Class 5A — Waukee Northwest Wolves vs. Johnston Dragons

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Welcome to Iowa's capital city. As March Madness is upon us here in downtown. Pink color outside and a full house inside to see a great one tonight as we kick off night. One of two here on Iowa PBS as we provide free coverage of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state basketball championships. Hello, everybody. I'm Paul Yeager here at the sports desk. We're getting started. We've got five A and three A, then tomorrow a triple header will do for a, two A and one A on the court we're going to bring you halftime highlights and interviews right here at our onsite sports desk. We're perched above the action. But first let's head courtside and meet those broadcast professionals that we like to call BJ Schaben and Laura Leonard for their call on Championship Friday.

Thanks, Paul. It is time for state championship basketball. It's the big school here in the state of Iowa. Class five a title match Waukee Northwest taking on the number one ranked Johnston Dragons. Hi again everyone with Laura Leonard I am BJ Schaben and Laura. What should we expect for the third meeting of these two teams?

I think it's going to be a grudge match. I think Northwest gave Johnston their two closest contests of the season, six points both times, so Northwest looking to get over the hump.

Let's take a look at the resume, shall we? Up first Waukee Northwest what really stands out to you?

Well, the thing that for Northwest is second time here, but they have all of their players back from a year ago, so a little experience on their team. They are led by a sophomore and a junior. Sadie McCann Romey Croatt I think a lot of Division one teams are looking at those players.

And for Johnston.

Well, they've got a winning streak going. They're a two time defending champs. They're looking for the three peat, 78 game straight and talk about a player Jenica Lewis a McDonald's All-American who does everything for this program.

Well, let's turn it over to tonight's public address. Announcer in Joe Hammond.

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Let go all game.

Waukee Northwest fans, here come.

Your wall.

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Fan down!

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Thunder.

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Fan out!

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Alex. Caught in the middle of a railroad town.

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And the crowd. And I knew there was no turning back. Thunder. My mind raced and I thought what could I do?

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In a new. There was no help. No help from you. Thunder, turn up the drums. Beating in my heart.

Johnston fans here come Dragons.

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You better.

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We hit the dance when to Texas. Yeah! Texas and me. I'm so fine.

Fans, it's now time to introduce the players in tonight's five a championship game. Tonight's team intros are brought to you by Hy-Vee. First, the nonstarters for the Waukee Northwest Wolves. Number zero. Grace McCann Anthony. Number two. Kennedy Princehouse.

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Number ten Dylan Peterson. Number 14 Leah Janulewicz. Number 20 Quinn Jorgensen. Number 30 Liv Brown. Number 40 Chloe Moen. Number 44 Olivia Templeman. Number 50 Victoria Burpo. And number 52 Hadley Gentzler. The assistant coaches for Waukee Northwest are Trent Smith.

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Ben Duea. Frances Negussie and Ty Walsh.

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And now let's meet the Nonstarters for the Johnston Dragons. Number four Olivia Rosenboom. Number five Sidney Felice.

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Number 12 Chloe Helgeson. Number 24 Mariah Dixon. Number 30 Hannah Haxton. Number 32 Paige Andernacht. Number 33 Emma Gray. Number 34 Lily Bro. Number 40. Grace Reiners. And number 44 Kiya Hood. The assistant coaches for Johnston are Brad. Buchan. Bart Smith. Mallory Bernhard, Christine Wolford and Steve Valline.

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And now, ladies

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and gentlemen, are you ready for tonight's starting lineups? For Waukee Northwest at guard, a 510 sophomore. Number ten Sadie McCann. And for Johnston at guard, a, 511 senior. Number ten Jenica Lewis.

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For Waukee Northwest at guard, a, five eight. Senior. Number 22 Vana Bilic. And for Johnston at guard, A, five nine. Junior. Number 14 Ari Phillips.

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For Waukee. Northwest at forward A62. Junior. Number 24 Logan Vogt. And for Johnston at guard A59. Junior. Number 20 Daya. Phillips.

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For Waukee Northwest at guard A59. Junior. Number 32 Romey Croatt. And for Johnston at guard A 511. Sophomore. Number 22 Kelli Kalb.

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For Waukee Northwest at 4 to 6 one. Junior. Number 34 Cassidy Danburg.

One step ahead.

And for Johnston at guard A57 senior number 23 Jaliyah Kinnetz.

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About yesterday. Hey.

The head coach for Waukee Northwest is Sam Powell and the head coach for Johnston is Chad Jilek.

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Come on. You said everything right now.

The floor officials for tonight's game are Lance Floyer, Joel Kraayenbrink, Justin Meyer and the bench official is Dan Durlin. Welcome Waukee Northwest and Johnston to the 2026 Iowa Girls basketball class. Five-a championship.

All right, let's get this thing started. Johnston and Waukee Northwest. Laura. How do you break it down? What are the keys to the game look like?

Well, for Waukee Northwest what they are going to do is they are going to live and die with their defense. That's what they've done all season long. They're going to continue to turn up the heat on defense, and they want to get it to the bigs because they think that they can create mismatches in there. That's where they have the advantage. Johnston they need to collect the charity because they have not done very well to the free-throw line. Only 46% here in the tournament. They're getting there but not knocking them down. Protect the basketball. They've got to limit turnovers.

Johnston wearing their home whites Waukee Northwest in their black uniforms. Johnston has never lost to Waukee Northwest since the inception of the new high school on Waukee. And right away this is a tussle for the ball. The scrum if you will, and the Dragons end up with the basketball again out on the floor for Johnston it's Lewis Phillips, Kalb and Kinnetz as runaway Kinnetz challenges and gets denied by Bilic, who's joined by McCann, Vogt, Croatt and Danburg.

Bilic is kind of their glue player, and she's the one that gets a big play to get them started. Kind of takes some of the nerves off. You had mentioned Johnston has been here quite a bit. Northwest this is their first trip to state.

Vogt with the offensive board, as they'll run the weave. Bilic denied up top by Phillips. The outlet head to R.E. who's denied by Bilic, but who's standing on the baseline and the ball is turned right back over to Johnston. What defense?

Really great defense right there. The initial block and the runout. And then Bilic hustles back, gets her second block of this ball game.

Here's Jenica the flip. Can't get it to fall. Gets her own rebound back Phillips will I it can't buy it as Bilic will get the board. If you're expecting a game in the 70s, you've tuned in to the wrong game. This is going to be a defensive battle all the way through. As again, it's the third meeting between the two.

And they know each other very well. So see if either one of these teams maybe put in a little bit of a new wrinkle that the other's not expecting.

Kalb with the ball right now, lots of great matchups out on the floor as Kinnetz tries to go underneath, and Adia Phillips will get the first bucket of the game.

They were hedging up on the screen and they brought Danburg up a little bit high, and they were able to thread the needle on that roll.

Romey on the block can't spin her way free Bilic and called for the charge. That'll be her first. And how about that? Jenica Lewis taking one for the team.

And she read that perfectly. She knew exactly what was going to happen on that handoff. She saw Bilic coming around, taking that handoff, and she slid over and got to the spot.

