DES MOINES, Iowa — Shades of Deb Remmerde.
Rock Valley won three consecutive state championships behind Remmerde’s sensational shooting in the early 2000s. The Rockets now have their first title since those days, also because they can shoot it.
Haevyn Ranschau and her teammates knocked down 3-point shots in record numbers and beat defending champion Hinton 67-57 to win the Class 2A title.
Ranschau hit nine 3s, the most ever in a state tournament game in any class and finished with 29 points. The Rockets connected 14 times in all from distance, breaking the 2A record of 11 that Woodbury Central set against Hudson in 2024.
And the records just kept coming. Ranschau connected on 15 triples during the tournament, topping the previous 2A record of 14 by Central Lyon’s Addison Klosterbuer in 2023. Rock Valley’s 26 treys as a team also are a record in 2A, beating the 22 that Western Christian made in 2013.
Three players combined for all of the long-distance makes as Rock Valley topped off a 25-2 season by avenging a 62-55 regular-season loss to Hinton on Feb. 5. Ranschau’s sister Hudsyn made three triples en route to 18 points and Caydence Harmsen connected twice from deep while scoring 14 points. A sophomore, Harmsen also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists.
All three made the all-tournament team, with Haevyn Ranschau as the captain.
Hinton had come in with 20 straight victories and led for a stretch in the first half but in the end, had no answer for the Rockets’ long-range accuracy. Sydney Doeschot led the Blackhawks (22-2) with 19 points, Keely Derochie added 11 and Raelyn Kempema scored nine. Karlyn Kovarna contributed eight points to go with 10 rebounds.
After the two nearby rivals — the towns are only 48 miles apart — went back and forth through six lead changes, Rock Valley went ahead to stay at 32-30 on Hudsyn Ranschau’s two free throws just before halftime. She converted an old-time three-point play to start the second half, edging the lead to 35-30, and the Rockets usually everything Hinton did from then on, usually by burying another 3-pointer.
The back-breaker came in the fourth quarter with Rock Valley ahead 52-45. Hudsyn Ranschau missed a 3-point shot, but Harmsen ran down the rebound and got the ball to Haevyn Ranschau on the left wing. Haevyn didn’t miss and the lead grew to 55-45 with 5:55 left.
After Harmsen made the team’s final trey with 3:33 remaining, the Rockets wrapped up their title by making nine of 12 free throws.
Remmerde, an IGHSAU Hall of Famer and one the best shooters ever to step on a court in Iowa, led Rock Valley to championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. To complete the connection, this Rock Valley team also has a Remmede, Deb’s niece Eva. Eva played 16 minutes and pulled down three rebounds.
Doeschot also was selected for the all-tournament team, along with Channing Johnson of Denver and Addison Mauer of Treynor.
