T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - The West Marshall girls’ basketball team poses with its state qualifier banner after beating fourth-ranked Forest City 51-48 in the Class 3A Region 3 final on Feb. 22 in Forest City. The Trojans are making their second trip to state in the last three years, facing No. 1 Mount Vernon on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

STATE CENTER — The underdog role suits West Marshall girls basketball just fine lately.

After an upset of fourth-ranked Forest City to reach the IGHSAU 3A state tournament, the unranked Trojans go from frying pan to fire as top-rated Mount Vernon awaits in a 3A quarterfinal scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

For West Marshall’s four senior starters — Bella Borgos, Avery Evertsen, Natalie Nichols and Lily Zahnd — it’s a chance to keep proving the rankings wrong.

“We have nothing to lose,” Zahnd said. “We have to just play as hard as we can, have really good defense and offense and make sure the team chemistry is really strong.”

Mount Vernon is the favored horse in the 3A race, returning to “The Well” after reaching the semifinals last year. Four starters return for the Mustangs, led by 6-foot-3 senior Chloe Meester, an all-tournament team pick last year and averaging nearly 15 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Meester is one of four Mustangs averaging double figures in scoring — Sydney Huber leads the way at 15.2 points per game.

The Mustangs’ only loss came by a 66-54 margin to 5A state qualifier Cedar Rapids Prairie on Dec. 3, 2024; they’ve won 22 games in a row since then and average a 3A-best 66.1 points per game while also boasting a top-10 defense at 37 points per game.

“They’re a very solid team,” West Marshall head coach Cody Hackett said. “You can’t really hone in on one or two shooters. We have to take away as many strengths as they have, make some huge stops and grab the defensive rebound to keep them from having second and third opportunities. They’re quick, they’re fast, they do everything really well, so we’ll have to create some chaos.”

West Marshall’s defense is no slouch, averaging just above 37 points allowed per game this season to rank 10th out of 3A teams. The Trojans snag 15.3 steals per game and the rebounding effort, led by Zahnd (10.6 rebounds per game) and Evertsen (5.7) limit second chances for the opposition; six Trojans average at least three rebounds per game.

“Our coaches have really helped with that,” Evertsen said. “Bob Tollefson does a big amount of scouting on the other team so we can play against our JV girls in practice so we can see their plays, and we just continue to talk on defense and look for those passes on offense.”

Borgos, a second-team all-state pick last season as a junior, puts up 19.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game for the Trojans this year. Zahnd adds 11.3 points per game — both were starters for West Marshall the last time the Trojans made the state tournament in 2023.

“I know there will be nerves with the girls that didn’t play the last time we were there,” Borgos said. “But as a senior leader I try to tell them it’s another game, there’s nothing to be nervous about. Have confidence in yourself, we all have confidence in each other.

“Our energy on and off the court as a team has been extremely high lately. We just want to get better and keep pushing each other as far as we can. That’s what it takes to be great, and we just keep on doing it.”

Halle Jones, a junior and the only non-senior of the starting five, credits the seniors with setting the tone.

“They’re really supportive of us, have lots of confidence and contribute a ton,” Jones said. “We all play our role, play our part really well. … We’ve got to really want this, buy into it, and then when we get to the game, let the nerves out, play hard like we can, make our shots, get back on defense, all the little things that we do.”

The seniors are relishing the chance few teams get to keep practicing and playing together as the calendar flips to March.

“We’re just a big family, and I really don’t want basketball to be over,” Evertsen said. “I don’t want it to end.”

The winner of Monday’s game will take on either 2024 runner-up Estherville-Lincoln Central or Cherokee in the semifinals on Thursday, March 6. Dubuque Wahlert and Spirit Lake compete in the other 3A semifinal on Monday, with Williamsburg and Des Moines Christian rounding out 3A competition on Tuesday morning. The Class 3A championship is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, March 7.

“The girls are excited,” Hackett said. “They earned it, we got here. Now let’s see what we can do with it and go down to Wells and give it everything we have.”

Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament

At Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines

Quarterfinal Pairings

CLASS 5A

Monday, March 3

No. 1 Johnston (23-0) vs. No. 8 Iowa City Liberty (17-6), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (16-7) vs. No. 5 Pleasant Valley (19-4), 11:45 a.m.

No. 2 Dowling Catholic (20-3) vs. No. 7 Davenport North (19-4), 1:30 p.m.

No. 3 Waukee Northwest (18-4) vs. No. 6 Cedar Rapids Prairie (20-4), 3:15 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Monday, March 3

No. 1 Mount Vernon (23-1) vs. No. 8 West Marshall (19-5), 5 p.m.

No. 4 Cherokee (21-3) vs. No. 5 Estherville-Lincoln Central (20-3), 6:45 p.m.

No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert (19-4) vs. No. 7 Spirit Lake (17-7), 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 4

No. 3 Williamsburg (23-2) vs. No. 6 Des Moines Christian (21-3), 10 a.m.

CLASS 4A

Tuesday, March 4

No. 1 Sioux City Heelan (21-2) vs. No. 8 Cedar Rapids Xavier (19-4), 11:45 a.m.

No. 4 Norwalk (22-1) vs. No. 5 Central DeWitt (20-4), 1:30 p.m.

No. 2 North Polk (22-2) vs. No. 7 Sioux Center (21-2), 3:15 p.m.

No. 3 Maquoketa (21-2) vs. No. 6 Dallas Center-Grimes (19-4), 5 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Tuesday, March 4

No. 1 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (24-0) vs. No. 8 Treynor (21-3), 6:45 p.m.

No. 4 North Mahaska (22-2) vs. No. 5 Central Lyon (19-4), 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 5

No. 2 Iowa City Regina (23-1) vs. No. 7 Maquoketa Valley (23-2), 10 a.m.

No. 3 Hinton (23-0) vs. No. 6 Rock Valley (20-3), 11:45 a.m.

CLASS 1A

Wednesday, March 5

No. 1 Council Bluffs St. Albert (22-1) vs. No. 8 Dunkerton (17-7), 1:30 p.m.

No. 4 Algona Garrigan (22-3) vs. No. 5 Montezuma (19-5), 3:15 p.m.

No. 2 North Linn (23-1) vs. No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (21-3), 5 p.m.

No. 3 Newell-Fonda (20-4) vs. No. 6 Springville (20-4), 6:45 p.m.