CCA’s P.J. Sweeney, Solon’s Callie Levin headline The Gazette’s 2023-24 all-area girls’ basketball team

Just a “softball school?” Not any more.

Not at all.

“To go from where we were, to where we are now, it’s crazy to think about,” Clear Creek Amana girls’ basketball coach P.J. Sweeney said. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet.

“Looking back 10 years ago, I thought I was ready to be a head coach. Boy, I had a lot to learn.”

Sweeney, 54, completed a decade-long build earlier this month, piloting the Clippers to a 26-0 record and the Class 4A state championship.

Today, he is honored as The Gazette’s girls’ basketball coach of the year.

Solon’s Callie Levin adds area-player-of-the-year honors to her Miss Iowa Basketball 2024 title, which she claimed in the wake of the Spartans’ 3A state championship.

Other than among the big schools, it was a bountiful season for the area, with Clear Creek Amana (4A), Solon (3A) and North Linn (1A) earning state titles. As a result, The Gazette’s all-area team is expanded this year from the usual 12 players to 14.

Each of the three state champions landed two players on the all-area squad.

Senior Ava Locklear and sophomore Averie Lower represented Clear Creek Amana (26-0), Levin and Hailey Miller (both seniors) were picked from Solon (24-3), and seniors Kamryn Kurt and Macy Boge were tabbed from North Linn (26-1).

Levin made the area team for the fourth straight year.

Kurt is a three-time selection, as is Cedar Rapids Xavier junior Libby Fandel.

The remainder of the team consists of junior Karrington Asp of Western Dubuque, sophomore Samantha Becker of Cedar Rapids Washington, junior Jayden Kuper of Monticello, junior Chloe Meester of Mount Vernon, junior Morgan Miller of Iowa City Regina, senior Emma Townsley of Benton Community and senior Yazmeen Whitsitt of Decorah.

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A 5-foot-9 guard, Levin averaged 22.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.8 steals per game in her senior season as the Spartans went 24-3.

She closes her career with 1,984 points, 535 rebounds, 412 assists and 417 steals.

Levin is part of a highly-touted recruiting class of 2024 at the University of Iowa.

“I’m trying to work on my mid-range jumper, getting more consistent and stronger,” she said upon the Miss Iowa Basketball announcement.

“In the Big Ten, you can’t go off of one foot. You’ve got to go up strong.”

Sweeney was a CCA assistant for a few years before taking the reins in 2014.

In the last season before his promotion, the Clippers were 6-15. In his first season as head coach, 13-9.

His 10-year ledger reads 152-74 with three state appearances, the first three in school history.

And, now, a title.

“Our defense led the way for us,” Sweeney said after the Clippers allowed 31.6 points per game. “We had played a lot of 1-3-1 zone, but we became a more aggressive half-court (man-to-man) team.

“We weren’t a big pressing team. We just decided, ‘Let’s get back and make the other teams earn it.’”

The Gazette’s 2023-24 all-area girls’ basketball team

Karrington Asp, 6-3, jr., Western Dubuque — IPSWA Class 4A first-team all-state. Averaged 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game as the Bobcats (17-7) reached the 4A regional finals. Has scored 901 points with one season remaining. North Dakota State University commit.

Samantha Becker, 5-8, soph., Cedar Rapids Washington — IPSWA Class 5A second-team all-state. Averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game as the Warriors (11-12) reached the 5A regional finals. Has scored 649 points with two seasons remaining.

Macy Boge, 5-8, sr., North Linn — IPSWA Class 1A first-team all-state. Averaged 16.1 points, 3.6 assists and 4.3 steals as the Lynx (26-1) won the 1A state championship. Finished her career with 1,321 points.

Libby Fandel, 6-0, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier — Three-time selection. IPSWA Class 4A first-team all-state. Averaged 24.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 4.0 steals per game as the Saints (10-14) reached the 4A regional finals. Has scored 1,311 points with one season remaining.

Jayden Kuper, 5-11, jr., Monticello — IPSWA Class 3A first-team all-state. Averaged 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.7 steals per game as the Panthers (20-4) reached the 3A regional finals. Has scored 1,161 points with one season remaining.

Kamryn Kurt, 5-6, sr., North Linn — Three-time selection. IPSWA Class 1A first-team all-state. Averaged 18.3 points, 5.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game as the Lynx (26-1) won the 1A state championship. Finished her career with 1,701 points.

Callie Levin, 5-9, sr., Solon — Four-time selection. IPSWA Class 3A first-team all-state. Averaged 22.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.8 steals per game as the Spartans (24-3) won the 3A state championship. Finished her career with 1,984 points. Signed with the University of Iowa.

Ava Locklear, 5-11, sr., Clear Creek Amana — Two-time selection. IPSWA Class 4A first-team all-state. Averaged 12.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 blocks per game as the Clippers (26-0) won the 4A state championship. Finished her career with 1,053 points. Signed with Saginaw Valley State University.

Averie Lower, 5-11, soph., Clear Creek Amana — IPSWA Class 4A first-team all-state. Averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game as the Clippers (26-0) won the 4A state championship. Has scored 718 points with two seasons remaining.

Chloe Meester, 6-2, jr., Mount Vernon — IPSWA Class 3A first-team all-state. Averaged 12.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as the Mustangs (22-4) reached the 3A state semifinals. Has scored 556 points with one season remaining. Committed to play volleyball at the University of Louisville.

Hailey Miller, 5-7, sr., Solon — IPSWA Class 3A first-team all-state. Averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as the Spartans (24-3) won the 3A state championship. Finished her career with 785 points.

Morgan Miller, 5-6, jr., Iowa City Regina — IPSWA Class 2A first-team all-state. Averaged 19.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.9 steals per game as the Regals (19-5) reached the 2A regional finals. Has scored 1,161 points with one season remaining.

Emma Townsley, 5-8, sr., Benton Community — IPSWA Class 3A first-team all-state. Averaged 15.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.2 steals per game as the Bobcats (18-7) reached the 3A state tournament. Finished her career with 897 points. Will play at Wartburg College.

Yazmeen Whitsitt, 5-8, sr., Decorah — IPSWA Class 4A second-team all-state. Averaged 24.0 points and 2.8 steals per game as the Vikings (15-8) reached the 4A regional semifinals. Her 92 3-pointers were second-most in the state. Finished her career with 1,492 points.

Player of the year — Callie Levin, sr., Solon

Coach of the year — P.J. Sweeney, Clear Creek Amana

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com