Iowa Girls' State Tournament

[LadyBuff]

I'm in Des Moines for the week. Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Iowa State recruit Hallie Christofferson from Exira (Class 1A). At 6'3, she is bringing the Paul up the court and then playing center. Her dribbling skills are not the best, but it works in a small Iowa high school.

She seems to have some good post skills. She knows how to get position, can use her elbows to maintain control of the ball. Very good rebounder and can shoot at this level. Of course, the person guarding her was no where close to her in height.

I'm sure once Fennelly gets a hold of her and gets her on a weight program, she will only continue to improve.

Exira won by the way, so I will get to see her again.

[Cyclones Rule]

I'm in Des Moines for the week. Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Iowa State recruit Hallie Christofferson from Exira (Class 1A). At 6'3, she is bringing the Paul up the court and then playing center. Her dribbling skills are not the best, but it works in a small Iowa high school.

She seems to have some good post skills. She knows how to get position, can use her elbows to maintain control of the ball. Very good rebounder and can shoot at this level. Of course, the person guarding her was no where close to her in height.

I'm sure once Fennelly gets a hold of her and gets her on a weight program, she will only continue to improve.

Exira won by the way, so I will get to see her again.

You forgot to mention her stat line 32 points 20 rebounds, 8 blocks 4 steals and couple of assists. Not bad:)

[BeBe]

With ISU having Prins, Poppens, and Zimmerman already, maybe Fennelly would be interested in making a trade with KMM, since CU has a plethora of guards and not enough for the frontcourt??????? :)

[HuskerFan86]

Man, what is up with Iowa producing all these great post players recently? Poppens and Zimmermann are studs, and Chritofferson sounds awesome. Not to mention the 2 junior post players ranked in the Top 50 or so by Hoopgurlz...forget their names, but I know that one is being recruited by Tennessee.

[Cysister]

Kiah Stokes and Markisha Wright are the jr post players. Kionna Kellogg from Ames will also be playing. She signed with Minnesota.

BF when asked about Hallie in his coaches show, that she would play the 4 and could eventually play the 3.

[mred]

Stokes is Hoopgurlz 2011 #10. She's the one who had all the coaches at her game a week ago (Summitt, Coale, Versyp, etc). Ballard's Taylor Greenfield (Hoopgurlz 2011 #23) is a guard, but a 6'3" one. :)

Having a top 25 player from Iowa is uncommon. Having two in the same class is unprecedented.

[LadyBuff]

You forgot to mention her stat line 32 points 20 rebounds, 8 blocks 4 steals and couple of assists. Not bad:)

If I remember correctly, she had 24 points in the first half. I knew she had a lot of rebounds, but didn't know it was 20.

She knows how to use her rear end to push people out of her way. I was sitting with the opponents and they didn't like that or her elbows, but that is the college game and she's ready. They were also screaming that she camps in the lane. I didn't think she did--Prins definitely was guilty of that when I saw her in Colorado.

[LadyBuff]

Can't wait for 4A to start tomorrow. My high school is there--Markisha Wright and Des Moines East. I haven't even been inside the high school since our 20th class reunion 20 years ago, but I will be sitting with the East crowd tomorrow.

On Saturday, I am coming to Ames to watch the Twister Sisters shoot 3's and beat CU.

[Cyclones Rule]

Can't wait for 4A to start tomorrow. My high school is there--Markisha Wright and Des Moines East. I haven't even been inside the high school since our 20th class reunion 20 years ago, but I will be sitting with the East crowd tomorrow.

On Saturday, I am coming to Ames to watch the Twister Sisters shoot 3's and beat CU.

Congrats LadyBuff on East's win today. I heard that Geno was in town for the games today to watch Stokes.

[mred]

Congrats LadyBuff on East's win today. I heard that Geno was in town for the games today to watch Stokes.

He was apparently also at Ballard's game yesterday to watch Greenfield.

[Cyclones Rule]

He was apparently also at Ballard's game yesterday to watch Greenfield.

Of course he was. It's tough enough to get people to come to play in Iowa, and when we get a nationally ranked in-state talent the big schools come in the snatch them up. Our chances to get her are gone.

