Des Moines East is the pick as the best girls basketball team in Iowa this year. Also watch out for Dowling, Waterloo West, Valley and Kennedy.
Des Moines East is expected to have a big season in Iowa.
Photo by Chad Bassman
MaxPreps 2013-14 Iowa Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every stateInformation in this article provided by Jeff Linder of the Cedar Rapids Gazette (
@jtlinder)
1. Des Moines EastHead coach: Sam Powell
2012-13 finish: 21-3, state quarterfinalist
Des Moines East returns all five starters from a team that reached the state tournament last year, then was upset by Dowling in the quarterfinals. The Scarlets will rely on speed rather than size, with no starters taller than 5-foot-9.
Shareece Burrell leads the way. She averaged 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
2. Dowling (West Des Moines) Head coach: John Wilkinson
2012-13 finish: 21-5, state finalist
The Maroons advanced to the 5A title game last year before falling to Southeast Polk, 43-34. The top three scorers are back, led by junior
Audrey Faber (11.4 points per game).
3. Waterloo WestHead coach: Anthony Pappas
2012-13 finish: 16-7, lost in second round of playoffs
The top five scorers from 2013 return, including three double-digit scorers:
Haley Puk (15.3 ppg),
Blaire Thomas (15.1) and
Kate Letkewicz (14.3). Thomas has signed with Iowa State.
4. Valley (West Des Moines) Head coach: Eric Boyle
2012-13 finish: 14-8, lost in first round of playoffs
The top seven scorers are back from last year’s team, led by junior
Grace Vander Weide (12.6 ppg) and
Brooke O'Hollearn (10.4).
5. Kennedy (Cedar Rapids)Head coach: Dennis Roloff
2012-13 finish: 15-8, lost in second round of playoffs
The Cougars welcome back a Division I signee (
Morgan Martin, Eastern Illinois) and a pair of D-II recruits (
Madi Meier and
Paige Hendrickson). Martin missed most of last season with a knee injury.
