Ever since the final whistle of last year’s Class 1A girls state tournament, talk of a rematch has been lingering.

The top-ranked Bishop Garrigan girls and No. 2 Newell-Fonda met for the state championship last March. The two programs appear to be on another collision course, and both play in Class 1A regional championships on Wednesday.

Garrigan (22-1 overall) will face BCLUW (15-9) in Mason City in a Region 1 matchup. Newell-Fonda (22-1) takes on CAM (17-6) at Greene County High School for a Region 2 title.

Tip is set for 7 p.m. at both sites.

In the 2020 final, the Golden Bears held a 54-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Mustangs out scored Garrigan 25-9 in the final frame for a 65-63 win.

Newell-Fonda has only one loss this season, reeling off 18 straight games since losing to the Golden Bears in the fifth game of the year, 66-45.

The Mustangs are led by four players in double figures. Senior Bailey Sievers is averaging 13.7, while junior Macy Sievers (13.0), seniors Maggie Walker and Ella Larsen (both 12.2) are right behind.

For CAM, freshman Eva Steffesen is scoring 10.9 per game.

Garrigan’s only loss is to 10th-ranked (Class 5A) West Des Moines Valley, 58-54, in the last game of the regular season.

The Golden Bears are led by the all-state sophomore duo of Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce. Crooks, who set the state’s all-time scoring record for a freshman, is averaging a double-double with 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Joyce is scoring at an 18.5 clip. Senior Kaylyn Meyers — a Grand View University recruit — is averaging 10.7.

The Comets have won four straight and are led by Allison Engle (16.0) and Chloe Walters (14.4).

Meanwhile, Emmetsburg (15-8) will face Rock Valley (15-9) in a Class 2A, region 7 championship.

The contest will be at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

The E-Hawks have won three straight and six of their last seven.

Senior Abby Schany is averaging 15.8 points. Senior Maddie Muller is scoring at a 10.8 clip.

The Rockets are on a five-game win streak. Rock Valley is led by senior Abby Heemstra at 16.6 points per contest, and classmate Lexie VanKekerix (16.5).