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WHILE OURREACH IS GLOBAL, OURCOMMITMENT IS LOCAL.

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> >> ACROSS IOWA HUNDREDS OFNEIGHBORHOOD BANKS STRIVE TOSERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES,PROVIDE JOBS AND HELP LOCALBUSINESSES.

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> >>FORMERS MUTUAL HAIL,AMERICA'S CROP INSURANCECOMPANY.

> >> GREETINGS FROM IOWA'SCAPITAL CITY.

WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER HIGHLYANTICIPATED YEAR OF IOWA PBSCOVERAGE OFTHE IOWA HIGHSCHOOL GIRLS STATE BASKETBALLCHAMPIONSHIPS RIGHT HEAR ATWELLS FARGO ARENA IN DOWNTOWNDES MOINES.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M PAUL YEAGER, GLAD TO HAVEYOU HERE AT OUR ON SITE SPORTSDESK AS WE TIP OFF TWO DAYS OFCOVERAGE WITH NOW FIVECLASSESOF GIRLS BASKETBALLCHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

TONIGHT WE'LL GO WITH ADOUBLEHEADER AS TWO TEAMS FROMCLASS 5A AND TWO FROM 3A BATTLEIT OUT ON THE HARDWOOD WHILETHE STATE'S 4A, 2A, AND 1ATEAMS GO HEAD TO HEAD TOMORROWON YOUR STATEWIDE NETWORK IOWAPBS.

LET'S JUMP IN HERE A LITTLEEARLY FOR OUR PREGAME SHOW ANDWE'LL BOUNCE INTO TONIGHT'SMATCH-UPS AND SEE HOWTHECONTENDERS BATTLED THEIR WAYTHROUGH THE WEEK'S SEMIFINALS.

WAUKEEBEAT CENTENNIAL INTHEOPENER AND JOHNSTON FLEW PASTVALLEY.

THAT IS KEYFOR WAUKEE AND THENGENTRY WILLIAMS INSIDE TOSOPHIA HOKE FORTHE PUT-IN ANDNOW JOHNSON,JOHNSTON, TANKE PUTS IT BACKAND JENICA LEWIS, A PLAYERWE'LL TALK ABOUT A LOT INHER35 COLLEGIATE OFFERS.

THE SUPER SOFT GETSTHE STEALAND DISHES UP FOR THE LAYUP, 15AT THE HALF.

WAUKEE TRIES TO DIAL UPTHETHREE OR AT LEASTSOME GOODSHOTS.

THEY OPEN UP WITH LYDIA SMITH,TOO MUCH DEFENSE ANDAWHOLELOT OF OFFENSE.

AALIYAH RILEY TOAILI TANKEON THE THREE ANDTANKE AGAIN FROM THE GIRLSUNION LOGO.

TANKE WOULD END UP WITH 19 ANDTHE FUTURE CYCLONE HELPED THEJOHNSTON DRAGONS GET INTO THETITLE GAME WITH THE 74-33 WINAS THE RECORD PUTS THE DRAGONSAT 75-2 THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THEY WOULD PLAYTHE WINNER OFTHISONE.

DOWLING CATHOLIC, THE MAROONSKNOCKED OFF PLEASANT VALLEY,AND THE CEDAR FALLS TIGERS BEATSECOND SEED DAVENPORT NORTH TOADVANCE.

EARLY ON GABBY HANKS THE DRIVEAND SCORE AND THE FUTURE DRAKEBULLDOG GRACE KNUTSON DRIVESTHE LANE.

THEN GRACE TRIES TO HIT A BIGTHREE AND DOESSO RIGHT ONKEY.

HERE COMES DOWLING'S CREIGHTONCOMMIT.

AVA ZEDIKER, NICE MOVE.

SHE'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

ZEDIKER CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS.

SHE HAD 29 POINTS IN THE OPENERAND IT WAS ALL DOWLING ATHALFTIME.

IT WAS A GREAT ACTUALLY THIRDQUARTER, IF WE GET TO IT.

GRACE KNUTSON DRIVES IN, PULLSUP IN TRANSITION.

SHE HAD EIGHT THREE'S AGAINSTNORTH.