[Dale]

Of course he was. It's tough enough to get people to come to play in Iowa, and when we get a nationally ranked in-state talent the big schools come in the snatch them up. Our chances to get her are gone.
Just taking a very quick look at UConn: They have 11 on their roster right now, and they've averaged 12 the last four years. They're losing seven to graduation the next two years, and they have six commitments right now (five for 2010 grads and one for 2011). Given past history, Gino is probably only going to take one to three more players from the 2011 class, and my guess (looking here (http://www.huskynan.com/wrecruits)) is that Greenfield probably isn't at the top of his list. So I'm not exceptionally worried about Greenfield -- w/r/t UConn, at least.

M. Dale
:ISU:

[mred]

So I'm not exceptionally worried about Greenfield -- w/r/t UConn, at least.

Of the teams after Greenfield, Stanford is the one that worries me most. Of non-Big 12 schools, I think ISU has lost more big recruits to Stanford than any other.

[LadyBuff]

Stokes was very impressive. I hope that one of the games she plays in is competitive, because Linn-Mar won today 60-38.

I didn't happen to see Geno, but did see some small school coaches.

I was happy to see that on the t-shirts the East fans are wearing, they call them the Lady Scarlets! I think East and Ames both had big time jitters. East had 6 free throws in the first quarter before hitting a basket at :31 in the quarter. First field goal in the game was at 5:28 by Ames.

I was impressed with both Butts and Wright. The point guard (Gaines) is very good also, but too short at 5-0 to gather much D-I attention. Kid can dribble like crazy, including between her legs and behind her back.

Hopefully the jitters are gone and they are settled down for Waukee on Friday. If not, they won't be playing on Saturday.

There were some teachers sitting in front of me and they said to come by the school tomorrow and buy myself a t-shirt!

[LadyBuff]

One of my major disappointments about this tournament is that there has not been one single female floor official. In this day and age, I don't understand it. Last time I came to the Iowa tournament was in 2001 and it was the same way, but 9 years have passed and still none. Some of the men are here for their 27th and 26th time.

[mred]

Exira wins the semifinal over Newell-Fonda 70-58. Christofferson with 33 pts, 13 reb, 5 blocks. Waiting for LadyBuff's analysis... :)

[LadyBuff]

Hallie is definitely a keeper. I don't understand why she played 32 minutes, as they didn't need her. The game was well in hand and she could have gotten hurt.

Sure wish CU would have gone after her and gotten her, but happy she is in the Big 12.

None of this will come as easy for Hallie in the Big 12, as she is taller than her opponents.

[mred]

SC Heelan squeaked past Ballard 59-54. Taylor Greenfield had 28 for Ballard while Creighton recruit Carli Tritz had 22 for Heelan.

[LadyBuff]

Waukon beat Algona, so I will have happy neighbors.

Tomorrow, my alma mater plays at 1:30 PM. I was able to visit the school today and buy a t-shirt. I didn't recognize the school. :p I graduated 40 years ago.

[mred]

While in Iowa, Geno offered Stokes a scholarship:

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/03/04/sports/doc4b907ab1bc62d463800385.txt

Highly touted 6-foot-3 junior Kiah Stokes of Linn-Mar High of Marion, Iowa, became the fourth high school junior to be offered a scholarship by UConn. Stokes, whose grandfather lives in New Haven, took an unofficial visit to UConn last month but it wasn’t until Auriemma went to see her play that she was offered. Auriemma was in Des Moines on Tuesday to see the member of the U.S. 16-and-under national team play in a state playoff game.

UConn has also offered scholarships to fellow U.S. Under-16 national team members Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, a 6-foot guard from Anaheim, Calif., and Betnijah Laney, a 6-foot wing from Clayton, Del., as well as 6-foot-2 wing Bonnie Samuelson from Huntington Beach, Calif

[LadyBuff]

Good for her. However, after this state tournament and perhaps next year's, I won't be seeing her play since I don't watch UConn.

[LadyBuff]

Two good games this afternoon. Linn-Mar, with Stokes leading the way, beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy 58-53 and, my school, Des Moines East defeated Waukee in a thriller 50-49.

The final score came at 19.3 seconds remaining. An East player stepped on the baseline while inbounding the ball and Waukee then walked. Only team to beat Waukee all year was East, who did it twice by one point each time.

I honestly don't think East can bee Linn-Mar, but we all know the games have to be played and maybe Stokes will have an off night. :p

[Jimi]

Good for her. However, after this state tournament and perhaps next year's, I won't be seeing her play since I don't watch UConn.

