Preseason Top Five: Class 1A

We have made it!   November is the month that action throughout the state of Iowa starts to take place for Girls High School Basketball. As a preview, in this piece we break down some of the team's that should be within the Top Five for the 1A Class moving into the Winter when taking into consideration their roster, schedule, and who they might have to play in some meaningful games in the future.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   #5 - North Linn High School   North Linn High School is going to look different this Winter with their roster on hand and I'm exciting to see what they can do throughout their season. North Linn is known for pressing in the full court, for having deceiving rules defensively within the half to trick opponents, and their effort/dedication is never questioned. This is one of those 1A teams that has been talked about moving up Classes in the past because of how dominant they really are against other 1A schools. Every season they lose about 1-3 games in total and that just speaks to how well they restock each and every year from Freshman to Senior but this year will be more difficult than most others. This group was lee by four Seniors last time around so they will need to figure out what they are good at early on in the year. If they can do that, they should put up some more impressive performances over the next six months. Carly Reis (8 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.5 APG) will be that one returning starter for the Lynx so I'm assuming all of their action will flow through her on both ends. Reis is a guard with a quick head on her shoulders. She adapts well in real time and showed her worth over the past two seasons but now it's time for her to really take the bull by the horns and lead this group. Something definitely do-able at this point in time with the correct guidance and instruction.   #4 - Mount Ayr High School   Mount Ayr High School will return this Winter with a chance to stick within the Top Five in this 1A Class with who they will return, who they will end up facing, and who they might have to cross come Playoff time. Mount Ayr graduates two of their three main scoring threats from last season but that shouldn't be too much of an issue as this group has SEVERAL underclassmen who saw time last year and they are ready to step up even more this time around. The Raiders finished off the 2024-2025 high school campaign with a 21-2 record, only falling twice all season long. Players like their main scoring guard, [player_tooltip player_id='832208' first='Izzy' last='Gilbertson'] (14.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.5 SPG), will be looked upon to do a lot of work over the next six months but she will have other skilled individuals with her. Individuals like Dannie Stewart (9 PPG, 3 RPG, 4 APG, 2.2 SPG), Jaylee Shaffer (5 PPG, 4 RPG, 3.5 APG), & MaKel Jones (3.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.1 APG). If each of these players uses the Mount Ayr system in the correct way, they should see a lot of success. Whenever they can speed opponents up, they take that opportunity and that's why each prospect on this roster has impressive numbers in Steals Per Game from recent history. Now it's all about see what they can make happen moving forward.   #3 - Newell Fonda High School   There is a big question mark for Newell-Fonda High School and what they can do. They will lose their star prospect from year's past due to graduation but they will still return two prospects that should have a chance to take the State by storm in every definition of the phrase. Those two individuals being [player_tooltip player_id='880904' first='Ellie' last='Sievers'] (14 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.5 APG) and [player_tooltip player_id='1238114' first='Quinn' last='Sievers']. The Sievers family is one of ballers and it's no different with these two. Both competing at the guard position, it'll be interesting to see this team's dynamic as the year unfolds. Ellie is more of a SG that plays off of two feet, while also being a solid shooter and a steady defender. Quinn is more of the PG type, that will be able to lead the Mustangs all Winter long in APG and in instruction as to where the rest of her teammates should be setting up on both sides of the ball. If they can play off of each other, watch out because they will be prepped to put together another impactful Winter followed by a Playoff run. This is the group that happened to fall short in OT last Winter in the 1A State Title game and I'm sure that they are thirsty to get back to that spot once again come 2026.   #2 - Bishop Garrigan High School   The team that will contend for a 1A Title shot this season, that returns 4 of their 5 starters from a year ago is Bishop Garrigan. BG will have a full equipped roster as they walk into the 2025-2026 high school season and they are another group that could makes some WAVES over the next six months throughout the state. This is program that fell short in the semi-finals last time around and they are looking to make up for that. The thing about BG is that they have every position covered and they also have a deep roster. They have PG's who can facilitate, they have college committed SG's who can let it fly, they have Forwards & Posts that can handle the action underneath at over 6'0 in height, and they will bring their tenacious play style in action, which will help them run most oppositions out of the gym by the start of the second quarter. Just like everyone else on this list, they will need to return this year with motivation and an aggressive edge but they should be able a primed spot moving into the Playoffs in the near future.   #1 - St. Albert High School   St. Albert High School will be the favorite to repeat this Winter in the 1A Class with another State Title if they play their cards correctly. St. Albert returns everyone from a year ago when they won it all and they bring in a 5'10 Forward transfer, that should help their Post players even more this time around with her production. The returning star that all team's will account for from this group is (Senior) Forward - [player_tooltip player_id='901710' first='Avah' last='Underwood'] (14 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2 APG), who is committed to D2 Wayne State following this Winter season. Underwood set a school record in the 1A Championship last Winter when she recorded over 24 Points and over 24 Rebounds in her efforts but in reality this is just a glimpse of what the talented Forward can do. Now if you account for the fact that this group returns everyone and they give her some more help underneath and you start to see the promise moving into this month of November. I don't expect this group to lose many times this season as a whole. If they build off of what was put into place last year, they will hoist up the 1A State Trophy once again before you know it in Des Moines.   (Honorable Mentions: Westwood, Exira, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Riceville, Springville, Lone Tree, , Stanton, Dunkerton)

We have made it!