First draft: The Gazette’s 2024-25 Iowa high school girls’ basketball preseason state rankings

As we close the book on the Iowa high school girls’ basketball season and transition into spring, here is The Gazette’s first draft of 2024-25 preseason rankings.

These will be reconfigured in November after reclassification and any transfers throughout the state.

Class 5A

1. West Des Moines Dowling (21-5, 5A state runner-up)

2. Johnston (26-0, 5A state champion)

3. Ankeny Centennial (14-9, 5A state qualifier)

4. Pleasant Valley (19-5, 5A state qualifier)

5. Davenport North (22-3, 5A state qualifier)

6. Cedar Falls (23-2, 5A state semifinalist)

7. Waukee (19-5, 5A state semifinalist)

8. Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-5, 5A regional finalist)

9. Ankeny (13-10, 5A regional finalist)

10. West Des Moines Valley (13-11, 5A state qualifier)

Next five (alphabetic order): Cedar Rapids Washington (11-12), Iowa City High (8-15), Iowa City Liberty (11-9), Iowa City West (13-10), Waukee Northwest (11-12).

Class 4A

1. North Polk (23-3, 4A state semifinalist)

2. Norwalk (18-5, 4A regional finalist)

3. Sioux Center (17-7, 4A state qualifier)

4. Sioux City Heelan (23-2, 4A state semifinalist)

5. Clear Creek Amana (26-0, 4A state champion)

6. Gilbert (15-10, 4A state qualifier)

7. Humboldt (18-5, 4A regional finalist)

8. Maquoketa (20-4, 4A regional finalist)

9. Central DeWitt (15-6, 4A regional semifinalist)

10. Western Dubuque (17-7, 4A regional finalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Carlisle (13-10), Carroll (12-10), Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-14), Dallas Center-Grimes (20-4), Storm Lake (14-8).

Class 3A

1. Estherville ELC (24-3, 3A state runner-up)

2. Mount Vernon (22-4, 3A state semifinalist)

3. Dubuque Wahlert (19-6, 3A state qualifier)

4. Algona (19-5, 3A regional finalist)

5. Forest City (21-4, 3A state qualifier)

6. Monticello (20-4, 3A regional finalist)

7. Roland-Story (22-2, 3A regional finalist)

8. Monroe PCM (15-7, 3A regional semifinalist)

9. West Lyon (14-8, 3A regional semifinalist)

10. Williamsburg (14-9, 3A regional semifinalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Cherokee (15-8), Clarinda (15-9), Des Moines Christian (24-2), Harlan (20-4), West Marshall (14-8).

Class 2A

1. Eddyville EBF (23-2, 2A state qualifier)

2. Westwood (22-1, 2A state semifinalist)

3. Cascade (17-7, 2A state qualifier)

4. North Mahaska (19-5, 2A regional finalist)

5. Mapleton MVAOCOU (17-5, 2A regional semifinalist)

6. Kingsley-Pierson/River Valley (16-6, 2A regional semifinalist)

7. Iowa City Regina (19-5, 2A regional finalist)

8. Exira-EHK/Audubon (16-7, 2A regional finalist)

9. Jesup (17-6, 2A regional semifinalist)

10. Central Lyon (23-4, 2A state qualifier)

Next five (alphabetic order): Denver (16-8), Emmetsburg (13-10), Hudson (12-11), Maquoketa Valley (15-9), Sioux Central (23-2).

Class 1A

1. Algona Garrigan (23-2, 1A state qualifier)

2. Riceville (22-2, 1A regional finalist)

3. Montezuma (20-5, 1A state qualifier)

4. Mount Ayr (16-7, 1A regional semifinalist)

5. Dunkerton (18-6, 1A regional semifinalist)

6. Akron-Westfield (14-8, 1A regional semifinalist)

7. North Linn (26-1, 1A state champion)

8. Newell-Fonda (24-3, 1A state runner-up)

9. Lone Tree (19-4, 1A regional quarterfinalist)

10. Lansing Kee (18-6, 1A regional semifinalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Coon Rapids-Bayard (20-4), Council Bluffs St. Albert (23-2), Fremont-Mills (23-1), Gladbrook-Reinbeck (15-10), Lynnville-Sully (19-4).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com