So the Dragons starting out with the lead, trying to become the first school to win back to back state titles. Ankeny of course, you might have remember won four straight back in 2000 and 205 trying to win their third in a row are the Dragons, as Lewis will launch. Can't get it to fall. Kalb with the rebound gets stripped by McCann.

But that's one thing that Kalb does. She may not score a ton of points all the time, but she will certainly go to the glass. And again, Lewis anticipation. Getting to the spot, drawing the charge.

Logan Vogt will pick up the personal foul. You be the judge.

A lot of contact. It looked like Jenica Lewis had gotten there and beaten her, set her feet.

Daya will hand off the count. As Johnston look to try to measure this tough man to man defense as Croatt comes up with the steal. Romy to the rack. But fouled by Ari Phillips.

With a good quick hands of Croatt. She's a soccer player. And so that was where some of that anticipation came in. Got out on the run. Phillips hustling back goes straight up and go vertical. You might get the block and not the foul.

Waukee Northwest advancing after beating Dowling Catholic in overtime. Croatt in that game had 12 points in the semifinals. Knocks down the free throw here and the five nine junior came in averaging nearly 14 per game. And is able to tie this one up.

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Boy there's a lot of juice in this building.

It's packed full of fans. Everybody anticipating this matchup.

Kalb can't get one Danburg with the board. Tied at two each team you know has seen a lot of the defense really pack it in. Laura on the blocks. Nothing's been easy. There's a cutter as Croatt going to be called for a travel.

Was waiting was going to try to give that pump fake. Saw the defense slide over and stopped right there. Just need to go ahead and continue with that motion. Go up, draw the contact.

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So the Dragons one for the first seven from the field, Waukee Northwest zero for their first three as Lewis pass going to be picked off again by Croatt. Here's McCann for three. In and out and Jenica with the board.

Both these teams getting off quick shots, but they're good looks. They're not rushed shots.

Kalb for three.

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Northwest will stretch the court. Vogt has her pocket picked by Kalb and then the Dragons will turn it over here. Go to the bench, will go Waukee Northwest coming in for the first time is going to be Leah Janulewicz along with Victoria Burpo.

Are you going to still get a little height in there with Burpo? And then you get a little added defense added in with Janulewicz.

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Leah with the ball. Now give up to Bilic inside to Burpo trying to use that height advantage but quickly swarmed under. Now Croatt shot off the mark and Lewis with another rebound.

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She'll look to attack and can be fouled hard that time and will go to the line to shoot two.

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Out on the right wing. Makes a nice move, puts her head down and she leans into it. Goes up strong, draws the contact.

Burpo will pick up the foul. Lewis first point of the game, and now Johnston and head coach Chad Jilek will go to the bench. Paige Andernacht will check in for the first time as she will take the place of a day of Phillips. The second free throw. Not there. Johnston with the lead though.

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Waukee Northwest winning by an average of 29 points per game in this postseason. Here's McCann hit the backside support system. It's still alive. Janulewicz going to be blocked away now. Croatt eight on the shot clock. McCann with the hard pump. Fake the drive and the foul by Ari Phillips, who will pick up her second.

She got by her and Phillips swatted at that. And I think we may get another look at it. A lot of times though, defensively if you swing at it, you try to have any movement downward movement on a blocked shot. You're going to get called.

McCann able to tie up the game. Her first point and Logan Vogt will reenter the lineup as she comes in for Bilic, also a Daya Phillips in for her sister Ari.

Esther, what is it going to take? What needs to change since you lost the first two to Johnston in the regular season? And she said, well, rebound, rebound and rebound. So they've got to go to the glass. Only give Johnston a one and done. Don't give them second chance opportunities.

Three not there. The rebound to Burpo again those two previous meetings Johnston held a big advantage on the glass between the two.

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Janulewicz going to have the ball deflected away. Picked up by Vogt. Janulewicz tries to go with the reverse layup and is fouled. That's going to be called on. Paige under knock. That'll be her first. So each team now with three team fouls.

Everybody's scrapping for the loose ball and trying to make something out of the chaos. And Janulewicz gets to the free-throw line. She was out for a little bit earlier this season. Had an ankle injury. And when she came back kind of felt like that's maybe when things kind of turned around for them.

So Vana Bilic back out onto the court. She's in for Romey Croatt Janulewicz able to knock down the free throw. There are just athletes though. Laura out on the court here, a lot of them going on to play Division one, whether it be basketball or another sport.

Multi sport athletes out there. And we talked a little bit about Croatt getting looks, soccer and basketball. We've got volleyball players out there, got softball players out there and so just a lot of different interests, but a lot of great athletic ability.

This one tied up possession arrow will give it to Waukee Northwest. There's Sam Powell and his. Third season overall with Waukee Northwest Powell. Of course guided Des Moines East to a state championship back in 2011. In this building is that ball deflected out. It will stay with the Wolves.

Sam got his 300th career win earlier this season. He just knows how to get it done. And we talked to him a little bit. He said, well, I live and die with the defense and that's what we're going to continue to do, and we've gotten our kids to buy into that, and we've seen that throughout the season and throughout the tournament. With this Northwest team.

And folks, as the tradition goes, we will have the coaches miked up. We'll hear from them periodically throughout the ball game here. Here's Burpo on the drive. Can't get it to fall. And the rebound comes down to Kalb.

Good job by Kalb. Slowing that up kind of had some ideas of maybe trying to take it to the hoop. Didn't feel like they had the numbers and so pulls it back out.

Six three nearing the one minute mark to play in the opening quarter. What does either team need to do to get a field goal here? Well.

I think you just have to create some things and make sure that you are stepping to every pass, making sure that you're not getting rushed with your shots.

A long defensive stand there for Waukee Northwest as the Wolves will look to attack McCann. The kick out Vogt for three. And another long rebound to the Dragons. Jenica will fire left and short.

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McCann out to Vogt again six three year score. Shot clock is off. Let's see if the wolves hold for one. Burpo looks to go, finds Vogt, gets the bucket. Eight three Waukee Northwest.

So patient and so calm in the post with the double team right there. And what a great job of Vogt to go into that spot. Got herself open and good find for an easy bucket.

Here's Kinnetz going to be blocked away by Burpo 2.3 to play in the opening quarter. And Johnston will go to their bench. Mariah Dixon will check in the five seven junior enters the lineup for Phillips, so Lewis will look to put it in play. Andernacht in the closing second won't be able to get a shot off. It went through, but it was after time had expired. Well, the first quarter is in the books. Waukee Northwest with that five point advantage, let's go to Paul Yeager.

I know we're not here to do stats, we're not here to do the stats. But Northwest is one of ten from the field and Johnston is one of 11. These are two good offenses, and they're also close to home. So you can't say that it was because of the long how far they had to go on the bus. It was almost a they could run here on a good practice. Let's see where these two teams came from. As we continue our tradition. And looking at that great map that flashes where these teams are from. Johnston in Polk County, Waukee Northwest is in right there on the western edge of Polk County into Dallas County. So not too very far for these two schools to make the trip down here to the tournament. Second year in a row for Northwest to make it. And there is that famous Iowa High School Athletic Association basketball tournament board, and the Girls Union use it as well to flash, and it flashes the two teams where they're from. Each time they play. They're basically on top of each other. For Northwest, it's a 16 mile trip. It's on the northwest side of Waukee Johnston right there off 8035 near Camp Dodge, near Iowa PBS. It's like these, both of these teams are in our backyards. But let's go back down to the field and meet our Iowa Bankers scholarship winner.

