Ranked and Returning: 2020 State Finalists from 4A and 5A
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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
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.
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.
North Scott — 4A State Champion
Powerhouse North Scott has produced tough, unrelenting players in the past few years, losing two of those in Grace Boffeli Grace Boffeli 6'1" | PF North Scott | 2020 State IA , who averaged almost 30 points from the post, and the quick Presley Case Presley Case 5'3" | PG North Scott | 2020 State IA . Lady Martin Brothers 2021 Samantha Scott Samantha Scott 5'9" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA will take over after finishing third in scoring for the Lancers in 2019-20 and proving solid from three as a small forward.
Lewis Central — 4A Runner-Up
2021 McKenna Pettepier McKenna Pettepier 5'9" | PF Lewis Central | 2021 State IA 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.
Johnston — 5A State Champion
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 Jada Gyamfi Jada Gyamfi 6'1" | PF Johnston | 2022 State #76 Nation IA . At 6’1”, Gyamfi can play inside and out. 2023 Emma Hampton Emma Hampton 5'10" | SG Johnston | 2023 State IA and 2021 Kinsey Jilek Kinsey Jilek 5'10" | SF Johnston | 2021 State IA add to Gyamfi’s length, and Jilek brings a nice shooting ability as a forward. 2022 Anna Gossling Anna Gossling 5'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA was next in scoring after the senior starters, averaging 16 points per game at the state tournament. Other potential contributors include 2021’s Allison Hart Allison Hart 5'9" | PF Johnston | 2021 State IA , Kayla Frickenstein Kayla Frickenstein 5'6" | SG Johnston | 2021 State IA and Natalie Kahre Natalie Kahre 5'7" | SG Johnston | 2021 State IA ; 2022’s Zoey Buchan Zoey Buchan 5'5" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA an and Macie Downing Macie Downing 5'7" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA ; and 2023 Molly Noelck Molly Noelck 5'9" | PG Johnston | 2023 State IA .
Waukee — 5A Runner-Up
Waukee didn’t lose a single senior, but it returns a handful of solid 2021’s, including a dynamic hustle player in Katie Dinnebier Katie Dinnebier 5'7" | PG Waukee | 2021 State IA . Much like Dinnebier, 2021’s Peyton and Lindsey Kelderman Lindsey Kelderman 5'5" | PG Waukee | 2021 State IA can shoot, rebound and play quick defense. 2021 Meagan Earney Meagan Earney 5'9" | SG Waukee | 2021 State IA , who scored a nice 13 points in the championship game, finishes the group with 7.8 points per game. 2022’s Abigail Jones Abigail Jones 6'2" | SF Waukee | 2022 State IA and Reagan Bartholomew Reagan Bartholomew 5'10" | SF Waukee | 2022 State IA , 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 Taryn Reitsma Taryn Reitsma 5'11" | PF Waukee | 2021 State IA and 2023 Addison Steffy Addison Steffy 5'11" | PF Waukee | 2023 State IA .