The Gazette’s 2023-24 preseason Iowa high school girls’ basketball rankings: First draft

Our preliminary No. 1 teams: Pleasant Valley, Clear Creek Amana, Solon, Dike-New Hartford and North Linn

Mar. 10, 2023 9:43 am, Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 9:00 pm

Solon’s Kobi Lietz (1) ties up Sioux Center's Tatum Schmalbeck (2) during their Class 3A semifinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament March 2. The Spartans are The Gazette’s pick as 3A favorite to start 2023-24. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Before we close the folder on the Iowa high school girls’ basketball season, here are The Gazette’s first draft of 2023-24 preseason rankings.

These will be reconfigured in November after reclassification and any transfers throughout the state.

Class 5A

1. Pleasant Valley (25-0, 5A state champion)

2. Johnston (24-2, 5A state runner-up)

3. West Des Moines Dowling (20-5, 5A state semifinalist)

4. Davenport North (21-3, 5A state qualifier)

5. Sioux City East (17-5, 5A regional finalist)

6. Cedar Falls (15-7, 5A regional finalist)

7. Ankeny Centennial (18-7, 5A state semifinalist)

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8. West Des Moines Valley (15-9, 5A state qualifier)

9. Cedar Rapids Prairie (10-12, 5A regional semifinalist)

10. Waukee (11-12, 5A regional finalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Ankeny (12-11), Des Moines North (18-4), Linn-Mar (15-8), Sioux City West (11-13), Southeast Polk (15-8).

Clear Creek Amana's Ava Locklear (51) shoots in the Clippers’ Class 4A quarterfinal game again North Polk on Feb. 28. The Clippers are The Gazette’s preseason No. 1 in 4A for 2023-24. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Class 4A

1. Clear Creek Amana (18-5, 4A state qualifier)

2. Mason City (14-7, 4A regional finalist)

3. Dallas Center-Grimes (23-3, 4A state champion)

4. Ballard (19-4, 4A state semifinalist)

5. Waverly-Shell Rock (16-7, 4A regional semifinalist)

6. Humboldt (15-8, 4A regional finalist)

7. Sioux City Heelan (23-3, 4A state semifinalist)

8. Cedar Rapids Xavier (16-8, 4A state qualifier)

9. Le Mars (13-10, 4A regional semifinalist)

10. Lewis Central (14-7, 4A regional semifinalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Decorah (21-3), DeWitt Central (14-8), Maquoketa (13-10), North Polk (23-3), Western Dubuque (5-19).

Class 3A

1. Solon (23-3, 3A state semifinalist)

2. Estherville ELC (24-1, 3A state qualifier)

3. Benton Community (23-4, 3A state runner-up)

4. Dubuque Wahlert (18-7, 3A state qualifier)

5. Des Moines Christian (21-4, 3A state qualifier)

6. Harlan (14-8, 3A regional finalist)

7. Sioux Center (21-5, 3A state champion)

8. Mount Vernon (16-8, 3A regional finalist)

9. Clear Lake (21-3, 3A regional finalist)

10. Monticello (18-6, 3A regional semifinalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Clarke (16-7), Forest City (14-10), Rock Valley (10-11), Shenandoah (10-12), West Marshall (23-2).

Class 2A

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

2. Panorama (22-3, 2A state qualifier)

3. Eddyville EBF (24-1, 2A state qualifier)

4. Nodaway Valley (18-5, 2A regional semifinalist)

5. Iowa City Regina (21-5, 2A state qualifier)

6. Aplington-Parkersburg (20-5, 2A state qualifier)

7. Treynor (21-3, 2A regional finalist)

8. Mapleton MVAOCOU (15-8, 2A regional semifinalist)

9. Central Lyon (24-1, 2A state runner-up)

10. Grand View Christian (15-7, 2A regional semifinalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): East Buchanan (15-7), Hinton (20-4), Hudson (16-8), Ridge View (12-10), Sioux Central (17-7).

Newell-Fonda's Laney Hogrefe (32) defends against North Linn's Allie Haughenbury during their Class 1A semifinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament March 3. North Linn is No. 1, Newell-Fonda No. 2 in The Gazette’s first draft of 2023-24 1A rankings. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Class 1A

1. North Linn (23-2, 1A state semifinalist)

2. Newell-Fonda (24-3, 1A state runner-up)

3. Remsen St. Mary’s (24-2, 1A state semifinalist)

4. Martensdale-St. Marys (21-5, 1A state qualifier)

5. Ackley AGWSR (23-2, 1A regional finalist)

6. North Mahaska (20-4, 1A regional finalist)

7. Woodbine (23-3, 1A state qualifier)

8. Westwood (21-2, 1A regional finalist)

9. Council Bluffs St. Albert (17-7, 1A regional finalist)

10. Riceville (23-2, 1A regional finalist)

Next five (alphabetic order): Algona Garrigan (26-1), Anita CAM (16-7), Calamus-Wheatland (19-6), Coon Rapids-Bayard (16-8), Fremont-Mills (15-8).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com