THEN SHE DRIVES IN FOR THEJUMPER.

SHE CAN TAKE OVER ABASKETBALLGAME AND DID AND THEN HERECOMES DOWLING THIS TIME AGAINTHE MULLER SISTERS.

THEIR MOM, SHE WON A TITLEATDOWLING AND NOW THE FRESHMANAND JUNIORCOMBINE FOR BIGPLAYS AND ZEDIKER AGAIN WILLDRIVE IN THE FLOATER AND SCORE.

MULLER WILL HAVE 22 POINTS.

ZEDIKER WOULD BE BIG AS WELL.

DOWLING WINS 59-48 TOPUTTHEMSELVES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPGAME AND WE HAVEA TEAM, AFANTASTIC TEAM AGAIN, LAURALEONARD WITH US AGAIN AND ELLERUFFRIDGE BACK AS WELL.

THE FORMER MISS IOWA, WE'LLHEAR FROM YOU BOTH IN A MOMENT.

LET'S START WITH YOU, LAURA.

WHEN WE LOOK AT DOWLING,GREATNAME, GREAT PROGRAM TRADITION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IS IT THEIROFFENSE OR THE DEFENSE THATWOULD BE KEY TONIGHT?

>> FOR THEM IT'S GOING TOBETHE DEFENSE BECAUSE IT HAS JUSTIMPROVED ALL SEASON LONG.

THEY'RE FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND.

THEY WILL FORCEYOU TO YOUROFF HAND AND THAT'S WHAT THEYDO WELL.

THEY GET BACKSIDE HELP.

I ASKED COACH MEYER WHAT DO YOUNEED TO DO TO WIN?

SHE MADE IT VERY SIMPLE.

WE HAVE TO SCOREONE MOREPOINT.

>> COACH KRISTIN MEYER HAS WONA TITLE BEFORE WITHGOODPLAYERS AT NEVADA.

AVA ZEDIKER AVERAGES NEARLY 20POINTS A GAME.

IS IT ALL ON AVA TONIGHT?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

SHE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET HERPOINTS, BUT IF THEY SHUT HERDOWN, SHE WILLBECOME THEFACILITATOR AND SHE HAS TWOPRETTY GOOD PLAYERS THATHAVEDEVELOPED IN THE MULLERSISTERS.

YOU'VE GOT ELLIE ON THEINSIDEAND KATIE ON THE OUTSIDE.

>> I LOVE A GOOD SISTER STORY.

WE HEAR IT A LOT IN THE SMALLERCLASSES.

ELLIE, YOU'VE BEEN ON PRESS ROWA LOT THIS WEEK AND HEARD A LOTOF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT INJOHNSTONTEAM, HOW GOOD THEYARE, NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUTDOWLING.

I'M GOING TO GUESS COACH FOUNDSOMETHING OF INTEREST HERE.

>> STATISTICALLY SPEAKING IFOUND A LOT OF SIMILARITIESBETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.

THEY BOTH SHOOT 40% FROM THETHREE-POINT LINE.

THEY ALLOW TEN TURNOVERS A GAMEAND EACH DISH OUT 16ASSISTS.

SO THEY'LL PLAY THEIR TYPE OFBASKETBALLWITH JOHNSTONAVERAGING 72 POINTS A GAME ANDDOWLING AVERAGING 62 POINTS AGAME, I THINK IT COMES DOWNTODEFENSE.

>> JOHNSTON'S OFFENSE ISFANTASTIC.

THERE'S A GOOD NAME FOR IT.

>> YEAH.

I'M CALLING IT A FIVE-HEADEDMONSTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT ITIS, BUT YOU CAN'T GAME PLAN FORJUST ONE PLAYER ON THISJOHNSTON OFFENSE.

THEY'VE GOT TANKE ON THEOUTSIDE.

YOU GOT LEWIS WHO IS KIND OF ADOUBLE THREAT.

SHE CAN PUT ITON THE FLOOR,SHOOT FROM THE OUTSIDE.

RILEY IS THEIRFLOOR GENERAL.

JENKINS PLAYS ONTHE INSIDE.

THEY'RE TOUGHTO STOP.

>> COACHWILL PROBABLY SAY THEY DO HAVETO PLAY DEFENSE.

