The 2024-25 Iowa High School Girls Basketball Season was a roller coaster ride for the KQRadio area, from an area team unable to field a varsity team to another on the brink of a state tournament berth.
Awards
Player of the Year: Claire Truesdell, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Stats – 11.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 39.9% FG, 31.2% 3PT, 56.2% FT
Truesdell takes home Player of the Year honors as the Norsemen bring home their 2nd consecutive KQRadio area player of the year (Matilde Motta in 2024). Truesdell led the Norsemen in scoring and served as a key senior leader for a class that won a total of 75 games in their 4 years.
Defensive Player of the Year: Tessa Skartvedt, So. (South Hamilton)
Stats – 5.8 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.1 BPH, 38.1% FG, 38.6% FT
Skartvedt stepped her game up after a promising freshman campaign, becoming one of the Heart of Iowa Conferences top shot-blockers, averaging over 2 per game. Skartvedt also led the Hawks in rebounding (8.0 per game) and averaged over a steal per game.
6th Player of the Year: Emma Truesdell, So. (Roland-Story)
Stats – 6.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 33.3% FG, 23.3% 3PT, 30.8% FT
The younger Truesdell joins her older sister in the awards category as she developed into a very dependable bench option in his sophomore campaign. Truesdell showed to be a versatile scorer while providing solid defense.
Coach of the Year: Maddie Gelber, Roland-Story
Accomplishments – 22-3 record, back-to-back Heart of Iowa Conference titles, Class 3A Regional Finalists
In her what was her final season at the helm of the Norsemen program, Maddie Gelber continued to lead Roland-Story to high standard of excellence, even after missing much of the 2nd half of the season after giving birth to twins. Gelber led the Norsemen to it’s 2nd straight 22-win season and back-to-back conference titles.
First Team
Guard – Olivia Gallentine, Sr. (Webster City)
- 9.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 42.6% FG, 36.7% 3PT, 62.8% FT
Guard – Riley Johnson, So. (Roland-Story)
- 10.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 3.3 SPG, 44.6% FG, 26.4% 3PT, 72.5% FT
Guard – Taytum Edwards, Fr. (Eagle Grove)
- 10.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 2.6 SPG, 26.8% FG, 21.5% 3PT, 36% FT
Forward – Claire Truesdell, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- See Player of the Year
Forward – Tessa Skartvedt, So. (South Hamilton)
- See Defensive Player of the Year
Olivia Gallentine garners first team honors in leading a rebuild of Webster City girls basketball in year one of the Marty McKinney era, while Roland-Story’s Riley Johnson elevates herself from 6th Player of the Year from last season to first-team all-area this season.
Taytum Edwards became a breakout star for a very young Eagle Grove team this season, a group that has a bright future down the road. Truesdell and Skartvedt’s cases have been made above.
Second Team
Guard – Isabel Swenson, Jr. (South Hamilton)
- 6.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 2.5 SPG, 20% FG, 20.1% 3PT, 57.4% FT
Guard – Kate Berggren, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- 5.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 40.7% FG, 28.1% 3PT, 74.1% FT
Forward – Alyssa Jones, Sr. (Roland-Story)
- 10.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 39.7% FG, 28.6% 3PT, 68.3% FT
Forward – Emma Truesdell, So. (Roland-Story)
- See 6th Player of the Year
Forward – Marissa Hedeen, Sr. (Webster City)
- 6.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1 BPG, 31% FG, 26.8% 3PT, 61.5% FT
A strong forward core from the Norsemen highlights the 2nd team as Alyssa Jones was one of 3 double-digit average scorers for Roland-Story, while Marissa Hedeen came on strong in the 2nd half of her senior season at Webster City. Isabel Swenson cracks the 2nd team for South Hamilton at guard, as does Roland-Story’s Kate Berggren.
Honorable Mention
Tristyn Wright, So. (Webster City)
Evie Davis, Fr. (Webster City)
Kaylen Trask, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Claire Hewitt, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Kendra Schild, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Myah Edwards, Sr. (Eagle Grove)
Kam Lande, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Brinley Carlson, Jr. (Roland-Story)