Girls Basketball Moves on to State

Brett Blakemore
Sports Editor

                The girls’ basketball team defeated Linn-Mar 56-45 last night and punched their ticket to the state tournament. This is the fifth year in a row that the team made it to Wells Fargo Arena, after winning it all, just two years ago. The Rams take on Iowa City West in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 4 at 3:15.  

                A lot has changed and a lot is the same about the team since the title run in early 2013. 

The cast of leaders that season was studded with players like seniors: Caitlin Ingle, Jessica Gardner, and Megan Bianchi. While that same team had its young talent, such as then freshman Abby Penquite, and then sophomore Jacey Huinker.

                Now as the girls begin to close again on another state run, the young talent becomes the senior leaders, and new faces join as well. The Rams also have no lack of young talent now, as they have gotten huge contributions from sophomore Sierra Mitchell.

                With a trip to state comes expectations. 
“I feel like its kinda expected of us to go,” junior Abby Penquite said. “We still have to get there, but it’s still special each time, especially when you get the banner.”

The nerves the first time playing a such a huge game must be unbearable. Are the Rams just used to it after many trips to ‘The Well’?

“It kinda seems like it should be (normal) but I get super nervous,” senior Jacey Huinker said. “My nerves have gotten a lot better since my first time there but every year it’s still just like wow…we’re here. This is huge and its awesome. It’s a feeling you can’t explain.”

Playing in Wells Fargo Arena is simply just a whole different experience for many reasons. The biggest of those reasons, is the open back to the basket. Here at home, the background to look at is a tan divider, and a wall of banners on the track. At The Well, theres nothing but fans to look at behind the hoop.

                “It’s way more open, like you can’t really see the basket that well because the people everywhere and its glass,” Penquite said. “It’s way bigger and way louder, you can’t hear your teammates on the court.” To combat this, Head Coach Tracy Dailey has the divider removed, to practice shooting with such an open back of the hoop.

“It does mess up your vision,” Huinker said. “That’s a big bonus that we can practice shooting with it open.” The girls seem prepared for yet another set of games in downtown Des Moines. The first games are on March 3rd in ‘The Well’ Wells Fargo Arena.

“(Playing in state) that is something that I want to do to finish off strong and this team deserves it.”

Correction: This is the fifth time the girls' basketball team will play at Wells Fargo Arena.  An earlier version of the article said it was the girls' third trip to Wells Fargo.