Iowa high school girls’ basketball 2023-24: Preseason Super Ten, Gazette-area conference predictions

Area girls’ basketball teams to watch for the 2023-24, also posing as a preseason Super Ten:

1. Solon

Coach: Jamie Smith (17th year overall, 198-138; 6th year at Solon, 66-49)

2022-23 record: 23-3. Wamac East: 10-0 (1st)

2023 postseason: Class 3A state semifinalist

Returning starters (4): Callie Levin, 5-9, sr.; Hailey Miller, 5-7, sr.; Mia Stahle, 5-3, sr.; Kobi Lietz, 5-8, jr.

2. Clear Creek Amana

Coach: P.J. Sweeney (10th year, 126-74)

2022-23 record: 18-5. Wamac West: 7-3 (T-2nd)

2023 postseason: Class 4A state qualifier

Returning starters (4): Ava Locklear, 5-11, sr.; Bliss Beck, 6-2, sr.; Sam Schrage, 5-8, sr.; Averie Lower, 5-9, soph.

3. North Linn

Coach: Brian Wheatley (20th year, 371-89)

2022-23 record: 23-2. Tri-Rivers West: 14-0 (1st)

2023 postseason: Class 1A state semifinalist

Returning starters (3): Kamryn Kurt, 5-6, sr.; Macy Boge, 5-8, sr.; Molly Boge, 5-8, jr.

4. Benton Community

Coach: Jeff Zittergruen (6th year, 78-40)

2022-23 record: 23-4. Wamac West: 9-1 (1st)

2023 postseason: Class 3A state runner-up

Returning starters (4): McKenna Kramer, 5-8, sr.; Emma Townsley, 5-8, sr.; Piper Nelson, 5-10, sr.; Zoey Junge, 5-8, sr.

5. Mount Vernon

Coach: Nate Sanderson (21st year overall, 227-214; 3rd year at Mount Vernon, 28-19)

2022-23 record: 16-8. Wamac East: 6-2 (2nd)

2023 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

Returning starters (3): Peyton Simpson, 5-6, sr.; Chloe Meester, 6-3, jr.; Courtney Franck, 5-8, soph.

6. Cedar Rapids Prairie

Coach: Kenyon Murray (2nd year, 10-12)

2022-23 record: 10-12. Mississippi Valley: 7-7 (T-5th, Mississippi Division)

2023 postseason: Class 5A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (5): McKenna Murray, 6-0, sr.; DeLanee Seay, 5-8, sr.; Neveah Diaz-Doolin, 5-8, jr.; Emily Larsen, 5-10, soph.; Brynlie Hadenfeldt, 5-10, soph.

7. Iowa City Regina

Coach: Mary Rogers (5th year, 68-26)

2022-23 record: 21-5. River Valley South: 12-0 (1st)

2023 postseason: Class 2A state qualifier

Returning starters (4): Alli Clark, 5-7, sr.; Morgan Squiers, 5-8, sr.; Ella McLaughlin, 5-7, jr.; Morgan Miller, 5-6, jr.

8. Maquoketa

Coach: Chad Specht (4th year overall, 50-12; 1st year at Maquoketa, 0-0)

2022-23 record: 13-10. River Valley North: 8-6 (4th)

2023 postseason: Class 4A regional quarterfinalist

Returning starters: Reese Kuhlman, 5-8, sr.; Carley Cavanagh, 5-6, sr.; Aubrey Kroymann, 6-0, soph.; Cora Widel, 6-1, soph.

9. Cedar Rapids Xavier

Coach: Tom Lilly (38th year, 611-284; 26th year at Xavier, 422-181)

2022-23 record: 16-8. Mississippi Valley: 9-5 (3rd, Mississippi Division)

2023 postseason: Class 4A state qualifier

Returning starters (1): Libby Fandel, 6-1, jr.

10. Monticello

Coach: Donnie Kremer (22nd year, 343-150)

2022-23 record: 18-6. River Valley North: 12-2 (2nd)

2023 postseason: Class 3A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (3): Keziah McQuillen, 5-8, sr.; Jayden Kuper, 5-10, jr.; Kennedy Hermsen, 5-6, soph.

Area class rankings

Class 5A: 1. Cedar Rapids Prairie (10-12), 2. Linn-Mar (15-8), 3. Iowa City West (16-7), 4. Iowa City Liberty (14-8), 5. Iowa City High (6-16).

Class 4A: 1. Clear Creek Amana (18-5), 2. Maquoketa (13-10), 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (16-8), 4. Decorah (21-3), 5. Western Dubuque (5-19).

Class 3A: 1. Solon (23-3), 2. Benton Community (23-4), 3. Mount Vernon (16-8), 4. Monticello (18-6), 5. Center Point-Urbana (13-10).

Class 2A: 1. Iowa City Regina (21-5), 2. Maquoketa Valley (16-10), 3. Cascade (19-3), 4. Alburnett (12-10), 5. Jesup (13-10).

Class 1A: 1. North Linn (23-2), 2. East Buchanan (15-7), 3. Iowa Valley (15-7), 4. English Valleys (14-8), 5. Sigourney (16-8).

Area conference predictions

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

1. Cedar Falls

2. Dubuque Wahlert

3. Cedar Rapids Prairie

4. Cedar Rapids Xavier

5. Iowa City Liberty

6. Cedar Rapids Jefferson

7. Dubuque Senior

MVC VALLEY DIVISION

1. Linn-Mar

2. Iowa City West

3. Iowa City High

4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy

5. Western Dubuque

6. Waterloo West

7. Cedar Rapids Washington

8. Dubuque Hempstead

WAMAC EAST DIVISION

1. Solon

2. Mount Vernon

3. Center Point-Urbana

4. Marion

5. West Delaware

6. Independence

WAMAC WEST DIVISION

1. Clear Creek Amana

2. Benton Community

3. Vinton-Shellsburg

4. Williamsburg

5. Grinnell

6. South Tama

RIVER VALLEY NORTH DIVISION

1. Maquoketa

2. Monticello

3. Cascade

4. Northeast

5. Bellevue

6. Dyersville Beckman

7. Camanche

8. Anamosa

RIVER VALLEY SOUTH DIVISION

1. Iowa City Regina

2. Tipton

3. Durant

4. Mid-Prairie

5. West Liberty

6. West Branch

7. Wilton

TRI-RIVERS EAST DIVISION

1. Calamus-Wheatland

2. Bellevue Marquette

3. Midland

4. Easton Valley

5. Lisbon

6. Clinton Prince of Peace

7. North Cedar

TRI-RIVERS WEST DIVISION

1. North Linn

2. East Buchanan

3. Maquoketa Valley

4. Alburnett

5. Edgewood-Colesburg

6. Springville

7. Central City

8. Starmont

NORTH IOWA CEDAR EAST DIVISION

1. Sumner-Fredericksburg

2. Oelwein

3. Jesup

4. Union Community

5. Wapsie Valley

NORTHEAST IOWA

1. Waverly-Shell Rock

2. Decorah

3. Waukon

4. New Hampton

5. Crestwood

6. Charles City

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR EAST DIVISION

1. Iowa Valley

2. English Valleys

3. Sigourney

4. Keota

5. Belle Plaine

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR WEST DIVISION

1. North Mahaska

2. Lynnville-Sully

3. Montezuma

4. BGM

5. HLV

6. Colfax-Mingo

UPPER IOWA

1. North Fayette Valley

2. Elkader Central

3. MFL MarMac

4. Clayton Ridge

5. Lansing Kee

6. Turkey Valley

7. West Central

8. South Winneshiek

9. Postville

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com