IGHSAU releases 2025-26 preseason girls’ basketball rankings

Reigning state champions Johnston (5A), Hinton (2A) and Council Bluffs St. Albert (1A) begin the 2025-26 girls’ basketball season ranked No. 1 in their respective classes.

Johnston (26-0 in 2024-25) owns a 52-game winning streak and returns four starters, led by Notre Dame signee Jenica Lewis.

The Dragons’ top 5A challengers are Waukee Northwest, West Des Moines Dowling, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Iowa City Liberty.

Iowa City West, Iowa City High and Cedar Rapids Washington are sixth, seventh and 10th.

A 4A semifinalist last year, Dallas Center-Grimes (20-5) opens the season at No. 1 in that class. Sioux City Heelan is second, followed by Norwalk, Clear Creek Amana and Cedar Rapids Xavier.

CCA returns all five starters, including Arizona State signee Averie Lower. Xavier is in its first season post-Tom Lilly and post-Libby Fandel.

Maquoketa (21-3) which made its first state-tournament appearance last year as a 4A program, is embedded in 3A now, and top-ranked. The Cardinals have all five of their starters back.

A 3A semifinalist in 2025, Williamsburg is No. 2, followed by Cherokee, Des Moines Christian and reigning champion Mount Vernon. The Mustangs bring back the backcourt trio of the Franck twins and Savanna Wright.

Hinton is coming off a 26-0 season, winning all three of its state-tournament games by six points or less. Four starters are back, plus the Blackhawks welcome back 2025 state volleyball player of the year Bailey Boeve, who missed last basketball season with a knee injury.

Treynor, Denver, Rock Valley and Sioux Central complete the 2A top five. Maquoketa Valley is No. 7.

Avah Underwood, who averaged a double-double last season, leads St. Albert’s bid for a 1A title defense. The Saintes were 25-1.

Algona Garrigan is No. 2, followed by Newell-Fonda, Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Springville. South Dakota commit Rowan Jacobi leads the Orioles.

Lansing Kee is ninth, Montezuma 10th.

2025-26 preseason girls’ basketball rankings

IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION

CLASS 5A

1. Johnston (26-0)

2. Waukee Northwest (19-5)

3. West Des Moines Dowling (22-4)

4. Cedar Rapids Prairie (20-5)

5. Iowa City Liberty (17-7)

6. Iowa City West (15-9)

7. Waukee (13-11)

8. Ankeny (10-13)

9. Iowa City High (16-8)

10. Cedar Rapids Washington (13-10)

11. West Des Moines Valley (7-16)

12. Pleasant Valley (19-5)

13. Cedar Falls (17-6)

14. Bettendorf (16-6)

15. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10-12)

CLASS 4A

1. Dallas Center-Grimes (20-5)

2. Sioux City Heelan (21-3)

3. Norwalk (23-2)

4. Clear Creek Amana (15-8)

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier (22-4)

6. Central DeWitt (20-5)

7. Sioux Center (21-3)

8. Carlisle (18-5)

9. Waverly-Shell Rock (19-3)

10. North Polk (24-3)

11. Burlington (16-6)

12. Solon (12-11)

13. Marion (13-10)

14. Pella (16-8)

15. Decorah (11-12)

CLASS 3A

1. Maquoketa (21-3)

2. Williamsburg (24-3)

3. Cherokee (21-4)

4. Des Moines Christian (21-1)

5. Mount Vernon (21-4)

6. Monroe PCM (21-4)

7. Spirit Lake (17-8)

8. Dubuque Wahlert (21-5)

9. Forest City (23-2)

10. Atlantic (18-7)

11. Davenport Assumption (9-13)

12. Mediapolis (21-2)

13. Tipton (16-7)

14. Carroll Kuemper (11-12)

15. Mid-Prairie (16-6)

CLASS 2A

1. Hinton (26-0)

2. Treynor (21-4)

3. Denver (22-3)

4. Rock Valley (20-4)

5. Sioux Central (18-6)

6. Central Lyon (21-5)

7. Maquoketa Valley (22-3)

8. Guthrie Center ACGC (22-2)

9. Emmetsburg (14-10)

10. Grundy Center (15-8)

11. Pocahontas Area (19-6)

12. Iowa City Regina (24-2)

13. Earlham (12-11)

14. Oakland Riverside (20-4)

15. Cascade (16-8)

CLASS 1A

1. Council Bluffs St. Albert (25-1)

2. Algona Garrigan (23-4)

3. Newell-Fonda (22-5)

4. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (21-4)

5. Springville (20-5)

6. Exira-EHK (18-6)

7. Dunkerton (17-8)

8. Lynnville-Sully (18-6)

9. Lansing Kee (19-7)

10. Montezuma (19-6)

11. Coon Rapids-Bayard (18-5)

12. Mason City Newman (15-9)

13. North Linn (24-2)

14. Martensdale St. Marys (17-6)

15. Harris-Lake Park (19-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com