ihsaa recaps
Winter: Basketball Waukee wins 4A, Pella, Western, Montezuma return to finals form DES MOINES, Iowa – One year after COVID-19 disrupted its first sporting events and altered the world in 2020 and 2021, the IHSAA State Basketball Tournament took the court again at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The 2020 championship games were played for family and friends as the pandemic was just beginning to change daily life and mass gatherings. Precautions and preparations had come a long way in Iowa, and the 2021 tournament was played as scheduled, albeit with consolation games gone in an adjusted schedule and capacity limits allowing for around 5,000 socially-distanced fans into seating groups around the arena. The basketball was back to feeling somewhat normal, even if everything off the court wasn't entirely there yet. Spectators got a sensational tournament, with close games and star players in each classification. That was Montezuma had finished in the consolation round in the previous two state tournaments, but won three thrilling contests at the 2021 tournament to win their first championship since 1990. capped in finals on Friday, March 12 with Waukee finally CLASS 3A: Pella won its first championship since 2003 winning its first basketball title, and Pella, Western Christian, and Montezuma showcasing their skills and taking as the highest-scoring squad in 3A poured in enough points to work past Monticello, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and topchampionships back to their proud trophy cases. seeded Ballard over four days. The Dutch and coach Derek CLASS 4A: Waukee dominated their three days on the Schulte won the program's third title while being paced by court at Wells Fargo Arena, showcasing one of the longest All-Tournament Team captain Grant Nelson and a balanced and most talented rosters the tournament had seen in years. lineup, including 41 points over three games from substitute Coach Justin Ohl's squad opened the tournament with a 33-5 Noah Allen. lead on Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals and proceeded CLASS 2A: The state championship came down to a to roll past CIML foes Ames and Johnston to the title. The showdown between two schools sitting just a few blocks Dragons held an early 12-point lead before Waukee's three All-Tournament Team players - Payton Sandfort, Tucker apart in the small northwest Iowa town of Hull. Through district and substate rounds, then even state tournament DeVries, and Omaha Biliew - took over. seeding, Boyden-Hull and Western Christian, Hull remained separate. In the final, the two powerhouse programs collided for the first time since the 2005 postseason and for the first time ever at the state tournament. Western's Ty Van Essen provided a title-worth spark with 32 points and 12 rebounds in the final as the Wolfpack won their 10th championship.
Assumption, Davenport senior Emarion Ellis was a star performer at his first state tournament, scoring 25 points in the quarterfinals and 33 to pace the Knights in the Class 3A semifinals.
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CLASS 1A: Montezuma entered a loaded 1A field seeded No. 7 and used that perceived slight to push past unbeaten Lake Mills, parochial power and three-time champion Grand View Christian, then unbeaten and high-octane North Linn for the championship. The Braves used elite guard play through All-Tournament Team picks Trey Shearer and Cole Watts, and leaned on Eddie Burgess in the post to pick up their wins. Montezuma's previous two titles came in 1971 and 1990. North Linn was appearing in its fourth straight title game. IHSAA Bulletin