Springville, Regina top IGHSAU girls' basketball preseason rankings

Springville and Turkey Valley will begin the girls' basketball season the way they ended last year — as the top two small-school teams in the state.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its preseason rankings Friday, and defending state champion Springville is atop the 1A list. The Orioles were 26-1 last season, including a 49-48 decision over Turkey Valley in the state finals.

Four starters (all juniors) return for the Orioles, including first-team all-staters Mikayla Nachazel and Rylee Menster.

Turkey Valley (26-1) brings back three starters, led by first-team all-state pick Shelby Reicks, a senior.

Springville will face Turkey Valley at Rivalry Saturday on Jan. 7 at the U.S. Cellular Center. Turkey Valley defeated the Orioles, 49-42, at that event last year, then Springville turned the tables in the state finals on Alyssa Jaeger's two free throws in the final seconds.

A state semifinalist in 2016, Iowa City Regina tops the 2A rankings to start this season. The Regals are coming off a 25-1 campaign and welcome back three starters, led by junior first-team all-stater Mary Crompton.

Davenport North, Pella and Pocahontas Area are No. 1 in 5A, 4A and 3A, respectively.

Iowa signee Jinaya Houston leads North (21-4), which qualified for the state tournament for the first time last season; the Wildcats dropped a 56-52 first-round decision to eventual champion Ankeny Centennial. Houston is one of five returning starters.

Indianola is No. 2, followed by West Des Moines Valley, Iowa City High and Cedar Falls. Centennial is No. 7.

Pella (23-3) reached the 4A semifinals last season and returns its starting lineup intact. So does Marion (20-5), which opens at No. 2. Waverly-Shell Rock, Keokuk and Lewis Central round out the top five. Defending-champion Mason City is not ranked.

After a 27-0 season, Pocahontas Area is an easy choice to lead the 3A field again. Missouri State recruit Elle Ruffridge is on pace to become the all-time state leader in scoring. Four starters are back from a team that averaged 80 points per game last year.

Sioux Center is the second-ranked team in 3A, followed by Union, Cherokee and Center Point-Urbana.

Last year's 2A runner-up, Western Christian is No. 2 behind Regina in 2A. Treynor, Central Decatur and Van Meter are next, with two-time defending-champ Unity Christian at 11th.

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton is third behind Springville and Turkey Valley in 1A. Then it's Lansing Kee and Grand View Christian.

Click here for the full rankings.

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