Springville starts on top in 1A

The Springville Orioles came within a basket of claiming the Class 1A girls' state basketball championship eight months ago.

They'll start the new season on top.

Springville is the Class 1A No. 1-rated team in the preseason rankings released Friday afternoon by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The Orioles return four of their top five scorers from a team that went 23-4 last season, led by all-stater Rylee Menster, a sophomore guard. Other key returners are senior Megan Wagaman and sophomores Mikayla Nachazel and Alyssa Jaeger.

Springville reached the state finals last year, dropping a 45-43 verdict to Newell-Fonda.

Three defending state champions open the season at No. 1 — Waukee in Class 5A, Nevada in 3A and Unity Christian in 2A. A 5A state qualifier with an Iowa recruit in Makenzie Meyer, Mason City is the top team in 4A.

The Central Iowa Metro League has a monopoly at the top of the 5A rankings, with the top five teams. Johnston is No. 2, followed by Southeast Polk, West Des Moines Dowling and Ankeny Centennial.

Iowa City High is sixth, Linn-Mar 10th, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 12th.

Ballard is the top challenger to Mason City in 4A, followed by two-time defending champion Harlan. Then it's Marion at No. 4.

The Indians will be led by sophomore Chloe Rice, Mia Laube and Caitlyn Smith.

Western Dubuque, the 4A runner-up in 2014 and 2015, is seventh in 4A, Cedar Rapids Xavier 11th.

Nevada and Pocahontas Area both come back largely intact after meeting in last year's 3A championship game. Center Point-Urbana, Mount Vernon and Monticello inhabit the next three spots.

Unity Christian is coming off a 27-0 season and returns two-third of its scoring from last year. Iowa City Regina opens at No. 2; West Branch is sixth.

Springville is followed in 1A by Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton and Turkey Valley.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: PRESEASON RANKINGS

Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union

(2014-15 record included)

CLASS 5A

1. Waukee (24-2), 2. Johnston (16-8), 3. Southeast Polk (17-7), 4. West Des Moines Dowling (21-4), 5. Ankeny Centennial (17-6), 6. Iowa City High (15-8), 7. Davenport North (17-5), 8. West Des Moines Valley (23-3), 9. Indianola (19-5), 10. Linn-Mar (16-8), 11. Pleasant Valley (18-5), 12. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (16-7), 13. Cedar Falls (18-6), 14. Sioux City West (13-9), 15. Urbandale (11-12).

CLASS 4A

1. Mason City (15-9), 2. Ballard (21-3), 3. Harlan (26-0), 4. Marion (17-6), 5. Fairfield (17-6), 6. Dallas Center-Grimes (17-6), 7. Western Dubuque (25-1), 8. Keokuk (14-7), 9. Sioux City Heelan (21-4), 10. Lewis Central (17-6), 11. Cedar Rapids Xavier (17-7), 12. Winterset (14-10), 13. Pella (19-3), 14. Waverly-Shell Rock (23-1), 15. Carlisle (22-3).

CLASS 3A

1. Nevada (24-3), 2. Pocahontas Area (25-2), 3. Center Point-Urbana (19-5), 4. Mount Vernon (16-9), 5. Monticello (14-8), 6. Spirit Lake (18-7), 7. Osage (24-1), 8. Union (18-5), 9. Davenport Assumption (14-9), 10. Hampton-Dumont (20-3), 11. Cherokee (14-8), 12. Camanche (13-11), 13. Forest City (13-10), 14. West Marshall (14-8), 15. Mediapolis (25-1).

CLASS 2A

1. Unity Christian (27-0), 2. Iowa City Regina (21-4), 3. Western Christian (22-4), 4. Pekin (19-3), 5. Manson-NW Webster (18-6), 6. West Branch (17-6), 7. Interstate-35 (19-5), 8. Lawton-Bronson (14-10), 9. Durant (16-8), 10. Okoboji (19-5), 11. Van Meter (15-8), 12. Central Decatur (23-2), 13. Maquoketa Valley (17-6), 14. Des Moines Christian (20-5), 15. West Hancock (14-10).

CLASS 1A

1. Springville (23-4), 2. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton (25-1), 3. Turkey Valley (23-2), 4. Kingsley-Pierson (22-2), 5. Bedford (19-5), 6. Newell-Fonda (23-4), 7. Lansing Kee (21-4), 8. Nodaway Valley (18-5), 9. Burlington Notre Dame (24-2), 10. George-Little Rock (19-5), 11. Adair-Casey (20-5), 12. Grand View Christian (20-3), 13. Northwood-Kensett (19-5), 14. Lynnville-Sully (22-2), 15. Janesville (21-2).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com