Who conquered the first week of the girls’ basketball season? Keota, for one

Two words in the Iowa high school girls’ basketball world that almost never come up in the same sentence:

“Keota.” And “ranked.”

That intersection might be approaching.

A program that hasn’t posted a winning season since 2013-14, Keota is off to a 3-0 start and is scoring 65.0 points per game.

The Eagles were 11-11 last season, and opened the current campaign with an eye-opening 73-51 win over Highland on Nov. 21. Double-digit victories over Lone Tree and Belle Plaine followed.

Sophomore Cameron Haifley leads the team at 19.3 points per game. Senior Kennedy Jackson adds 10.0 points per contest, while freshman Jessalyn Aller comes off the bench to provide 9.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

Keota will be heavily favored in its next two games (Friday at HLV-TC and Tuesday at home against Colfax-Mingo), then should be tested Dec. 12 at home against Sigourney.

Other than the Eagles, who won the first week (and a half) of the season?

MFL MARMAC

The expanded Upper Iowa Conference has a two-division format now (“Large” and “Small” divisions), and the youthful Bulldogs (2-0 overall, 2-0 UIC) are alone in first place in the Large Division, a game ahead of four other teams.

Each of the team’s top three scorers are freshmen: Blair Winter, Olivia Driscoll and Khloe Schutte have combined for 38 points per game and are shooting 57.1 percent (28 of 49) among them.

Meanwhile, MFL MarMac has held its first two opponents — Crestwood and Waukon — to 40 and 33 points.

The Bulldogs shared the UIC title with Turkey Valley last year.

IOWA CITY

The four schools are a combined 8-1, with all three public-schools squads located in the 5A top 10.

* Liberty (2-0) is ranked fifth with victories over Southeast Polk and Maquoketa. South Dakota signee Natalie Ramsey is averaging 26.5 points and 10 rebounds per game, and scored 36 in the opener.

* No. 7 City High (3-0) has won all three of its games (against Central DeWitt, Maquoketa and Ames) by 11 points or less. Senior Tessa Driscoll leads a veteran crew at 19.0 points per contest.

* Ninth-ranked West (1-1) opened with a win over Waukee, then suffered a 68-57 setback against Clear Creek Amana on Tuesday. Senior Grace Fincham, a Drake recruit, is scoring at an 18-point clip.

* Then there’s Regina (2-0), a 2A state semifinalist last year. The Regals aren’t terribly deep, but the presence of sophomore Addie McLaughlin (22.5 ppg) and freshman Jada Wiltz (18.0) has them primed for years to come.

KENNEDY SIMPSON

The senior from West Branch set a school record with 35 points in the Bears’ 71-37 rout of Iowa Valley on Nov. 25.

A 5-foot-9 guard, Simpson hit 13 of 19 shots (2 of 4 from long range) and 7 of 10 free throws. She also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Coming up: Rivalry Saturday XXI

Rivalry Saturday moves into its third decade of existence Saturday, with a new home, the new gymnasium at Anamosa High School.

Eight games are slated, with all 15 Iowa participants currently in the IGHSAU rankings. Madison (Wis.) Edgewood becomes the first out-of-state team to compete; it will face 5A No. 1 Johnston at 2 p.m.

Johnston is likely to carry a 55-game win streak into the showdown.

The event starts at 9:15 a.m., when Maquoketa Valley and Gladbrook-Reinbeck collide. The last of the eight games (Cedar Rapids Washington and Clear Creek Amana) is scheduled for an 8:40 p.m. tip.

Saturday’s schedule:

9:15 a.m. — 2A No. 7 Maquoketa Valley vs. 1A No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck

10:50 a.m. — 1A No. 5 Springville vs. 1A No. 10 Turkey Valley

12:25 p.m. — 3A No. 11 Mediapolis vs. 3A No. 12 Tipton

2 p.m. — 5A No. 1 Johnston vs. Madison (Wis.) Edgewood

3:40 p.m. — 5A No. 5 Iowa City Liberty vs. 3A No. 2 Williamsburg

5:20 p.m. — 5A No. 8 Iowa City West vs. 3A No. 5 Mount Vernon

7 p.m. — 5A No. 4 Cedar Rapids Prairie vs. 3A No. 1 Maquoketa

8:40 p.m. — 5A No. 14 Cedar Rapids Washington vs. 4A No. 4 Clear Creek Amana

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com