>> THEIR DEFENSE HAS LET THEMDOWN AT TIMES THIS SEASON, BUTIT HASN'T HURT THEM.

TONIGHT YOU CAN'T HAVE THEDEFENSE LET YOU DOWN AT ALL.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOODATHLETES AND JOHNSTON HAS ACOUPLE, RIGHT, ELLE?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR ROSTERTOP TO BOTTOM, THEY ALLHAVEVERY HIGH BASKETBALL IQs.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

THEY HAVE EIGHT DIFFERENTPLAYERS GOING TO PLAY AT THECOLLEGE LEVEL, WHETHER IT'SBASKETBALL OR SOCCER.

JOHNSTON WILL BRING THEIR AGAME TONIGHT.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS5A ONE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER GAME WE'LL TALKABOUT AND IT IS THE 3A GAME.

THAT'S OUR SECONDGAME OF THEDOUBLEHEADER TONIGHT.

MOUNT VERNONAND ESTHERVILLEWERE THE SETUP HERE.

COURTNEY FRANK FOR THE MUSTANGSIN THEIR BLACK UNIFORMS, GRAYTRIM WITH THE DRIVEBY FRANKIT.

SHE GETS ANOTHER LAYUP ANDDRIVE AND WE HAVE SOME DEFENSEBY ESTHERVILLE.

STOKES HAD 44 POINTS IN THEOPENER AND THEN STOKES AGAINDRIVES THIS TIMEWITH THE LEFTHAND.

SHE WOULD HAVE 15 IN THISCONTEST AND JASEY ANDERSON ASTHE TIME RUNS DOWN AND THE REDGETS INTO THE BACKCOURT THERE,THE BUZZER BEATER TO GIVE ELC A16 POINT LEAD AT THEBREAK.

THE MUSTANGS COACH NATESANDERSON ANDHIS SQUAD TRYINGTO COME BACK.

THEN MEESTER REACHES UP, GRABSIT, PUTS IT BACK, BUT IT'STOOMUCH ESTHERVILLE DOWN THESTRETCH.

DUNLAVY WILL FIND STOKES ANDNOW RYLEE YAGER WITH THE LEFTHAND FINISH AND ANOTHER ASSIST.

OH, THAT ONE MIGHT EVEN HAVEBEEN PRETTIER THAN THEOTHERONE.

ESTHERVILLE WINS.

THEY'RE IN THE FINALS 45-37OVER MOUNT VERNON.

THEY WOULD PLAY THE WINNER OFDES MOINES CHRISTIAN AND SOLON.

THE LIONS BEAT LASTYEAR'SRUNNER-UP ANDTHE SPARTANSDOWNED DUBUQUE WAHLERT IN THEQUARTERS.

DES MOINES CHRISTIAN HADATOUGH NIGHT SHOOTING.

THE DRIVE FOR THE LAYUP.

SOLON, A LOTOFPLAYERSON THISSPARTAN TEAM, MIA STAHLE GETSHER OWN REBOUND, PUTS IT BACK.

NOW COMES THE GREAT BUZZERBEATER, TIME WINDING DOWN,FADEAWAY FOUL AND ONE.

THINK SHE'S EXCITED?

THE FUTURE HAWKEYE WAS BIG INTHIS ONE, UP 15 AT THEBREAK.

SOLON IN THE SECOND HALF,LEVINDISHES TO STAHLE FOR THE LAYUPAND GETS THE ASSISTON THETHREE.

ANOTHER ONE OF LEVIN'S FOURASSIST, THIS TIME THREE BYSTAHLE AND LEVIN WOULD GET THEREBOUND AND PUTBACK TO HERNINTH POINT.

SHE NOW HAS 1,957 CAREER POINTSAS SOLON IS IN THEIR FIRSTTITLE GAME SINCE 1998 WITHA 49-25 WIN.

ALL RIGHT, LAURA LEONARD ANDELLE RUFFRIDGE, LET'SSTARTWITH SOLON, SHALL WE?

CALLIE LEVIN, WATCHED HERSEVERAL YEARS AT THETOURNAMENT.

