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> >> ACROSS IOWA, HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORHOOD BANKS WORK TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, PROVIDE JOBS, AND HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES.

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> >> MUSKLE LIVING IS HONORED TO SUPPORT PBS.

OUR REACH IS GLOBAL BUT OUR COMMITMENT IS LOCAL.

> >> THE SUN IS OUT.

THE LIGHTS ARE ON.

IT'S TIME TO SAY GREETINGS FROM WELLS FARGO ARENA IN DES MOINES.

IT'S BRINGING YOU THE IOWA GIRL'S ATHLETIC TOURNAMENT AND CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PBS FROM HIGH ABOVE THE FLOOR IN OUR PERCH HERE.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

I'M PAUL YAGER.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR THIS SEAT AS WE GET YOU READY FOR TITLE GAMES.

IN ADDITION TO THE EXCITING MATCH UPS WE WILL BRING YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS, THE ANALYSIS AND INTERVIEWS FROM US TO YOU IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, YOUR MOBILE DEVICE OR WHEREVER YOU MAY BE WATCHING.

LET'S GET INTO TONIGHT'S MATCH UP AND RECAP HOW THEY SURVIVED THIS WEEK'S SEMI-FINALS.

WE START IN CLASS 4A.

NORWALK WON ON A LAST MINUTE BUCKET AND CED AR IN THE QUARTERS.

MADDEN WILSON HERE TO REXROTH.

THERE IS HER SHOT AND A NICE HIT THERE.

15 FOR THE SAINTS.

AVA CARLSON TO BURNING BEDROOMING BIRMINGHAM.

SHE WAS EXCITED.

SHE ENDED WITH 22.

LIBBY GOES TO WORK.

THE FUTURE OF KANSAS JAY HAWK MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

21-4 IN THIS GAME TO GO WITH THEIR 37-25 IN THE OPENER.

DOES EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO PUT THEM IN TO THE FINALS.

THEY WIN BY TEN AND THEY WOULD PLAY THE WINNER OF THIS ONE.

NORTH POLK.

THEY SURVIVED AND DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

MACY MEIER.

YOU REMEMBER HER SISTER.

SHE IS FANTASTIC AS A FRESHMAN.

ABBY NOT TO BAD FOR A SENIOR.

THERE IS THE COUPLE OF HARD DRIBBLES FOR THE FUTURE PANTHER FOR NORTHERN IOWA.

CAMPBELL FEEDS TUTTLE.

NORTH POLK LEADS AT THE BREAK.

29-14.

NOW DILLINGER.

SHE HIT THE NICE BUCKET AND THOSE ARE BIG SHOTS.

21 POINT, SEVEN OF THEM THREE.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE HIGHLIGHT ITS.

HERE IS DILLINGER.

SHE GETS A LOT OF COACHING.

SHE LOVES TO PLAY THE SPORTS.

NORTH POLK BACK IN TO THE TITLE GAME, 52-30.

LAURA LEONARD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US AS WE BEGIN DAY NUMBER TWO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS 4A GAME.

NORTH POLK HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.

THEY PLAYED -- THEY PLAYED XAVIER.

IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.

LIKE WE SAID LAST NIGHT SOMETIMES ITS SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE STARS THAT ARE BIG.

>> YEAH.

IT WASN'T THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

IT WASN'T ABBY OR BECCA.

IT WAS CAMPBELL SCHULTZ.

FAITH SULLIVAN WHO HAD 13.

WASN'T THE PEOPLE YOU EXPECT TO BE THE PLAYER THAT STEP UP BIG.

IT WAS TWO PLAYER THAT ARE ROLE PLAYERS.

>> JUST LIKE WE SAW WITH DILLIFGER.

THAT WAS BIG IN THE SEMI-FINAL ITS.

TUTTLE.

SHE IS SOMEONE THAT'S VERY EMOTIONAL.

VERY FIERY AND AS ONE COACH SAID ON THE FLOOR SHE IS A GAMER WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON.

WHAT MAKES HER GAME SO GOOD?

>> I THINK SHE SEES THE FLOOR SO WELL.

WHEN SHE HAS THE BALL SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO GET THE BALL TO.

IF SHE CAN'T GET THE BALL TO A TEAMMATE SHE KNOWS WHAT TO DO.

SHE PUTS IT ON THE FLOOR.

WE SAW IN ONE OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS SHE IS ABLE TO TAKE IT IN WITH A LITTLE MUSCLE AND SCORE.

>> TOM LILY.

YEAR 41.

ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

THEY HAD A LOT OF TRIBUTES TO HIM IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

WHAT A WAY TO GO OUT, QUALIFYING FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

THEY BEAT NORTH POLK.

THAT'S QUITE A 2025 FOR HIM.

>> YOU KNOW HE ANNOUNCED THAT RETIREMENT EARLY.