Presenting the award is Andrea Santana from Wells Fargo in Des Moines. Congratulations, Allison, on receiving this scholarship. And thank you to Andrea from Wells Fargo in Des Moines and the Iowa Bankers Association for their sponsorship of this award.

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She played in the semifinal against Johnston, and she's headed to central. There's a look at her parents as they head back off the court. Congratulations to her. Let's go back down to the court, where B.J. and Laura have had a chance to dissect all the scoring. Take one breath, B.J. I think you can do it.

We're going to try, Paul. Well, we can tell you this. These two teams can score a lot. Johnston the number one team in the state in Five-a, averaging nearly 70 points per game and Waukee Northwest in the top five. But Laura those defenses have been sensational.

Yeah, both of these teams really do hang their hat on defense and go up against teams that, throughout the regular season that struggle against their defenses. But when they go head to head, usually the points are at a premium. It's very hard to score on either one of these teams.

So beginning the second quarter out on the floor is Janulewicz Bilic, Vogt Croatt Danburg. For Waukee Northwest, it's Lewis. The Phillips sisters, Kalb and Kinnetz for Johnston ten on the shot clock as Danburg will hold it up high. Croatt going to reset. Here's Romy Danburg no rebound out and last touch by Johnston.

Well, again, the hustle of Romey Croatt crashing the boards. As soon as that shot went up and able to knock it off of Phillips.

Croatt will inbound it as Waukee Northwest takes the three with Croatt now Danburg with the rebound put back not there.

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Croatt comes out of nowhere now will fire. And Phillips able to go up high and her sister lost her shoe.

That's the kind of action that's going on out there. You're moving around so hard and cutting so hard. Sometimes you just come right out of your shoes. It's how hard you play defense and move and cut.

I think Coach Chad Jilek had just heard him in the background there, saying he wants his team to move more offensively. Do you think they're getting a little stagnant?

Yeah, I would say so. And I think on both ends I think we're seeing both offenses stand around a little bit too much.

Northwest with a five point lead, by the way, the second time in this postseason that Johnston has been behind as Bilic is going to be bodied. First foul here of the second quarter. It goes against Kinnetz.

Kinnetz is a player that really she got a slow start to the season right at the end of the summer season, had a severe knee injury and was not in that starting lineup. Coach Jilek thought, well, we may not be as good as we thought we were going to be to start this season, but he inserted Mariah Dixon in in place of Kinnetz and her first game out. She had a huge game, 17 points to start the season. He goes, yeah, I think we're going to be all right.

So Johnston coming into this one again. The nation's longest active winning streak at 78 games to show you right there. McCann and Northwest not backing down. And again Croatt with another tough rebound.

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Here's Bilic and she will be tied up. Possession arrow going to keep it with Northwest.

Well if you try to put the ball on the floor and get inside on either one of these defenses, you have to protect it. Because everybody that is packed in there in the paint is reaching and grabbing.

And by the way, if you're tuning in again in March for the state championships in the five a title game, you're saying, I think I've seen this Johnston team before. It is the seventh straight state championship game that they're playing in.

And think about that. I mean, they so you've graduated players along that line and through the seven years and had to replace players. They just keep reloading. They've got a really good system.

Croatt hits it.

Got a little contact as well. No call and knocks down the three. And Coach Jilek says we need a time-out. We got to talk about a few things.

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And eight point advantage for Waukee Northwest as Romey Croatt hits her first three of the game.

Just gets herself into position. Danburg kind of runs a little interference for her. You can see Croatt running and directing traffic. Got herself a little separation.

Well, folks, scan the QR code or call the number on your screen here in a moment to support Friends of Iowa PBS. Congress recently cut 3.5 million in federal funding, the largest one time cut in our 55 year history, impacting 18% of our budget. Despite this challenge, we remain committed to our mission and thank you for supporting public media. The state championships and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union against, again one once again here on Iowa PBS. And Johnston looking to rally as Jenica Lewis being held to just one point so far.

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And the McDonald's All-American will bring it ahead here.

And you have to kind of you feel like maybe she's the one that's got to get them going in the scoring column. She's got to make a play. She's got to knock down a shot here at some point to kind of get the monkey off their back.

And does it right there.

That's what they needed to do. They needed to get her open. They set some screens. That was a deep three. But that's where I think the rest of the team can go. Okay, the lids off the basket, we all can score. Now.

Danburg on the block. Avoids the double. Team swims back, can't get the tough shot. Vogt with the hard rebound. Bilic can't find the answer. Phillips out ahead to Kalb to the rack.

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And Lewis tapped that one away. Good hands there.

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Laura Leonard as always.

Always on the lookout. I know they want to get me the ball because I'm a pretty good shooter.

You mentioned this is a big shot for a lot of reasons. For the Dragons.

And Lewis just surveyed the floor and stepped back just enough to get that distance between her and the defender to be able to get that shot off.

Page Andernacht back into the game here for the Johnston Dragons. Danburg pass. Aaron. Turnover Wolves.

That defense comes out and just the anticipation of somebody being there in the passing lane alters your sight line. And then where you pass it and that one floated and got away from him.

Victoria Burpo back out onto the floor for Waukee Northwest also coming in Leah Janulewicz. She's joining Bilic, McCann and Croatt for the Dragons you've got Kinnetz Kalb Lewis and Phillips.

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Jenica looks to go to work, will fire from deep and hit.

We watched her in warm ups from that very spot and she did not miss many of them. That seems to be her comfort zone right there and now with the steal.

Jenica on the attack.

She's the one that's got him started. And Coach Powell says, all right, we're tied back up. We got to talk about it.

Tied up at 11 with 348 to play here in the first half. What a run. Jenica Lewis on her own nine zero run after her team had fallen down by eight.

And that's after the steal. And she does such a great job. The body control going up. Leans in, keeps those shoulders parallel so she can slide to the hoop.

1111 well, you can stay connected with Iowa PBS sports no matter where you're watching from. Join the conversation. Follow us on Facebook and X and use the hashtag Iowa PBS. Sports to enjoy wrestling with other fans. So an eight zero run by Jenica, Lewis and Johnston knocks this one up at 11 apiece. How does Northwest answer?

Well, I think good time-out. Be calm. Run your offense, see if you can get a high percentage shot. Step to every pass.

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Here's Burpo on the block. Has it deflected away? Janulewicz with it. Can't by the bucket. And again Johnston with another tough rebound.

You know one of their mottos for Johnston is be the nightmare. And I think on that possession they were they kept grabbing and knocking the ball away and got Northwest out of any kind of comfort.

So we're tied at 11 under three to play. Janulewicz with three.

Finally decided to pull the trigger. She was standing out there. Thought about it the first time. Gave it up. Got the return pass.

