Iowa high school girls’ basketball: Gazette area reset for 2022

It’s a short list. A small sorority.

You’ve got Iowa City High. You’ve got Springville. And that’s the list.

Only two area girls’ basketball teams got through the pre-holiday portion of the schedule unscathed. In all, 20 unbeatens remain statewide, 10 of them in Class 1A.

Neither the Little Hawks nor the Orioles are a surprise. Both programs are tradition-rich. Both teams carried high expectations.

City High (7-0) hasn’t blown opponents out. Only one game has been decided by more than 20 points. Among those vanquished are Waterloo West and Iowa City West — both of which entered the season in the top five in Class 5A.

The Little Hawks entered the season with a pair of proven commodities in junior Kelsey Joens and senior Eviyon Richardson. An Iowa State commit, Joens is averaging 21.1 points per game; Richardson (an Omaha signee) is at 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest.

The improvement of Andie Westlake and the arrival of Bella Cooley provide two more good options.

Springville (11-0) has exhibited one of the state’s most prolific offensive attacks; the Orioles’ 70.6-point average ranks No. 3 in all classes.

Senior Lauren Wilson leads the charge at 22.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.8 blocks per game. She is shooting 59 percent from the floor.

Morgan Nachazel and Savannah Nealman add 12.6 and 8.4 points per game, respectively.

The Orioles have proven they can come through in the clutch, as well, rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to escape East Buchanan, 56-55, Dec. 21. They’ll get another challenge Friday, at home against North Linn.

The season resumes Monday with a handful of area games, then comes back in full force Tuesday. Here’s a look at area conference races as we resume:

MVC Mississippi Division

RACE RESET

Jasmine Barney’s change of location — from Cedar Falls to Iowa City Liberty — also changed the landscape of this race. With the junior guard no longer on the Tigers’ roster, the pendulum swings firmly in favor of Iowa City High (7-0, 4-0). The Little Hawks already have wins over Waterloo West and Iowa City West, and open the January portion of their schedule against Liberty (6-2, 3-0) and Cedar Falls (6-2, 3-1). Barney is averaging 18.4 points per game for the Lightning, who are in the midst of their best season in school history. Don’t discount Cedar Rapids Washington (6-3, 1-3), whose three league losses have come by a combined 14 points. The Warriors won’t lose many more.

MIDSEASON MVP

Hannah Stuelke, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Cedar Falls, 2. Iowa City High, 3. Cedar Rapids Washington

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Iowa City High, 2. Cedar Rapids Washington, 3. Cedar Falls

MVC Valley Division

RACE RESET

This race will come into clearer focus quickly after the break. Waterloo West (7-1, 4-0) and Iowa City West (6-1, 4-0) collide in Iowa City on Friday, with first place in the division on the line. Before that, on Tuesday, Iowa City West hosts Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-2, 3-1) in a non-counting game, but still a good barometer. It marks the start of a challenging five-game stretch for the Saints, who open January with Iowa City West, Iowa City Liberty and Dubuque Senior (all on the road), then at home against Iowa City High and Cedar Falls. The Trojans’ title chase is hampered by the loss of senior guard Emma Ingersoll-Weng, who suffered an ACL tear in December.

MIDSEASON MVP

Halli Poock, jr., Waterloo West

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Waterloo West, 2. Cedar Rapids Xavier, 3. Iowa City West

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Waterloo West, 2. Cedar Rapids Xavier, 3. Iowa City West

Wamac East Division

RACE RESET

It’s hard to imagine a league in the state that has a higher floor than this one. A stark improvement by Mount Vernon and West Delaware — who combined for a 5-37 mark last year — makes this a division with six legitimately competitive teams. Marion (5-3, 3-0) has the upper hand for now, thanks to a 41-39 home win over Solon (5-5, 0-1) on Dec. 14, and the rematch is Jan. 18 at Solon. The Wolves have won or shared six consecutive divisional titles. They host their closest challenger, for now, when Dyersville Beckman (5-2, 2-0) comes calling Tuesday. Mount Vernon (4-6, 1-1), Maquoketa (3-6, 0-2) and West Delaware (3-6, 0-2) all are capable of providing a giant headache to any of the frontrunners.