HE WASN'T SURE HOW THE TEAM WOULD GO.

HE SAID THEY COULD HAVE FOLDED IN AND JUST PLAYED THROUGH THE REST OF THE SEASON.

THIS TEAM STEPPED UP AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SEND HIM OUT ON A HIGH NOTE.

I THINK THEY ARE FIRED UP.

>> HE HAS A PRETTY GOOD PLAYER.

WHEN YOU COACH FOR 41 YEARS HE WAS AT CEDAR RAPIDS.

THEY HAVE VERY WELL COULD BE THE MISS IOWA L IB BY, SHE IS GOING TO KANSAS.

TO ME WE SAW HER HERE BEFORE.

SHE JUST IS TO GOOD.

WHAT MAKES HER GREAT?

>> THE ONE THING THAT COACH LILY SAID IS THAT THE THING THAT HE LIKES ABOUT HER THAT HE HASN'T SEEN IN OTHER PLAYER IS HER PASSION FOR THE GAME.

SHE LOVES TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND WHEN SHE IS OUT ON THE COURT WORKING HARD OTHERS ARE AT HOME.

>> 58-39.

THOSE ARE THE TWO SETS OF NUMBERS IN JUST THE FIRST TWO GAMES.

THAT'S SOME PEOPLE'S CAREER.

SHE HAS DONE IT IN JUST TWO GAMES.

>> SHE HAS BEEN AMAZING AND FINDS WAYS TO SCORE AND EVEN WHEN SHE IS NOT SCORING EARLY SHE JUST LETS THE GAME COME TO HER AND FINDS WAYS TO HIT SHOTS.

WHETHER IT'S A MIDRANGE JUMPER OR A LONG RANGE JUMPER SHE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET HERSELF GOING.

>> CLASS 4A IS UP FIRST.

LAURA LEONARD.

TAKE A BREATHER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GAME YOU WILL TALK ABOUT AND CALL TODAY.

IT'S CLASS 2A.

FREMONT SLIPPED BY TRAINER.

CENTRAL LION.

THEY WIN IN THE OPENER.

HELM KICKS TO EASTLICK THE THREE.

SHE WOULD HAVE 13.

CENTRAL LION.

DANICA.

RU LIKE I HEARD THAT NAME BEFORE BECAUSE HER OLDER SISTER PLAYED HERE.

NOW IT'S HER TURN TO PLAY AT WELLS FARGO.

BIG SHOT THERE.

CENTRAL LION AT THE BREAK BY 12 IN THE SECOND HALF.

ERICA, TO AUBREY ON THE ASSIST AND THE LAY UP AND THEN AGAIN INSIDE.

THIS TIME FROM ALEXIS AUSTIN.

LED WITH 22 AND 16 AFTER SHE HAD 18 AND 12 IN THEIR OPENER.

BACK TO THE TILEL GAME AGAIN AFTER THEY WERE THERE IN 22 AND 23.

REGINA, HUNDRED TON, ROCK VALLEY HOME TO GET IN TO THE 70s.

THE JUMPER, SHE WOULD HAVE A 11 AND THEN IT WOULD BE MARTIN -- ANOTHER FRESHMAN DOING FRESHMAN THINGS HERE AT THE TOURNAMENT.

THAT'S PLAYING BIG.

ABY WOULD HAVE 19.

REGINA AT THE BREAK.

HUNDRED TON HAD TO RALLY.

SYDNEY FOR THREE OUT DEEP.

NOW AGAIN, LOOK AT HER DRIVE.

THROUGH SOME CONTACT.

GETS HER OWN REBOUND.

24 HERE SHE HAD 18 IN THE OPENER THAT'S HOW YOU CELEBRATE WITH A 51-45 WIN.

ELLIE.

SO WE TALK ABOUT METSGER.

WE TALK ABOUT OTHER TALLER PLAYERS.

THE POSTS.

THERE'S A PHRASE.

WHAT'S THAT?

>> YES.

THAT IS BATTLE OF THE BIGS.

YOU HAVE FRESHMEN FROM HUNDRED TON GOING AGAINST SENIOR AUBREY METZGER AND IT'LL BE A MATTER OF WHO WINS THE REBOUNDING BATTLE AND WHO GETS MORE PAINT TOUCHES IN THIS GAME.

>> SO THESE ARE KNOWN OPPONENTS.

THEY HAVE PLAYED IN THE REGIONAL FINAL THE LAST TWO YEARS.

CENTRAL LION HAS WON THAT TO GET TO STATE.

THERE'S 57 MILES BETWEEN THE TWO.

THERE'S A 209-MILE FROM HUNDRED TON TO THE WELL.

THEY COULD HAVE PLAYED THIS GAME ANYWHERE.

>> HOW ABOUT IT.

ITS COOL TO PLAY IT HERE.

