Team Previews: AHSTW, Akron-Westfield, Albia

&nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>AHSTW Vikings</strong> 20-4 last year 57.5 points scored, 39.3 points against 12 returning players</p> A 20-win season was capped by winning the Western Iowa Conference title last year for AHSTW, and the Vikings have the returning talent to do it all again. Returning starters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164953" first="Claire" last="Denning"]</strong>, <strong>Julia Kock</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165034" first="Kailey" last="Jones"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="64814" first="Claire" last="Harris"]</strong> are set to embark on their senior seasons with several others who saw the varsity lineup also bringing experience back. Jones led the team with 277 rebounds last year, averaging 12.6 per game, while Harris had a team-high 77 assists and 65 steals. Jones also scored over 16 points a game, shooting almost 60 percent from the field, while Denning averaged 11 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="164953" first="Claire" last="Denning"] - 11.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.5 SPG Julia Kock - 2.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.5 APG [player_tooltip player_id="165034" first="Kailey" last="Jones"] - 16.6 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG [player_tooltip player_id="64814" first="Claire" last="Harris"] - 9.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.7 SPG Morgan Heiny - 2.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Akron-Westfield Westerners</strong> 17-7 last year 53.8 points scored, 40.2 points against 10 returning players</p> Akron-Westfield has some nice pieces back in the fold to work towards a spot in the Class 1A state tournament this winter. Leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63632" first="Chloee" last="Colt"]</strong> will be a junior after posting almost 14 points a night with 3.5 assists. She is joined by classmate <strong>Natalie Nielsen</strong>, who controlled the boards with nearly 10 rebounds a game. Nielsen averaged four offensive rebounds a night. Cole made a team-high 45 three-pointers last year as the Westerners hoisted by 403 triples in all. <strong>McKenna Henrich</strong> and <strong>Navaeh Beyer</strong> combined for 28 made three-pointers and are also back. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="63632" first="Chloee" last="Colt"] - 13.7 PPG, 4.5 SPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.5 APG McKenna Henrich - 9.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.5 APG Natalie Nielsen - 13.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.2 BPG Elise Knapp - 3.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Albia Lady Dees</strong> 2-16 last year 34.3 points scored, 55.8 points against 12 returning players</p> It was an eventful summer for Albia, as the Lady Dees captured a title on the softball diamond. Now, the basketball team will try to regroup and carry on that momentum this winter. As a freshman, <strong>Sophie Waber</strong> stepped into a key role, averaging a team-leading 7.6 points per game. She also led Albia with 51 assists, while senior <strong>Halle Hindman</strong> returns after posting a team-high 99 rebounds. Waber also led the Lady Dees with 37 steals, while <strong>Danica Workman</strong> and Hindman had 22 each. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Danica Workman - 6.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 SPG Halle Hindman - 4.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG Sophie Waber - 7.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.1 SPG Erika Archibald - 5.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG</p>