Girls’ basketball: Super Ten

The Gazette's area Super Ten girls' basketball teams, through Dec. 2:

1. WESTERN DUBUQUE (2-0)

Offensive average: 54.0. Defensive average: 36.5. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Beat Independence, 48-24, Nov. 25; beat Marion, 60-49, Tuesday. This week: at Center Point-Urbana, Friday; at Dyersville Beckman, Tuesday.

Notable: The Bobcats made an early statement against young, talented Marion, getting 30 points from all-state front-liners Rose Simon-Ressler and Megan Maahs. Western Dubuque plays its next four games on the road before returning home Dec. 19.

2. IOWA CITY WEST (3-0)

Offensive average: 59.3. Defensive average: 47.0. Streak: Won 3. Last week: Beat Mason City, 69-61, Nov. 25; beat Davenport Assumption, 40-31, Saturday; beat Cedar Rapids Prairie, 69-49, Tuesday. This week: Dubuque Hempstead, Friday; Cedar Rapids Xavier, Monday.

Notable: The MVC went 1-2 against the CIML in the first week, with the Women of Troy picking up the lone win, an impressive one at Mason City. Dani Craig, who missed the 2013-14 season with a torn ACL, scored 25 points in that game and leads the team at 17 ppg. She is hitting 64 percent from behind the arc.

3. NORTH LINN (2-0)

Offensive average: 66.5. Defensive average: 19.0. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Beat Clinton Prince of Peace, 67-18, Nov. 25; beat Alburnett, 66-20, Tuesday. This week: Lisbon, Friday; at Anamosa, Saturday; Edgewood-Colesburg, Monday.

Notable: The Lynx whacked a couple of Tri-Rivers foes, including an Alburnett squad that figures to be quite competitive. Drake signee Nicole Miller (22.0 ppg) and Maddie Boer (13.0 ppg) both are shooting better than 70 percent from the field. The first real test isn't expected until after Christmas - the Lynx travel to archrival Maquoketa Valley on Jan. 6.

4. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (2-0)

Offensive average: 76.0. Defensive average: 32.5. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Beat Davenport Central, 77-32, Nov. 25; beat Waterloo West, 75-33, Tuesday. This week: Iowa City High, Friday; at Pleasant Valley, Saturday; Waterloo East, Tuesday.

Notable: The Cougars rank sixth in the state (all classes) in field goal shooting, at 53.8 percent. Stephanie Botkin has blossomed through the early going, averaging 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds through the first two games (including 27 at Waterloo West). Lela Sellers, the transfer from Minnesota, adds 18.0 points per game. It gets much more difficult Friday against City High.

5. IOWA CITY HIGH (2-1)

Offensive average: 69.3. Defensive average: 54.7. Streak: Won 1. Last week: Beat Burlington, 87-25, Nov. 21; lost to West Des Moines Dowling, 85-43; beat Dubuque Senior, 78-54, Tuesday. This week: at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Friday; at Dubuque Wahlert, Tuesday.

Notable: The Little Hawks haven't played a close game yet, winning by 62, losing by 42 and winning by 24. Expect a more competitive battle Friday at Kennedy. The area is full of promising freshman, and City's Ashley Joens has to be near the top of the list - she is averaging 25.3 points per game.

6. CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (1-0)

Offensive average: 56.0. Defensive average: 48.0. Streak: Won 1. Last week: Beat Dubuque Wahlert, 56-48, Tuesday. This week: Davenport Central, Thursday; at Dubuque Senior, Friday; at Cedar Falls, Tuesday.

Notable: The last Metro team to see the floor, Washington pulled away late Tuesday to beat Dubuque Wahlert, 56-48. Anne Visser led the Warriors with 14 points. If the Warriors and Linn-Mar both take care of business, it would make for a spicy showdown of unbeatens Dec. 12 at Washington.

7. LINN-MAR (2-0)

Offensive average: 45.0. Defensive average: 25.0. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Beat Waterloo East, 56-19, Nov. 25; beat Muscatine, 34-31, Saturday. This week: Waterloo West, Friday; Dubuque Hempstead, Tuesday.

Notable: Jaime Printy Brandt's club broke out of the gate with a pair of wins, and is favored to win two more this week before traveling to Cedar Rapids Washington on Dec. 12. The Lions have impressed with balance rather than star value; the leading scorer (Olivia Montague) is averaging 8.5 points per game.

8. CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON (2-1)

Offensive average: 49.0. Defensive average: 45.3. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Lost to North Scott, 57-42, Nov. 25; beat Bettendorf, 54-48, Saturday; beat Dubuque Hempstead, 51-31, Tuesday. This week: Waterloo East, Friday; at West Des Moines Valley, Saturday; Cedar Rapids Prairie, Tuesday.

Notable: Jefferson posted its best effort of the season Tuesday, picking up a 20-point road win against a quality Hempstead outfit. Amanda Ollinger registed 25 points and 20 rebounds, sending the season totals for the Iowa recruit to 20 points and 13 boards per game.

9. CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (2-1)

Offensive average: 50.3. Defensive average: 42.7. Streak: Won 1. Last week: Beat Decorah, 58-41, Nov.25; lost to Johnston, 51-45, Saturday; beat Cedar Falls, 48-36, Tuesday. This week: at Dubuque Wahlert, Friday; at Iowa City West, Monday.

Notable: Xavier got in front early and handled Cedar Falls, 48-36, Tuesday to open the Mississippi Valley Conference slate at 1-0. Coach Tom Lilly is nine wins away from his 300th at Xavier, 19 away from 500 overall.

10. WEST DELAWARE (2-0)

Offensive average: 50.5. Defensive average: 39.0. Streak: Won 2. Last week: Beat South Tama, 50-35, Nov. 25; beat Clear Creek Amana, 51-43, Tuesday. This week: at Vinton-Shellsburg, Friday; DeWitt Central, Tuesday.

Notable: Harold Shepherd's 48th season has begun in winning fashion behind a strong defensive effort. Friday's game will be a homecoming of sorts: Shepherd won two state titles (1984, 1995) during a long, prosperous career in Vinton. There are potential potholes (at Mount Vernon Dec. 12 and against Solon Dec. 19), but the possibility is there for an unbeaten mark at the holiday break.

Area class rankings:

Class 5A - 1. Iowa City West (3-0), 2. C.R. Kennedy (2-0), 3. Iowa City High (2-1), 4. C.R. Washington (1-0), 5. Linn-Mar (2-0).

Class 4A - 1. Western Dubuque (2-0), 2. C.R. Xavier (2-1), 3. West Delaware (2-0), 4. Marion (1-1), 5. Clear Creek Amana (1-1).

Class 3A - 1. Solon (2-0), 2. Mount Vernon (1-1), 3. Center Point-Urbana (1-1), 4. Mid-Prairie (1-1), 5. Monticello (1-0).

Class 2A - 1. North Linn (2-0), 2. Clayton Ridge (1-0), 3. Maquoketa Valley (2-0), 4. Cascade (2-0), 5. West Branch (2-0).

Class 1A - 1. Keota (2-1), 2. English Valleys (3-0), 3. Iowa Valley (1-1), 4. Springville (1-0), 5. Lansing Kee (3-0).

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