She's got five and one down on this end.

Get her the ball out on the wing. You have to come out now. You obviously have to respect that. Outside shooting ability of Lewis. So you come out too quick and too aggressive. She's going to blow right by you. And when she puts it on the floor, gets that shoulder in front, gets downhill. She is tough to stop.

You see why Jenica after seventh grade accumulated more than 60 Division one offers as she caps off the three point play, settled in on Notre Dame. And that's where she's heading next season.

I think she is going to be a good fit for the Fighting Irish.

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Back to work with Waukee Northwest. Here's McCann the reverse not there and Kalb will end up with it.

They have tried to drive that baseline side, but they're getting pushed right up against it. So you get too far underneath the backboard and you don't have an angle to make that reverse layup.

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Vogt with the tough defense, Phillips will attack. Andernacht can't get the shot.

Andernacht just gives them such size and muscle on the inside. She's so active, she always seems to be around the basket and around the ball. Shoots 56% from the floor. So when she's in there she is efficient.

Able to knock down the free throw. Logan Vogt picked up the foul. That's her second. And Janulewicz will come back into the game for Vogt.

A lot of moving parts here by both coaches getting players in, trying to look at matchups, see what they need to do to slow one another down.

Long on the free throw there by Johnston. So out on the floor for Waukee Northwest it's McCann Janulewicz, Bilic, Croatt and Danburg and for Johnston Lewis Phillips Kinnetz Dixon and Andernacht. The shot off the mark Danburg fighting for it, but it's going to come down to Daya Phillips. Lewis fires from deep and hits.

Now she's starting to settle in. Now you got to really, really pay attention to her. Get somebody up on her tight and then look for some help defensively. If you're going to play that tight on her.

Lewis with 15 and the Dragons lead it by four. But that finish by Vana Bilic her first bucket of the game. She had 20. In their last meeting.

She was just pinballing her way through there bouncing off of defenders until she found an angle that she could take.

The kick out now Kinnetz for three. She gets it.

Patient set. Work the ball inside. Kick it back outside to the three point shooters.

Largest lead now for Johnston at five.

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And a foul up top. Going to be against the day of Phillips. That'll be her first.

Johnston starting to heat up. Kicking the ball inside out. Finding Kinnetz Dragons 44% right now from the three point line.

So now Dixon will check out. Kalb will come back out onto the court. As the shot clock is off, Northwest down by five. She's going to hold for one here. They go inside to Danburg now the kick out. Romy going to be picked up by Lewis. Croatt trying to back in the defender and tough defense by Phillips and Waukee Northwest will not get a shot off.

That was total team defense right there. Lewis had the assignment initially as Croatt made her move. Phillips was right there and really moved her off course.

The Jenica Schossow gets it going though, in that second quarter 14 in the quarter for Jenica Lewis.

Well, once she got going, she got it going and then she got the rest of the team going as well.

We're at the half. Let's go to Paul Yeager.

Thank you very much. B.J. and Laura. And as you mentioned right there at the end, pretty slow start to this contest. But then things really got going in the second half. So if you turned away. Come on back. We got a good one. All right. Chad Jilek is going to join us here in a moment. He is the head coach of the Johnston Dragons coach. Slow start there. In the first quarter. What changed?

We made some shots. Jenica Lewis changed for us. So that was kind of the difference in that second quarter as we had Jenica and they didn't I mean, it looked like we were going to score about six points there that that whole first half.

She has potential to take over a game when that happens. What is it like there on the sideline to just sit there and watch?

Well, I mean it's exciting. You hear our bench. They get pretty hyped for that. But we got to do a better job of helping her out too. We can't just rely on Jenica to score all our points. We need more cutting. We need more.

Because now you have a little bit of an extended halftime. So any adjustments that you want to talk about and tell us to the world so that we can tell everybody.

Else it's not rocket science. The only adjustment we need to make is we're playing great defense. The only adjustment we need to make is we need to move on offense. We need to create some openings for other people.

All right, coach, thank you so very much. Chad Jilek, head coach of Johnston.

Appreciate it. Thank you.

And he's done this halftime interview before. He enjoys it when he's going into the locker room talking to us first. But let's go back down to the floor. One of the big traditions, the parade of champions.

To pay tribute to all of the state champions from the previous year, ladies and gentlemen, presenting the Parade of Champions presented by the Iowa Bankers Association. We start today's parade by introducing the state championships that Waukee Northwest High School won in 2025. The Wolves claimed state titles in track and field, soccer, softball, volleyball, wrestling, cross country, and spring and fall team tennis. Because many of the girls are multi-sport athletes on different championship teams will introduce them all together for their respective coaches. Ben Dewey is the track and field coach. The Wolves soccer coach is coached by Tony Gabriel. Carrie Eby coaches the softball team, volleyball is coached by Jodi Vogt. The raccoon River Northwest wrestling team is coached by James Buscaglia. The cross country team is coached by Pete Westerkamp, and the team tennis teams are coached by Chad Jilek. The Two-a fall singles champion was Addison Lotta. The two way doubles champions were Riley Hilton and Mia Diniz, and the Two-a coed champion was London Taylor. Congratulations to the Wolves on an amazing year. Let's meet the rest of our state champions. Beginning in track and field, the class Three-a champions, Coach Bart Mueller and the ADM Tigers. The champions of class Two-a, the Pella Christian Eagles and coach Keith Anderson.

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The champions from class One-a, the Saint Albert Saints and coach Theresa Martin walking with the team is the class One-a state cross country medalist Lily Denton and her cross country coach Bob Wiedeman. Moving to soccer, the champions in class two, a coach Dan James, and the Mustangs from Dallas. Center-grimes.

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Now let's meet the softball champions, the class Two-a champs, Coach James Flaws and the Van Meter Bulldogs.

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Champions in class one A, the Clarksville Indians and coach Katie Burman.

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The class four state champions. Coach Katie Mayhue and the Pella Dodge.

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Champions of class three A, the Williamsburg Raiders and coach Adam Birdie.

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Now let's meet the state champions from the 2025 state basketball tournament. Not walking because they're playing in this class one championship game. The 2025 state champions in Five-a, the Johnston Dragons and coach Chad Jilek. The class two champions, the Blackhawks from Hinton, with coach Matt Leary. Head coach Dick Pettengill and the class one AA state basketball champions the Saints of Council Bluffs, Saint Albert.

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The class Three-a champions, the Mustangs from Mount Vernon. Now let's meet the 2025 volleyball state champions, introducing the class Two-a champions, the Denver Cyclones and coach Jamie Johnson. The champions of class three, a coach Greg Cotton, and the Davenport Assumption Knights. Introducing the 2025 swimming and Diving Champions. Coach Paul Yuri and the Dowling Catholic Maroons. The 2025 adaptive swimming champions, the Keokuk Chiefs and coach Andrea Worcester, moving to cross country. The class Three-a team champions, the Pella Dutch, Walking, where their team is the class Three-a cross country individual champion Melissa Ferebee. Let's meet the champions of class two, a coach Shaylee Hempel, and the trainer Cardinals.

