Spartans State Bound

 Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton is making its third straight trip to Des Moines after reaching the 1-A state semifinals in 2015 and bowing out to Newell-Fonda in last year’s first round. The school’s communities have a strong history at the Girls State Tournament as EH-K qualified eight times (its final appearance in 1997) and Exira qualified six times, capped by a state title in 2010. The Sidney girls, meanwhile, are making their first-ever trip to state after beating Glidden-Ralston 55-52 in Monday’s regional final.
 The Cowgirls (23-1) were ousted by Exira-EHK 55-16 in last year’s regional semis, but the addition of 5-5 freshman Maddy Duncan (15.0 ppg., 52 3’s, 84 assists, 65 steals) and sophomore Caitlyn Ward (10.3 ppg., 49 steals) to the lineup has allowed the team to take the next step this winter. Key players for Sidney also include senior Maryn Phillips (13.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and sophomore Camryn McClintock (6.4 ppg.), who leads the team with 7.0 rebounds per game, 103 assists and 74 steals. The Cowgirls rank among the top seven in Class 1-A in team scoring average (60.6), 388 steals, 362 assists and a plus 24.7 scoring margin.
 The 23-1 Spartans, meanwhile, lead 1-A in scoring margin (+32.0), rank second to Kingsley-Pierson in scoring average (68.2) and are third with 413 steals. Four veteran starters average in double figures for Exira-EHK: Sophia Peppers (17.5 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 59 assists, 77 steals); Kealey Nelson (13.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 75 steals); Maggie Rasmussen (11.6 ppg., 49 3’s, 58 assists, 58 steals); and Mara Burmeister (11.4 ppg., 46 3’s, 53 assists, 49 steals).

Class 1-A Pairings & Schedule
Quarterfinals: Monday, February 27
10:00 a.m. - #1 Springville (22-2) vs. #12 Burlington Notre Dame (19-6)
11:45 a.m. - #6 Marquette Catholic (21-3) vs. #7 Kingsley-Pierson (23-1)
1:30 p.m. - #2 Turkey Valley (21-3) vs. #9 Janesville (24-0)
3:15 p.m. - #3 Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton (23-1) vs. #8 Sidney (23-1)
Semifinals: Thursday, March 2
10 a.m. - Springville or Burlington ND vs. Marquette Catholic or Kingsley-Pierson
11:45 a.m. - Exira-EHK or Sidney vs. Turkey Valley or Janesville
Championship Game: Friday, March 3 -- 6:00 p.m.