Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Bill McTaggart (19th season, 422-175)

Last season: 22-2 (Class 5A State Tournament)

Returning starters: Ashley Joens, 5-11, Sr., G; Aubrey Joens, 5-9, Soph., G; Rose Nkumu, 5-8, Soph., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Samantha Greving, 5-11, Soph., P; Paige Rocca, 5-8, Soph., G.

Newcomers to watch: Ella Cook, 5-9, Fr., F; Ayana Linsey, 5-7, Fr. G.

Headliner: Iowa State signee Ashley Joens is a three-time all-state pick and the 19th ranked senior in the country by ESPN Hoop Gurlz.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Aubrey Joens has already picked up an Iowa State offer after averaging 12.1 points and five rebounds a game as a freshman.

Circle the date: December 12 vs. West High. The Little Hawks get early tests facing two of the three teams ranked above them to start the season in a span of four days travelling to top-ranked Cedar Falls on Dec. 8 and hosting the third-ranked Trojans the following Tuesday. 

What to watch: City High took a big step last season returning to the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since 2014. With three starters returning led by all-state senior Ashley Joens the Little Hawks are looking to push it a few steps further this spring.

Ashley Joens ranked second in Class 5A in both scoring (21.1) and rebounds (10.3) and leads a list of talented returners that includes sophomores Aubrey Joens and Rose Nkumu.

Aubrey Joens was second on the team with 12.1 points and five rebounds per game while Nkumu averaged 8.4 points and three assists per game.

West High

Coach: BJ Mayer (20th season, 303-146)

Last season: 21-4 (Class 5A state semifinals)

Returning starters: Logan Cook, 6-1, Sr., F; Rachael Saunders, 5-9, Sr., G; Emma Koch, 5-11, Jr., F; Lauren Zacharias, 5-5, Jr., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Cailyn Morgan, 5-10, Jr., G; Paige Beckner, 6-1, Sr., F.

Newcomers to watch: Carrie Callahan, 5-9, Sr.; Sydney Allen, 5-11, Jr.; Audrey Koch, 5-10, Fr.; Matayia Tellis, 5-5, Fr.

Headliner: Iowa signee Logan Cook is coming of a breakthrough junior season when she averaged 15 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Keep an eye on: Creighton recruit Rachael Saunders is one of the top playmakers in the state and will try to work her way back to full strength after tearing her ACL in the state tournament last March.

Circle the date: January 26 vs. Cedar Falls. The home meeting with the preseason top-ranked Tigers caps a three-game string that includes a road game at defending champion West Des Moines Valley and a home contest with cross-town rival City High. 

What to watch: West High reached the Class 5A semifinals last March, falling to eventual champion West Des Moines Dowling.

With four starters returning and a roster with three division I recruits the Women of Troy are looking for more than just a return trip to Des Moines this season.

Seniors Logan Cook (15 ppg) and Rachael Saunders (12.4 ppg) return along with juniors Emma Koch (7.3 pgg) and Lauren Zacharias (7.5 ppg) as five of West High’s top six scorers from last season return.

Junior Northern Iowa commit Cailyn Morgan and senior Pagie Beckner also return after providing key contributions off the bench last year.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: PJ Sweeney (4th season)

Last season: 13-10

Returning starters: Karsyn Stratton, 5-8, Soph., G; Meagan Harvey, 5-9, Soph. F/C.

Other returning letterwinners: Lydia Banwart, 5-7, Jr., G; Jordan Neely, 5-5, Jr., G; Katie Pitlick, 5-8, Jr., F; Andrea Roller, 5-8, Sr., F; Ainsley Schrock, 5-10, Soph., C; Elizabeth Sweeney, 5-8, Sr., F.

Others to watch: Olivia Fairholm, 5-5, Sr., G; Madelynn Langridge, 5-7, Sr., F; Allison Pettinger, 5-7, Sr., F; Allison Rummelhart, 5-4, Soph., G.

Headliner: Karsyn Stratton was one of the top freshman in Class 4A last season when she averaged 16 points and six rebounds per game.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Meagan Harvey is a candidate for a breakthrough season after averaging 5.7 points and 5 rebounds per game as a freshman.

Circle the date: December 5 vs. Benton Community. The first WAMAC West Division contest of the season for the Clippers comes at home against a Benton Community squad that Clear Creek Amana defeated twice last season.

What to watch: The Clippers jumped from eight wins in 2015-2016 to 13 wins last year and will look to add to that total this winter.

Only two starters return from last year’s 13-10 squad but they are both pieces the Clippers can build around in sophomores Karsyn Stratton and Meagan Harvey.

