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DES MOINES — She was a top contender anyway.
But Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Libby Fandel may have played herself into the role of favorite for Miss Iowa Basketball 2025 this week.
Sportswriters and coaches will gather at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday to select Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state girls’ basketball teams.
Only seniors are eligible for Miss Iowa Basketball.
Fandel has been fantastic this week at Wells Fargo Arena.
In the Saints’ Class 4A quarterfinal win over top-ranked Sioux City Heelan, she posted 37 points and an all-time single-game tournament-record 25 rebounds.
She followed that with 21 points (17 in the second half), 14 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and three blocks in the semifinal win over Norwalk on Thursday.
Bound for the University of Kansas, Fandel is averaging 25.9 points and 10.5 rebounds this season, and has scored 1,959 in her career.
Xavier (21-4) faces North Polk (24-2) for the 4A championship at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.
Other contenders for the award include the following:
Haylee Stokes, Estherville-Lincoln Central — Has scored more than 2,000 points in her career. Led the Midgets to four state-tournament appearances, including a 3A title in 2022. Averaged 23.9 points, 6.1 assists and 5.0 steals this season. Will play at Minnesota State University.
Abby Zediker, West Des Moines Dowling — Creighton recruit averages 18.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Has been a part of four state-tournament teams. Maroons were Class 5A runners-up last year and face Johnston for the title tonight.
Amani Jenkins, Johnston — The lone senior starter for the Dragons, who take a 51-game win streak into tonight 5A final vs. Dowling. Averaging 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Signed with Virginia Tech.
Journey Houston and Divine Bourrage, Davenport North — Houston (20.0 points, 7.6 rebounds per game) has signed with Iowa, Bourrage (18.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 5.8 apg) with LSU.
Quinn Vice, Pleasant Valley — A member of four state-tournament teams. The Drake recruit averaged 18.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season.
You could classify Eryn Jackson has a role player.
But the senior from Mount Vernon has been a common denominator for the success of several of the Mustangs’ girls sports.
Jackson is in the midst of her ninth state-tournament experience of her high-school career.
She was a late-season call-up for the varsity softball roster as an eighth-grader. That 2021 team won the Class 3A state championship.
A valuable back-row piece for four state-volleyball teams, Jackson was the libero last fall as the Mustangs swept their way to the 3A title.
In basketball (two state tournaments, including a championship date with Dubuque Wahlert tonight), she is the first backcourt player off the bench. She nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the Mustangs’ quarterfinal win over West Marshall.
She has played in two state tournaments for the combined Lisbon/Mount Vernon golf squad.
Jackson will play volleyball at Mount Mercy University.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
