Droppin’ Dimes: Iowa’s Top Passers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the preseason comes to a close I thought it was only right to introduce the top returning point guards in Iowa based on assists per game. These guards are threading needles and creating her opportunities left and right for their squads, and I'm excited to see them return for more this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["311389"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742c372cdea6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='311389' first='Haylee' last='Stokes'] not only gets it done at the point guard spot for Estherville Lincoln Central, but is a monster scorer (24.6 points per game) and rebounds at a high clip too (4.5 rebounds per game). The Missouri State Mankato commit averaged an impressive 6.6 assists per game last year which put her at second most in the state. With the majority of the Midgets' scoring returning this season, I predict another big all-around year for Stokes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842537"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742c372cdefb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='842537' first='Nora' last='Peterson'] had one of the most well-rounded stat lines I've seen in the state coming out of last season. The 5'10" combo guard averaged 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 6.2 assists per game in 2023-24. Nabbing the spot for fifth-most assists in the state, Peterson will have a different lineup this year with the graduation of seniors Lucy Gunkelman and Ella Nielsen. I'm excited to see the numbers Peterson puts up this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["643499"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742c372cdf40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's really impressive to see a Freshman make the top five assists list, and Abbit Keitges has done just that. The Knoxville point guard averaged 5.9 assists per game (good for sixth in the state), in addition to 6.8 points per game. A Freshman point guard responsible for more than 18 points per game at the Varsity level? That's big time. Keitges gets it done defensively too, averaging 3.5 steals per game. Knoxville is another team that returns a lot of their lineup this year, so keep your eyes on Keitges and the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510277"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742c372cdf83"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've got another underclassman on our top returning passer list in [player_tooltip player_id='510277' first='Izzy' last='Eisbach']. Eisbach and senior teammate Lindsey Davis were a two-headed monster last season for the Wolverines, with Eisbach shining in the assists department. The combo guard averaged 5.7 dimes per game, which landed her at seventh in the state. If you don't know of [player_tooltip player_id='510277' first='Izzy' last='Eisbach'] yet I'd start buying stock, because she will be the face of Nodaway Valley for the rest of her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["311381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742c372cdfc5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='311381' first='Divine' last='Bourrage'] simply did it all for her squad last year. The six foot guard led Davenport North with authority during her junior year, averaging 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 5.6 assists per game (coming in at tenth in the state for APG). Bourrage, a future LSU Tiger, is set to have another season full of dimes with a strong group of returners this season for Davenport North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->