Lansing Kee Upsets Springville in Class 1A Girls Basketball Regional Final

Manchester, Iowa – In a stunning upset that reverberates through Iowa’s high school basketball landscape, the Lansing Kee Hawks defeated the heavily favored Springville Orioles 55-43 in a Class 1A regional final held Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at West Delaware High School. The victory sends Lansing Kee to the state tournament for the first time since 2018, and only the third time in the program’s history.

The fifteenth-ranked Hawks overcame the fourth-ranked Orioles, a team led by Rowan Jacobi, a highly recruited senior committed to South Dakota. Jacobi, who concluded her prep career with over 2,100 points and 1,100 rebounds, was unable to prevent the determined Lansing Kee squad from securing their place at the state level.

Lansing Kee coach Ben Wagner anticipated this potential for success. “Started right from the season, just preparing for this moment,” Wagner stated after the game. He emphasized the team’s rigorous schedule, which included competition against larger schools – 4A, 3A, and schools from the Northeast Iowa Conference – as crucial preparation for the postseason. “I kept telling the girls it was going to pay off in the end and it did.”

The win marks a significant achievement for Lansing Kee, a smaller school that has consistently strived for state-level recognition. The Hawks’ success is particularly notable given the strength of their regional opponents and the pressure associated with facing a team boasting a star player like Jacobi.

The Orioles entered the game with a strong record of 23-2, but were ultimately unable to withstand Lansing Kee’s focused performance. The Hawks’ defensive strategy proved effective in containing Jacobi and disrupting Springville’s offensive flow. Details of that strategy were not disclosed, but the result speaks for itself.

Lansing Kee’s junior player, Rylee Mudderman, echoed Wagner’s sentiment, highlighting the team’s focused mindset. “Just playing our game, having a positive mindset,” Mudderman said. “This was our goal, so now we are going to take it a step further. We’ve been saying, ‘One step at a time.’ Once we got there, now we have got to do it again.”

The Hawks (17-7) will now face the top-seeded Algona Garrigan (22-2) in the Class 1A state quarterfinals on March 4 at Casey’s Center in Des Moines. The game is scheduled for a 1:30 PM start. This matchup presents a new challenge for Lansing Kee, as they prepare to compete against another highly ranked team in the state tournament.

The upset victory is a testament to the dedication and preparation of the Lansing Kee team, and a reminder that in high school basketball, rankings and pre-season expectations do not always determine the outcome. The Hawks’ journey to the state tournament is a story of perseverance and a collective belief in their ability to overcome obstacles.

For Springville, the loss marks the end of a successful season, but also the conclusion of Rowan Jacobi’s impressive high school career. Her future at South Dakota appears bright, but her final game as an Oriole will be remembered as a night where Lansing Kee’s collective effort proved too strong.

The Class 1A state tournament promises to be a competitive event, and Lansing Kee’s unexpected run adds an intriguing dynamic to the bracket. Their ability to continue defying expectations will be closely watched as they navigate the challenges ahead.