Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The 2024-2025 basketball season was yet another memorable year in the Your Prep Sports area.

Five area teams reached regional title games with Liberty High and Regina advancing to the state tournament.

Liberty High made the first state tournament appearance in program history advancing to the Class 5A quarterfinals while Regina won its first state tournament game since 2017 to reach the Class 2A semifinals.

The annual Your Prep Sports all-area girls basketball team honors some of the players responsible for the team success this season.

This year’s 10-member team features all-state and all-conference players, as well as school record holders and college recruits.

There are five repeat selections on hits year’s squad including Liberty High junior Natalie Ramsey who is the captain of the 2025 Your Prep Sports all area team.

Ramsey led Liberty High in scoring and rebounding while helping the Lightning to a program-record 17 wins and its first ever state tournament appearance.

Regina senior Morgan Miller, City High senior August Palmer, Clear Creek Amana junior Averie Lower and West High junior Grace Fincham join Ramsey as repeat selections.

*Natalie Ramsey

6-0, Jr., Liberty High

The best individual season in program history by Ramsey was a key factor in Liberty High posting the most successful season in school history.

Ramsey was a first-team all-state pick by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division first-team selection after ranking second in Class 5A in scoring and third in rebounding.

One of only two players in 5A to average a double-double, Ramsey averaged career-highs of 22.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while helping the Lightning to a program-record 17 wins.

Ramsey scored double figures in all 24 games and had 20 or more points 15 times, including nine times in her final 11 games.

The 6-foot Ramsey had 17 double-doubles and had double-doubles in 12 of her final 15 games including a 40-point, 16 rebound effort in a regional final win over City High.

Ramsey wasn’t just productive she was efficient.

The South Dakota recruit shot 49 percent from the floor, including 33 percent from 3-point range, and a career-best 84 percent from the free throw line while ranking second in Class 5A in both free throws made (111) and free throws attempted (133).

Ramsey also averaged 2 steals, 1.5 assists and a team-high 1 blocked shot per game.

Morgan Miller

5-6, Sr., Regina

One of the most decorated players in Regina history Miller capped a brilliant prep career with her best season.

A three-time all-state pick and two time River Valley Conference South Division player of the year, Miller averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage while leading Regina to a 24-2 record and a spot in the Class 2A state semifinals.

Miller was one of only three players in the state to average at least 19 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4 steals per game on her way to being named RVC South Division player of the year and first-team all-state by both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

A four-year starter, Miller increased her scoring, rebounding and steal totals each of the past three seasons.

Miller averaged 19.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.4 steals per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor, 39 percent from 3-point range and 79 percent from the free throw line.

A Truman State recruit, Miller scored in double figures in 24 of 26 games this season and had 14 games with 20 or more points.

The all-time leading scorer in Regina history, Miller closed her career with 1,624 points, 457 rebounds, 415 assists and 342 steals.

Averie Lower

6-0, Jr., Clear Creek Amana

Already one of the best players in the state Lower elevated her game to another level for a second consecutive season.

Lower averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals on her way to earning all-state honors and being named WAMAC West Division player for the second year in a row.

A first-team Class 4A all-state pick by both the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and Iowa Girls Coaches Association, Lower ranked seventh in the state in scoring with 22.5 points per game.

Lower scored in double figures in all 23 games and had 20 or more points 16 times including a pair of 30-point performances.

One of only six players in the state to average 22.5 points and 9 rebounds per game Lower averaged 9.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.9 steals and .9 blocked shots per game while helping Clear Creek Amana to a 15-8 record and a spot in a Class 4A regional final.

Lower had nine double-doubles and shot 48 percent from the floor including 42 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line.

Addie McLaughlin

5-5, Fr., Regina

While her back court counterpart Miller was finishing off a stellar career McLaughlin was putting together one of the best debut seasons in Regina history.

McLaughlin ranked second on the team in scoring (17 ppg) and steals (4.1) and ranked fourth in Class 2A and 15^th in the state with 5.6 assists per game in an impressive freshman season that saw her earn all-state honors.

One of the top playmakers in the state, McLaughlin had three double-doubles with points and assists and was one of only six players in the state to average 17 points and at least 5.5 assists per game.

The 5-foot-5 guard was a first-team Class 2A all-state pick by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and was a unanimous all-RVC South Division first-team pick after helping Regina to a 24-2 record and spot in the 2A state semifinals.

