Iowa high school girls’ basketball 2021-22: 10 area teams to watch

Call it a preseason Super Ten, if you wish. Here are 10 area teams to watch for the 2021-22 girls’ basketball season.

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier

2020-21 record: 10-7 (7-5 MVC, Valley Division-4th)

2020-21 postseason: Class 4A regional semifinalist

Coach: Tom Lilly (24th year at Xavier, 389-167; 37th year overall, 577-269)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 100.0

Key returners: Lexi Turner, jr., 10.8 ppg; Lexi Beier, sr., 9.2 ppg; Aree Beckman, sr., 7.5 ppg; Kyla Mason, jr., 5.7 ppg; Madi Steger, jr., 4.6 ppg; Brielle Bastian, sr., 4.3 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, vs. Davenport Assumption

2. Iowa City High

2020-21 record: 10-5 (7-2 MVC, Mississippi Division-2nd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Bill McTaggart (23rd year at City, 383-124; 29th year overall, 499-186)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 78.6

Key returners: Kelsey Joens, jr., 18.7 ppg; Eviyon Richardson, sr., 14.3 ppg; Andie Westlake, sr., 6.7 ppg; Georgia Kimm, sr., 4.0 ppg

Season opener: Dec. 3, at Cedar Rapids Jefferson

3. Cedar Rapids Washington

2020-21 record: 13-4 (8-3 MVC, Mississippi Division-3rd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Chris James (6th year, 59-46)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 66.8

Key returners: Hannah Stuelke, sr., 21.4 ppg; Jaliea Havel, sr., 8.4 ppg; Deja Redmond, sr., 5.4 ppg; Aeri Thomas, sr., 4.5 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, at Davenport North

4. Iowa City West

2020-21 record: 14-4 (8-1 MVC, Valley Division-2nd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 5A state semifinalist

Coach: B.J. Mayer (15th year at West, 239-88; 24th year overall, 367-171)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 45.4

Key returners: Emma Ingersoll-Weng, sr., 9.1 ppg; Meena Tate, jr., 8.7 ppg; Anna Prouty, jr., 4.9 ppg

Season opener: Dec. 3, vs. Cedar Rapids Washington

5. Solon

2020-21 record: 17-6 (14-3 Wamac; 8-2 East Division, T-1st)

2020-21 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Jamie Smith (4th year at Solon, 29-37; 13th year overall, 160-115)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 100.0

Key returners: Callie Levin, soph., 19.0 ppg; MaKinley Levin, sr., 9.2 ppg; Kaia Holtkamp, sr., 8.5 ppg; Elly Holubar, sr., 4.4 ppg; Ava Stebral, sr., 4.0 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, at Center Point-Urbana

6. Springville

2020-21 record: 21-5 (10-4 Tri-Rivers East, 3rd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 1A state qualifier

Coach: Christina Zaruba (5th year, 81-23)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 100.0

Key returners: Lauren Wilson, sr., 17.5 ppg; Morgan Nachazel, sr., 12.3 ppg; Grace Matus, sr., 6.7 ppg; Molly Stamp, jr., 6.2 ppg; Savannah Nealman, sr., 6.2 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, at Central City

7. Benton Community

2020-21 record: 15-8 (12-5 Wamac; 9-3 West Division, T-1st)

2020-21 postseason: Class 4A regional finalist

Coach: Jeff Zittergruen (4th year, 36-30)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 89.8

Key returners: Jenna Twedt, jr., 18.7 ppg; McKenna Kramer, soph., 9.7 ppg; Grace Embretson, sr., 7.2 ppg; Emma Townsley, soph., 4.7 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, vs. Mount Vernon

8. North Linn

2020-21 record: 21-3 (12-2 Tri-Rivers West, 2nd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 2A state qualifier

Coach: Brian Wheatley (18th year, 325-84)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 76.3

Key returners: Kamryn Kurt, soph., 13.6 ppg; Macy Boge, soph., 9.6 ppg; Ellie Flanagan, jr., 8.7 ppg; Chloe Van Etten, sr., 8.3 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, vs. Alburnett

9. West Liberty

2020-21 record: 16-6 (13-4 River Valley, South Division-2nd)

2020-21 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Matt Hoeppner (3rd year at West Liberty, 35-11)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 77.9

Key returners: Finley Hall, jr., 14.8 ppg; Macy Daufeldt, sr., 14.4 ppg; Sailor Hall, sr., 13.0 ppg

Season opener: Nov. 30, vs. Mid-Prairie

10. Center Point-Urbana

2020-21 record: 15-7 (11-6 Wamac; 8-4 West Division, 4th)

2020-21 postseason: Class 3A regional semifinalist

Coach: Philip Klett (14th year at CPU, 225-89; 16th year overall, 260-103)

Percentage of points returning from last season: 78.2

Key returners: Ryley Goebel, sr., 18.2 ppg; Kora Katcher, sr., 6.1 ppg; Tayler Reaves, jr., 5.6 ppg; Laine Hadsall, jr., 5.0 ppg; Ryanne Hansen, jr., 4.7 ppg; Alivia Sweeney, jr., 4.2 ppg

Season opener: Tuesday, vs. Solon

Area class rankings:

Class 5A: 1. Iowa City High (10-5), 2. Cedar Rapids Washington (13-4), 3. Iowa City West (14-4), 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (14-9), 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie (8-9).

Class 4A: 1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-7), 2. Solon (17-6), 3. Benton Community (15-8), 4. Clear Creek Amana (17-5), 5. Marion (14-9).

Class 3A: 1. West Liberty (16-6), 2. Center Point-Urbana (15-7), 3. Vinton-Shellsburg (18-5), 4. Waukon (19-5), 5. North Fayette Valley (20-3).

Class 2A: 1. Jesup (13-9), 2. Cascade (15-7), 3. MFL MarMac (16-7), 4. Iowa City Regina (12-8), 5. Dyersville Beckman (13-11).

Class 1A: 1. Springville (21-5), 2. North Linn (21-3), 3. Belle Plaine (15-8), 4. Montezuma (23-2), 5. East Buchanan (13-10).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com