Basketball season is getting underway in the coming days for the girls and there are a handful of teams from the listening area that are in the initial rankings from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
In Class 1A, three teams from the South Iowa Cedar League were named. North Mahaska is a big surprise at #4 after a stellar 16-7 season last year with mostly freshman leading the way. Head Coach L.E. Moore and the Warhawks have state tournament experience but after a few down years, this year’s team will have high expectations to try to make it back with still a young core learning together.
Also in the Class 1A rankings are Montezuma and Lynnville-Sully. Montezuma went 17-7 last season under Cory Nikkel and will start this season at #9 under new Head Coach Janel Burgess. Their rivals from Lynnville-Sully had a great year last year, finishing 21-3. The Hawks start the year ranked #12.
In Class 4A, a couple of Little Hawkeye Conference teams made the list. Grinnell will start the year ranked 4th after a 19-5 season. The Tigers return several key players to that team for Head Coach Trent Edsen. Pella will also be a factor in the LHC, as they are ranked 10th after finishing 20-5 last season. Head Coach Jerod Garland will have to replace a couple of senior leaders, but there’s still plenty of talent for the Lady Dutch.
There are no area teams ranked in Class 2A, 3A, or 4A.
The No Coast Network will be releasing a full Game of the Week schedule later this week for the basketball season. The Game of the Week will air on 104.9 FM KBOE and kboeradio.com on Fridays throughout the season. Oskaloosa Basketball will be on 99.5 FM/740 AM KMZN and radiokmzn.com with video on MCG Channel 7 for most games, beginning on November 28 as the Indians travel to play Fairfield with the broadcast starting at 6 PM.