Girls Basketball Capsules: Taking a Quick Look at Area Girls Basketball Teams
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
City High
Coach: Lynsey Barnard (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Mickey Hansche, Paul Roesler, Sydney Schoder, Andie Westlake, Phil Lala
Last season: 19-5 (Class 5A state quarterfinal)
Returning starters: Emmy McComas, 5-11, Soph.
Other returning letterwinners: Lauren Koch, 5-11, Sr.; Mia Driscoll, 5-6, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Tessa Driscoll, 5-6, Fr.; Augie Palmer, 5-10, Soph.
Top returning scorers: Emmy McComas 3.4; Lauren Koch 1
Top returning rebounders: Emmy McComas 3.2; Lauren Koch 1.7
Headliner: Sophomore Emmy McComas is an excellent all-around athlete and will look to shoulder more the scoring duties for City High as the Little Hawks must replace the top five scorers from a year ago. McComas averaged 3.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as a freshman
Keep an eye on: Augie Palmer should add production and experience to an inexperienced City High roster after transferring from West Branch. Palmer averaged 14.8 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game a year ago as a freshman at West Branch.
Circle the date: December 2 against Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Lynsey Barnard era officially opens at City High at home against a Cedar Rapids Jefferson squad that was 6-16 last season
Breakdown: With former City High assistant coach Barnard taking over for long-time coach Bill McTaggart and with six of the top seven scorers from last season’s roster gone it will be a new-look City High program.
McComas and senior Lauren Koch headline the list of returners along with senior guard Mia Driscoll.
Palmer should team with McComas to give the Little Hawks some backcourt scoring punch while freshman Tessa Driscoll will be another backcourt weapon.
The Little Hawks will look to build continuity early as it faces a challenging Mississippi Valley Conference schedule.
West High
Coach: Nate Frese (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Jesse Searls, Kris Thorson, Payton Busch, Erika Mundt
Last season: 19-4
Returning starters: Meena Tate, 5-10, Sr.; Anna Prouty, 5-10, Sr.; Melae’ Lacy, 6-0, Jr.; Keiko Ono-Fullard, 5-4, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Carolyn Pierce, 5-7, Sr.; Lucy Wolf, 5-8, Jr.; Krisha Kapoor, 5-7, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Zola Gross, 5-7, Sr.; Laney Prelle, 5-8, Sr.; Aly Skala, 5-10, Jr.; Elle Barnett, 5-8, Soph.; Grace Fincham, 5-9, Fr.; Nomi Wang, 5-4, Sr.
Top returning scorers: Meena Tate 15; Anna Prouty 10.8
Top returning rebounders: Anna Prouty 8.9; Melae’ Lacy 6.7
Headliner: Last season was the breakthrough for senior guard Meena Tate who emerged as one of the top players in the state. A Dartmouth recruit, Tate averaged 15 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1 block per game last season.
Keep an eye on: While much of the focus a year ago was on Tate, senior Anna Prouty is coming off her own breakout season. The 5-foot-10 Prouty averaged 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor.
Circle the date: January 24 against Waterloo West. Two of the best teams in the MVC and all of 5A meet in Iowa City in what could very well prove to be a regular season battle between state tournament qualifiers.
Breakdown: West High posted its ninth consecutive season with at least 14 wins last year and will look to keep things going with a former assistant taking over for long-time head coach BJ Mayer.
Nate Frese slides into the head coaching seat after spending the past several seasons as an assistant.
The first-year head coach will have plenty of experience to rely on as West High returns four starters from last year’s team that went 19-4 and fell to West Des Moines Valley in a 5A regional final.
West High returns five of its top six scorers from last season led by Tate, Prouty and junior Melae’ Lacy who averaged 6.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game a year ago.
Senior guard Keiko Ono-Fullard is an experienced playmaker in the backcourt after averaging 4.7 points and 2.9 assists per game last season while junior Lucy Wolf averaged 5 points per game a year ago.
Senior Carolyn Pierce also returns with experience after averaging 4.1 points and 2 rebounds per game last season.
Liberty High
Coach: Jaime Brandt (6th season)
Assistant coaches: Jeff Printy, Tom McGrane
Last season: 12-11
Returning starters: Jasmine Barney, 5-9, Sr.; Ava Meyer, 6-2, Sr.; Avery Gaudet, 5-7, Sr.; Kennedy Daugherty, 5-10, Sr.; Maddie Casey, 5-8, Soph.
