City High

Coach: Bill McTaggart (20th season, 356-115)

Assistant coaches: Fred Riddle, Calie Sobaski, Lynsey Barnard, Travis Dyer, Jeff Miller

Last season: 25-1 (Class 5A runner-up)

Returning starters: Rose Nkumu, 5-8, Jr., G; Aubrey Joens, 5-9, Jr., G; Paige Rocca, 5-8, Jr., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Ella Cook, 5-9, Soph., F; Carey Koenig, 5-5, Soph., G; CeCe Kelly-Harvey, 5-8, Soph., F.

Top returning scorers: Rose Nkumu 13.2; Aubrey Joens 12.9

Top returning rebounders: Ella Cook 3.2; Aubrey Joens 2.8

Headliner: Aubrey Joens committed to join older sister Ashley at Iowa State this summer and will now look to help replace some of the production gone from the City High lineup without the older Joens in the lineup. Aubrey averaged 12.9 points per game last season.

Keep an eye on: Junior point guard Rose Nkumu established herself as one of the best in the state last season averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game and will be an even bigger part of the Little Hawk attack this season.

Circle the date: December 7 vs. West High. City High hosts cross-town rival West High in the first meeting between the two teams since last year’s Class 5A state title game.

Breakdown: Three starters return for the Little Hawks including a pair of all-staters in Aubrey Joens and Nkumu but much of the preseason focus is on who does not return.

Gone is Miss Iowa Basketball Ashley Joens and her 30.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game but City High has the talent returning to make another run in Class 5A.

Nkumu and Aubrey Joens give the Little Hawks a set up talented returning playmakers while junior guard Paige Rocca is due for a breakthrough season after averaging 8.8 points while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range last season.

Sophomore Ella Cook also returns after averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a freshman and long-time coach Bill McTaggart expects several freshman to push for playing time.

West High

Coach: BJ Mayer (12th season, 194-70)

Assistant coaches: Brian Motley, Erika Mundt, Jesse Searls, Ally Scott

Last season: 19-7 (Class 5A champion)

Returning starters: Lauren Zacharias, 5-5, Sr., G; Cailyn Morgan, 5-10, Sr., G; Emma Koch, 5-11, Sr., F.

Other returning letterwinners: Audrey Koch, 5-11, Soph., G; Matayia Tellis, 5-5, Soph., G; Sydney Allen, 5-11, Sr., F

Newcomers to watch: Emma Ingersoll Weng, 5-5, Fr., G; Avery Vest, 5-5, Fr., G; Grace Schneider, 5-8, Jr., F; Kaitlyn Hillberrry, 5-7, Jr., G

Top returning scorers: Cailyn Morgan 9.8; Lauren Zacharias 9.7

Top returning rebounders: Cailyn Morgan 3.3; Lauren Zacharias 3.3

Headliner: Northern Iowa recruit Cailyn Morgan was solid last season averaging 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game but is a candidate for a breakthrough season in a larger offensive role.

Keep an eye on: Speaking of breakthrough candidates Lauren Zacharias is a four-year starter at point guard looking to cap her career with her biggest season yet after averaging 9.7 points and 4 assists per game.

Circle the date: January 19 vs. West Des Moines Dowling. The annual non-conference contest between perennial powers shifts back to Iowa City and is a matchup of state tournament teams from a season ago.  

Breakdown: The defending 5A champs return enough ammo to make a run at a repeat after winning eight consecutive games to end last season.

Losing Emma Koch to a torn ACL is a blow to the Women of Troy’s depth but Morgan and Zacharias each return as multi-year starters.

Sophomore Audrey Koch is a matchup problem and will look to take on a bigger role after averaging 4.8 points per game a year ago.

Fellow sophomore Matayia Tellis also returns with experience in the West High backcourt while senior Sydney Allen saw minutes a year ago.

