Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Several Your Prep Sports area teams returned to action last week following the nearly two-week holiday break.

The weather provided another short break with a state-wide winter storm dumping snow and forcing the postponement of a full slate of games on Tuesday.

That snowstorm-created break allows an opportunity to quickly look back at what we’ve learned from the first half of the girls basketball season.

Here are observations on each of the seven teams in the Your Prep Sports area.

Watch Out For West High

An 0-3 start to the season has had West High flying under the radar for the first half of the season.

That won’t be the case for long.

An inexperienced West High team with just two returning players with starting experience need a few games to get going.

West High lost its first three games and four of its first six, all to top-10 ranked teams.

Since the slow start West High (6-4) has won four in a row including a victory at No. 15 Linn-Mar and a 17-point win over Cedar Rapids Xavier in its opening game of 2024.

The Trojans aren’t just winning they look like a different team.

Sophomore standout Grace Fincham has settled into her role as the Trojans top offensive option and is averaging 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor.

Freshman guard Sasha Baldwin is a budding start and averages 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

The rest of the West High lineup as showed major growth over the opening half of the season including senior Lucy Wolf (8.3 ppg, 2.6 apg) and sophomore guard Ava Frese (4.7 ppg, 2.4 apg).

City High Will be a Tough Out in the Postseason

Much like West High the Little Hawks have take some early season losses against a rugged schedule.

City High (3-6) has five losses to ranked teams with three of those losses coming on the road and three coming by less than 10 points.

With half of its final 12 games coming against ranked opponents in addition to road trips to Liberty High, Cedar Rapids Xavier and Cedar Rapids Washington the remaining schedule is challenging.

City High will more than likely be looking at a tough road when 5A postseason pairings are released.

Take the Little Hawks lightly at your own risk.

City High has a talented backcourt tandem in junior August Palmer (14.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg) and sophomore Tessa Driscoll (11.6 ppg, 2.7 apg) and freshman Kaitlin Loria and Hattie Galloway are only going to get better as the season goes on.

Loria is averaging 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and Galloway is putting up 8 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Toss in junior stalwart Emmy McComas who leads the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and the Little Hawks have a strong nucleus and the ability to play with any team.

The Future is Bright at Liberty High

Early injuries and four losses to ranked teams played a key role in Liberty High opening the season 3-6 before the holiday break.

Injuries to three potential rotational players hindered Liberty High early this season but also gave a glimpse into the future of the program.

With what young players have done this season that future looks extremely bright.

Sophomores Natalie Ramsey and Kennedy Goodheart have both excelled in expanded roles this season while freshman Ava Casey has also flashed impressive potential.

In her first extended varsity action Ramsey leads the Lightning in scoring (13.8) and rebounding (6.7) and Goodheart has been just as good in her first real run averaging 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Ava Casey is averaging 5.9 points and 2.2 assists per game.

With the play of senior Bella Tafolla (7.8 ppg, 3 apg) and junior Madeline Casey (12 ppg) if the Lightning can get healthy after break they should be a tough team to beat as the season goes on.

Clear Creek Amana Has Looks Like a State Title Team

Clear Creek Amana got a taste of the state tournament last season falling to North Polk in the quarterfinals in its second ever trip to state and first since 2020.

Through nine games this season the Clippers look every bit like a team capable of doing a lot more than just returning to state.

Class 4A second-ranked Clear Creek Amana (9-0) has been impressive during an unbeaten start to the season posting wins over four ranked teams including a pair of top-ranked squads.

Everything you look for in a title squad Clear Creek Amana seems to possess.

The Clippers are experienced, have size in the front court in seniors Ava Locklear (12.6 ppg, 9 rpg) and Bliss Beck (6.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.9 bpg) and a dynamic scorer in sophomore guard Averie Lower who averages a team-high 18 points per game.

One thing Clear Creek Amana lacked last season was state tournament experience but the Clippers have that now, part of what makes them a serious title contender.

Solon Is the Favorite in Class 3A

Solon entered the season on a short list of Class 3A title contenders.

Halfway through the season Solon has ascended to the top of the 3A rankings while establishing itself as the team to beat in 3A.

A 3A semifinalist last season the Spartans are off to a 10-1 start with half of those wins coming against ranked opponents.

The Spartans have wins over 3A No. 14 Williamsburg and ninth-ranked Benton Community with their lone loss coming to 4A second-ranked Clear Creek Amana.

Iowa commit Callie Levin is the star for the Spartans and is in the middle of another all-state season leading Solon in points (20), rebounds (7.3), steals (5.7) and assists (4.5).

Levin leads the way but it is the growth of the other three senior starters that has the Spartans in the 3A drivers’ seat.

Senior guard Hailey Miller is having her best season, averaging 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Senior forward Anna Quillin has emerged as a factor on both ends averaging 5.5 points while shooting 61 percent while grabbing a team-high 9.9 rebounds per game.

Senior Mia Stahle is averaging 6.5 points, 2 assists and 2 steals per game.

West Branch Is Going to Battle

It hasn’t been a dream start for first-year West Branch head coach Justin Liddle with the Bears opening 2-10 against a challenging early slate that has featured four losses to ranked teams.

What stands out about West Branch in its first season under Liddle is despite the early-season losses the Bears are battling.

West Branch pushed Mid-Prairie (6-4) to the brink in a four-point December loss before back-to-back wins over West Liberty and Burlington Notre Dame.

West Branch played well out of the break in losses to Camanche (4-7) and Northeast (8-3) at the RVC shootout.

Seniors Kylie Pickett (9.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Alyse Klinkkammer (4.3 ppg, 5 apg) lead the way for West Branch and can close their careers strong over the next month.

With two games each remaining with RVC foes Wilton (3-7) and Durant (4-8) and rematches with West Liberty (2-9) and Mid-Prairie there are wins to be had for the Bears in January.

Regina Backcourt Continues to Impress

The expectation entering the season was for the Regina backcourt led by senior Alli Clark and junior Morgan Miller to be among the best in Class 2A.

Not only have those expectations been met they’ve been exceeded by Miller, Clark and junior Ella McLaughlin.

Miller continues to establish herself as one of the top guards in 2A averaging career-highs in points (18.4 points), rebounds (4.9) and steals (4.5) to go with 3.1 assists while helping fourth-ranked Regina to a 10-2 record.

Clark has been excellent as well averaging 13.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while McLaughlin is playing the best basketball of her career.

McLaughlin is averaging 11 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

The backcourt play has Regina seeking a third straight state tournament appearance.

The Regals are unbeaten against in-class competition and are coming off an impressive 55-39 win over 3A eighth-ranked Monticello.

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