Rivalry Saturday girls’ basketball 2024: All 8 matchups are set for 20th edition

CEDAR RAPIDS — The beginning of the 2024-25 high school girls’ basketball season is roughly six months away, and the eight games for Rivalry Saturday already are set in ink.

The 20th rendition of the event is scheduled for Nov. 30 at Johnson Hall.

All 16 teams show up in the early Gazette preseason rankings, 14 in the top 10 of their respective classes.

Ten of them reached the 2024 state tournament, and two of them — Clear Creek Amana (Class 4A) and North Linn (1A) — are reigning state champions.

The event is highlighted by a projected Class 3A 1-vs.-2 matchup between Estherville-Lincoln Central and Mount Vernon.

Here are the eight matchups, with 2023-24 records and 2024-25 Gazette preseason rankings (times will be released at a later time):

3A No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central (24-3) vs. 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon (22-4)

It’s a rematch of a 3A state semifinal last year, won by ELC, 45-37. The Midgets return three starters, led by senior guard Haylee Stokes, who has committed to Minnesota State. Mount Vernon returns a veteran roster, headed by senior all-staters Chloe Meester and Sydney Huber.

2A No. 1 Eddyville EBF (23-2) vs. 2A No. 3 Cascade (17-7)

EBF has made two straight state appearances (the first two in program history), and with four starters returning, the Rockets appear to be as good of a bet as anybody to succeed Dike-New Hartford atop the 2A ladder. Molly Roling and Addison Frake are returning double-digit scorers for Cascade.

5A No. 3 Ankeny Centennial (14-9) vs. 5A No. 4 Pleasant Valley (19-5)

Centennial Coach Scott DeJong enters his 37th season with a 699-183 record, so this has the potential to be a milestone win. The Jaguars beat Pleasant Valley, 44-40, at last year’s Rivalry Saturday and have all five starters back. PV was the 5A state champion in 2023 and returns four starters, including Drake commit Quinn Vice.

1A No. 2 Riceville (22-2) vs. 1A No. 7 North Linn (26-1)

North Linn’s last defeat was a one-pointer to Clear Creek Amana at last year’s Rivalry Saturday. The Lynx followed that with 25 consecutive wins, winning the 1A title. North Linn has reached the 20-win plateau each of the last 14 seasons. Riceville is poised for a jump to 1A elite status, with its top six scorers returning.

4A No. 4 Clear Creek Amana (26-0) vs. 4A No. 6 Maquoketa (20-4)

CCA rode its defense to the 4A state title last year (allowing 33.4 points in the postseason), but has some reloading to do around junior Averie Lower, the only returning starter. With its top three scorers back (including all-staters Cora Widel and Audrey Kroymann), Maquoketa is a good bet for its first state run in 2025.

4A No. 3 Sioux City Heelan (23-2) vs. 5A No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-5)

Prairie made a blockbuster coaching hire last week, landing Bruce Dall (five state championships, 542 career wins), and he inherits a program with potential. The Hawks’ top four scorers are back, led by junior Emily Larsen. Heelan has been to state five of the last six years, and returns all-staters Abby Lee and Melina Snoozy.

1A No. 3 Montezuma (20-5) vs. 2A No. 15 Maquoketa Valley (15-9)

Montezuma loves the long ball; the Bravettes averaged 26 3-point attempts per game last season in reaching the state tournament. Three returners tried at least 100 3-pointers, including leading scorer Ellen Cook. Maquoketa Valley loses only player from its 2023-24 rotation.

3A No. 8 Monticello (20-4) vs. 3A No. 11 Williamsburg (14-9)

Returning 3A first-team all-stater Jayden Kuper does it all for Monticello; she averaged 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.7 steals per game as a junior. Williamsburg went from 5-17 in 2022-23 to 14-9 in 2023-24, and with all five starters returning next season, the climb should continue.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com