Girls
Ar-We-Va
1-7 Overall, 1-6 Rolling Valley
Lost 5 Straight
Opponents 38-26
Scoring
Offense 40 pts per game
Defense 60 pts per game
Leaders-Through 7 games
Jadeyn Smith 10.6 pts
Jadeyn Smith 11 rebs
Hannah Kraus 3 asts
Hannah Kraus 2.3 steals
Offensive struggles have been an issue for the Rockets as they have dropped their last 5 games heading into the break. They are shooting under 26% from the field and under 19% from 3 point range which has been a big part of their offensive attack. The struggles from the field have also ranged into the free throw line as they are hitting under 43% from the line. Jadeyn Smith came on strong the last few games which should help and Bridget Cameron is doing a nice job inside with 8 rebounds per game. Maggie Ragaller has had a couple nice games scoring so things could improve after the break.
Audubon
2-5 Overall, 1-4 Western Iowa Conf
Lost 1 Straight
Opponents 38-18
Scoring
Offense 46 pts per game
Defense 48 pts per game
Leaders
Aleah Hermansen 16.7 pts
Jaci Christensen 10.7 rebs
Aleah Hermansen 2.3 asts
Aleah Hermansen and Jaci Christensen 2.3 steals
The Wheelers early schedule has been as tough as anyone’s with games against South Central Calhoun, ASHTW, Treynor, and Underwood in their first 4 games and then LoMa right before the break. Those 5 teams have combined to go 34-7 before the break. Jaci Christensen has been really good inside and Aleah Hermansen gives them a terrific point guard who can drive and shoot the three. Kateyn Nielsen has been solid this season and Johanna Sauers is doing a good job on the glass. As their schedule balances out look for this team to start adding more wins.
Carroll
3-5 Overall, 1-5 Raccoon River Conf
Lost 3 Straight
Opponents 26-25
Scoring
Offense 46 pts per game
Defense 49 pts per game
Leaders
Ella Collison 12 pts
Ella Collison 5.8 rebs
Laura Sweeney 2.6 asts
Ella Collison 2 steals
Carroll is transitioning to a new offensive and defensive schemes this season and a lack of off-season has slowed them to start the season. The defense has been solid most nights only allowing 48.5 points per game. They have had stretches in their losses where they’ve struggled to score or had some turnover issues. They are only hitting 25.4% from three point range which should improve after the break. Ella Collison has been really good to start the season and missed most of their Winterset game with an injury. Kennedy Lein is showing improvement for a 3rd straight year. Look for this team to take steps forward after the break.
Coon Rapids Bayard
4-3 Overall, 3-3 Rolling Valley Conf
Won 3 Straight
Opponents 30-28
Scoring
Offense 44 pts per game
Defense 43 pts per game
Leaders
Brynn Bass 12.4 pts
Breeley Clayburg 9.1 rebs
Brynn Bass 5 asts
Brynn Bass 2.9 steals
The Crusaders have been playing their best ball heading into the break and Head Coach Kaitlyn McAlister really likes how this team is beginning to see what they can do within the system. They won their last 3 games after playing 3 really good teams in a row with undefeated Exira-EHK, CAM Anita and one loss, Paton Churdan before the break. Brynn Bass is playing well on the perimeter and Breeley Clayburg is doing well as a freshman in the post. Mia Leighty, Alaya Betts and Miranda Garcia are also capable scorers.
East Sac
2-6 Overall, 0-2 Twin Lakes Conf
Lost 1 Straight
Opponents 38-28
Scoring
Offense 44 pts per game
Defense 50 pts per game
Leaders
Maty Quirk 14.9 pts
Bree Boeckman 8.1 rebs
Bree Boeckman 4.4 asts
Maty Quirk 3.3 steals
The Raiders schedule hasn’t been easy before the break with games against Woodbury Central, South Central Calhoun, Newell Fonda and Pocahontas Area. Those four teams have combined to go 28-6. The Raiders have played well in most games with tight losses to OA-BCIG, Pocahontas Area and SE Valley. If they can begin to have a few more shots go in after the break they could be ready to break out. Maty Quirk gave them a scorer and Bree Boeckman could also be a double digit scorer as she transitions from point guard to a low post and wing player. Mary Bontrager and Carly Fischer have also shown the ability to score and Meredith Brown is scoring more this season while continuing to rebound well.
