Vote now: Who should be SBLive Iowa's high school team of the week? (Feb. 20-26)
By Barry Poe
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Iowa High School Team of the Week for Feb. 20-26 as nominated by coaches, fans and readers. Voting ends Sunday at 11:59 p.m.
Johnston girls basketball
The Dragons are back to defend their Class 5A state championship, thanks to a 79-51 regional final win over Sioux City East. Johnston (22-1) plays Southeast Polk in the opening round.
Cedar Rapids Xavier girls basketball
The Saints downed Western Dubuque 54-46 in a regional final and will defend their Class 4A state crown. Xavier survived a brutal January in which it lost six of nine games.
Estherville-Lincoln Central girls basketball
The defending Class 3A champion Midgets rolled into the state tournament with an 82-40 win over Algona. E-LC enters the tournament with a 38-game win streak.
Dike-New Hartford girls basketball
The mighty Wolverines will be shooting for their third consecutive Class 2A state championship. Dike-New Hartford has lost only to defending 1A champ Algona Garrigan and boast a 74-3 record during its nearly three-year reign.
Algona Garrigan girls basketball
Led by Audi Crooks, one of the top players in the history of Iowa girls basketball, Garrigan eyes its second straight 1A title. The Golden Bears haven’t been challenged since a season-opening loss to Minnesota power Hopkins.
Vinton-Shellsburg girls basketball
The Vikings are back in the state tournament for the first time in 24 seasons after a 52-43 win over Grinnell in a 3A regional final. V-S plays defending champ Estherville-Lincoln Central in the first round.
Sibley-Ocheyedan girls basketball
The Generals qualified for their first state tournament since 1997, beating Sioux Central 76-57 in a 2A regional final.
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont girls basketball
The 24-0 Rockets will make their first-ever appearance in the five-player girls state tournament after a 71-65 Class 2A regional final win over Hudson. Eddyville played in six-player tournaments in 1939 and ‘67.
Remsen St. Mary’s girls basketball
The Hawks will be playing in the state tournament for the first time in school history. St. Mary’s (23-1) downed Exira-EHK 51-43 in a Class 1A regional final.
Woodbine girls basketball
The Tigers avenged a regular-season loss to Westwood with a 59-42 1A regional final victory. Woodbine last played in a state tournament in 1974 and its other two trips came in 1968 and ‘69.
North Linn boys basketball
The Lynx made it to the state tournament for the seventh straight season. North Linn plays Madrid in a Class 1A first-round game.
Remsen St. Mary’s boys basketball
The Hawks won a rubber game with arch-rival Le Mars Gehlen Catholic in a 1A substate final, earning their seventh consecutive trip to the state tournament.
Grand View Christian boys basketball
The Thunder clapped ACGC 106-37 in a Class 1A substate final and is the top seed in the state tournament bracket. Grand View Christian won three straight titles from 2017-19.
Central Lyon boys basketball
The Lions are the top seed in the Class 2A state tournament bracket. They rolled past Treynor 82-57 in a substate final and are looking to add a basketball title to their football crown captured in the fall.
Madrid boys basketball
The Tigers qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history. Madrid downed Baxter 70-54 in a 1A substate final and plays North Linn in the opening round.