Other returning letterwinners: Haley Schroeder, 5-8, Jr.; Shelby Kimm, 6-0, Sr.; Libby Allen, 5-7, Sr.; Bella Tafolla, 5-5, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Janessa Mosley, 5-10, Soph.
Top returning scorers: Jasmine Barney 18.4; Avery Gaudet 7.9
Top returning rebounders: Jasmine Barney 6.9; Ava Meyer 6.4
Headliner: Senior point guard Jasmine Barney earned all-state honors last season while establishing herself as one of the most productive players in the entire state. Barney averaged 18.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game last season, all team-bests.
Keep an eye on: Senior Avery Gaudet has been a varsity player since her freshman season and is coming off a strong junior year in which she averaged 7.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Circle the date: November 26 against Ankeny Centennial. Is Liberty High a real contender in Class 5A? The Lightning will get a good idea of where they stand before the calendar hits December after facing 2022 state qualifier Ankeny Centennial in its second game.
Breakdown: Expectations are at an all-time high at Liberty High in the sixth season in the history of the program.
There is plenty of reason for optimism.
Barney headlines a group of five returning starters in what will be the most experienced team in Liberty High history.
Gaudet and 6-foot-2 senior Ava Meyer both return coming off the best seasons of their careers.
Meyer averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomore Madeline Casey (6.8 ppg) made a team-high 43 3-pointers as a freshman and senior Kennedy Daugherty is another multi-year varsity contributor that averaged 2.4 points and 4 rebounds a game.
There is even more depth behind the returning starters in the form of seniors Libby Allen and Shelby Kimm and juniors Haley Schroeder and Bella Tafolla.
The Liberty High coaching staff is also expecting contributions from sophomore Janessa Mosley.
Clear Creek Amana
Coach: PJ Sweeney (9th season)
Assistant coaches: Alex Schultejans, Declan Broeg, Sean Patrick, Chad Nims
Last season: 16-7 (9-2 WAMAC)
Returning starters: Bliss Beck, 6-2, Jr.; Ava Locklear, 5-10, Jr.; Olivia Miller, 5-5, Sr.; Sam Schrage, 5-8, Jr.; Reese Stockman, 5-5, Jr.
Other returning letterwinners: Kaylee Stratton, 5-4, Jr.; Melissa Sweeney, 5-5, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Meg Berklan, 5-4, Jr.; Lena Evans, 5-5, Fr.; Silvana Kabolo, 6-0, Sr.; Kelsey Leathers, 5-10, Soph.; Averie Lower, 5-9, Fr.; Kiera Rogers, 5-7, Jr.; Kennedy Stratton, 5-4, Fr.
Top returning scorers: Ava Locklear 14.5; Bliss Beck 9.3
Top returning rebounders: Ava Locklear 8.1; Bliss Beck 6.7
Headliner: Junior Ava Locklear is coming off an impressive sophomore season in which she averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while being named third-team Class 4A all-state. Locklear is among the most versatile post players in the state and her ability to shoot from the perimeter as well as play with her back to the basket makes her a tough matchup for opponents.
Keep an eye on: Junior Bliss Beck proved to be a perfect compliment to Locklear in the paint and is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which she averaged 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
Circle the date: November 29 against West High. The Clippers have beefed up their non-conference schedule considerably this season and perhaps the most challenging of those games comes early when the Clippers host the Trojans.
Breakdown: Over the past three seasons the Clippers have won 19, 17 and 16 games but with five returning starters expectations are at an even higher level for Clear Creek Amana entering this season.
Locklear and Beck give the Clippers a talented front court duo that will be a challenge for any opponent to match.
Senior Olivia Miller returns after averaging 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while junior Reese Stockman is also back in the backcourt after averaging 4.8 points and leading the Clippers with 2.7 assists per game last season.
Junior Sam Schrage averaged 3.3 points and 3 rebounds per game last season and provides even more depth to an experience Clipper roster.
Junior guards Melissa Sweeney and Kaylee Stratton each saw limited playing time last season and the Clippers expect big things from freshman guard Averie Lower who emerged as a standout this fall on the Clippers state runner-up volleyball team.