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Introducing the class one AA cross country Champions coach Connie Foreman and the Warriors from South Winneshiek. Now let's meet the class four AA individual cross country champion. She hails from Dallas. Center-grimes Piper Messerly with coach Justin Dropper in tennis, the class one a Spring and Fall team champions were the Saints from Cedar Rapids, Xavier and coach Max Foxhoven. Walking with the team is the spring and fall singles champion Gabby Fleming. The fall double state team of Tia Halabi and Gemma Adam, along with the spring double state championship team of Ruby Smith and Izzy Tobin. Moving to golf, the four AA golf team champions are the Ames Little Cyclones, with coach RJ Voss. The class three AA state golf champs are the Gilbert Tigers, with coach Grant Walker and Rob Lynch. Walking with the team is the three AA medalist Ava Lohrbach. The one AA golf champions are the Riverhawks from Easton Valley, with coach Jordan Davis, the golf champions in class two. A coach Cole Thomas, and the Olewine Huskies. The one golf medalist was Jaylee Shafer from Mount Ayr, with coach Kelly Schaefer the coed one, a golf medalist were Leah Larson and Judd Zhuravsky from Grundy Center, with coach Heather Gootnick. Now let's meet the 2026 bowling champions. The class Three-a bowling team champions are the Railsplitters from Des Moines, Lincoln, with coach Ray Felton. The champions in class two A were the Vikings, with coach Keith Bruning.

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The class one AA state champions are the Louisa-muscatine Falcons with coach Linda Taylor. The two AA individual bowling champion is Emily Whitehead from Clinton, with coach Sean Hartman the one AA individual champion is Olivia Stines from Camanche, with coach Brad Weber, and our final champion is the adaptive bowling champion Petra Sauer from Waverly-shell Rock, with coach Kali Atau. Ladies and gentlemen, your state champions from 2025 and 2026. Congratulations to all the schools, athletes and coaches.

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All right. We are going to step away for a moment. When we come back, we are going to talk to one special person who has won a very big award. When we return here on our five day halftime, it is Johnston and Waukee Northwest from Des Moines.

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These lives that we have here, it's much better than we had in Ukraine.

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Halftime. Here Johnston leads Waukee Northwest 2116. And one of the traditions who helped set up a lot of the things that we know here for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is Wayne Cooley, and there is an award named after him. The scholarship winner is joining us this year. It's Kate Harthorne from Lynnville Sully High School. You've been busy this week. Tell me about the basketball experience first.

Yes. So we just played in the quarterfinals and gained a state has always been one of our dreams. And I actually get to play with two of my younger sisters. So that has been super fun. And unfortunately lost. But we did do a lot of good things this season. So super fun to just have this experience and be here all together.

Basketball's not your only thing that you do. You're also involved with softball, volleyball, track and field. Tell me what things non sports that you do.

So outside of sports I'm very involved in my church I do FCA, I'm on their leadership team. I'm a part of honor society. And yeah overall it's just I'm very busy person but it's very rewarding. So I have a lot of fun with it.

So the scholarship process that you're going through, you kind of do a little research on who it is. What did you find out about Wayne Cooley and the Iowa girl that made you apply for this?

Yeah, like just all the work that he's done for girls athletics and giving us the opportunities that we have, it's just super cool to see, like all the work he has put in. And without him, I wouldn't have been able to play in a game like I did just now. And so it was just super fun to be able to experience that and just learn more about who he is and what he has done.

And you're involved in all these activities and all these teams. You understand the value of teamwork and understanding, building friendships and relationships that can lead to you never know who you're going to run into. So when you are now going to be known as the Wayne Cooley Scholarship winner, that comes with some big expectations. Why do you think they picked you?

I just think that it's important. Like I'm from a very small town. So just the way you treat people really matters. And people look up to you, and there's people in the community that see you on a day to day basis. So growing up in that small community, like the way you treat people truly matters. So I've just tried to live my life and kind and respectful way, and I think that has done me well in life. So yeah, just continuing that wherever I go is important to me.

We mentioned earlier that you played here at the tournament, and you were in the game at halftime. Dunkerton kind of halftime was a little tougher. But you know stepping out onto this court. You mentioned how you always wanted to play here. What was it like to be out there.

Yeah it was just so surreal. I mean having that dream for so long has really it came to life for me. And so that was so cool. Being on the biggest stage for girls in high school sports is super fun, and I'll always have those memories with me.

Your plans still kind of between a couple of schools, but at least you know you want to do some physical therapy pre pt y.

Yeah, I've kind of recently I've just figured out I've never been super injured myself, so that's been a blessing. But just watching teammates go through injuries and just watching that recovery process, it's always interested me. So yeah, I'm looking forward to staying involved in athletics through that.

So and it's a you have a genuine care for people. That's that's pretty obvious there. So enjoy the rest of your tournament. We're going to be watching here in the next game when everybody gets to see you. So congratulations to you and best of luck down the road.

Thank you very much.

That is Kate Hawthorne from Lynnville Sully High School. And we have we talked about traditions. One of them is the Tuxedo Sweep, which was taking place while we were talking. But through the magic of television, we get to see the Tuxedo sweepers tonight. They're from Dallas, Center-grimes they're going to be busy here in a couple of days or a couple of hours, because they'll be in a championship game. But the tuxedo sweep takes us out here as they clean up in this contest. Johnston 21, Waukee Northwest the second half when we return here on Iowa PBS.

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Johnston by five here in the class five a state championship. Joining us now is the head coach of Waukee Northwest Sam Powell coach, you've been in this watching that first quarter was pretty you know kind of rough and tumble. Lots of good defense, good battles. What did you see in the first quarter that you liked. And what did you see in the second quarter that you liked for your team?

You know, I thought we set the tone by coming out and and instilling level of aggression. And we slowly got away from that, made some costly turnovers and and then Jenica gets hot. So now we got to figure out a way to cool, cool off. Cool her off a little bit.

She is tough. Coach is always talk about those first 2 to 3 minutes of the third quarter. What is it you're going to have to do in your first 2 to 3 minutes?

You know we got to get some rhythm offensively right now, some continuity and some flow in our offense. We're having a hard time getting into some of our sets. So you know hopefully the jitters are out and we can settle down a little bit.

All right coach appreciate your time as always. Thank you so very much.

Thank you.

All right. That's Sam Powell. He won a title back here in 2011 with Des Moines East. He's trying to get a title here for Waukee Northwest, which has had a great year with some very good athletes that are playing in this contest. Tonight. We're going to show you a couple of them right now here. And this one, as we mentioned, it was pretty physical early on. There is Kinnetz driving and a block by Northwest. And then up ahead another block Vana Bilic she's doing it all. Then she scores on the other end. Those are her two points. But the blocks were probably more important for keeping her team into it. Then this is the player everybody's talking about, Jenica Lewis. She's on the front of the program this year. The step back three from where B.J. and Laura were sitting. And then she does the defensive tip. She did that in the first two games and she did it here tonight. Takes it to the rack and gets the and one pretty exciting there. And it's let's see. It's I think it's 15 points is what she has I know B.J. and Laura are going to tell us because it's now time for the first half statistics. Let's go back down and get you ready for quarter three. Here's B.J. Schaben and Lauren Leonard.

