Girls’ basketball 2015-16: Preseason rankings

The Gazette's preseason girls' basketball rankings for 2015-16:

CLASS 5A

1. Waukee 24-2 Class 5A state champion

2. Johnston 16-8 Class 5A state qualifier

3. Ankeny Centennial 17-6 Class 5A regional finalist

4. Southeast Polk 17-7 Class 5A state qualifier

5. Indianola 19-5 Class 4A state qualifier

6. Pleasant Valley 18-5 Class 5A regional finalist

7. Iowa City High 15-8 Class 5A regional finalist

8. West Des Moines Valley 23-3 Class 5A state runner-up

9. West Des Moines Dowling 21-4 Class 5A state semifinalist

10. Davenport North 17-6 Class 4A regional finalist

Ten others to watch (alphabetic order): Ames (11-12), Cedar Falls (18-6), Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-15), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (16-7), Cedar Rapids Washington (13-9), Davenport West (9-12), Des Moines East (10-11), Iowa City West (22-3), Linn-Mar (16-8), Sioux City West (13-9).

CLASS 4A

1. Mason City 15-9 Class 5A state qualifier

2. Ballard 21-3 Class 4A state qualifier

3. Western Dubuque 25-1 Class 4A state runner-up

4. Harlan 26-0 Class 4A state champion

5. Marion 17-6 Class 4A regional finalist

6. Fairfield 17-6 Class 4A regional semifinalist

7. Dallas Center-Grimes 17-6 Class 4A regional finalist

8. Waverly-Shell Rock 23-1 Class 4A state qualifier

9. Keokuk 15-7 Class 4A regional semifinalist

10. Cedar Rapids Xavier 17-7 Class 4A state qualifier

Ten others to watch (alphabetic order): Carlisle (22-3), Creston (12-9), DeWitt Central (12-10), Fort Madison (11-11), Grinnell (16-7), Knoxville (18-5), Lewis Central (17-6), North Scott (18-5), Pella (19-3), Sioux City Heelan (22-4).

CLASS 3A

1. Nevada 24-3 Class 3A state champion

2. Pocahontas Area 25-2 Class 3A runner-up

3. Center Point-Urbana 19-5 Class 3A regional finalist

4. Mount Vernon 16-9 Class 3A state qualifier

5. Davenport Assumption 14-9 Class 4A regional semifinalist

6. Union 18-5 Class 3A regional semifinalist

7. Osage 24-1 Class 3A regional semifinalist

8. Hampton-Dumont 20-3 Class 3A regional finalist

9. Monticello 14-8 Class 3A regional, lost first round

10. Spirit Lake 18-7 Class 3A state qualifier

Ten others to watch (alphabetic order): Cherokee (14-8), Forest City (13-10), Mediapolis (25-1), Mid-Prairie (15-8), North Polk (11-11), Northeast (13-10), Shenandoah (18-5), Sioux Center (21-3), Solon (13-9), West Marshall (14-8).

CLASS 2A

1. Unity Christian 27-0 Class 2A state champion

2. West Branch 17-6 Class 2A regional semifinalist

3. Iowa City Regina 21-4 Class 2A state qualifier

4. Western Christian 22-4 Class 2A state semifinalist

5. Manson-NW Webster 18-6 Class 2A regional finalist

6. Pekin 19-3 Class 2A regional semifinalist

7. Okoboji 19-5 Class 2A regional finalist

8. Lawton-Bronson 14-10 Class 2A regional semifinalist

9. Interstate 35 19-5 Class 2A regional semifinalist

10. West Hancock 14-10 Class 2A regional quarterfinalist

Ten others to watch (alphabetic order): Central Decatur (23-2), Des Moines Christian (20-5), Logan-Magnolia (21-5), Maquoketa Valley (17-6), North-Linn (25-2), North Union (14-9), Sumner-Fredericksburg (18-6), Treynor (17-6), Van Meter (15-8), West Sioux (18-6).

CLASS 1A

1. Springville 23-4 Class 1A state runner-up

2. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 25-1 Class 1A state semifinalist

3. Burlington Notre Dame 24-2 Class 1A state semifinalist

4. Bedford 19-5 Class 1A state qualifier

5. Kingsley-Pierson 22-2 Class 1A regional finalist

6. Turkey Valley 23-2 Class 1A regional finalist

7. Newell-Fonda 23-4 Class 1A state champion

8. Nodaway Valley 18-5 Class 2A regional quarterfinalist

9. Grand View Christian 20-3 Class 1A regional semifinalist

10. Adair-Casey 20-5 Class 1A regional finalist

Ten others to watch (alphabetic order): Dunkerton (14-9), George-Little Rock (19-5), Glidden-Ralston (15-9), Janesville (21-2), Lansing Kee (21-4), Lynnville-Sully (22-2), Marcus MMC (19-5), Northwood-Kensett (19-5), Paton-Churdan (14-8), Rockford (17-5).

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