The high school girls’ basketball playoffs will begin tonight across the state, and some local teams are hoping to earn a victory in the first round. That includes the Highland Huskies, who will host North Cedar this evening in Class 1A Region 7.

Highland has gone 14-6 this season, thanks largely to Sarah Burton. The senior has averaged nearly 16 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots per game to help her team win their most games in a season in five years. The Huskies will be taking on a a North Cedar squad that is 4-18.

The Sigourney Savages are another team in the middle of an excellent season that is looking for a trip to the quarterfinals when they entertain Pekin in Class 1A Region 3. Sigourney is in the middle of a scorching-hot stretch, winning 11 straight games to raise their record to 17-4.

Senior Carly Goodwin has been the Savages’ steady hand at point guard, putting up over 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals a game, while junior forward Josephine Moore has been a force down low by averaging almost 10 points and nine boards per contest. Sigourney will look to power past a Pekin sqaud that is 6-14.

The Keota Eagles will also look for a first-round victory when they travel to take on a conference rival in English Valleys in 1A Region 8. Despite a loss their last time out and a 6-13 overall record, Keota is starting to find its footing, winning five of their last nine games. While junior Kimberly Clarahan and freshman Emily Conger have led the scoring attack, defense has been the name of the game for the Eagles, allowing less than 48 points per game to their opponents.

Keota will be trying to avenge a pair of losses from earlier this season to English Valleys, who comes in at 13-8. The last of those was a just a three-point defeat where the Eagles nearly came back in the fourth quarter, but the Bears would ultimately hang on to win 43-40 back on January 23rd. All first-round playoff girls’ basketball games will tip off tonight at 7 o’clock.