Thank you very much, Paul. Well, in that first half it's hard to believe. But Johnston went nine over nine minutes without scoring from the field. But then Jenica took over and it's Jenica Jenica Jenica right?

Yeah, it really has been. I mean, she's the one that got him started there in the second quarter, made a big bucket, then just continued on. And I think you heard Coach Jilek say, hey, we need to get her a little help. She needs to have a couple of teammates step up as well. And and I think they will find that. But it's been defense for sure. That has really caused. And you heard Coach Powell say they've had trouble getting into sets. That's because of the defense that Johnston is playing.

All right for Waukee Northwest down by five right now. How do they get back into it.

Well I think they be patient on offense. Start setting some screens. You look like Johnston was switching and helping on some of those screens, but I think you've got to be patient. You can't get sped up, work the ball around, try to find yourself a good high percentage shot.

The last time Johnston lost was in this championship game back in 2022, and that was to Pleasant Valley. Well, here we go. The second half about ready to get underway out on the floor for these two teams for Johnston as Jenica Lewis Ariana Phillips a Daya Phillips Kelli Kalb and Jaliyah Kinnetz. And right away Johnston gets things going with Jenica.

They're able to get her the basketball. That's what they wanted to do since they got the ball to start the third quarter, get it back into her hands, see if she can impose her will again.

Bilic able to get the tough bucket. She's joined by McCann, Vogt, Croatt and Danburg.

I think that's what Coach Powell was looking for. That kind of movement, that kind of offense. Making sure you're making good, sharp cuts and making sure that you step to the ball goes strong to the hoop.

Is it tough to double team on Jenica?

I think it is. I think she just knows how to work around the defense, work around a double team. And I think if she really does get bottled up, she knows how to kick it out to a teammate.

And Kalb with the steal and going to be called for a double dribble.

[APPLAUSE]

You know, Northwest is picking up the ball in bad spots and allowing the defense to clamp down on everybody else. So you got to keep that ball moving. Try not to pick it up and allow the defense to get set.

Five point advantage. Still here for Johnston as each team trades buckets to begin the second half.

[APPLAUSE]

Croatt will launch. Can't get that to fall. And the rebound tracked down by Lewis, who loses her footing. And Vogt will pick it up. Bilic and it's going to be tied up. Possession arrow will keep it with Waukee Northwest.

So letting them play a little bit here in the third quarter and you have to adjust your game plan then knowing that the officials maybe aren't going to call it as tight.

So Croatt will look to put it in play off to McCann to Danburg her first bucket.

Those are the things you have to do. Draw the defense to you and see if you can dish it off.

Now the Dragons will set up shop.

[APPLAUSE]

Kinnetz fumbled. It now gives it to Lewis and she's hitting everything folks.

And they're trying different defenders on her. They're switching off. They're trying to keep two people on her, but she's just finding ways.

Lewis now with 19.

There's one thing Johnson's doing up top as well. When Croatt has the ball, they're switching out, making sure somebody is hedging out, slowing her down.

Croatt that's a tough jump shot, but she nails it.

That was on the move and able to pick that one up and knock it down. But she's going to have to be in constant motion to be able to try to find openings.

McCann will pick up the loose ball and fouled hard by a day of Phillips. We're going back in time. If you're going to go to the hoop and win a title, you're going to have to earn it.

Well, she was not going to give up an easy two points. There's the contact up top. The steal and McCann going all the way to the hoop and then getting hammered.

They're going to say.

No foul but just out of bounds.

Just out of bounds. So Danburg into Bilic Vana will pick up the loose ball Danburg with the long J not there.

[APPLAUSE]

Thought I heard a sound Laura on that last drive. Smack, if you will, back into it, here's Lewis. Danburg with the tough rebound and they are letting him play very physical here in the second half. Now Croatt the hard move. Vogt too strong.

You know, if they're letting them play you kind of test the limits then see how aggressive you can be and what you can get away with.

Here's Phillips with the hard spin. Just can't finish it. Croatt can't save it, so it'll stay with Johnston.

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And Johnston will go to the bench as Mariah Dixon will check into the game.

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Burpo coming in for Danburg.

There's some players that are just hunched over trying to grab some oxygen here.

First 3.5 minutes have been nonstop and pretty taxing on these players.

Phillips with the lob to Kalb blocked by Burpo but called right back with it. We'll fire the deep shot. Left it short.

Boy. Great anticipation by Burpo as she came over and helped out to protect that rim.

[APPLAUSE]

Croatt. Now will go to Bilic into Burpo tries to muscle but shifted her feet. Turnover.

Daya Phillips had the assignment given away a couple of inches but really stood her ground and forced that turnover.

Paige Andernacht into the game for the first time in the late half. They've got Andernacht Dixon. Lewis Phillips and Kalb. Phillips will rise and fire and hit.

She has had quite a tournament both games. Ten points and in the semifinals a double double, ten points, ten rebounds.

Bilic into Burpo and again just shuffled her feet. She thought she kept her pivot foot down.

Just a little fade and just a little float to the top of the key. And Phillips able to knock down a big bucket. So now others starting to get in that scoring column for the Dragons.

And Johnston with their largest lead here now at six. Lewis the deep three. Yes.

Once she knocked one down in that second quarter, she has been on fire. I'm not sure if she's missed.

The lead now at nine. And Jenica Lewis with 22.

Eight of 13. She's four of six from three point range.

McCann able to get the tough bucket. That's her first field goal.

And the Wolves needed something to kind of slow Johnston's momentum down.

Lewis guarded by Vogt. She'll drive. And what a pass. And finished off. Oh, my.

That's the unselfishness coming out. She saw Danburg standing right there waiting to take the charge, and when she saw that, she threads the needle across the lane.

McCann from 15.

McCann trying to keep her team in it. Nice ball movement. Good ball fake. And then went into that mid range game. Didn't try to take it all the way in and force it to the rim. Pulled up, knocked down that little mid-range jumper.

[APPLAUSE]

Phillips trying to work it against this defense. Will drive and finish it.

Well they set that up for her and allowed her to get the corner and turn the corner. Get to the rim. They spread the floor wide and gave her some driving lanes. She's been a player that has usually plays out on the perimeter, has had to play inside a little bit this season, has had to adjust her game, but now is bringing the ball down the floor position that she really likes.

[APPLAUSE]

3526 what a dominating run for this senior class for the Johnston. Dragons 127 and two. Coming into this championship game as Kalb will drive, gets a block by McCann. Croatt to Sadie and she's going to be called for steps.

I'm not sure if she was ready for that return pass from Romey Croatt.

, and a time-out going to be taken here by Waukee. Northwest.

[APPLAUSE]

So let's find out what's happening inside of that Wolves team. Let's go inside their huddle and hear from their head coach, Sam Powell.

I'm going to go with him. No prep, no, no. What about 5454?

