Iowa high school girls’ basketball 2023-24 preseason rankings: North Linn opens at No. 1 in Class 1A

North Linn is among the top-ranked preseason girls’ basketball teams for 2023-24, according to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The Lynx (23-2) advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals last year and return three starters, led by first-team all-state selection Kamryn Kurt.

Johnston (5A), Dallas Center-Grimes (4A), Estherville-Lincoln Central (3A) and Dike-New Hartford (2A) are the other preseason No. 1s.

Johnston (24-2) was the 5A runner-up last year to Pleasant Valley (25-0), its fourth consecutive trip to the big-school finals. Pleasant Valley is second, followed by West Des Moines Dowling, Davenport North and Ankeny Centennial.

Cedar Rapids Prairie is 12th.

Dallas Center-Grimes (23-3) is the defending 4A champion, outlasting North Polk in overtime in the finals.

Clear Creek Amana (18-5) is second, then it’s Ballard, Mason City and North Polk. Cedar Rapids Xavier is the second-highest area team at No. 12.

ELC (24-1) was a first-round upset victim to Vinton-Shellsburg last year. Junior Haylee Stokes is back to lead the Midgets’ bid.

A semifinalist last year, Solon (23-3) is second in 3A. Last year’s runner-up, Benton Community (23-4) is third, followed by Des Moines Christian and Dubuque Wahlert.

Mount Vernon and Monticello are sixth and ninth.

Led by the Petersen twins, Dike-New Hartford (26-1) is a heavy favorite to capture its fourth consecutive 2A title. The Wolverines are followed by Eddyville EBF, Panorama, Iowa City Regina and Nodaway Valley.

North Linn’s top challengers in 1A are Newell-Fonda, Martensdale-St. Marys, Remsen St. Mary’s and Woodbine.

Competition begins with a smattering of games Friday night.

Class 5A

1. Johnston (24-2)

2. Pleasant Valley (25-0)

3. West Des Moines Dowling (20-5)

4. Davenport North (21-3)

5. Ankeny Centennial (18-7)

6. Cedar Falls (15-7,)

7. West Des Moines Valley (15-9)

8. Waukee (11-12)

9. Sioux City East (17-5)

10. Waukee Northwest (8-13)

11. Southeast Polk (15-8)

12. Cedar Rapids Prairie (10-12)

13. Ankeny (12-11)

14. Waterloo West (22-2)

15. Sioux City West (11-13)

Class 4A

1. Dallas Center-Grimes (23-3)

2. Clear Creek Amana (18-5)

3. Ballard (19-4)

4. Mason City (14-7)

5. North Polk (23-3)

6. Waverly-Shell Rock (16-7)

7. Sioux City Heelan (23-3)

8. Humboldt (15-8)

9. Carlisle (15-8)

10. Le Mars (13-10)

11. DeWitt Central (14-8)

12. Cedar Rapids Xavier (16-8)

13. Decorah (21-3)

14. Maquoketa (13-10)

15. Western Dubuque (5-19)

Class 3A

1. Estherville ELC (24-1)

2. Solon (23-3)

3. Benton Community (23-4)

4. Des Moines Christian (21-4)

5. Dubuque Wahlert (18-7)

6. Mount Vernon (16-8)

7. Clear Lake (21-3)

8. Harlan (14-8)

9. Monticello (18-6)

10. Algona (17-7)

11. Forest City (14-10)

12. Center Point-Urbana (13-10)

13. Clarke (16-7)

14. Unity Christian (18-6)

15. Spirit Lake (11-12)

Class 2A

1. Dike-New Hartford (26-1)

2. Eddyville EBF (24-1)

3. Panorama (22-3)

4. Iowa City Regina (21-5)

5. Nodaway Valley (18-5)

6. Westwood (21-2)

7. North Mahaska (20-4)

8. Treynor (21-3)

9. Aplington-Parkersburg (20-5)

10. Central Lyon (24-1)

11. Hinton (20-4)

12. Sioux Central (17-7)

13. Mapleton MVAOCOU (15-8)

14. Carroll Kuemper (13-9)

15. Hudson (16-8)

Class 1A

1. North Linn (23-2)

2. Newell-Fonda (24-3)

3. Martensdale-St. Marys (21-5)

4. Remsen St. Mary’s (24-2)

5. Woodbine (23-3)

6. Riceville (23-2)

7. Council Bluffs St. Albert (17-7)

8. East Buchanan (15-7)

9. Earlham (18-5)

10. Algona Garrigan (26-1)

11. Calamus-Wheatland (19-6)

12. Bellevue Marquette (15-8)

13. Coon Rapids-Bayard (16-8)

14. Kingsley-Pierson (18-5)

15. Exira-EHK (19-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com