Regina

Coach: Jeff Wallace (10th season, 162-36)

Assistant coaches: Bryce Smeins, Mary Halvorson, Mark Besler

Last season: 21-5 (Class 2A State Quarterfinals)

Returning starters: Kennedy Wallace, 5-8, Sr., G; Alex Weise, 6-0, Sr., F

Other returning letterwinners: Elly Gahan, 5-11, Jr., F; Steph Stenger, 5-5, Jr., G; Claire Gaarde, 5-7, Jr., G; Annie Gahan, 5-9, Soph., G

Newcomers to watch: Sam Greving, 5-10, Jr., F; Ellie Van Landschoot, 5-11, Sr., F; Maya Kerschen, 5-10, Jr., F; Abby Clark, 5-7, Soph., G.

Top returning scorers: Alex Wiese 15.4; Kennedy Wallace 11.2

Top returning rebounders: Alex Wiese 10.6; Kennedy Wallace 2.9

Headliner: A second torn ACL cause Alex Wiese to miss the Regals’ state quarterfinal loss to Grundy Center but the senior forward is healthy and ready to build on an all-state junior season when she averaged a double-double with 15.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.  

Keep an eye on: Senior guard Kennedy Wallace averaged a career-high 11.2 points per game last season and ranked second in Class 2A with 79 3-pointers.

Circle the date: January 28 at North Linn. A non-conference trip to Troy Mills could be a top-5 matchup or possible state tournament preview between two of the top teams in 2A over the past several seasons.

Breakdown: The Regals have holes to fill from last year’s state quarterfinal team, especially in the backcourt with the graduation of all-stater Mary Crompton and point guards Greyson Dumont and Lauren Gaarde.

Despite those losses Regina has the talent and experience to make another state tournament run.

Wiese is a double-double machine, averaging 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds in 66 career games while Wallace is among the top 3-pointer shooters in 2A with 141 career triples.

City High transfer Sam Greving should help in the post after starting on the Little Hawks 5A runner-up team a year ago.

Juniors Elly Gahan, Steph Stenger and Claire Gaarde are all expected to step into much larger roles this season along with sophomore Annie Gahan.

Solon

Coach: Jamie Smith (1st season)

Assistant coaches: Mark Sovers, Danielle Herdliska, Jim Smith, Tim Wheeler, Adam Stahle

Last season: 6-16

Returning starters: Abby Smith, 5-9, Sr., F; Saige Hauer, 5-9, Sr., F; Jenna LaDage, 5-9, Jr., G

Other returning letterwinners: Haley Melcher, 5-8, Jr., F; Sara Ruzika, 5-4, Soph., G; Ashley Walsh, 5-7, Sr., F; Vanessa Millman, 5-5, Sr., G

Newcomers to watch: Allison Capper, Jr.; Skyla Stookey, Sr.

Top returning scorers: Jenna LaDage 5.9; Saige Hauer, 3.1

Top returning rebounders: Abby Smith 4.9; Saige Hauer 3.2

Headliner: Junior guard Jenna LaDage is the top returning scorer for the Spartans after averaging 5.9 points per game a year ago and is a good bet to improve on that number.

Keep an eye on: Senior Saige Hauer provided a spark last season mostly in a reserve role averaging 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Circle the date: November 20 vs. Clear Creek Amana. The Jamie Smith era opens at Solon with the Spartans hosting Clear Creek Amana in a WAMAC cross-divisional matchup.

Breakdown: Jamie Smith takes over at Solon after winning 130 games over the past nine seasons as the head coach at Interstate 35 in Truro.

Smith replaces Lisa Bishop who spent three seasons leading the program.

Three starters return for the Spartans led by LaDage and Hauer. Senior forward Abby Smith also returns with starting experience after ranking second on the team with 4.9 rebounds per game.

The Spartans will need a boost from a group of newcomers and former reserves if they are to improve on their six win total from last season. 