MIDSEASON MVP

Callie Levin, soph., Solon

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Solon, 2. Marion, 3. Maquoketa

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Solon, 2. Marion, 3. Dyersville Beckman

Wamac West Division

RACE RESET

The Wamac West race was a traffic jam at the top last year, with Benton Community, Clear Creek Amana and Vinton-Shellsburg sharing the title with three divisional losses apiece and Center Point-Urbana finishing with four. It’s a similar start this winter with five teams within a half-game of each other. CPU (8-1, 2-1) opened with eight straight wins, including a triumph over defending 2A state champion Dike-New Hartford, then tripped at CCA (4-4, 2-1) in its last pre-holiday game. Benton (7-2, 2-1) and Williamsburg (5-3, 2-1) also have a share of the lead, with Vinton-Shellsburg (7-3, 1-1) squarely in the hunt. CCA took a roster hit when Calia Clubb graduated at winter break; she is an early enroll at Illinois State, where she will play volleyball. The Clippers host Benton on Tuesday; Vinton-Shellsburg is at Williamsburg.

MIDSEASON MVP

Ryley Goebel, sr., Center Point-Urbana

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Benton Community, 2. Clear Creek Amana, 3. Center Point-Urbana

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Center Point-Urbana, 2. Benton Community, 3. Vinton-Shellsburg

River Valley North Division

RACE RESET

Mike Sconsa is back on the sideline after missing the 2020-21 season due to a stroke, and his Cascade team appears to be poised to regain the divisional throne, which would be its seventh RVC North title in the league’s nine-year history. The Cougars (8-1, 7-1) ended December on a high note, knocking off West Liberty, 39-37. Cascade’s encounters with archrival Monticello (6-3, 6-2) are Friday (at Monticello) and Feb. 4 (at Cascade). Last year’s North champion, Bellevue (4-4, 3-4) remains dangerous.

MIDSEASON MVP

Ally Hoffman, sr., Cascade

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Cascade, 2. Bellevue, 3. Monticello

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Cascade, 2. Monticello, 3. Bellevue

River Valley South Division

RACE RESET

After a 12-8 season last year, Iowa City Regina (7-2, 7-0) is a somewhat surprising leader at the break. We’ll know a lot more about the Regals in two weeks; in that time they’ll have faced Cascade, West Liberty, Monticello and West Branch — three of those four on the road. Two-time defending champion West Branch (7-1, 7-1) has reloaded nicely after heavy graduation losses, and West Liberty (6-2, 6-1) is in the mix despite a roster of only seven players. The Bears and the Comets tangle Tuesday at West Branch. Wilton (6-2, 5-2) lost to Regina by only three points on Dec. 3, and Mid-Prairie (4-3, 4-3) is capable of knocking off any of the contenders.

MIDSEASON MVP

Kelsey Drake, sr., Wilton

PRESEASON PICKS

1. West Liberty, 2. Wilton, 3. Iowa City Regina

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. West Liberty, 2. Iowa City Regina, 3. West Branch

Tri-Rivers East Division

RACE RESET

Calamus-Wheatland (6-4, 4-0) seized the role of favorite early, taking down defending champion Clinton Prince of Peace (3-4, 2-1) on opening night, 60-39. The rematch is Jan. 14 at Clinton. Prince of Peace had the best interdivisional win of the East teams, knocking off 2021 2A state runner-up Maquoketa Valley. Of the three area teams in the East, Midland (3-6, 2-1) has had the best go of it through December.

