Results from IGHSAU State Basketball Championships

The 2025-26 girls basketball season came to an end Saturday with the conclusion of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Tournament at Casey’s Center in Des Moines. Four brand new state champions were crowned, while Johnston retained its title in Class 5A for the third straight season.

The No. 1 seed Dragons were able to hold off No. 3 seed Waukee Northwest in the title game. Johnston pulled away for a 51-37 victory.

The Huskies prevented a state title rematch between Johnston and Dowling Catholic by avenging their own loss to the Maroons last season’s semifinals with a 56-50 win. They beat Iowa City West 80-49 in the quarterfinals while Johnston defeated No. 8 seed Ankeny Centennial and No. 5 seed Ankeny to reach the title game.

The most wild finish of the tournament came in the Class 4A semifinals between No. 2 seed Dallas Center-Grimes and No. 3 seed Norwalk. Down four points with 35 seconds left DSG’s Ava Smid scored six straight points, including two of off steals to snatch a 44-42 lead that the Mustangs would hang on to, eventually winning 47-42.

DSG wasn’t able to sustain that magic in the title game, however. The Mustangs were beaten 38-36 by No. 5 seed Carlisle, which went on a Cinderella run with wins over No. 4 seed Clear Creek Amana in the quarterfinals and No. 1 seed Bishop Heelan in the semifinals. The Wildcats victory marks their first ever girls basketball state title.

While Johnston was able to retain its title in 5A, No. 1 seed Mount Vernon didn’t have the same fortune in the 3A tournament. After nearly falling to Mid-Prairie in the 3A Region 3 title game, the Mustangs got through their first two matchups at state, beating No. 8 seed Cherokee Washington and No. 4 Wahlert Catholic to reach the final.

That’s where Mount Vernon matched up with a mighty No. 2 seed Maquoketa team that breezed past No. 7 seed Mediapolis in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Des Moines Christian in the semis. After falling in the first round of the 4A tournament last season, the Cardinals captured a title in 3A with a 59-42 win.

Rock Valley had to sweat out a three-point win over No. 6 seed Treynor in the Class 2A semifinals. But the No. 2 seed Rockets kept their eyes on the prize and outscored No. 1 seed Hinton 21-17 in the fourth quarter to capture a state title. Rock Valley’s victory avenged a loss in the quarterfinals of last year’s tournament, which Hinton went on to win.

Newell-Fonda had reached the 1A state championship game in each of the last three seasons, and came up short to different opponents all three times. In 2026, the Mustangs finally got over the hump. The No. 2 seed this season, Newell-Fonda avenged its 2025 title game loss to St. Albert by beating it in the semifinals. The Mustangs then beat No. 1 seed Bishop Garrigan — their opponent in the 2023 state championship — 64-56 to achieve a coveted state title.