Prep Basketball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their 8th edition of their rankings for the 2024-25 season and a Southeast Conference (SEC) showdown last Friday gave way for a new contender in the top 15.
Class 5A
There was no movement in the top seven with Johnston’s 15-0 record hanging high above every other team’s head. It is not easy to play in Class 5A, to better paint the picture three teams hold losing record yet remain in the top 15: #12 Waukee (8-9), #14 Southeast Polk (7-9), and #15 Ankeny (8-9).
No teams were knocked out of the top 15.
Class 4A
The top 10 almost went entirely unchanged with Bishop Heelan, North Polk, and Maquoketa holding on to the top three spots, respectively. Pella’s four game losing steak to some quality competition did not drop them out of the top 15, but it did move the Dutch back from 10th to 13th in the rankings.
The #13 slot is open because of an epic SEC showdown between #13 Keokuk and unranked Burlington. The Grayhounds had already walked-off the Chiefs earlier this season, but since that loss Keokuk had rallied off 11 consecutive victories.
Predictably, the two conference rivals need overtime to decide a winner and it was Burlington, two years removed from ending their 40-game losing streak, who exited with a 72-69 victory as Mylee Stiefel cashed in for 27 points.
The loss knocked Keokuk out of the top 15 and Burlington rounded out the list with the newly opened spot.
Class 3A
No teams were knocked out of the top 15 but there was certainly some jumbling of teams within the list. Mount Vernon stayed atop the list followed by Estherville Lincoln Central. Forest City started the movement after losing their first game of the season against Waverly-Shell Rock 49-40, this caused Forest City to drop from #3 to #5 in the rankings.
#11 Spirit Lake fell two spots, #9 PCM jumped up one spot, and #15 West Marshall tumbled down three spots.
Class 2A
North Mahaska headlined one of our larger falls from the top as the Warhawks were jumped by three teams after being ranked 2nd a week ago after a 53-45 loss against Montezuma.
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont remained atop the list with a perfect 17-0 record for the season. Cascade has lost three of their past four contests, resulting in the 13th ranked Cougars being ousted from the top 15. AC/GC popped into the top 15 at #14.
Class 1A
In terms of the top 10, not much movement ensued as St. Albert, North Linn, and Newell-Fonda controlled the top three spots. The last four spots were where mayhem ruled with three teams getting knocked out of the top 15.
The three teams kicked out were Coon Rapids-Bayard, Martensdale-St. Marys, and Newman Catholic. Replacing those teams were #12 Sigourney, #14 Lenox, and #15 Riverside.