SHE'S NOT BEEN IN THISCHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

HAWKEYE FANS ARE FAMILIAR WITHHER.

SHE'S IN THE SHADOW OF CARVERHAWKEYE ARENA.

SHE HAD 20 IN THE OPENER, NINEIN THE SEMIS.

I KNOW IT'S EASY TO SAY 20POINTS MATTERS, BUT DOES EITHERMATTER IN THIS FOR HER?

>> I DON'T KNOW IN THIS GAME.

SHE HAD THE 20 POINTS AND THENINE POINTS.

THEY WON BOTH GAMES.

THEY'RE PLAYING FOR A STATECHAMPIONSHIP.

THEY DO NEED HER TO BEPRODUCTIVE TONIGHT.

THEY NEED TO HAVE HER GET HERPOINTS.

IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, SHE CAN'TFORCE THINGS.

SHE NEEDS TO LET THINGS COME TOHER.

SHE NEEDS TO FACILITATE ANDMAYBE PLAY A LITTLE DEFENSE TOHELP GET THAT OFFENSE STARTEDIF SHE'S HAVING TROUBLESCORING.

>> THE GIRLS TOURNAMENT IS LIKEOLD FRIENDS WEEK.

YOU SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE YOUKNOW.

LAURA, YOU MIGHT SEE OLDTEAMMATES OR A COACH ATUNIVERSITY OF IOWA, GIVE THEM AHUG IN THE MIDDLE OF THEGAME,BUT THERE'S FRIENDS FOR CALLIELEVIN, TOO.

I THINK I WOULD LIKE ANNAQUILLIN AND HAILEY MILLERON MYTEAM, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANNA QUILLIN DOES A FANTASTICJOB, AVERAGING 12 REBOUNDS AGAME AND DOES A GOOD JOB GOINGTO THE OFFENSIVE GLASS AND THENHAILEY MILLER IS ATHREE-POINTSPECIALIST.

SHE WILL SHOOT DAGGERS.

SHE WILL SHOOT THE SHOT THATPUTS THE DAGGER IN AND FINISHOFF A TEAM.

>> THE EASY QUESTION, ELLE, ISTO STAY WHAT'S IMPORTANT FORSOLON?

IS IT B FOR BEEF DAYS BUT IT'SABOUT SHOTS FOR YOU, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> 108 SHOTS FOR SOLON.

>> IN THE SEMIFINAL GAMESOLONSHOT 57 TIMES AND THAT ALLCOMES FROM THEIR DEFENSE.

THEY CREATE SO MUCH CHAOS ANDTHEY'RE LOOKING FOR THOSETRANSITION POINTS.

SO WATCH THEM GETTING OUT INTHE OPEN FLOOR AND LOOKINGTORUN.

THEYAVERAGE 64 POINTS A GAMEAND THAT'S THE BEST IN 3A.

>> LAURA, LET'S TALK ABOUT ATRANSITION TO ELC.

LAST YEAR THEY LOSE ASTHE ONESEED TO THE EIGHT SEED, ALITTLE MOTIVATION.

IF YOUR COACH DON MARTINDALEDO, YOU BLOW THINGS UP?

DID THEY?

>> THEY DID.

THEY HAVE A MANTRA THEY'REGOING BY.

SO IT'S TNT ANDTHAT'STOUGHNESS, NO EXCUSES OR REGRETAND TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHATTHEY'VE DONE ALL SEASON LONG ISPLAY TOGETHER AND THEY PUTBEHIND THEM THAT LOSS FROM ASEASON AGO, BUT YOU'RE RIGHTTHAT.

LOSS HAS STUCK WITHTHEM ALLSEASON LONG.

>> HAYLEE STOKES, ELLE, HAD 44POINTS, PRETTY GOODPERFORMANCE, ISN'T IT?

>> 44 IS GOOD, PAUL, BUT 48 ISBETTER.

>> OH, DO YOU KNOWSOMETHINGABOUT 48 POINTS?

>> MAYBE.

>> MAYBE, YEAH.

>> WITH HAYLEE STOKES, SHE ISAN INCREDIBLE PLAYER.

SHE'S ABLE TO GET TO THEBASKET, KNOCK DOWN THE THREEAND ALSO FACILITATE THE BALL.

