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

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