Glidden Ralston
3-4 Overall, 2-4 Rolling Valley Conf
Won 2 Straight
Opponents 34-23
Scoring
Offense 43 pts per game
Defense 51 pts per game
Leaders
Gretchen Wallace 13.8 pts
Gretchen Wallace 10.2 rebs
Tiela Janssen and Kim Daily 2.2 asts
Kim Daily 2.8 steals
Glidden Ralston may have been starting to come into their own before the break stopped their 2 game win streak. The Wildcats had a really nice win over AC-GC and followed it up with a good performance against Ar-We-Va. Three of their 4 losses early were to teams combined 23-1 before the break in CAM Anita, Exira-EHK and Paton Churdan. Gretchen Wallace and Page Klocke have been everything Coach Cole Corson has wanted. Freshman Tiela Janssen continues to grow after missing the last two seasons due to injury.
IKM-Manning
1-5 Overall, 1-3 Western Iowa Conf
Lost 2 Straight
Opponents 36-13
Scoring
Offense 47 pts per game
Defense 56 pts per game
Leaders
Alexa Ahrenholtz 15.5 pts
Bianca Cadwell 8.5 rebs
Alexa Ahrenholtz 2.7 asts
Alexa Ahrenholtz 4 steals
The IKM-Manning schedule has been loaded this season with games against Treynor, LoMa, Panorama, AHSTW and Exira-EHK. Those 5 teams are combined 33-7 this season. The Wolves best game may have been a tough road loss at Panorama where they had a chance to win in the 4th quarter. They are struggling from the field this season, especially from 3 where they are hitting just 22%. In an unusual number for IKM-Manning they have more turnovers (20.8) then steals (12.7) per game. Alexa Ahrenholtz leads them in scoring at the break while Bianca Cadwell has been very good inside.
Kuemper
1-7 Overall, 0-4 Hawkeye 10 Conf
Lost 2 Straight
Opponents 37-29
Scoring
Offense 46 pts per game
Defense 62 pts per game
Leaders
Catherine Mayhall 16.3 pts
Akuet Malek 12 rebs
Catherine Mayhall 5.5 asts
Brooklyn Gifford 2.3 steals
Akuet Malek 9.7 blocks
The Knights have just 1 win before the break but you can see vast improvements on the court as they have competed in several of their losses, St Albert by 2, Exira-EHK by 9 and Denison Schleswig by 7. They have been able to knock down three point shots which has made them a tougher team to defend and also opens things up for Akuet Malek on the offensive glass. She is developing into a tough player on both ends of the floor after being very good defensively to start the season. Catherine Mayhall was good as a freshman and is off to a very good sophomore season. Her ability to find shooters has helped this team from beyond the arc. Brooklyn Gifford is having a fantastic senior season. They should get stronger with the return of Sarah Steffes after the break.
Paton Churan
7-1 Overall, 6-1 Rolling Valley
Won 5 Straight
Opponents 25-40
Scoring
Offense 54 pts per game
Defense 41 pts per game
Leaders
Danielle Hoyle 23.6 pts
Danielle Hoyle 10.6 rebs
Carmyn Paup 4.8 asts
Karissa Stephenson 2.4 steals
The Rockets have done what they were expected to do coming into the season, having played well with their only loss at undefeated Exira-EHK. This team has played well together as a team and everyone has taken a role and fulfilled it well. Danielle Hoyle has been a force on both ends of the court. Tessa Steiml has given them an outside threat while Carmyn Paup is finding their scorers. Karissa Stephenson is doing a nice job on defense and the bench has been solid. They played a few games without starter Chloe Berns who is back. This will be a fun group to watch after the break.
South Central Calhoun
8-1 Overall, 2-1 Twin Lakes Conf
Won 1 Straight
Opponents 21-51
Scoring
Offense 66 pts per game
Defense 39 pts per game
Leaders
Riley Batta 14.1 pts
Riley Batta 5.3 rebs
Emma Anderson 3.9 asts
Kylee Schleisman 3.6 steals
South Central Calhoun climbed to 2nd in the polls before suffering their first game late at Emmetsburg. They bounced back well to close out the break with a win over MVAO-COU. They use their defense to create a lot of their offense though they are capable in the halfcourt set. Coach Brady Dicks wants this team to play up and down and they go 10 deep. Their best wins this season are against East Sac,
Audubon and SE Valley. They are shooting nearly 45% from the field and over 33% from 3. Free Throws are an area they will need to improve hitting under 49% so far. They have a number of girls that can score with Riley Batta, Kylee Schleisman, Brielle Korleski, Emma Anderson and Chloe Judisch all having double digit games this season.