>> THIS REPRESENTATION OF NORTHWEST IOWA RIGHT HERE.

BOTH OF THESE TEAMS HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

AGAIN THEY MET BACK IN DECEMBER.

HUNDRED TON WON A CLOSE ONE.

67-60.

THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR.

AGAIN I THINK IT'LL COME DOWN TO WHO EXECUTES, WHO IS THE MORE PHYSICAL TEAM AND WHO WINS THE REBOUNDING BATTLE DOWN LOW.

>> FOR CENTRAL LION AND THEIR STUDENT SECTION IN THE SEMI-FINALS THERE WAS A SIGN THAT SAID BEWARE OF THE BIRD.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AUBREY.

THAT'S HER NICKNAME.

IT GOES BACK TO ELEMENTARY COOL.

YOU TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL.

YOU TALK ABOUT BIG.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER GAME THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU?

>> YEAH.

AUBREY HAS HAD A FANTASTIC STATE TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR.

SHE HAS SHOWN SHE CAN RUN THE FLOOR WELL.

IF TEAMS ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON HER, TRIPLE TEAMING HER SHE IS ABLE TO FIND HER TEAMMATES AND HER TEAMMATES CREDIT TO THEM, THEY GET HER THE BALL.

>> WELL, BOTH OF THESE TEAMS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE WEEK.

THEY HUNG OUT AT THE MALL TOGETHER.

THEY HUNG OUT AT THE MALL.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE HOTEL BEFORE.

CENTRAL LION RAN INTO COOPER THERE.

THEY GOT A GREAT PICTURE.

THEY WERE THERE TO PICK UP A COMPETITIVE BOARD GAME.

THEY ALSO PLAY COMPETITIVE OPEN THIS COURT AS WELL.

THIS IS A TEAM THAT LOVES COMPETITION.

>> YEAH.

CENTRAL LION IS BATTLE TESTED DAY THIS AND DAY OUT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

THEY CAN'T JUST SHOW UP AND ACT LIKE THEY WILL SHOW UP AND WIN.

THEY HAVE TO PREPARE AND SCOUT WELL.

THAT'S A CREDIT TO THEIR COACHES AND THEN THE PLAYERS BEING BATTLE TESTED.

GETTING THEM PREPARED FOR MOMENTS LIKE TONIGHT.

>> AND THEY ALL LOVE A GOOD GAME.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY WAS THE GAME.

> >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP AS THAT ONE IS NORTH LIN.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BEAT SPRINGFIELD IN THE OPENER.

WELCH ON THE ASSIST AND THE THREE.

NOW IT'S EMILY, DRIVING IN, PENETRATING THE TWO JERSEYS THERE AND THEN THE REBOUND AND THE PUT BACK IS GOOD FOR FONDA.

THEN IT'S FOR NORTH LYNN IT'S SAMANTHA WEST TO BUTER.

DOWN AND THROW.

NORTH LYNN UP BY THREE AT THE BREAK.

FONDA COMES OUT HERE, AVA TO ELLIE SEAVERS.

12 FOR ELLIE.

HENDE ARE, S, FONDA BACK IN THE TITLE GAME 48-38.

SAINT ALBERT FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS 42-31.

SASHA TO BA RT OLO AND THEN AGAIN AND SHE WOULD FINISH WITH TEN.

FOR SAINT ALBERT IT WOULD BE AVA UNDERWOOD, LOOK AT THAT PULL UP J.

NICE JUMPER THERE.

ALBERT, SAINT ALBERT UP BY TEN AT THE BREAK.

THEN IN THE SECOND HALF, IT'S MOLLY WEISS TO RYAN ON A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAY AND THEN RYAN DRIVING THROUGH.

LAYING IT IN.

16 FOR RYAN.

SAINT ALBERT WINS, 59-51 TO GET INTO THE TITLE GAME AND --LAURA WE TALKED WITH MANY OF THE VETERAN COACHES HERE THIS WEEK.

A FEW OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS.

DICK IS ONE OF THEM.

I ASKED HIM HOW HAS YOUR COACHING CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT?

FOR HIM I DON'T THINK OF HIM AS A SURFER DUDE BUT HE DID FIND OF MAKE IT SOUND LIKE HE IS ONE?

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR MOTTO AND THEIR THEME FOR THIS YEAR.

THAT'S RIDE THE WAVE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

HE HAS CHANGED HIS STYLE FROM A TEAM THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN THIS TEAM IS.

HE IS NOT A SYSTEMS COACH.

HE KNEW THE PEOPLE HE HAD COMING IN SO THEY RIDE THE WAVE OF EMOTION.

THEY RIDE THE WAVE OF SUBSTITUTIONS.

THEY RIDE THE WAVE OF THEIR DEFENSE AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THEIR MOTTO ALL YEAR LONG.

>> MY BRAIN SHUT DOWN.