[APPLAUSE]

All right. Well we're going to bring a little pressure. We're fine. We don't have to get we're okay. Just get into your motions right now. We're in 54. You're the center fielder. Everybody else face okay. Then we got to rotate back, try to get a good trap. Remember the closest one to the ball trap? Weak side. Okay, let's come back down here. Let's see. Can we get a good UCLA. All right, let's go.

Strong with the ball.

They're going to ramp up the pressure and try to get some traps in the backcourt. See if they can get a turnover.

Well Jenica Lewis has been going folks. As you would figure with 22 in the game with six rebounds. I mean just the 511 senior, we mentioned it much heralded, but has really had to go through a lot during her career at Johnston. In fact, fighting Diabetes discovered that after her freshman season, she's in backcourt here now trying to get it away to Phillips. Here's the break. Kinnetz. But such a terrific story both on and off the court for her.

And I think she's really grown as a person and a player over the time that we have seen her in a Johnston uniform.

Danburg able to pull down the rebound. Shot clock is off as we're inside of 10 seconds to play in the quarter. And Waukee Northwest get it a little bit closer and Croatt going to be fouled by Lewis. And that'll be her first one second to play in the quarter.

And if you believe it, that is the first foul called here in the third quarter.

Wow.

So they have let them play and let them run.

[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]

Trying to get into Danburg. And that'll be the end of the quarter as it's batted away. But another big quarter for Jenica Lewis and the Johnston Dragons as they'll head to the final eight leading at 35 to 26. What has been a fun week here at the girls State Basketball tournament throughout the week, at every game, there was a chicken wing eating contest and a lot, a lot of wings got scarfed down in a hurry with a lot of sauce. But all part of the fun. And the festivities here at the Iowa Girls State Basketball tournament Laura next year, I think.

I think both of us, we should they should have the two of us go against one another.

Well, maybe we can get that sponsored. If you can donate, you can scan the QR code or call the number on your screen to support Friends of Iowa PBS Congress. As you know, recently cut 3.5 million in federal funding. The largest one time cut in our 55 year history. That impacts about 18% of our budget. Despite this challenge, we remain committed to our mission. Thank you for supporting public media. All right, Johnston, what do they need to do to hold on to win a championship here? And conversely, what should Waukee Northwest get executed?

Yeah, Johnston just needs to continue to take care of the basketball, continue to run that offense, play really good lock down defense. I think they've had a really nice plan to slow down the Wolves. They have held Croatt and check and they have not really been able to get loose and even get on any kind of a run. So they just need to continue to do all of those things. Northwest needs to try to figure out ways to beat this defense. They need to try to work it inside out, but they've got to have a little bit more motion and a little bit more fluid on the offensive end.

[APPLAUSE]

So we'll set the lineup for you out on the floor for Johnston, it's Lewis, the Phillips sisters, Kalb and Kinnetz as Jaliyah Kinnetz will drive and finish to get things going here. She's got.

Five and they're spreading the floor and that's exactly what they're doing. They're waiting until they find an opening. Not in any kind of rush to get a shot up. And they're going to continue to put the pressure on this Northwest defense.

Northwest will turn it over on their opening possession of the fourth quarter out on the floor for Waukee Northwest, it's McCann, Janulewicz, Bilic, Vogt and Croatt.

Pass just a little too tall and a little too hard to make that connection.

Here's Kolbe for three. Got it.

Kalb has just been. She just does the little things. We've seen her play several times this year. In the first game, she had ten points, 11 rebounds, three blocks. In the second game here at the tournament, only three points, but eight rebounds, three assists, four steals. So she has that complete game and does whatever her team needs her to do.

So Sadie McCann will toe the line here for Waukee Northwest.

[APPLAUSE]

And the junior able to knock it down. Trying to battle back from a 14 point deficit here.

And one of the ways you can do it get to the free-throw line. So maybe be a little bit more aggressive in how you attack when you're on offense.

Free throw not there. Rebound on the deck. But a foul going to be called here on Waukee Northwest. And I believe that's against Logan Vogt. That'll be her third if it is. And it is.

Northwest going to continue to put this pressure on. And they need to they need to make something happen, see if they can turn the momentum, get a quick steal, a quick bucket, see if they can get themselves back on the right track.

[APPLAUSE]

Johnston trying to shake Lewis free. She'll have it now. Jenica able to go to Phillips still plenty of shot clock. Here's Kinnetz will fire for three. They're all falling.

They are all falling. And what a great sequence that was. That was precision passing by the Dragons.

How about this? After a very cold start for Johnston. They're heating up now. Eight three pointers in the game. Eight of 14 as Croatt able to get the bucket back on this end.

And I think Lewis has made four straight from beyond the arc. So she has one that kind of ignited this team. And shots like that start going in. You know that you're kind of on the road to maybe capturing a third championship.

Unbelievable. Run again their seventh state championship game that they've played in a row for Johnston four and two. Coming into this one tonight as Croatt shot won't go down.

Trying to get her involved, get the ball in her hands a little bit more to see if she can create. They posted her up the last time down the floor. She was able to win that battle and get a couple of points. This time they let her drive, but the defense was right there to greet her.

[APPLAUSE]

Still up top by McCann Sadie tried to spin back and is going to be called for a travel.

Kalb yeah, credit called for all of that. She hustled back. She was able to get herself into position. Good anticipation here to get the steal. But Kalb right there with her the entire way. That length of Kalb caused that turnover.

In coming into this 178 straight games they've won in a row has Johnston the longest active winning streak in the nation. As Ari Phillips now has seven. And Chad Jilek told us, he said, you know, he never expected this run because he goes, we've always tried to schedule up and they've played teams from other states. Nebraska, Minnesota, in fact, beating the third ranked team of big schools in the state of Minnesota, Wayzata, pretty handily earlier this season.

You always want to challenge your teams, and we've seen some schools out of central Iowa go out to some of these other tournaments and play out of state teams, and seems like the Iowa girls do pretty well and hold their own and win more of those games than they lose.

Phillips can't get it. And a foul now on Kalb as McCann had the good box out. In fact, Sports Illustrated, noticing this Johnston team has them ranked third in the nation. As Waukee Northwest goes to their bench. Checking in for the first time, it'll be the freshman Gracie McCann, the younger sister of Sadie. They try to go inside to Danburg and Lewis with a steal out ahead to Kinnetz going to be poked away by McCann.

Good job getting back defensively and getting a hand in the passing lane. If you're going to try to make that bounce pass inside, you've got to be really sure that you have the angle and can get it to your teammate.

Danburg going to take on some contact and will go to the line to shoot two here. 348 to play and an 18 point advantage for Johnston.

That foul on Kinnetz, she's going to go on and play at Missouri Western next year, she said. They stuck with her after the injury. She said a lot of people kind of backed off after she had that knee injury at the end of last summer, and wasn't just all all about basketball. It was more than that that the coaches continued to check on her, see how she was making progress and and she felt like it was a good spot for her because there was more than basketball. It was more. It was all about the people as well.