SHE LEADS CLASS 3A IN SCORING,BUT ALSO IN ASSISTS.

MAYBE THIS GAME IS A GAME WHERESHE CAN GET HER TEAMMATESINVOLVED.

>> WE'RE GETTING OUR TEAMMATELAURA INVOLVED WITH THISQUESTION ABOUT EXPERIENCE.

AT FORT DODGE WE SAW ELC ALMOSTIN THE TITLE GAME.

THEY LOSE IN THE SEMIS.

SOFTBALL IS IMPORTANT TO THISSQUAD AS WELL.

>> IT REALLY IS.

THEY FINISHED THIRD IN THESTATE TOURNAMENT A YEAR AGO.

ALL THEIR STARTERS WERE ON THATSOFTBALL TEAM.

SO THEY HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OFBEING IN A STATE TOURNAMENTEXPERIENCE UP IN FORT DODGERIGHT HERE.

THAT WILL CARRY OVER INTO THISGAME.

I THINK THAT EXPERIENCEWILLHELP CALM THEM.

>> SO, ELLE, YOU KNOW HOW ILIKE TO ASK RIDICULOUSQUESTIONS.

LAURA AND I WERE HAVINGCONVERSATIONS WITH ELC ABOUTMOVIES AND THIS TEAM LOVES TOWATCH MOVIES.

DID YOU EVER HAVE A MOVIE YOUWOULD LIKE TO WATCH TO GETYOUPUMPED UP BEFORE A GAME?

>> HOOSIERS.

>> I'M SORRY TO SAY NOBODYONTHE ELC TEAM KNEW WHAT HOOSIERSWAS OR "ROCKY. "

>> I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT, THATTHEY HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE TWOMOVIES.

>> TWO GREAT SPORTS FILMS.

IF YOU HAD TO PICK A MOVIE,LAURA, FOR ELC, WHAT WOULDITBE?

>> I'D GO WITH "HOOSIERS. "

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GO DOWN TO THE COURT NOWAND SEE THEPERFORMANCE FROMTHE ALL IOWA DANCE TEAM.

>> PLEASE WELCOMETHE ALL IOWAHONOR DANCE TEAMUNDER THEDIRECTION OF KATHY INYARD ASTHEY PERFORM FOR YOUR PREGAMEENTERTAINMENT.

50 DANCERS WILL PERFORM AFLAGROUTINE TO "AMERICA THEBEAUTIFUL.

"THE PREGAME SHOW WASCHOREOGRAPHED BY RACHEL WERRAND ELLA JOHNER FROM PELLA.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ALLIOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM!

AMERICA AMERICAGODSHED HIS GRACE ON THEEAND CROWNTHY GOOD WITHBROTHERHOODFROM SEA TOSHINING SEAAMERICAAMERICA >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEALL IOWA DANCERS WILL NOWPERFORM A PATRIOTIC FINALEFEATURING ALL THE STATE FLAGSOF OUR GREAT NATION.

PLEASE STAND AS WE HONORAMERICA, OUR MILITARY, ANDTHEIR FAMILIES.

>> PRESENTING TONIGHT'S COLORSARE WOMEN SOLDIERSFROM THEIOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

THE ANTHEM WILL BE SUNGBY LILYWATERMAN, A JUNIOR FROM WESTERNDUBUQUE.

OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THEDAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SOPROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THETWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING?

WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHTSTARS, THRO' THE PERILOUSFIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WEWATCH'D, WERE SO GALLANTLYSTREAMING?

AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THEBOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVEPROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OURFLAG WAS STILL THERE.

O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLEBANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LANDOF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THEBRAVE?

>> LILY WATERMAN FROM WESTERNDUBUQUE AND THE ALL IOWA HONORDANCE TEAM.

>> EXCELLENT SHOW, AS ALWAYS,AS WE BEGIN TWO NIGHTS OFPAGEANTRY AND WE ARE GOING TOBE RIGHT BACK WITH ADOUBLEHEADER OF CHAMPIONSHIPGIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL.

WE'LL HAVE CLASS 5A AND THENWE'LL HAVE 3A COMINGUP NEXTHERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PBS.