Ranked and Returning: 2020 State Finalists from 4A and 5A

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2020 IGHSAU State Championships feel like a distant memory in the wake of several global events. COVID-19 shutdowns began soon after the postseason ended in Iowa, and mid-June is the first time players have been able to return to AAU competition. </span> &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">The 10 state finalist teams — Newell-Fonda and Bishop Garrigan (1A), North Linn and Osage (2A), Bishop Heelan and North Polk (3A), North Scott and Lewis Central (4A), and Johnston and Waukee (5A) — lost several studs, but return a lot of talent.</span> &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are the 2021’s, 2022’s and 2023’s in the Prep Girls Hoop rankings from 4A and 5A teams who wil hit the court for the modified grassroots season after a successful end to 2020.</span> &nbsp; <b>North Scott — 4A State Champion</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Powerhouse North Scott has produced tough, unrelenting players in the past few years, losing two of those in [player_tooltip player_id="134329" first="Grace" last="Boffeli"], who averaged almost 30 points from the post, and the quick [player_tooltip player_id="135038" first="Presley" last="Case"]. Lady Martin Brothers 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="164970" first="Samantha" last="Scott"] will take over after finishing third in scoring for the Lancers in 2019-20 and proving solid from three as a small forward. </span> &nbsp; <b>Lewis Central — 4A Runner-Up</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2021 [player_tooltip player_id="131224" first="McKenna" last="Pettepier"] will emerge as the Titans’ leading scorer after adding 9.5 points to a strong group of seniors. Pettepier brought efficiency to the floor and claimed the best effective field goal percentage and free throw percentage last season. She also added a team-high 50 threes.</span> &nbsp; <b>Johnston — 5A State Champion</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnston lost three top-20-ranked Division I commits in 2020, but it returns depth with 10 ranked players, including 2022 Urbandale transfer and All Iowa Attack forward [player_tooltip player_id="128995" first="Jada" last="Gyamfi"]. At 6’1”, Gyamfi can play inside and out. 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63027" first="Emma" last="Hampton"] and 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="164955" first="Kinsey" last="Jilek"] add to Gyamfi’s length, and Jilek brings a nice shooting ability as a forward. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="129017" first="Anna" last="Gossling"] was next in scoring after the senior starters, averaging 16 points per game at the state tournament. Other potential contributors include 2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="164972" first="Allison" last="Hart"], [player_tooltip player_id="164983" first="Kayla" last="Frickenstein"] and [player_tooltip player_id="164988" first="Natalie" last="Kahre"]; 2022’s [player_tooltip player_id="129034" first="Zoey" last="Buchan"]an and [player_tooltip player_id="129068" first="Macie" last="Downing"]; and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63051" first="Molly" last="Noelck"].</span> &nbsp; <b>Waukee — 5A Runner-Up</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Waukee didn’t lose a single senior, but it returns a handful of solid 2021’s, including a dynamic hustle player in [player_tooltip player_id="64741" first="Katie" last="Dinnebier"]. Much like Dinnebier, 2021’s Peyton and [player_tooltip player_id="64782" first="Lindsey" last="Kelderman"] can shoot, rebound and play quick defense. 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="131176" first="Meagan" last="Earney"], who scored a nice 13 points in the championship game, finishes the group with 7.8 points per game. 2022’s [player_tooltip player_id="129033" first="Abigail" last="Jones"] and [player_tooltip player_id="129049" first="Reagan" last="Bartholomew"], who join Dinnebier and the Kelderman’s at All Iowa Attack, contributed to the lineup as sophomores. Other players have potential to crack the lineup, including 2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="131221" first="Taryn" last="Reitsma"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="63067" first="Addison" last="Steffy"].</span> &nbsp;