Girls' basketball 2016-17: Preseason rankings

Preseason state rankings, by The Gazette's Jeff Linder (with last year's record and postseason):

Class 5A

1. Davenport North (21-4, Class 5A state quarterfinalist)

2. Indianola (22-2, Class 5A state quarterfinalist)

3. Cedar Falls (22-3, Class 5A state semifinalist)

4. Johnston (22-4, Class 5A state runner-up)

5. Iowa City West (15-8, Class 5A regional finalist)

6. West Des Moines Valley (16-7, Class 5A regional finalist)

7. Ankeny Centennial (23-3, Class 5A state champion)

8. Iowa City High (19-4, Class 5A regional finalist)

9. Waukee (17-6, Class 5A state quarterfinalist)

10. Linn-Mar (20-5, Class 5A state semifinalist)

Next in line (alphabetic order) — Ames (11-11), Cedar Rapids Jefferson (9-13), Cedar Rapids Washington (15-8), Davenport West (15-7), Fort Dodge (8-11), Muscatine (9-14), Pleasant Valley (17-6), Southeast Polk (18-6), Waterloo West (10-13), West Des Moines Dowling (15-8) 

Class 4A

1. Pella (23-3, Class 4A state runner-up)

2. Marion (20-5, Class 4A state semifinalist)

3. Lewis Central (20-2, Class 4A state quarterfinalist)

4. Keokuk (22-3, Class 4A state semifinalist)

5. Boone (18-5, Class 4A regional finalist)

6. Grinnell (16-7, Class 4A regional finalist)

7. Waverly-Shell Rock (20-4, Class 4A regional finalist)

8. Dallas Center-Grimes (16-6, Class 4A regional finalist)

9. Nevada (23-3, Class 3A state runner-up)

10. North Scott (18-5, Class 4A regional finalist)

Next in line (alphabetic order) — Adel ADM (13-11), Ballard (22-2), Carlisle (14-9), Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-13), Fairfield (16-7), LeMars (10-14), Mason City (18-8), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (13-9), Spencer (14-8), Western Dubuque (24-1)

Class 3A

1. Pocahontas Area (27-0, Class 3A state champion)

2. Cherokee (23-3, Class 3A state semifinalist)

3. Sioux Center (20-5, Class 3A state quarterfinalist)

4. Center Point-Urbana (24-2, Class 3A state semifinalist)

5. Union (20-3, Class 3A regional semifinalist)

6. Shenandoah (15-9, Class 3A regional finalist)

7. Camanche (14-9, Class 3A regional quarterfinalist)

8. Mount Vernon (16-9, Class 3A state quarterfinalist)

9. Mid-Prairie (16-9, Class 3A state quarterfinalist)

10. Crestwood (11-11, Class 3A regional semifinalist)

Next in line (alphabetic order) — Central Lee (18-5), Clear Lake (16-8), Forest City (15-6), Gilbert (12-10), Monroe PCM (13-10), Monticello (17-6), North Polk (14-8), Osage (21-4), Spirit Lake (16-8), West Marshall (18-3).

Class 2A

1. Iowa City Regina (25-1, Class 2A state semifinalist)

2. Treynor (21-2, Class 2A regional finalist)

3. Van Meter (22-3, Class 2A regional finalist)

4. IKM-Manning (16-6, Class 2A regional quarterfinalist)

5. Western Christian (24-3, Class 2A state runner-up)

6. Central Decatur (23-2, Class 2A state quarterfinalist)

7. Interstate 35 (20-3, Class 2A regional semifinalist)

8. Mount Ayr (18-8, Class 1A state quarterfinalist)

9. Unity Christian (25-1, Class 2A state champion)

10. Montezuma (22-2, Class 1A regional finalist)

Next in line (alphabetic order) — Bellevue (13-11), Clayton Ridge (12-10), Lake Mills (15-8), Logan-Magnolia (17-5), North Linn (20-4), North Union (18-5), Panorama (17-6), Rockford (17-6), Underwood (15-7), West Lyon (18-5)

Class 1A

1. Springville (26-1, Class 1A state champion)

2. Turkey Valley (26-1, Class 1A state runner-up)

3. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton (23-1, Class 1A state quarterfinalist)

4. Lansing Kee (22-3, Class 1A state quarterfinalist)

5. Colo-Nesco (20-4, Class 1A regional semifinalist)

6. Glidden-Ralston (20-4, Class 1A regional semifinalist)

7. Easton Valley (15-9, Class 1A regional semifinalist)

8. Ackley AGWSR (13-9, Class 1A regional quarterfinalist)

9. Grand View Christian (22-1, Class 1A regional finalist)

10. Bellevue Marquette (13-8, Class 1A regional finalist)

Next in line (alphabetic order) — Ar-We-Va (13-9), Boyer Valley (12-10), Essex (19-4), Janesville (15-9), Kingsley-Pierson (21-3), Lone Tree (15-8), Lynnville-Sully (21-3), Nishnabotna (16-6), Sidney (20-4), Westwood (16-6).

Girls' Basketball Preview

• Area players to watch

• Area conference predictions

• Marion's mantra: Action, not words

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com