A trio of top-ten teams in the preseason Class 4A rankings has the Tulip City girls basketball teams likely looking upward in the Little Hawkeye Conference this winter.

The conference crown, at least in November, figures to be a race between No. 2 in 4A Indianola, No. 5 DCG, and No. 10 Grinnell — all of whom return several key stars from 2020-21 and the majority of their varsity rotations from the previous season.

Pella’s girls aim to ramp up the defensive pressure could have them in many situations to potentially upset one of the Tigers, Mustangs, or Indians on multiple occasions — but the girls in green and white will need to establish more offensive consistency and avoid some of the late-game letdowns that have kept them from knocking off some of those top three teams on a regular basis for close to five years. The Dutch and Norwalk Warriors could have quite the battle for the 4th spot in the final standings.

A core group of juniors on Eagle Lane following another strong class of graduating seniors may have the Eagles playing keep up, especially in the first half of the league rotation, especially now that they will fit the more-guard heavy approach of the majority of conference foes with the loss of three-time All-Conference post Allison Van Gorp. Pella Christian will look to stay ahead of Oskaloosa and Newton in that potential three way race for 6th.

Hear Little Hawkeye Conference basketball all winter long on KNIA/KRLS and kniakrls.com.