McLaughlin scored in double figures in 25 of 26 games this season and had seven games with 20 or more points.

McLaughlin shot 50 percent from the floor, including 39 percent from 3-point range, and 78 percent from the free throw line during her debut season.

Grace Fincham

5-11, Jr., West High

Fincham continued to increase her production and establish herself as one of the best players in the state with a strong junior season in which she earned all-state honors for the second consecutive season.

The 5-foot-11 forward averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while leading West High to a 15-9 record and a spot in a Class 5A regional final.

Fincham was a second-team all-state pick by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and a unanimous MVC all-Mississippi Division first team selection after leading West High with 16 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

A three-year starter, Fincham scored in double figures in 20 of 24 games this season and scored 20 or more points seven times.

Fincham had six double-doubles and averaged 3.2 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 65 percent from the free throw line.

August Palmer

5-10, Sr., City High

One of the most versatile players in the area Palmer capped a brilliant career with a strong senior season in which she earned first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors for the third consecutive season.

Palmer led City High in scoring for the third straight season averaging 14.2 points per game while shooting 41 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the free throw line.

A Minnesota State recruit, Palmer ranked first or second on the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game while helping City High to a 16-8 record and a spot in a Class 5A regional title game.

Palmer averaged 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on her way to being a unanimous first-team MVC all-Valley Division selection.

The 5-foot-10 Palmer scored in double figures in 20 of 24 games including each of her final 12 games.

Palmer scored 1,082 points in three seasons at City High and finished her career with 1,408 points.

Maddie Casey

5-8, Sr., Liberty High

A four-year starter and one of the most productive players in program history Casey helped the Lightning post the best season in program history with her best season as a prep.

Casey averaged career-highs in points and assists per game while helping Liberty High to a program-record 17 wins and the first state tournament appearance in program history.

A Quincy University recruit, Casey raised her scoring average every season capped by a career-high 12.9 points per game this season.

Casey ranked third in Class 5A in made 3-pointers with 66 and averaged 2.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1 steal per game on her way to being a first-team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division selection.

A career 34 percent 3-point shooter, Casey is the all-time 3-point leader at Liberty High with 202 career 3-pointers.

Kobi Lietz

5-6, Sr., Solon

A three-year starter that helped Solon reach back-to-back state tournaments, Lietz stepped into a larger role this season and produced with the best season of her career.

Lietz averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game while leading Solon to a 12-11 record and a spot in the 3A regional semifinals.

A Kirkwood Community College recruit, Lietz ranked second on the team with 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and led the Spartans with 3.3 assists and 3.8 steals per contest.

Lietz shot a career-high 40 percent from the field this season and a career-best 73 percent from the free throw line while leading Solon in both free throw attempts (107) and makes (78).

Among the best defenders in the area, Lietz was a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC East Division selection this season and started 74 games over the past three seasons.

Sasha Baldwin

5-7, Soph., West High

Baldwin followed up a strong debut season last year with an impressive sophomore campaign in which she emerged as one of the best young guards in the state.

A second team MVC all-Mississippi Division pick, Baldwin increased her shooting percentage from the floor, 3-point range and the free throw line as a sophomore while averaging career-bests in points, rebounds and steals per game.

Baldwin averaged 11.2 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the floor, including 40 percent from 3-point range, and 80 percent from the free throw line.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore guard averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game while helping West High to a 15-9 record and a spot in a Class 5A regional title game.

Baldwin scored in double figures 14 of 24 games this season and had at least 10 points in eight of the final 12 games this season.

Lena Evans

5-8, Jr., Clear Creek Amana

A key reserve on the Clippers state title team last season Evans emerged as one of the top players in Class 4A with a breakthrough junior season this winter.

Evans elevated her production across the board during her breakout season averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals on her way to being a unanimous WAMAC West Division first-team pick.

A dynamic scorer, Evans scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games this season and closed the year by scoring 20 or more points in nine of the final 13 games helping the Clippers go 10-3 down the stretch.

Evans averaged 17.4 points on 48 percent shooting from the field, including 37 percent from 3-point range and 77 percent from the free throw line.

The 5-foot-8 Evans led Clear Creek Amana in free throws made (66) and attempted (86) and ranked third on the team with 35 made 3-pointers.

Evans averaged 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and led the Clippers with 3.8 steals per contest.

*- Denotes Captain

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