The Gazette’s 2021-22 preseason Iowa high school girls’ basketball rankings

The 2021-22 Iowa high school girls’ basketball season opens practice Monday, and a handful of games late next week kick off the winter competition.

The Gazette’s preseason state rankings:

Class 5A

1. Johnston (18-2, Class 5A state runner-up)

2. Waterloo West (19-2, Class 5A state qualifier)

3. Cedar Falls (17-4, Class 5A state qualifier)

4. Des Moines Roosevelt (10-2, Class 5A regional finalist)

5. Iowa City High (10-5, Class 5A regional finalist)

6. Cedar Rapids Washington (13-4, Class 5A regional finalist)

7. Southeast Polk (15-4, Class 5A state qualifier)

8. West Des Moines Valley (10-7, Class 5A regional finalist)

9. Iowa City West (14-4, Class 5A state semifinalist)

10. Sioux City East (18-5, Class 5A regional finalist)

Five others to watch: Ankeny Centennial (16-3), Bettendorf (10-4), Dubuque Senior (11-7), Waukee Northwest (new school), West Des Moines Dowling (11-7).

Class 4A

1. Glenwood (21-4, Class 4A state runner-up)

2. DeWitt Central (16-3, Class 4A state qualifier)

3. Indianola (18-5, Class 5A regional finalist)

4. Dallas Center-Grimes (21-3, Class 4A state semifinalist)

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-7, Class 4A regional semifinalist)

6. Sioux City Heelan (17-6, Class 3A regional finalist)

7. Solon (17-6, Class 3A regional finalist)

8. Benton Community (15-8, Class 4A regional semifinalist)

9. Spencer (15-8, Class 4A regional semifinalist)

10. Grinnell (16-8, Class 4A regional finalist)

Five others to watch: Clear Creek Amana (17-5), Fort Madison (17-3), Marion (14-9), North Scott (16-3), Winterset (14-9).

Class 3A

1. Unity Christian (25-2, Class 3A state champion)

2. Ballard (24-1, Class 4A state champion)

3. West Lyon (24-2, Class 3A state runner-up)

4. Cherokee (23-1, Class 3A state semifinalist)

5. Estherville ELC (18-6, Class 3A regional finalist)

6. Clear Lake (19-2, Class 3A state semifinalist)

7. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (13-9, Class 4A regional finalist)

8. West Liberty (16-6, Class 3A regional finalist)

9. Center Point-Urbana (15-7, Class 3A regional semifinalist)

10. West Marshall (13-8, Class 3A regional quarterfinalist)

Five others to watch: Davenport Assumption (8-12), Pocahontas Area (13-9), Roland-Story (17-5), Vinton-Shellsburg (18-5), West Burlington (21-2).

Class 2A

1. Dike-New Hartford (26-0, Class 2A state champion)

2. Grundy Center (19-4, Class 2A state qualifier)

3. Nodaway Valley (24-1, Class 2A state semifinalist)

4. Panorama (19-5, Class 3A regional finalist)

5. Sibley-Ocheyedan (16-6, Class 2A regional quarterfinalist)

6. Jesup (13-9, Class 2A regional quarterfinalist)

7. Underwood (19-4, Class 2A regional finalist)

8. West Fork (14-8, Class 2A regional semifinalist)

9. Central Lyon (20-3, Class 2A regional semifinalist)

10. Treynor (20-5, Class 2A state qualifier)

Five others to watch: Cascade (15-7), Denver (18-5), MFL MarMac (16-7), North Union (15-7), South Central Calhoun (15-7).

Class 1A

1. Newell-Fonda (26-1, Class 1A state champion)

2. Algona Garrigan (25-2, Class 1A state runner-up)

3. Exira-EHK (24-1, Class 1A state semifinalist)

4. Springville (21-5, Class 1A state qualifier)

5. North Linn (21-3, Class 2A state qualifier)

6. Storm Lake St. Mary’s (19-4, Class 1A regional quarterfinalist)

7. Marcus MMCRU (21-3, Class 1A state qualifier)

8. Burlington Notre Dame (19-2, Class 1A regional finalist)

9. North Mahaska (15-4, Class 1A regional semifinalist)

10. Westwood (19-5, Class 1A regional finalist)

Five others to watch: Belle Plaine (15-8), Lamoni (16-3), Montezuma (23-2), Stanton (20-3), West Hancock (19-6).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com