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: PJ Sweeney (5th season)

Assistant coaches: Nathan Elliott, Abby Kite, Alex Schultejans, Sean Patrick

Last season: 11-11

Returning starters: Karsyn Stratton, 5-8, Jr., G; Ainsley Schrock, 5-10, Jr., C; Jordan Neely, 5-5, Sr., G; Meagan Harvey, 5-9, Jr., F/C

Other returning letterwinners: Lydia Banwart, 5-7, Sr., G; Gracie Downes, 5-9, Jr., F/C; Allison Rummelhart, 5-4, Jr., G; Whitney Traetow, 5-6, Soph., G; Ellie Waterbury, 5-5, Jr. G

Newcomers to watch: Calia Clubb, 5-10, Fr., F/C; Emily Sly, 5-11, Soph., F/C; Grace Stewart, 5-8, Jr., G

Top returning scorers: Karsyn Stratton 21.9; Meagan Harvey 6.9

Top returning rebounders: Karsyn Stratton 7.5; Meagan Harvey 5.6

Headliner: Karsyn Stratton was a second-team all-state pick last year when she ranked third in Class 4A in scoring at 21.9 points per game.

Keep an eye on: Meagan Harvey is already a two-year starter and is in for a big season after ranking second on the team averaging 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Circle the date: January 29 vs. Center Point-Urbana. The Clippers are hopeful the second meeting of the season with WAMAC West Division favorite Center Point-Urbana is a meeting of the top two teams in the West standings.

Breakdown: With the top four scorers and the top three rebounders returning from last year’s squad that finished 11-11 expectations are as high as any time in recent memory in Tiffin.

Stratton leads a group of four returning starters that has the Clippers seeking a third consecutive season with a .500 finish or better.

The 5-foot-Stratton gives Clear Creek Amana a bona fide scorer but for the Clippers to take the next step they will need another player or two to step up and take some of the pressure off.

Harvey and junior center Ainsley Schrock are at the top of that list along with senior guard Jordan Neely.

Neely averaged 5.7 points and had a team-high 22 3-pointers last season while Schrock added 4.7 points.

West Branch

Coach: Jarod Tylee (8th season, 114-50)

Assistant coaches: Rick Sexton, Brad Koenig, Tony Luneckas

Last season: 17-7

Returning starters: Sasha Koenig, 5-5, Soph., G; Taya Young, 5-7, Soph., G; Kaiya Luneckas, 6-1, Jr., F; Abbey Fryauf, 6-1, Sr., C

Other returning letterwinners: Riley Vaughan, 5-5, Sr., G; Taylor Thein, 5-7, Jr., G; Mackenzie Heise, 5-10, Jr., F; Rylan Druecker, 5-7, Soph., G; Lexie Peak, 5-5, Soph., G; Maddy Hatfield, 5-7, Soph., F.

Newcomers to watch: Delaynie Luneckas, 6-1, Fr., C

Top returning scorers: Sasha Koenig 11.2; Taya young 8.1

Top returning rebounders: Kaiya Luneckas 7.1; Mackenzie Heise 3.8

Headliner: Sasha Koenig will look to build on an impressive freshman season in which she averaged 11.2 points, 3.2 assists and 3 rebounds per game on her way to being named to the River Valley Conference South Division team.

Keep an eye on: Overshadowed a bit by the strong season by Koenig, fellow freshman Taya Young her own strong debut last year averaging 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Circle the date: February 5 vs. Regina. The Bears close the regular season by hosting RVC South Division rival Regals.

Breakdown: West Branch lost one of the best players in Class 2A in graduated senior Tatum Koenig but brings back four starters including a dynamic sophomore guard duo and a pair of 6-foot-1 post players.

The Bears must find a way to replaced the 21 points per game that Koenig put up last season but have the talent and experience to improve on last year’s 17-7 record.
Sasha Koenig and Young give West Branch a backcourt that rivals any in the River Valley Conference.

Seniors Kaiya Luneckas and Abbey Fryauf combined to average 10.3 rebounds per game last season while junior Mackenzie Heise averaged 4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game off the bench last season.