Team Previews: Ames, Anamosa, Ankeny
Ames Little Cyclones 11-12 last year 53.3 points scored, 50.8 points against 14 returning players Led by the return of seniors Caroline Waite Caroline Waite 5'3" | PG Ames | 2021 State IA , Brooke Spraggins Brooke Spraggins 5'9"…
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Ames Little Cyclones
11-12 last year
53.3 points scored, 50.8 points against
14 returning players
Led by the return of seniors Caroline Waite Caroline Waite 5'3" | PG Ames | 2021 State IA , Brooke Spraggins Brooke Spraggins 5'9" | SF Ames | 2021 State IA and Ashley Iiams Ashley Iiams 6'1" | PF Ames | 2021 State IA , 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 Teagan Lipsey Teagan Lipsey 5'9" | SF Ames | 2020 State IA and a handful of other key regulars, but players like Spraggins, Madelyn Timmermans and Kennedy White all should see an increase in their minutes.
Notable returners:
Brooke Spraggins
Brooke
Spraggins
5'9" | SF
Ames | 2021
State
IA
– 6.9 PPG, 2.2 APG
Caroline Waite
Caroline
Waite
5'3" | PG
Ames | 2021
State
IA
– 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
Anamosa Blue Raiders
5-17 last year
39.4 points scored, 53.2 points against
12 returning players
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.
Notable returners:
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
Ankeny Hawks
10-13 last year
53.9 points scored, 53.8 points against
7 returning players
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 Ellie Maschoff Ellie Maschoff 5'7" | PG Ankeny | 2021 State IA , Calyssa Wright Calyssa Wright 5'10" | SF Ankeny | 2021 State IA and Jenna Pitz Jenna Pitz 5'7" | PG Ankeny | 2023 State IA 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. Rachel Christmann is another key returning player after averaging almost four points a night and shooting 43.5 percent from the three-point line.
Notable returners:
Ellie Maschoff
Ellie
Maschoff
5'7" | PG
Ankeny | 2021
State
IA
– 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG
Calyssa Wright
Calyssa
Wright
5'10" | SF
Ankeny | 2021
State
IA
– 6.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG
Jenna Pitz
Jenna
Pitz
5'7" | PG
Ankeny | 2023
State
IA
– 8.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG
Rachel Christmann – 3.7 PPG