2021-22 preseason Iowa high school girls’ basketball rankings, first draft

Why wait until November?

The math is complete, the teams are arranged, then reshuffled for likely classification changes.

Thus, here is a first draft for 2021-22 Iowa high school girls' basketball rankings. We'll shift these with any additional classification moves, and - of course - any transfers that come along. Records and postseason advancement is from 2020-21.

Class 5A

1. Johnston 18-2, Class 5A state runner-up

2. Waterloo West 19-2, Class 5A state qualifier

3. Cedar Falls 17-4, Class 5A state qualifier

4. Des Moines Roosevelt 10-2, Class 5A regional finalist

5. Iowa City High 10-5, Class 5A regional finalist

6. Cedar Rapids Washington 13-4, Class 5A regional finalist

7. Southeast Polk 15-4, Class 5A state qualifier

8. West Des Moines Valley 10-7, Class 5A regional final

9. Iowa City West 14-4, Class 5A state semifinalist

10. Sioux City East 18-5, Class 5A regional finalist

Next in line (alphabetic order): Ankeny Centennial (16-3), Bettendorf (10-4), Dubuque Senior (11-7), Waukee Northwest (new), West Des Moines Dowling (11-7).

Class 4A

1. Glenwood 21-4, Class 4A state runner-up

2. DeWitt Central 16-3, Class 4A state qualifier

3. Indianola 18-5, Class 5A regional finalist

4. Dallas Center-Grimes 21-3, Class 4A state semifinalist

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier 10-7, Class 4A regional semifinalist

6. Sioux City Heelan 17-6, Class 3A regional finalist

7. Solon 17-6, Class 3A regional finalist

8. Benton Community 15-8, Class 4A regional semifinalist

9. Spencer 15-8, Class 4A regional semifinalist

10. Grinnell 16-8, Class 4A regional finalist

Next in line (alphabetic order): Clear Creek Amana (17-5), Fort Madison (17-3), North Scott (16-3), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (13-9), Winterset (14-9).

Class 3A

1. Unity Christian 25-2, Class 3A state champion

2. Ballard 24-1, Class 4A state champion

3. West Lyon 24-2, Class 3A state runner-up

4. Cherokee 23-1, Class 3A state semifinalist

5. Estherville ELC 18-6, Class 3A regional finalist

6. Clear Lake 19-2, Class 3A state semifinalist

7. West Liberty 16-6, Class 3A regional finalist

8. Center Point-Urbana 15-7, Class 3A regional semifinalist

9. West Marshall 13-8, Class 3A regional quarterfinalist

10. West Burlington 21-2, Class 3A state qualifier

Next in line (alphabetic order): Davenport Assumption (8-12), Pocahontas Area (13-9), Roland-Story (17-5), Vinton-Shellsburg (18-5), Waukon (19-5).

Class 2A

1. Dike-New Hartford 26-0, Class 2A state champion

2. Grundy Center 19-4, Class 2A state qualifier

3. Nodaway Valley 24-1, Class 2A state semifinalist

4. Panorama 19-5, Class 3A regional finalist

5. Sibley-Ocheyedan 16-6, Class 2A regional quarterfinalist

6. Jesup 13-9, Class 2A regional quarterfinalist

7. Underwood 19-4, Class 2A regional finalist

8. West Fork 14-8, Class 2A regional semifinalist

9. Central Lyon 20-3, Class 2A regional semifinalist

10. Treynor 20-5, Class 2A state qualifier

Next in line (alphabetic order): Cascade (15-7), Denver (18-5), MFL MarMac (16-7), North Union (15-7), South Central Calhoun (15-7).

Class 1A

1. Exira-EHK 24-1, Class 1A state semifinalist

2. Springville 21-5, Class 1A state qualifier

3. North Linn 21-3, Class 2A state qualifier

4. Storm Lake St. Mary's 19-4, Class 1A regional quarterfinalist

5. Marcus MMCRU 21-3, Class 1A state qualifier

6. Algona Garrigan 25-2, Class 1A state runner-up

7. Burlington Notre Dame 19-2, Class 1A regional finalist

8. North Mahaska 15-4, Class 1A regional semifinalist

9. Newell-Fonda 26-1, Class 1A state champion

10. Westwood 19-5, Class 1A regional finalist

Next in line (alphabetic order): Belle Plaine (15-8), Lamoni (16-3), Montezuma (23-2), Stanton (20-3), West Hancock (19-6).

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