Gazette area girls' basketball: Preseason Super 10 rankings

Welcome to the first week of practice for the 2020-21 girls' basketball season. Who knows where (or if) it will take us? For now, it's on as scheduled, so here's a preseason Gazette-area Super 10.

1.

Iowa City West

2019-20: 14-10 (8-7 MVC, T-2nd Valley Division)

2019-20: 14-10 (8-7 MVC, T-2nd Valley Division)

2020 postseason: Class 5A regional finalistCoach: B.J. Mayer (14th year at West, 225-84; 23rd year overall, 353-167)Key returners: Audrey Koch (sr.), Matayia Tellis (sr.), Meena Tate (sr.), Jenna Saunders (sr.)Season opener: DeWitt Central, Nov. 24

 

2.

Iowa City High

2019-20: 23-2 (15-0 MVC, 1st Mississippi Division)

2019-20: 23-2 (15-0 MVC, 1st Mississippi Division)

2020 postseason: Class 5A state semifinalistCoach: Bill McTaggart (22nd year at City High, 373-119; 28th year overall, 489-181)Key returners: Kelsey Joens (soph.), Eviyon Richardson (jr.), Ella Cook (sr.)Season opener: Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Dec. 4

 

3.

Center Point-Urbana

2019-20: 22-3 (17-2 Wamac, 1st West Division)

2019-20: 22-3 (17-2 Wamac, 1st West Division)

2020 postseason: Class 4A state semifinalistCoach: Philip Klett (13th year at CPU, 210-82; 15th year overall, 245-96)Key returners: Ryley Goebel (jr.), Tayler Reaves (soph.), Claire Neighbor (sr.) Season opener: at Solon, Nov. 24

 

4.

Maquoketa Valley

2019-20: 17-5 (10-4 Tri-Rivers West, T-2nd)

2019-20: 17-5 (10-4 Tri-Rivers West, T-2nd)

2020 postseason: Class 2A regional quarterfinalistCoach: Scot Moenck (15th year at Maquoketa Valley, 249-76; 18th year overall, 288-104)Key returners: Taya Tucker (sr.), Ella Imler (sr.), Emerson Whittenbaugh (sr.), Trista Elgin (soph.), Carissa Sabers (jr.) Season opener: Edgewood-Colesburg, Nov. 24

 

5.

West Branch

2019-20: 21-4 (17-2 River Valley, 1st South Division)

2019-20: 21-4 (17-2 River Valley, 1st South Division)

2020 postseason: Class 2A state qualifierCoach: Jarod Tylee (10th year, 150-59)Key returners: Sasha Koenig (sr.), Rylan Druecker (sr.), Taya Young (sr.), Delaynie Luneckas (jr.), Lexie Peak (sr.) Season opener: Grundy Center (Rivalry Saturday), Nov. 28

 

6.

Cedar Rapids Xavier

2019-20: 15-8 (12-3 MVC, T-3rd Mississippi Division)

2019-20: 15-8 (12-3 MVC, T-3rd Mississippi Division)

2020 postseason: Class 4A regional finalistCoach: Tom Lilly (23rd year at Xavier, 379-160; 36th year overall, 567-262)Key returners: Aree Beckmann (jr.), Mary Kate Moeder (jr.) Season opener: at Davenport Assumption, Nov. 24

 

7.

Springville

2019-20: 20-5 (10-4 Tri-Rivers West, T-2nd)

2019-20: 20-5 (10-4 Tri-Rivers West, T-2nd)

2020 postseason: Class 1A regional finalistCoach: Christina Zaruba (4th year, 60-18)Key returners: Lauren Wilson (jr.), Morgan Nachazel (jr.), Grace Matus (jr.), Molly Stamp (soph.), Savannah Nealman (jr.) Season opener: Central City, Nov. 24

 

8.

West Liberty

2019-20: 19-5 (15-4 River Valley, 2nd South Division)

2019-20: 19-5 (15-4 River Valley, 2nd South Division)

2020 postseason: Class 3A regional finalistCoach: Matt Hoeppner (2nd year at West Liberty, 19-5; 4th year overall, 45-24)Key returners: Finley Hall (soph.), Macy Daufeldt (jr.), Sailor Hall (jr.), Janey Gingerich (sr.), Averi Goodale (sr.) Season opener: Solon (Rivalry Saturday), Nov. 28

 

9.

Cedar Rapids Washington

2019-20: 10-12 (7-8 MVC, 5th Mississippi Division)

2019-20: 10-12 (7-8 MVC, 5th Mississippi Division)

2020 postseason: Class 5A regional semifinalist Coach: Chris James (5th year, 46-42)Key returners: Hannah Stuelke (jr.), Sydney Mitvalsky (sr.), Sydney Engledow (sr.), Jaliea Havel (jr.) Season opener: at Davenport North, Nov. 24

 

10.

North Linn

2019-20: 25-2 (14-0 Tri-Rivers West, 1st)

2019-20: 25-2 (14-0 Tri-Rivers West, 1st)

2020 postseason: Class 2A state championCoach: Brian Wheatley (17th year, 304-81) Key returners: Ellie Ware (sr.), Chloe Van Etten (jr.), Ellie Flanagan (soph.) Season opener: at Alburnett, Nov. 24

 

Area class rankings

Class 5A — 1. Iowa City West (14-10), 2. Iowa City High (23-2), 3. Cedar Rapids Washington (10-12), 4. Cedar Rapids Prairie (20-4), 5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10-12)

Class 4A — 1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-8), 2. Benton Community (13-9), 3. Clear Creek Amana (19-5), 4. Marion (21-2), 5. Decorah (12-10)

Class 3A — 1. Center Point-Urbana (22-3), 2. West Liberty (19-5), 3. Waukon (15-9), 4. Solon (9-13), 5. Vinton-Shellsburg (12-11)

Class 2A — 1. Maquoketa Valley (17-5), 2. West Branch (21-4), 3. North Linn (25-2), 4. Cascade (26-1), 5. Jesup (20-5)

Class 1A — 1. Springville (20-5), 2. Turkey Valley (19-5), 3. Montezuma (23-2), 4. Lansing Kee (15-8), 5. English Valleys (13-9)

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