ALL I COULD THINK WAS PERSONALITY.

COACHES START ON SOME OF THE PLAYERS TIKTOKS THIS YEAR.

THAT SHOWS A GOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE SAID ANYTHING THAT HELPS MAKE THE KIDDED COMFORTABLE, MAKES THEM HAPPY, HE GOES WE ARE JUST HAVING FUN THIS IS A FUN GROUP TO BE AROUND.

I KNOW HE IS HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

HE HAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> AVA IS REALLY GOOD.

WE SAW IN THE HIGHLIGHTS SHE HAS A MIDRANGE JUMPER CAN POST UP.

SHE CAN PASS THE PAUL OUT OF THE POST.

SHE HAS GREAT COURT VISION.

>> THERE'S THIS TEAM TONIGHT.

I THINK IT'S NEWELL FONDA HAVE YOU HEARD OF THEM?

>> I HAVE NOT.

I THINK THEY ARE A NEW TEAM.

>> IN YEARS PAST WE HAVE SEEN THEM PRESS TEAMS A LOT.

IS IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING THIS YEAR?

>> THEY ARE PRESSING BUT HAVE BACK BACKED IT UP IN TO THE HALF COURT.

THEY BACKED OFF THAT FULL COURT PRESSURE.

SHRUNK IT DOWN AND HAVE MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH.

THEY HAVE --WITH THAT DEFENSE THEY STILL TRAPPING.

THEY ARE STILL JUMPING PASSING LANES BUT IT'S IN A LITTLE BIT SMALLER AREA.

>> THEY MAY, YOU KNOW AND THEY HAVE --I GET THE STATS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM THE COACH AND YOU LOOK AT THEM.

NOBODY STANDS OUT IN ANY GIVEN NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BALANCED APPROACH.

THEY DO HAVE ONE THAT DOES STAND OUT TO US.

THAT'S MCKENZIE HENDERS.

SHE LOST HER SISTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

SHE HAS A TATTOO THAT SHE CARRIES THAT WITH HER.

THE COURT COURT SEEMS TO BE A SANCTUARY.

>> SHE IS THE ALL ROUND LEADER ON THE FLOOR.

SHE IS ON TOP OF THE DEFENSE.

SHE CAN SCORE AT ALL LEVELS.

SHE CAN GET INSIDE AND POST UP AND CAN PASS OUT OF IT AS WELL.

SHE IS A PLAYER THAT THIS WHOLE TEAM REALLY RELIES UPON.

>> DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING OVER THERE?

>> I DO.

>> WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING RIGHT THERE?

>> LET ME SEE IF WE CAN DO THAT.

>> DID YOU JUST CLIP HER?

>> I DID.

THAT'S THE THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU BETTER TELL ME MORE ABOUT IT.

IT SAYS DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

WHAT DO I LOVE?

BE CAREFUL ON PRESS ROW.

YOU MAY GET CLIPPED.

AGAIN JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TOUCHES FOR THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH.

IT REALLY IS FUN.

IT JUST --I THINK GOING BACK TO LAST NIGHT.

JUST THE HEIGHT VIDEOS COMING IN TO THE GAMES.

THEY WERE AMAZING.

THEY GOT THIS PLACE FIRED UP.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE GIRLS UNION ADDS SOMETHING EVERY SINGLE SEASON.

>> WE ARE ADDED UP AND WE HAVE SUBTRACTED.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THEY ARE GOING TO WORK AS AISTS IN THE GAME.

NOW WE WILL GO DOWN COURT SIDE.

HERE IS SCOTT WITH THE ALL IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

>> PLEASE WELCOME THE ALL IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KATHY AS THEY PREFORM FOR YOUR PREGAME ENTERTAINMENT.

50 DANCERS WILL PREFORM A HOOPLA TEAM TO AMERICA.

THE PREGAME WAS SET BY RACHEL WERR AND ELL A JONNE.

THE ALL IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

> >> THE ALL IOWA DANCERS WILL NOW PREFORM A PATRIOTIC FINALE FEATURING ALL THE STATES, FLAGS OF OF OUR GREAT NATIONS.

PRESENTING THE COLOR ARE WOMEN SOLDIERS FROM THE IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

PLEASE STAND AS WE HONOR AMERICA, OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES.

> >> OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE SUNG BY DOSSIN HINKER.

> >> O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED, AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING.

WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT, OVER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING.

AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.

O SAY DOTH THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE, OVER THE LAND OF THE FREE, AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

>> DAWSON HINKER.

AND THE ALL IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

> >> ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SHOW AND HOPEFULLY AN OUTSTANDING SET OF GAMES.

MY THANK YOU FOR YOU FOR WATCHING OUR PREGAME SHOW.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK THE 4A, THE 2A AND THE CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIPS JUMP CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING UP RIGHT HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PBS.