 2A Semifinals

Dike-New Hartford 61, Sibley-Ocheyedan 56
Box Score | Game Summary

Central Lyon 65, Pocahontas Area 44
Box Score | Game Summary

Class 1A Semifinals

Algona Bishop Garrigan 73, Remsen-St. Mary’s 39
Box Score | Game Summary

Newell-Fonda 66 North Linn 48
Box Score Summary

Class 5A Championship

Pleasant Valley 59, Johnston 56
Box Score | Game Summary

Pleasant Valley’s defense rose to the occasion again and this time, it carried the Spartans to a state championship.

Thriving on its 2-3 zone defense all season, Pleasant Valley held Johnston scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter and opened a lead just big enough to hold on for a 59-56 victory over the defending champions and claim the Class 5A title.

Jessie Clemons scored 18 points to lead the Spartans, who until last year had never won a state tournament game and lost to Johnston in the semifinals a year ago. All-tournament captain Halle Vice added 14 points, Reagan Pagniano scored 13, including four key free throws at the end, and Addy Maurer finished with 12 as Pleasant Valley put the finishing touches on a 26-0 season.

Johnston’s Aili Tanke drained seven 3-pointers to tie a 5A tournament record and finished with 23 points, a figure matched by teammate Aaliyah Riley. Emma Hampton added seven for the Dragons, who played in the championship game for the fourth straight year. They won in 2020 and finished second to Waukee in 2021.

It was a game worthy of a championship contest. The lead changed hands 13 times in the first half before ending in a tie at 30. Pleasant Valley never trailed after Clemons and Vice hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 42-38 lead midway through the third quarter, though the Spartans had to work to stay ahead.

Class 5A All-Tournament Team
Alli Tanke, Johnston
Jessie Clemens, Pleasant Valley
Ava Zediker, Dowling Catholic
Jaeden Pratt, Ankeny Centennial
Aaliyah Riley, Johnston
Halle Vice, Pleasant Valley (Captain)

Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game
Jessie Clemens, Pleasant Valley

Class 3A Championship

Sioux Center 62, Benton Community 47
Box Score | Game Summary

Sioux Center dominated around the basket, cashed in at the free throw line and is taking home a state championship as its reward.

The Warriors got 17 points from Willow Bleeker and 16 from Tatum Schmalbeck in defeating Benton Community 62-47 to claim the Class 3A title. It’s the first championship for the Warriors and veteran coach Doug Winterfeld, who guided them runner-up finishes in 3A in 2017 and 2018.

Sioux Center used its size advantage to keep Benton away from the basket and built a 27-10 edge in points in the paint. The Warriors also got themselves to the free throw line, making 20 of 30, mostly because of Bleeker and Schmalbeck.

Sioux Center closes its memorable season with a 21-5 record. Four of those losses were to tournament qualifiers. Benton, which had been winless in four state tournament games before this year, closes with a 23-4 record.

Class 3A All-Tournament Team
Tatum Schmalbeck, Sioux Center
McKenna Kramer, Benton Community
Hailey Miller, Solon
Alyssa Griffith, Vinton-Shellsburg
Jenna Twedt, Benton Community
Willow Bleeker, Sioux Center (captain)

Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game
Willow Bleeker, Sioux Center