Iowa high school girls basketball top stars, best performances (1/29/2024)

Here are some stars from the past week's high school girls basketball games across Iowa. 

If you know of a top performance we should include, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Bailey Birmingham, Norwalk

The junior tossed in 30 points, leading the Class 4A eighth-ranked Warriors past Newton, 58-23. Birmingham had five 3-pointers, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Graclyn Eastman, Algona Garrigan

The 6-foot freshman contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for the 18-1 Golden Bears in a 66-45 victory over Belmond-Klemme. Eastman tacked on three assists and three blocked shots, while Abbie Capesius also had a double-double for the defending Class 1A state champs.

Katelyn Eggena, Waverly-Shell Rock

The senior had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Go-Hawks, ranked second in Class 4A, improved to 18-0 with a 60-30 victory over Waukon. The 6-foot-1 Eggena also had three blocks and two steals.

Libby Fandel, Cedar Rapids Xavier

The junior poured in a school-record 34 points, leading the Saints to a 53-45 Mississippi Valley Conference victory over Iowa City Liberty. Fandel made 15-of-29 shots and also posted nine rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Brynnly German, Martensdale-St. Marys

The senior scored 21 points in a 76-46 win over Lenox and has now scored 1,000 points and handed out 500 assists for her career. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 3 in Class 1A, improved to 12-3.

Kennedy Hermsen, Monticello

Hermsen, a 5-7 sophomore, fired in 27 points to lead the Class 3A ninth-ranked Panthers to a 64-27 win over Dyersville Beckman. Hermsen hit five 3-pointers, snared four rebounds and handed out a pair of assists.

Kinzee Hinders, Newell-Fonda

The junior made 11-of-14 shots and scored 22 points for the Class 1A second-ranked Mustangs in a 71-20 rout of South Central Calhoun. McKenna Sievers chipped in 14 assists and eight steals for 14-1 Newell-Fonda.

Nicole Hoefer, Woodbine

The senior scored a team-high 23 points for the Class 1A eight-ranked Tigers in a 57-52 victory over NO. 9 CAM in a matchup of two-loss squads. Hoefer hit five 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds.

Journey Houston, Davenport North

The junior and University of Iowa commit tossed in 35 points for the Class 5A second-ranked Wildcats in a 74-44 win over Davenport Assumption. Houston was 14-of-17 from the field with three 3-pointers while adding eight steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Brenna Johnson, Westwood

The sophomore hit six 3-pointers and scored a team-high 23 points for the Class 2A third-ranked and unbeaten Rebels in a 64-40 victory over MVAOCOU. Johnson was 7-for-12 from the field, while teammate Ashlyn Davis had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Grace Knutson, Cedar Falls

The senior and Drake University commit tallied 24 points, leading the Class 5A seventh-ranked Tigers to an 81-45 victory over Iowa City Liberty. Knutson was 8-of-16 and made six 3-pointers, while adding five rebounds and two steals.

Jayden Kuper, Monticello

The junior surpassed 1,000 points for her career, hitting for 23 in a 64-27 win over Dyersville Beckman. She now has 1,016 in 2.5 high school seasons and is averaging 21.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.4 steals per game.

Kamryn Kurt, North Linn

The senior scored 20 points for the Class 1A top-ranked Lynx in a 60-48 victory over Class 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon. Kurt hit five of her team’s 13 3-pointers, adding six rebounds and five assists as North Linn won its 15th straight.

Emily Larson, Cedar Rapids Prairie

The sophomore scored 20 points as the Class 5A No. 8 Hawks downed Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 50-41. Prairie has won 12 in a row since a season-opening loss to top-ranked Johnston.

Morgan Miller, Iowa City Regina

The junior hit for 22 points, leading Class 2A sixth-ranked Regina to a 74-28 rout of West Branch. Miller also dished out four assists for the 14-3 Regals.

Payton Petersen, Dike-New Hartford

The senior and Louisville volleyball recruit had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the two-time defending Class 2A state champion Wolverines in a 57-33 win over Roland-Story. She was 8-of-14 from the field, adding five steals and three assists.

Aubrey Schweiso, Harlan

The junior tossed in 32 points while tacking on eight rebounds and six steals for the Class 3A seventh-ranked Cyclones in a 69-37 triumph over Atlantic. Schweiso hit seven shots from beyond the arc.

Lucy Scott, Council Bluffs Lewis Central

The senior scored 30 of her team’s points in a 41-33 victory over Carroll Kuemper. Scott scored all of her points on 10 3-point goals in 19 attempts, adding three rebounds and three steals.

Emilie Sorensen, Waukee

The junior hit 7-of-11 shots, including five of seven 3-pointers, leading the Class 5A fourth-ranked Warriors to a 60-53 win over No. 5 Ankeny Centennial.

Haylee Stokes, Estherville-Lincoln Central

The junior star popped for 32 points and handed out seven assists for the Class 3A third-ranked Midgets in a 65-37 win over No. 12 Cherokee. Stokes made all 12 of her free-throw attempts.

Molly Shafer, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

The junior tossed in 28 points, leading the Class 2A fifth-ranked Rockets to a 75-50 win over Class 3A No. 15 Chariton. Shafer made 8-of-10 shots and 12-of-16 free throws, while adding four blocks and three steals.

Aili Tanke, Johnston

The Iowa State recruit scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading the Class 5A top-ranked Dragons to a 64-59 win over No. 4 Ankeny Centennial. Tanke was 7-for-11 with three 3-pointers and also had three assists and two steals.

Quinn Vice, Pleasant Valley

The junior finished with 21 points and seven assists, leading the defending Class 5A state champion Spartans to a 77-13 rout of Davenport West. Vice hit four 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds.

Mia Waddle, Panorama

The junior charted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Class 2A second-ranked Panthers moved to 17-0 with a 54-43 victory over a 10-win Exira-EHK team. Waddle tacked on five steals and three assists.

Ava Zediker, West Des Moines Dowling

The junior standout scored 17 points, leading the Maroons to a 60-32 victory over West Des Moines Valley. Dowling moved to 12-4 with the win.

Photo of Waverly-Shell Rock's Katelyn Eggena by Nick Thompson, Waverly Newspapers

-- Barry Poe | @SBLiveIA