Breaking Down IGHSAU Class 4A-5A Regional Pairings

<div>Yesterday I broke down the 1A-3A regional brackets taking a closer look at potential matchups as well as some sleepers who will make a push for Cedar Rapids. The same can be said about Class 4A and 5A as post season approaches and teams are prepping to be at their peak with hopes to extend their season to the city or five seasons in the first week of November.</div> <div> </div> <div> [caption id="attachment_112386" align="alignright" width="377"]<img class="wp-image-112386" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC01111.jpg" alt="" width="377" height="251" /> Marion[/caption] </div> <div><strong>Breaking Down The WaMac</strong></div> <div>The WaMac conference is the best when it comes to Class 3A and 4A. Throw in a highly ranked Class 2A Beckman squad and it’s sprinkles on the donut. Year in and out these teams are advancing to state and winning state (Mr. Vernon in 2019) and most likely have to beat each other out. These teams are all geographically close to each other which makes it tough to split. This year there could be a potential matchup in a regional final with CCA and West Delaware which WD has had the most recent upper hand defeating CCA 2-0 on 10/12. Marion, who was a final four finisher last year in Class 4A, has plenty of teams from Central Iowa in their regional. If seeding plays out, they would host Dallas Center-Grimes in a regional final. I would not be surprised if four teams made the state tournament from 2A to 4A.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Splitting Central Iowa - Class 5A</strong></div> <div>The past two seasons Dowling, Valley, Waukee, and Ankeny have made the state tournament in Class 5A. Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln defeated Ankeny Centennial to represent Western Iowa in Class 5A. This year four CIML teams got a top seed in their region with Dowling, Valley, Ankeny, and Ankeny Centennial. In 2018, Centennial had to face Dowling in the state quarterfinals with Valley taking out Ankeny which set up a power-packed semifinal with [player_tooltip player_id="17088" first="Devyn" last="Robinson"], [player_tooltip player_id="16966" first="Kenna" last="Sauer"], and [player_tooltip player_id="40746" first="Ari" last="Winters"] of Centennial vs a [player_tooltip player_id="16964" first="Madi" last="Kubik"] Valley squad which resulted in a five set win for Centennial and an eventual state title.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><strong>What New Teams Could Break Through</strong></strong></div> <div>The top seeds (at the top of the bracket) are familiar names to the state tournament. Who are the ones who could breakthrough this year? West Delaware and CCA could be a regional final and CCA has played West Delaware plenty of times and is accustomed to big games. [player_tooltip player_id="17332" first="Calia" last="Clubb"] and [player_tooltip player_id="41245" first="Hailey" last="Pollock"] are two powerful attackers to contain for the Clippers. Dubuque Hempstead has a top seed in their regional and they have [player_tooltip player_id="41257" first="Corinne" last="Meier"] on the outside who can take over a match. Another potential regional final to keep tabs on us Waverly Shell-Rock and Gilbert. WSR has South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id="79237" first="Avery" last="Beckett"] who could surpass 500 kills, but Gilbert has a really athletic Senior class who is dangerous with state tournament experience in basketball. Bettendorf is another team that could turn heads and could potentially have a matchup with Iowa City Liberty in a regional final if seeds play out.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><strong><strong>One Particular Region...</strong></strong></strong> [caption id="attachment_112387" align="alignright" width="288"]<img class=" wp-image-112387" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC02750-e1602798856822-300x292.jpg" alt="" width="288" height="281" /> [player_tooltip player_id="17246" first="Layanna" last="Green"] of Waukee[/caption] </div> <div>There’s one particular region in Class 5A that I believe is completely up for grabs.  Region 3 with Ankeny Centennial, Ames, Waukee, and Urbandale. Centennial has the top seed and will take on Ames first, if seeds play out, and Centennial wins they will face the winner of Urbandale and Waukee.  Waukee has been to state the past two seasons and seems to thrive in the underdog role.  Waukee also has [player_tooltip player_id="17246" first="Layanna" last="Green"] on their side of the net.  The Northern Iowa recruit is electric out of the middle and if they can get her the ball she can really take over a match much like she did in a near win over top seed Cedar Falls in the state tournament in 2019.  Waukee will play Urbandale who has the top Sophomore in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="79678" first="Lily" last="Dykstra"].  When it comes to matchups like this, these athletes have been playing with and against each other for years between high school and club ball.  There are no surprises, but for some of these top players who get the hot hand one night, it can be anyone’s game. </div> <div> </div>