Team Previews: Ames, Anamosa, Ankeny

&nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ames Little Cyclones</strong> 11-12 last year 53.3 points scored, 50.8 points against 14 returning players</p> Led by the return of seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164933" first="Caroline" last="Waite"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165020" first="Brooke" last="Spraggins"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="64742" first="Ashley" last="Iiams"]</strong>, the Ames Little Cyclones boast a solid nucleus to build around after winning 11 games. Waite led the team in scoring a year ago, averaging almost 18 a night on 38 percent shooting. She was also one of the leaders in steals, with 45, and assists, with 65. Iiams is the top rebounder back after pulling down 122 boards. Ames will need to replace [player_tooltip player_id="135017" first="Teagan" last="Lipsey"] and a handful of other key regulars, but players like Spraggins, <strong>Madelyn Timmermans</strong> and <strong>Kennedy White</strong> all should see an increase in their minutes. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="165020" first="Brooke" last="Spraggins"] - 6.9 PPG, 2.2 APG [player_tooltip player_id="164933" first="Caroline" last="Waite"] - 17.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 SPG Ashley liams - 13.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.1 BPG Kennedy White - 2.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Anamosa Blue Raiders</strong> 5-17 last year 39.4 points scored, 53.2 points against 12 returning players</p> Anamosa experienced with several different starting lineups last year, and the Blue Raiders are hoping that pays off with a winning record this season. Seniors Madalyn Heims and Grace Lubben, along with sophomore Joslin Banowetz have the most playing time back. Heims scored 195 points with 81 rebounds, 73 steals and 29 assists a year ago. Cecilia Venenga, a junior, knocked down 15 three-pointers and Banowetz sank 14. Anamosa will need to improve both its long-range shooting and percentage from the free throw line to push for a winning record. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Madalyn Heims - 8.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 SPG Grace Lubben - 2.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG Joslin Banowtz - 6.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.5 SPG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ankeny Hawks</strong> 10-13 last year 53.9 points scored, 53.8 points against 7 returning players</p> There will be a lot of new faces for Ankeny this coming winter as the Hawks graduate eight seniors, many of whom played key roles on the team. However, the cupboard is far from bare as returning starters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="131262" first="Ellie" last="Maschoff"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165017" first="Calyssa" last="Wright"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63055" first="Jenna" last="Pitz"]</strong> are all back. Maschoff and Wright are seniors who averaged 12 points per game combined a year ago with Wright also grabbing five rebounds a night. Pitz, a sophomore, posted eight points, almost four assists and three boards a game. <strong>Rachel Christmann</strong> is another key returning player after averaging almost four points a night and shooting 43.5 percent from the three-point line. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="131262" first="Ellie" last="Maschoff"] - 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG [player_tooltip player_id="165017" first="Calyssa" last="Wright"] - 6.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG [player_tooltip player_id="63055" first="Jenna" last="Pitz"] - 8.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG Rachel Christmann - 3.7 PPG</p>