Solon
Coach: Jaime Smith (5th season)
Assistant coaches: Mark Sovers, Jim Smith, Nathan Watson
Last season: 15-8
Returning starters: Callie Levin, 5-9, Jr.
Other returning letterwinners: Mia Stahle, 5-3, Jr.; Claire LaDage, 5-7, Sr.; Hailey Miller, 5-6, Jr.; Hilary Wilson, 5-6, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Anna Quillin, 5-8, Jr.; Kassidy Lietz, 5-9, Jr.; Kobi Lietz, 5-6, Soph.; Sarah Holtz, 5-6, Sr.; Kerrigan Lyons, 5-7, Sr.; Grace Hoeper, 5-8, Soph.
Top returning scorers: Callie Levin 21; Hailey Miller 3.5; Mia Stahle 3
Top returning rebounders: Callie Levin 3.7; Claire LaDage 2.6; Hailey Miller 1.6
Headliner: Junior point guard Callie Levin is an Iowa commit and one of the top overall players in the state. Levin averaged 21 points, 4.3 steals, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game last season.
Keep an eye on: Senior Claire LaDage has been a varsity contributor since her freshman season and will be expected to take on a bigger role this season after averaging 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game a year ago.
Circle the date: November 18 against Martensdale St. Marys. A Solon team with just one returning starter gets an interesting non-conference opener against Class 1A Martensdale St Marys which returns three of its top five scorers from a team that went 23-2 last season.
Breakdown: Over the past two seasons has reestablished itself as a state tournament contender going 32-14 the past two seasons after a 15-8 campaign a year ago that ended with a loss to Benton Community in a Class 4A regional semifinal.
The Spartans have a bona fide star in Callie Levin, who is among the top players in the state. The key for Solon this season will be filling in around the junior point guard after graduating four multi-year starters from last season.
While Solon will have a lot of new faces in the lineup the Spartans will not be young.
Seniors Hilary Wilson (1.1 ppg) and Claire LaDage (1.9 ppg) and juniors Mia Stahle (3 ppg) and Hailey Miller (3.5 ppg) all return with experience.
Even several other players that could be in the rotation are upperclassmen including juniors Kassidy Lietz and Anna Quillin and seniors Sarah Holtz and Kerrigan Lyons.
Regina
Coach: Mary Rogers (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Jordyn Christopherson, Andrew Meister
Last season: 20-5 (Class 1A state quarterfinals)
Returning starters: Grace Gaarde, 5-5, Sr.; Morgan Miller, 5-6, Soph., Alli Clark, 5-6, Jr.
Other returning letterwinners: Morgan Squiers, 5-8, Jr.; Ella McLaughlin, 5-6, Soph.; Madelyn Greve, 5-8, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Dani Laughlin, 5-5, Sr.; Jillian Panther, 5-11, Sr.
Top returning scorers: Grace Gaarde 11.1; Morgan Miller 10
Top returning rebounders: Alli Clark 3.8; Morgan Miller 3.4
Headliner: Senior Grace Gaarde is a four-year starter and makes it all go for the Regals from her point guard spot. The 5-foot-5 Gaarde led Regina in scoring (11.1), assists (5.4) and steals (3.1) and also averaged 2.9 rebounds per game.
Keep an eye on: Junior Alli Clark emerged as solid fourth scoring option for Regina last season and should become an even bigger piece of the puzzle for the Regals this year. Clark averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season.
Circle the date: December 1 against Benton Community. Never a program to shy away from a challenging schedule the Regals will get a good test early when it hosts 2022 4A state qualifier Benton Community.
Breakdown: Regina won at least 20 games in six of seven years from 2011-2012 to 2017-2018 before winning a total of 38 games over the next three seasons.
The Regals had their breakthrough last year under head coach Mary Rogers going 20-5 and advancing to the 2A state tournament for the first time since 2018.
Regina returns three of its top four scorers from last season in Miller, Clark and Gaarde as it attempts to make another state tournament run.
The key for Regina will be filling in the slots around those three returning starters.
Senior Madelyn Greve, junior Morgan Squiers and sophomore Ella McLaughlin will all look to take on much bigger roles this season.
Rogers also expects contributions from seniors Dani Laughlin and Jillian Panther as the Regals look to continue their recent string of success.
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