MIDSEASON MVP

Lilly Isenhour, sr., Clinton Prince of Peace

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Clinton Prince of Peace, 2. Calamus-Wheatlland, 3. Lisbon

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Calamus-Wheatland, 2. Clinton Prince of Peace, 3. Midland

Tri-Rivers West Division

RACE RESET

The Tri-Rivers remains an extremely unbalanced creature; it’s not a stretch to say that the top six teams in the conference reside in the West Division. Four of them can be found in the top 11 of the BC Moore 1A computer rankings. Springville (11-0, 4-0) won its first 10 games by double digits, then had to scramble back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to escape East Buchanan (7-1, 3-1), 56-55, on Dec. 21. This might prove to be the Buccaneers’ best five-on-five team ever. North Linn (9-1, 4-0) probably is on its way to its 12th straight 20-win season, and the Lynx open 2022 against — yikes — East Buchanan, Springville and Central City (7-2, 2-2).

MIDSEASON MVP

Lauren Wilson, sr., Springville

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Springville, 2. North Linn, 3. East Buchanan

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Springville, 2. North Linn, 3. East Buchanan

North Iowa Cedar East Division

RACE RESET

The NICL is a reconfigured, three-division deal, and Jesup (6-2, 2-0) has stamped itself as the best team in the East. The J-Hawks dealt Sumner-Fredericksburg (6-3, 2-1) a 60-48 defeat Dec. 7, and make the trip to Sumner on Jan. 18.

MIDSEASON MVP

Morgan Brandt, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Jesup, 2. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 3. Wapsie Valley

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Jesup, 2. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 3. Wapsie Valley

Northeast Iowa

RACE RESET

Waverly-Shell Rock (7-1, 3-0) and Decorah (7-1, 3-0) have moved to the front of the pack. WSR is favored to win its 10th NEIC title in the last 11 years, but the gap between the Go-Hawks and the Vikings isn’t that wide. The first meeting is Friday at Decorah, the rematch Feb. 11 at Waverly. Decorah’s roster is comprised mostly of sophomores and juniors.

MIDSEASON MVP

Carlee Rochford, jr., New Hampton

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Waukon, 3. Decorah

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Decorah, 3. Waukon

South Iowa Cedar East Division

RACE RESET

It’s nearly a certainty that someone new will win the division after Sigourney had a five-year monopoly. The Savages (4-5, 3-4) are tied for fourth place, three games behind English Valleys. The Bears (8-1, 6-1) won their first eight games before running into a superior North Mahaska squad. If they can hold off Belle Plaine (6-2, 5-2) and Iowa Valley (7-2, 4-2) — they play both in late January — they’ll earn their first league title since 2005.

MIDSEASON MVP

Olivia Bohlen, sr., Belle Plaine

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Belle Plaine, 2. English Valleys, 3. Sigourney

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. English Valleys, 2. Iowa Valley, 3. Belle Plaine

South Iowa Cedar West Division

RACE RESET

North Mahaska (8-1, 7-0) lost its opener to Schuyler County (Mo.), but has been unstoppable in Iowa. The Warhawks have won their last eight games by 40.5 points per contest, including a 55-37 road win against Montezuma (7-2, 5-1). The rematch is Feb. 1 at New Sharon. Those two teams have combined for the last four SICL West titles.

MIDSEASON MVP

Layla Hargis, sr., North Mahaska

PRESEASON PICKS

1. North Mahaska, 2. Montezuma, 3. Lynnville-Sully

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. North Mahaska, 2. Montezuma, 3. Lynnville-Sully

Upper Iowa

RACE RESET

By virtue of a 58-54 victory at Elkader Central on Dec. 21, MFL MarMac (6-3, 6-0) has the inside track to its third UIC title in the last four seasons. But a number of potential potholes remain, starting Friday at home against defending champion North Fayette Valley (4-2, 3-2). Central (7-2, 6-1) gets another shot at the Bulldogs in their league finale Feb. 1; the Warriors have never won a UIC five-on-five title. The presence of Turkey Valley (5-3, 4-2) makes it a quartet of potential contenders.

MIDSEASON MVP

Reagan Mudderman, sr., Lansing Kee

PRESEASON PICKS

1. MFL MarMac, 2. Elkader Central, 3. North Fayette Valley

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. MFL MarMac, 2. Elkader Central, 3. Turkey Valley

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com