Five early impressions from the first week of girls’ basketball season

And ... we’re off.

The girls’ basketball season opened for competition Nov. 22, with the majority of area teams starting a few days later.

Rivalry Saturday — its 20th rendition — is past, with all eight games being decided by 13 points or less.

Who won the first week? Here’s a rundown of area highlights:

A milestone for Wheatley

Last year’s Class 1A state champion, North Linn is off to a 3-0 start and has extended its winning streak to 28 games.

The Lynx throttled Midland, 73-26, on Tuesday at Wyoming behind Molly Boge’s 34 points.

That victory was the 400th of Brian Wheatley’s coaching career. Wheatley stands at 400-90 in 20-plus seasons, the last 14 of which have resulted in 20 wins or more.

North Linn is averaging 16.3 steals per game.

Dall’s immediate impact at Prairie

The Bruce Dall effect at Cedar Rapids Prairie can’t be overstated.

Prairie opened with a 59-54 victory over Class 4A No. 1 Sioux City Heelan at Rivalry Saturday, then followed that with a come-from-behind, 66-54, triumph Tuesday at 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon.

Trailing by 10 points at halftime Tuesday, Prairie flipped it with a 20-7 third quarter. Nevaeh Diaz-Doolin led the Hawks with 22 points

All five Prairie starters are averaging between 9.5 and 14.5 points per game.

Dall won four straight Class 2A state titles at Dike-New Hartford before taking the Prairie job. The Hawks face another top-10 challenge Friday, at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

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Welcome back, Becker

The victim of an offseason knee injury, Cedar Rapids Washington junior Samantha Becker made a fast recovery (injury was in late May, surgery in early June), fast enough to be back for the Warriors’ opener Tuesday.

Becker amassed 15 points and 12 assists in Washington’s 114-9 road rout of Des Moines East.

Six players reached double figures, and 110 of Washington’s 114 points came from non-seniors.

Sophomores Elysionna Westerfield and Tashi Fields scored 27 and 23 points, respectively.

The Warriors led 41-3 after one quarter, 72-3 at halftime.

Fresh faces, fast paces

Three area freshmen are averaging more than 20 points per game.

* Addie McLaughlin of Iowa City Regina opened her varsity career with 26 points in the Regals’ rout of Cedar Rapids Kennedy last Friday.

* Kamryn Fink of Highland (4-0) has been prolific in the scorebook (22.2 points per game) and on the glass (14.5 rebounds per contest).

* Brynn Clarahan of Sigourney is scoring at a 20.5-point clip; the Savages split their first two games.

Keeping tabs on early perfection

Twenty-one area teams remain unbeaten through Tuesday.

Highland is the area’s lone 4-0 team. Maquoketa, Maquoketa Valley, North Linn and Clayton Ridge are 3-0.

Four area games Friday match unbeaten vs. unbeaten: Prairie at Xavier, Washington at Iowa City Liberty, Maquoketa Valley at Alburnett and Turkey Valley at Lansing Kee.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com