Stratton had a strong freshman season leading the Clippers in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounding (6) while Harvey averaged 5.7 points and was second on the team with five rebounds per game.

The Clippers will need juniors like Jordan Neely (2.1 ppg) to step up after seeing limited playing time a year ago.

Solon

Coach: Lisa Bishop (3rd season, 22-24)

Last season: 8-14

Returning starters: Brianna Smith, 5-6, Sr., G; Gabby Marty, 5-10, Jr., C.

Other returning letterwinners: Saige Haurer, 5-9, Jr., F; Abby Smith, 5-9, Jr., F; Erin Kerkhoff, 5-7, Jr., G; Taylor Ryan, 5-2, Jr., G.

Newcomers to watch: Jenna LaDage, 5-9, Soph., G.

Headliner: Senior guard Brianna Smith is the top returning scorer for the Spartans after averaging 5.8 points per game last season.

Keep an eye on: Junior center Gabby Marty led Solon in rebounding and field goal percentage in a reserve role last season and should be a bigger part of the plan this year.

Circle the date: January 12 vs. Mount Vernon. The Spartans host the first of two meetings with Highway 1 and WAMAC East rival Mount Vernon.

What to watch: Solon loses its top scorer from last season in departed senior Josie Durr but bring back a pair of starters in Marty and Smith and a group of four juniors with extensive experience.

Smith (5.8 ppg) and Marty (4.2 ppg) will both need to be bigger parts of the scoring for the Spartans which will look to play a quicker tempo this fall.

Juniors Taylor Ryan (3.1 ppg), Abby Smith, Erin Kerkhoff and Saige Haurer should all have chances to step into larger roles.

Regina

Coach: Jeff Wallace (8th season, 145-31)

Last season: 26-1 (Class 1A State Semifinals)

Returning starters: Alex Wiese, 6-0, Jr., P; Mary Crompton, 5-8, Sr., G; Kennedy Wallace, 5-8, Jr., G; Greyson Dumont, 5-8, Sr. PG.

Other returning letterwinners: Alexa Lehman, 5-10, Sr., F; Lauren Gaarde, 5-4, Sr., G; Katie Dunn, 5-11, Sr., P.

Newcomers to watch: Anna Martin, 5-10, Jr., F; Elly Gahan, 5-10, Soph., F; Maeve Dunne, 5-5, Jr., G; Jaedynn Evans 5-9, Jr. F.

Headliner: Illinois State signee Mary Crompton is one of the top shooters in the state and ranks among the best players in Class 2A.

Keep an eye on: Junior Alex Wiese averaged 15.7 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game last season in her first year in a Regina uniform.

Circle the date: January 20. The Regals host Class 5A power City High in a classic big school vs. small school showdown of preseason top four teams.

What to watch: After having unbeaten seasons end in the state semifinals each of the past two seasons the Regals have an eye on a state title run this March.

The Regals return the firepower for another postseason push led by Crompton, Wiese and a veteran backcourt.

Crompton is the headline, a three-time all-state pick with more than 1,000 career points but will have plenty of help from Wiese and an experienced group of guards that includes returning starters Greyson Dumont (4.8 assists) and Kennedy Wallace (7.2 points).

West Branch

Coach: Jarod Tylee (7th season, 97-43)

Last season: 14-9

Returning starters: Tatum Koenig, 5-6, Sr., G; Abbey Fryauf, 5-11, Jr., C.

Other returning letterwinners: Riley Vaughan, 5-4, Jr., G; Mackenzie Heise, 5-8, Soph., F; Bridget Buol, 5-11, Sr., F; Taylor Thein, 5-5, Soph., G; Maddie Luneckas, 5-9, Sr., C.

Newcomers to watch: Kaiya Luneckas, 5-11, Soph., F/C; Sasha Koenig, Fr, G; Taya Young, Fr., G/F.

Headliner: Bradley recruit Tatum Koenig averaged 20 points per game last season and needs 55 points to become the all-time leading scorer in West Branch history.

Keep an eye on: Junior Abbey Fryauf will look to take a major step forward after ranking second on the team in rebounding and leading the Bears in blocks last year.

Circle the date: December 15 vs. Regina. The Bears get an early test when preseason No. 2 Regina comes to West Branch for a pre-holiday break RVC South showdown.

What to watch: West Branch has holes to plug in the backcourt with the graduation of Haley Mullinnix and Paige Miller but brings back one of the top players in 2A in Koenig.

The 5-foot-6 Koenig led the Bears in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists last season on her way to all-state honors.

Fryauf and sophomore Mackenzie Heise return with experience in the post and West Branch expects to get a significant boost from freshman guard Sasha Koenig.