Ranked and Returning: 2020 State Finalists from 1A, 2A and 3A

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2020 IGHSAU State Championships feel like a distant memory in the wake of several global events. COVID-19 shutdowns began soon after the postseason ended in Iowa, and mid-June is the first time players have been able to return to AAU competition. </span> &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">The 10 state finalist teams — Newell-Fonda and Bishop Garrigan (1A), North Linn and Osage (2A), Bishop Heelan and North Polk (3A), North Scott and Lewis Central (4A), and Johnston and Waukee (5A) — lost several studs, but return a lot of talent.</span> &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are the 2021’s, 2022’s and 2023’s in the Prep Girls Hoop rankings from 1A, 2A and 3A teams who wil hit the court for the modified grassroots season after a successful end to 2020.</span> &nbsp; <b>Newell-Fonda — 1A State Champion</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Newell-Fonda will come back in November very deep, with six of its returners— all playing for Play4Him Academy during the grassroots season— in the top 100 of their class. 2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="164943" first="Maggie" last="Walker"], [player_tooltip player_id="164944" first="Ella" last="Larsen"] and [player_tooltip player_id="164945" first="Bailey" last="Sievers"]; 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="129006" first="Macy" last="Sievers"]; and 2023’s Mary and [player_tooltip player_id="160569" first="Mia" last="Walker"] combined for 56.1 of the team’s 77.6 points per game in 2019-2020, led by the quick, competitive [player_tooltip player_id="129006" first="Macy" last="Sievers"]. Walker, Erickson, B. Sievers and M. Sievers all shot above 40% behind the arc. Larsen, who is a solid all-around forward, snagged almost six rebounds per game.</span> &nbsp; <b>Bishop Garrigan — 1A Runner-Up</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Ranked No. 1 in 2023, the 6’3” [player_tooltip player_id="63019" first="Audi" last="Crooks"] brings back 23.2 points, 70.7 accuracy from the field and 11.9 rebounds for the Golden Bears. 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="165010" first="Kaylyn" last="Meyers"] will join Crooks and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63033" first="Molly" last="Joyce"], an effective scorer with solid handles who also contributed 17.6 points per game last season, for CY Select this summer.</span> &nbsp; <b>North Linn — 2A State Champion</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lynx lost a dynamic small forward duo in twins Abby and [player_tooltip player_id="135015" first="Grace" last="Flanagan"], but 2023 sister [player_tooltip player_id="63057" first="Ellie" last="Flanagan"] aims to fill their shoes as she plays for Iowa Prep this summer. The small-but-strong E. Flanagan averaged 3.6 points as a freshman and gave a solid  performance from the free throw line. The team will be led by 2021 center [player_tooltip player_id="64796" first="Ellie" last="Ware"], who dominated the boards and was the team’s second leading scorer.</span> &nbsp; <b>Osage — 2A Runner-Up</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="13949" first="Dani" last="Johnson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="164952" first="Ellie" last="Bobinet"] don’t belong to any AAU squad, but they form Osage’s senior leadership next season. At 6’1” and 5’9”, the two have good length and finish well inside and from the free throw line. Johnson took all-state honors in basketball and volleyball, as well as being the 2A player of the year for volleyball.</span> &nbsp; <b>Bishop Heelan — 3A State Champion</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2023 [player_tooltip player_id="160563" first="Kenley" last="Meis"], who is slowly making a reputation for big postseason plays in multiple sports, hit a few big threes in the championship game and will expand her role in the fall. The Crusaders lose 87% of their scoring, a gap they hope to fill with Meis and 2023 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="160570" first="Lauryn" last="Peck"].</span> &nbsp; <b>North Polk — 3A Runner-Up</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">North Polk will have a presence within All Iowa Attack in July, starting with long 2021 shooter [player_tooltip player_id="64745" first="Maggie" last="Phipps"]. Phipps’ supporting cast comprises 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="129004" first="Lucy" last="Schaffer"], who had success at the state tournament and grabbed 4.3 rebounds per game last season, just 0.1 behind Phipps; 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63011" first="Makayla" last="Boatman"], who added 9.6 points as a freshman in a successful year from the three point line; 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="131170" first="Abi" last="Zimmer"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63063" first="Liza" last="Schaffer"].</span> &nbsp;