The 2022 Your Prep Sports Area Girls Basketball Team
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The Your Prep Sports girls basketball team honors eight of the top players in the area for their performance on the court this season.
This year’s edition of the Your Prep Sports all-area squad features all-state and all-conference performers, Division I recruits, state tournament qualifiers and 1,000-point scorers.
There are three repeat selections on the 2022 squad with City High junior Kelsey Joens, City High senior Eviyon Richardson and Solon sophomore Callie Levin all making their second consecutive appearance.
Joens is the captain of the 2022 squad after ranking third in Class 5A in scoring at 21.3 points per game while leading City High to the 5A state tournament.
2022 Your Prep Sports Area Girls Basketball Team
*Kelsey Joens
5-10, Jr., City High
Already widely considered one of the top scorers in the state Joens took her game to another level as a junior.
After ranking eighth in Class 5A in scoring last season Joens ranked third in 5A in points per game this season averaging a career-high 21.3 per game.
The 5-foot-10 guard also averaged 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game while earning first-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
Joens scored in double figures in all but one on game this season and has scored in double figures in 38-of-39 games over the past two seasons.
The Iowa State commit had 14 games with 20 or more points and had at least 30 three times this season.
Joens didn’t just up her production she was more efficient this season shooting career highs from the floor (43%), three-point range (35%) and the free throw line (81%).
Meena Tate
5-10, Jr., West High
After a strong finish to a solid sophomore season Tate made the jump into the state’s elite as a junior leading West High in scoring, assists and steals while earning all-state honors for the first time.
Tate led West High with 15 points, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game while helping the Trojans to a 19-4 record and a spot in the 5A regional finals.
A second-team all-state selection by both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Tate shot 47 percent from the floor, including 33 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
Tate had seven games with at least 20 points and scored in double figures in all but four games this season for the Trojans.
Jasmine Barney
5-8, Jr., Liberty High
In her first season at Liberty High Barney played a key role in leading the Lightning to the best season in program history.
Barney led Liberty High in scoring (18.4), rebounds (6.9), assists (4.5) and steals (2.8) as the Lightning set program records for total wins and conference wins and won the first postseason game in history.
The 5-foot-8 guard was among the most productive players in the state this season which earned her first-team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
Barney was one of only three in the state and the lone player in Class 5A to average at least 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
She scored in double figures in 21 of 23 games, had 20 or more points 13 times and had four double-doubles, three with points and rebounds and one with points and assists.
Callie Levin
5-9, Soph., Solon
After quickly establishing herself as one of the best players in the state with a standout freshman season Levin was even better as a sophomore.
The Iowa commit averaged career highs in points, assists and steals this season while raising her three-point and free throw percentage from a year ago.
Levin led the Spartans with 21 points, 4.3 steals and 4.2 assists per game and was one of only two players in the state to average at least 21 points, four steals and four assists per game.
A 5-foot-9 point guard, Levin shot 44 percent from the field including 37 percent from three-point range.
Levin shot 78 percent from the free throw line while ranking in the top 12 in Class 4A in both free throw attempts (122) and makes (95).
The WAMAC East Division player of the year for the second year in a row, Levin was a first-team all-state selection from both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
Delaynie Luneckas
6-2, Sr., West Branch
A breakout star a season ago Luneckas cemented her status as one of the most productive post players in the entire state with a stellar senior season.
The 6-foot-2 Luneckas ranked in the top 13 in the state in both rebounds and blocked shots while averaging a career-high 13.7 points per game to help West Branch to a 15-8 record.
One of only four players in the state to average 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game Luneckas ranked 13th in the state with 12 rebounds per game and was third state-wide with 4.4 blocks per game and was second among 2A players in both categories.
An impact player on both ends of the floor, Luneckas shot 47 percent from the field while ranking second on the team in soring and led the Bears with 3.3 assists per game from her front court spot.
A Minnesota State recruit, Luneckas earned second-team Class 2A all-state honors from both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
Grace Gaarde
5-3, Jr., Regina
The engine that made it all go for Regina, Gaarde was the centerpiece in a resurgent season for the Regals.
Gaarde led Regina in scoring, assists and steals while helping the Regals to a 20-5 record, a River Valley Conference South Division title and their first state tournament appearance since 2018.
The junior point guard scored a team-high 11.1 points per game but was at her best as a facilitator and floor general.
Gaarde ranked 13th in the state and second in Class 2A with 5.4 assists per game on her way to earning third-team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
A tireless defender, Gaarde averaged 3.1 steals per game as Regina held opponents to 36.2 points per game.
Ava Locklear
5-10, Soph., Clear Creek Amana
Locklear emerged as one of the top young post players in the state with a breakthrough sophomore season in which she led the Clippers in scoring and ranked in the top 12 in Class 4A in rebounds and blocked shot.
An imposing presence on both ends of the court, Locklear averaged 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game on her way to earning third-team Class 4A all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
Locklear ranked sixth in 4A in rebounds and 11th in blocked shots and was one of only three players in 4A to average 14 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block per game.
A versatile scorer Locklear shot 51 percent from the floor and 63 percent from the free throw line while leading the Clippers in free throw attempts and makes.
Locklear had double-doubles in eight of the final 16 games as Clear Creek Amana went 13-3 in that stretch and was at her best at the end of the season averaging 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game over the last four.
Eviyon Richardson
5-11, Sr., City High
One of the most productive players in Class 5A over the past two seasons Richardson closed her career with her best season as a prep.
Richardson averaged a career-highs in points, rebounds and assists while earning third-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
The Omaha recruit scored in double figures 20 times while averaging 14.9 points on 43 percent shooting from the floor.
Richardson led City High in rebounds (8) and assists (3.2) to go with 1.2 steals per game and had five double-doubles on the season.
The senior forward shot 37 percent from beyond the three-point line and 80 percent from the free throw line.
*– Team Captain
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