Rowan Jacobi posts 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, and the Orioles own a 27-7 first-half rebounding advantage
Jeff Linder
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IOWA CITY — It’s her turn, now.
Rowan Jacobi grew up a fangirl of the Springville girls’ basketball program. When the Orioles were state-tournament regulars from 2015 through 2019, she didn’t miss a game at Wells Fargo Arena.
“I cried when they lost (in the 2015 championship game),” she recalled. And undoubtedly, her mood brightened when things turned out better the next three years.
It’s her turn, now.
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Jacobi was brilliant (again) Wednesday night, posting 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists as seventh-ranked Springville topped No. 14 Sigourney, 65-44, in a Class 1A girls’ basketball regional final at West High School.
“This is for you,” Jacobi pointed toward Springville alum Mikayla Nachazel, a cornerstone in the Orioles’ 2015-18 glory years, which ended with state championships three times.
As for the current team ...
“I’m so excited. This is the biggest dream I’ve ever had,” the University of South Dakota-bound junior said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do forever.
“We all have the same vision, the same idea. We want to leave our own legacy.”
Springville (20-4) advances to the state tournament for the 10th time (all since 2008), its first since 2022.
The Orioles will face No. 3 Newell-Fonda (20-4) in the first round at 6:45 next Wednesday night.
“It’s only been three years, but it’s been a long three years,” Coach Christina Zaruba said. “There was no doubt, if we worked it inside, nobody was going to stop Rowan.”
However, as Jacobi said. “I can’t do it alone.”
She didn’t have to. Renee Brecht added 13 points and seven rebounds. Addison Merritt and Lexi Dietiker scored 10 apiece.
And the Orioles amassed a 43-23 rebounding margin, including a mind-blowing 27-7 in the first half.
“It helped that we were a little bigger,” the 6-foot-2 Jacobi said. “And stronger, honestly.”
Springville led throughout. Brecht scored six of the Orioles’ first eight points, then Jacobi got going and it was 35-23 at halftime.
“I had a lot of adrenaline,” Brecht said. “This is better than anything I’ve ever felt before. Words can’t describe it.”
Sigourney (19-6) got within nine points twice late in the third quarter, but the Orioles scored the final seven points of the period, then pulled away from there.
Freshman Brynn Clarahan led Sigourney with 16 points. McKinley Chittick added 10.
Springville 65, Sigourney 44
Class 1A Regional Final, at Iowa City West
SIGOURNEY (44):
Ava Fisch 2-8 0-0 6, Addy Fineran 0-4 0-0 0, McKinley Chittick 4-12 0-0 10, Brynn Clarahan 6-12 2-2 16, Josephine Moore 3-11 2-2 8, Becca Gretter 1-1 0-0 2, Adalynne Tremmel 0-0 0-0 0, Clara Hanselman 0-0 0-0 0, Ella Bruns 0-0 0-0 0, Charli Smothers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 17-50 4-4 44.
SPRINGVILLE (65): Renee Brecht 5-8 3-4 13, Addison Merritt 2-14 4-4 10, Lexi Dietiker 4-10 0-0 10, Abbi Hoyt 1-3 1-4 3, Rowan Jacobi 10-15 6-7 26, Kalleigh Greene 1-2 0-0 3, Ella Hoge 0-0 0-0 0, Reese Tritle 0-0 0-0 0, Hayden Robertson 0-1 0-0 0, Madison Williams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 14-19 65.
Sigourney 12 11 13 8 — 44
Springville 16 19 17 13 — 65
3-point goals: Sigourney 6-22 (Fisch 2-8, Fineran 0-1, Chittick 2-9, Clarahan 2-4), Springville 5-17 (Merritt 2-9, Dietiker 2-4, Jacobi 0-2, Greene 1-2). Team fouls: Sigourney 15, Springville 7. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Sigourney 23 (Moore 9), Springville 43 (Jacobi 16). Assists: Sigourney 12 (Chittick, Moore 3), Springville 17 (Jacobi 7). Steals: Sigourney 6 (three with 2), Springville 11 (Jacobi 4). Turnovers: Sigourney 18, Springville 16.
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