High school basketball was the protagonist of the sports calendar as boys and girls teams were tipped for statewide tournaments.
The regional and divisional rounds have recently provided playoff excitement, with plenty of must-see moments on the hardwood.
With more playoff action and title celebrations to come, here are some of our favorite photos taken so far…
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Solon guard Kali Levine (23) shoots the ball during the Class 3A semifinals of the Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Assumption’s Lauren Campisano looks to score as Central’s Diamond Roach and Central’s Amaya Usher guard in the 2023 Seventh Region semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Dallas Center-Grimes forward Emma Miner (50) shoots a 3-pointer over Ballard forward Alliyah Thompson (21) during the Class 4A semifinals of the Iowa girls state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Dallas Center-Grimes senior Finley Fitzgerald (24) returns to celebrate with her teammates after defeating Ballard during the Class 4A semifinals to advance to the championship game of the Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2023 the Mustangs defeated the Boomers, 33-32.
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North Polk guard Lisa Shaffer (11) shoots over Bishop Heelan guard Maddie Demke (1) during the Class 4A semifinals of the Iowa girls state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Bishop Heelan guard Brooklyn Stanley (11) drives to the basket against North Polk guard MaKayla Boatman (4) during the Class 4A semifinals of the Iowa girls basketball state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Sacred Heart’s Angelina Pelayo tries to handle a loose ball by DuPont Manual’s Londyn James and DuPont Manual’s Jakayla Thompson in the 2023 Seventh Region semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Polytech’s Xavier Brewington (left) battles for a rebound with Salesianum’s RJ Johnson in Salesianum’s 72-53 home win in the second round of the DIAA high school state tournament, Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Bishop Heelan seniors Kenley Mays (15), Jada Newberg (23) and junior Brooklyn Stanley (11) react in the final few seconds of the Class 4A semifinals of the Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, March 2 , 2023. The Comets defeated the Crusaders, 53-41.
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Lakeview sophomore Bradyn McGill shoots during a game at Marshall High School on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Jackson vs. Greene Division I Semifinal Game at Alliance High School Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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March 2, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; The Flagstaff Eagles celebrate their 68-65 victory over the Pueblo Warriors for the 4A championship at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
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Marblehead’s Ryan Comos jumps in the air as he looks to pass the ball while being pressed by Pembroke players (from left) Brady Spencer, Joey Dwyer and Andrew Chahead during the MIAA D2 round of 32 basketball at Marblehead High School on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Marblehead defeated Pembroke 60-55.
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The Pima Roughriders hold their trophy after winning the 2a Boys Basketball Championship at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on February 25, 2023 in Phoenix.
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Marblehead’s Isaiah looks to make a pass while being pressured by Pembroke’s Brady Spencer during an MIAA D2 Round of 32 basketball game at Marblehead High School on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Marblehead defeated Pembroke 60-55.
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Independence’s Jett Montgomery (1) runs after Columbia Central’s Caden McCoy (20) during the second quarter at Columbia Central High School in Columbia, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.
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Salesianum’s Justin Hinds drives early in the first half of Salesianum’s 72-53 win at home in the second round of the DIAA high school state tournament, Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Salesianum’s Kareem Thomas completes an alley-oop dunk in the second half of Salesianum’s 72-53 win against Polytech at home in the second round of the DIAA high school state tournament, Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Wausau West High School’s Ayla Christensen (11) goes up for a layup against Hortonville High School during a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023, at SPASH in Stevens Point, Wis. Hortonville won the game 69-41. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Wausau West High School’s Alexis White (22) saves the ball from going out of bounds against Hortonville High School during a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023, at SPASH in Stevens Point, Wis. Hortonville won the game, 69 -41.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Mansfield High’s Duke Reese (0) goes in for a shot against Sandusky High’s Aa’Zorion Bonner (3) during their Division II boys semifinal game at Ashland High School, Thursday, March 2, 2023. TOM E. PUSKAR/NEWSPAPER
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Lexington High School’s Brayden Fogle (2) shoots against Shelby High School’s Bryson Baker (12) during their Division II boys semifinal game at Ashland High School, Thursday, March 2, 2023. TOM E. PUSKAR/NEWS JOURNAL
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The Linden and Paterson East Side high school basketball teams met Thursday evening, March 2, 2023, at the Thomas G. Dunn Sports Center at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth.
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The Linden and Paterson East Side high school basketball teams met Thursday evening, March 2, 2023, at the Thomas G. Dunn Sports Center at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth.
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Sacred Heart’s Trinity Ralston gets help after being fouled by Manual in the 2023 Seventh Region semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Overton Wolverines Xavier Alexander (2) makes a shot against East High Mustangs J. Thompson (23) in the Region 8-4A championship game on March 2, 2023 at Houston High School in Memphis, TN.
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Fox Valley Lutheran High School’s Riley Pink (13) against Green Bay Notre Dame Academy’s Trista Fayta (10) during their WIAA Division 2 girls basketball semifinal game Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Ashwaubenon High School, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Notre Dame beat FVL 72-24.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
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DuPont Manual head coach Ashley Franklin celebrates just as much as her players after DuPont Manual’s Lexi Weaver hits a three-pointer in the first half against Sacred Heart in the 2023 Seventh Region semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Greene’s Nicola Bundalo stretches for a dunk as Jackson’s Owen Wolbert falls behind on the play during a Division I district semifinal at Alliance High School on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Jackson’s Mitch Finefrock (3) and Anthony Fuline (20) celebrate their win over Greene in a Division I boys basketball district semifinal at Alliance High School on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Windsor’s Raegan Johnson (13) dribbles in a girls basketball quarterfinal playoff game against Mead at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday, March 2, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The Wizards won 44-41.
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Oostburg’s Karis Jaeger (10) looks to the basket against Kewaskum at Germantown High School, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Germantown, Wis.
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Alliance’s JR Jackson faces Chaney in a district semifinal on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Boardman High School.
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Cardinal Mooney’s Quentin Hillaker goes for a layup during the Cardinals’ 50-48 loss to Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Cardinal Mooney High School in Marin City on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Windsor’s Sam Darnell (32) shoots for a layup in a girls basketball quarterfinal playoff game against Mead at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. The Wizards won 44-41.
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Windsor’s Sam Darnell (32) makes a free throw in a girls basketball quarterfinal playoff game against Mead at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. The Wizards won 44-41.
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Guards Malia Miller (2), Nautica Washington (4) and Kaelin Johnson (far left) celebrate during a district playoff game against Blue Springs South on March 2, 2023 at Battle High School.
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DuPont Manual’s Sydney Tolbert makes a shot as Sacred Heart’s ZaKiyah Johnson defends in the 2023 Seventh Region semifinal Thursday, March 2, 2023.
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Travis Vasquez (11) of the Deer Valley Skyhawks passes the ball past Elijah Ward (10) of the Peoria Panthers at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 2, 2023.
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The Peoria Panthers celebrate their 4A State Championship victory over the Deer Valley Skyhawks at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 2, 2023.
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Neveah Sandoval (31) of the Pueblo Warriors shoots the ball over Bella Burcar (10) of the Flagstaff Eagles during their 4A Championship game at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 2, 2023.
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The Flagstaff Eagles celebrate their 68-65 win over the Pueblo Warriors for the 4A Championship at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 2, 2023.