And rebound belongs to Kalb. You know, for Waukee Northwest as a school, as Chad Jilek is going to take a time-out here. They've been on quite a run to see saw the Parade of Champions earlier. It's been a fun, fun week here at the state basketball tournament, as it always is. And for the players, they're really celebrated as you take a look at the players lounge, the opportunity as you walk out of the court, you have the rolled out pink carpet and then you can just go hang out and actually get to see, feel and touch that trophy. And for a lot of the players that visited the state tournament got a chance to just hang out and chill and just celebrate basketball here in the state of Iowa.

Those are some nice additions that have been in place for the last several years, and I think the players have really embraced them and utilize them. And there's a lot of fun things to do in those lounge areas.

Last year, Chad Jilek won the state championship on his 50th birthday. As and then one here for Ari Phillips. As Johnston is pouring it on now. Croatt picked up the foul her first.

Ari Phillips explosive as she goes to the bucket. Gets that contact able to finish that shot off. 11 points for her now and four rebounds. She's just been so consistent for them entire tournament.

Croatt able to get the rebound. Vana Bilic back into the game, as is Burpo who gets a nice feed into the block, fights through traffic and able to get a basket.

Boy just determined to get that ball up to the rim. Kept the pivot foot down. Had to fight through a double team.

[APPLAUSE]

This is one of two championships we have for you tonight on Iowa PBS. Want to remind you, coming up at 8:00, we've got the three a state title game as Mount Vernon tries to go for back to back titles. They'll be taking on Maquoketa. That game will tip off at eight here on Iowa PBS. Lewis takes the tough jumper but gets it denied by Burpo.

Burpo with a couple of blocks here in this ball game. Doing a great job of just holding down the the middle in the paint, protecting being that back line of defense.

Lewis the step back.

And hit four in a row up until that point.

McCann for three. That's the first. Or make it the second three of the game. For Waukee Northwest.

Yeah, they've just struggled from all aspects on the offense. They just have not been able to get anything going. They defense has made them uncomfortable and they just could not get into their offensive sets.

Northwest surviving to advance here to the state championship as they beat Dowling Catholic in overtime as Andernacht will. Get a bucket here Lewis with the assist.

She just patiently waited as two Waukee defenders flew by her.

Croatt able to get a quick two. Now. Phillips will drive. McCann with the rebound as Waukee Northwest. Had a long run in this calendar year of winning state championships. That shot by Croatt off the mark. Here's Bilic can't get it to fall back. They won every single state championship except for basketball. Last year. And after that mark, they went on to win everything else except girls golf, where they lost by a stroke. But cross country, track and field, tennis, doubles and singles, softball.

Golf.

Volleyball. What a run. The schools had.

They really have. They just in every sport they have built up their programs and they continue to excel.

Lewis with the shot clock winding down just off the mark. And now time going to be called as Sam Powell is trying to empty his bench out. Well, relive the excitement. Share these moments with your family, friends and neighbors. Visit iowapbs.org for archives of high school sports championships. Any time Johnston on the verge of becoming the first school to win three straight state championships in class five, a. As time has also been taken here by Johnston and Chad Jilek.

You won the game. You got it.

There's also going to clear the floor to.

Want to get a chance to get some of the players that are at practice each and every day. Work hard, go up against the starters there. The scout team, a lot of times. But they deserve the opportunity to step foot on a state tournament floor.

Out on the floor for Waukee Northwest Grace McCann, Dylan Peterson, Quinn Jorgensen, Liv Brown and Hadley Gentzler for Johnston and Syndey Felice Hannah Haxton Emma Gray Gray. Shriners and Kira Hood. But Johnston going to bring home another title. And big time fashion Jenica Lewis got him going and they never stopped.

22 point performance out of Lewis seven rebounds as well. And it was just that one shot in the second quarter that kind of got everything going for this team.

Waukee Northwest quickly going to their bench. Gentzler will check out Chloe Moen will be in. As this is going to go to Waukee Northwest. But for Jenica Lewis in her career here in a high school uniform, she said it was a blessing to be able to wear this uniform and did not take it lightly. And leave as the school's all time scorer and no doubt a champion.

Well, we've talked about it. We've seen her grow throughout her career and see the skill set continue to improve and get better, and I think you mentioned it too. She she said it was a blessing and she took it very seriously that she was playing for her high school and wanted to make sure that they could win championships. And they have.

The three off the mark and that's it. Johnston wins the class five AA state championship.

For state.

So the Dragons able to celebrate another championship as they win it 51 to 37 over the Waukee Northwest Wolves here.

And you would think that it's your third one in a row. You might just go, okay, it's another one. They were so excited to win this third championship. It was so loud when that final buzzer went off and they were able to capture number three. And the three peat.

And the T-shirts coming out.

They need to have a whole new drawer in their dresser for their pink T-shirts.

5137 your final. Let's now go to Tom Hammond for the announcement of tonight's post-game awards of the Iowa.

Farm Bureau and members of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Board of directors. Fans, your 2026 class five, a all tournament team. From Johnston Ari Phillips.

[APPLAUSE]

From Waukee Northwest Romey Croatt.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

From Ankeny. Jayla Williams.

[APPLAUSE]

From Dowling Catholic Ellie Mueller.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

From Waukee Northwest Vana. Bilic.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

And your five a all tournament team captain from Johnston Jenica Lewis.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

So that is your all tournament team headlined by the captain, Jenica Lewis.

She almost looked a little surprised when they announced her as the captain of the all tournament team, which I think she was just a little humbled by that and happy to be able to help her team to a third championship.

Well, you've heard of Kaitlin, you've heard of Audie. I think world get ready. You're going to hear of Jenica.

I think she's certainly going to make a name for herself at Notre Dame.

Presenting the award is Taylor Anderson of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. This year's top producer of the class five, a championship game from Johnston Jenica Lewis.

[APPLAUSE]

Ladies and gentlemen, your class five, a runner up are the Wolves from Waukee Northwest and head coach Sam Powell.

[APPLAUSE]

Congratulations on an outstanding season.

[APPLAUSE]

This.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen. The 2026 class five, a state champion. The Dragons from Johnston and head coach Chad Jilek.

So there it is. The Johnston Dragons win yet another state championship third straight title, their fifth overall. And they do it very impressively.

It was impressive. It was a little bit of a slow start, but they got on track and once they did there was no looking back because they just started to roll and Joaquin Northwest great effort out of them, but they just couldn't find ways to handle that defense.

And the final moment they're going to pin it down. As to Jenica Lewis out on the bracket, let's go to Paul Yeager who's standing by. Paul.

All right, a little math here for you. The last time Johnston lost was 1099 days to go. Let's just say they run the table next year. That would be 1464 days, roughly, that they have gone without a loss. Here's the other thing to think about on how powerful what Johnston has just done. There's been plenty of three peats, but there's only been three for Pete's Audubon, Ankeny, and most recently, Dike-new Hartford. Can Johnston do it? Next year? We'll talk about that another time. Let's enjoy three Pete's right now as game one goes to Johnston. 5137 over Waukee Northwest. But guess what? We have more to go. The class three A girls championship tips off in just a few minutes. It's free right here on your statewide network, Iowa PBS and worldwide at Iowa PBS, Maquoketa and Mount Vernon. Coming your way next. Congratulations Johnston so long from Des Moines.

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