Iowa high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (3/5/2024)

Johnston, CC-Amana, Solon, Dike-NH, North Linn win titles, uphold previous rankings

The five schools which were ranked highest in their respective classes entering the Iowa girls basketball state tournament won state championships last week. Johnston (5A), Clear Creek-Amana (4A), Solon (3A), Dike-New Hartford (2A) and North Linn (1A) reigned at Wells Fargo Arena. 

Here’s a look at the final SBLive Iowa Top 25 rankings:

1. Johnston (26-0) 

Dragons completed a wire-to-wire run atop 5A and these all-class rankings, winning their third state title in five years and going 118-6 in that span.

2. West Des Moines Dowling (21-5)

In the 5A title game, the Maroons again fought gamely against Johnston, but lost by exactly 12 points for the third straight time this season.

3. Waukee (19-5)

Warriors edged Ankeny Centennial 46-44 in the 5A quarterfinals, shooting 8 of 17 from 3-point range, before running into Johnston in the semis.

4. Ankeny Centennial (14-9)

In the quarterfinal loss to Waukee, junior Jaeden Pratt had 22 points and five rebounds.

5. Cedar Falls (23-2)

Grace Knutson had 34 points in a 71-65 quarterfinal win over Davenport North and 20 in a 59-48 semifinal loss to Dowling.

6. Clear Creek-Amana (26-0)

After never having won a state-tournament game before this season, the Clippers beat Waverly-Shell Rock 43-25 for the 4A title, getting 11 points and 19 rebounds from captain of the all-tournament team, Ava Locklear.

7. North Linn (26-1)

Lynx coach Brian Wheatley said his team saved its best for last, as Kamryn Kurt had 23 points, seven assists and four steals in a 67-51 win over Newell-Fonda in the 1A title game.

8. Davenport North (22-3)

We’ll never know for sure how far the Wildcats could have gone, because they lost Iowa recruit Journey Houston for the season to injury in late January.

9. Pleasant Valley (19-5)

Spartans were within three in the final 30 seconds against Dowling in the 5A quarterfinals, but settled for a 53-48 loss.

10. North Polk (23-3)

Comets had a field-goal attempt for the lead in the final minute but lost 50-48 to eventual champ Clear Creek-Amana in the 4A semifinals.

11. Solon (24-3)

Iowa recruit Callie Levin had 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists as Solon beat Estherville-Lincoln Central 54-47 in the 3A championship game.

12. Dike-New Hartford (26-2)

Payton Petersen had 27 points and 14 rebounds and was named captain of the all-tournament team for the fourth time, and the Wolverines won their fourth straight state title with a 48-46 win over gritty Panorama.

13. Waverly-Shell Rock (25-1)

Go-Hawks knocked off Sioux City Heelan in the 4A semis, but shot 7 of 49 (14.3%) in a 43-25 championship-game loss to Clear Creek-Amana.

14. Sioux City Heelan (23-2)

Tireless defensive effort vs. Waverly-Shell Rock in the 4A semis, but Crusaders couldn’t overcome 13 of 51 (25.5%) field-goal shooting, including 4 of 26 (15.4%) from 3.

15. West Des Moines Valley (13-11)

Tigers trailed Johnston by 12 early in the third quarter of their 5A quarterfinal against Johnston, but the Dragons scored the next 12 to blow it open.

16. Ankeny (13-10)

Hawks lost by three to West Des Moines Valley in a 5A regional final.

17. Estherville-Lincoln Central (24-3)

Haylee Stokes set a 3A tournament record with 89 points in three games, including 44 in the quarterfinals, but the Midgets lost 54-47 to Solon in the 3A title game.

18. Mount Vernon (22-4)

Mustangs rolled over Harlan Community in the 3A quarterfinals, but dropped a 45-37 decision to Estherville-Lincoln Central in the semifinal round.

19. Newell-Fonda (24-3)

Mustangs reached the 1A title game for the 12th time, but ran into hot-shooting North Linn, which made 64 percent from the field in a 67-51 victory.

20. Panorama (25-2)

Panthers earned the respect of many across the state, pushing Dike-New Hartford to the wire but losing a 48-46 heartbreaker in the 2A title game.

21. Waukee Northwest (11-12)

Wolves dropped a 52-43 5A regional final to Pleasant Valley.

22. Dallas Center-Grimes (20-4)

Mustangs reached state for the fourth straight year, but lost 48-42 in the 4A quarterfinals to North Polk.

23. Sioux Central (23-2)

Rebels made their first state appearance and then beat Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 52-48 in the 2A quarterfinals before falling to Dike-New Hartford, 58-44.

24. Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-5)

Hawks dropped a 45-35 decision to Cedar Falls in a 5A regional final.

25. Sioux City East (18-6)

Black Raiders lost 53-25 to Ankeny Centennial in a 5A regional final but will return three double-digit scorers next season.

--Kevin White | @SBLiveIA