Hmmm? It says she was offered, not that she accepted. Even the mighty UConn does not get every recruit they offer a scholarship. Don't give up hope on her until she at least "commits".

[mred]

ISU coaches Fennelly, Schaben, and Steyer as well as dir of ops Josh Carper were all at the L-M/Kennedy game. I know because we sat a few rows in front of them. :) There were also scouts from Northwestern, Iowa, and Eastern Illinois, and that was just in our section.

http://hoopscoop.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=174&stc=1&d=1267830586

[DblT81]

Talking about Geno being in Iowa... Would recruiting be a good reason for the Big 12 to push up the ending date of the regular season? B12 coaches can't go to very may state girls playoff games far away from home this week due to upcoming Big 12 games.

I haven't looked at the recruiting calendar. Do teams that finished the regular season last week have any kind of advantage?

I guess an airplane will go just about anywhere these days.

Excuse my geographic ignorance and lazyness, but how far is Ames from Des Moines? Is the state tournament always in Des Moines?

[mred]

Excuse my geographic ignorance and lazyness, but how far is Ames from Des Moines? Is the state tournament always in Des Moines?

Always in Des Moines. Used to be in Vets Auditorium, but is now in the brand new Wells Fargo Arena next door to it.

Ames is only about 30 miles north of Des Moines on I-35.

[DblT81]

Thanks mred.

I know that AAU ball is the bomb and HS ball is passé and irrelevant :rolleyes: now in general terms of recruiting talent.

To me though, HS playoff basketball is so great. The passion by fans and players to get that trophy for their school, the teams that have good and not so good players doing battle (at least in those states where HS's can't recruit), the rivalries, the little towns with odd names where they close down the world to go to "State". I love it.

Are any of the finals in Iowa on TV that might be shown in the depths of night on one of the FSN regional sports channels?

[mred]

Are any of the finals in Iowa on TV that might be shown in the depths of night on one of the FSN regional sports channels?

Afraid not. They are televised in Iowa, though. I'm watching Christofferson in the 1A final right now.

[mred]

With Exira inbounding the ball under the Mt Ayr basket and 4.6 secs left in a 55-55 game, the inbounder threw it to half-court, where a Mt Ayr player tipped it, an Exira player grabbed it, and she passed it to another Exira player streaking toward the basket who put up a lay-up that bounced around the entire rim before dropping in just as the buzzer sounded. 57-55 Exira.

Christofferson had 27 points and 17 rebounds. She was named captain of the 1A all-tournament team.

[Cyclones Rule]

Exira won a thriller on a last second lay up as time expired. Last I saw Hallie had 24 points and 14 rebs but know she finished with a few more. Hallie was obviously the 1A captain.

[LadyBuff]

A total thriller. At least it came out Hallie's way, as the East game came out my way.

The games are not broadcast all over Iowa. If I were home, I could watch the finals, but my parents in Oskaloosa cannot get the games. Their Mediacom really sucks. They don't get any Fox stations, so I can't watch much of anything when I am there.

[mred]

The theoretical coverage map: http://www.ihssn.com/schedule_uploads/StatewideSponsorshipCoverage_091409.pdf

[LadyBuff]

I looked at the map. It is on Fox Des Moines, but they get Fox Ottumwa, which doesn't carry the games.

Good to know that next year, I can watch the championships from the comfort of home--unless East gets this far!

[mred]

I looked at the map. It is on Fox Des Moines, but they get Fox Ottumwa, which doesn't carry the games.

It's actually CW in Des Moines (which they also may not get.)

[ChipperF1]

Kiah Stokes to Connecticut? That would be very cool :)

Kiah Stokes to Iowa State? Would be better :)

[LadyBuff]

It's actually CW in Des Moines (which they also may not get.)

They don't get the station out of Ottumwa that carries it. They don't get that Des Moines station unfortunately. I couldn't believe it last weekend that they get NO Fox sports channels. Not Fox Midwest or Fox Chicago.

[Cyclones Rule]

Lin-Mar wins a close hard fought affair 38-35. A tremendous end to a great Iowa Girls State Tournament.

[LadyBuff]

I thought East would have to play a perfect game to beat Linn-Mar. Linn-Mar and Stokes held East's post player to 2 points. Her defense on Wright is what beat us.

Congratulations to Linn-Mar.