SEC girls’ basketball: MP tied for 1st

Much like the race on the boys’ side, the 2022-23 Southeast Conference girls basketball race is neck-and-neck, as parity won the first month of the league.

It’s been a while since the SEC race has been as competitive as it is now. In the last three years, the champion has been undefeated twice, as Keokuk went 10-0 in both 2019-20 and 2021-22. Fort Madison lost just once in their 2020-21 championship run.

This year’s champion is already bound to have one loss, as all six SEC teams have dropped at least one of their first four games, but three of those squads can still say they’re in first place at the holiday break.

Mt. Pleasant goes into break with a 3-1 record, all knotted up with Lee County squads Fort Madison and Keokuk. Not only are all three teams 3-1, but they’ve all beaten each other in round robin play.

Fort Madison got the first laugh, knocking down Mt. Pleasant with a 41-36 loss at the Hound Dome on Dec. 2. The Panthers scored a thrilling 51-46 overtime victory at home against Keokuk on Dec. 9, and the Chiefs ran past Fort Madison just seven days later, earning a 48-34 victory in Keokuk.

While the Panthers, Bloodhounds and Chiefs are all in good position to fight for the title, there’s one team right on the heels of all three. Washington heads into break at 2-2, and both the Demons’ losses were by single digits.

Along with a 30-point win at Fairfield to start the season, Washington has had three conference games decided by seven points or less. They won at Burlington, 47-41, but lost at home to Mt. Pleasant, 50-43, and dropped a 52-46 road game at Fort Madison.

Fairfield sits in fifth at the break, bringing a 1-3 record to the table. The young Trojans took a while to get their first win, but impressed with a 45-41 win at Burlington on Dec. 16 to bump the Grayhounds down to sixth place alone.

There still is one round of matchups that hasn’t taken place in the SEC. Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant haven’t played yet. Fort Madison has yet to play Burlington, and Keokuk needs to play Washington.

The next two games in the league will take place on Jan. 6. Fairfield has to go to Washington to finish that season series, and Mt. Pleasant will host the same Fort Madison team that gave the Panthers their only SEC loss so far.

SEC GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS

1. Fort Madison 3-1, 6-3

1. Keokuk 3-1, 4-3

1. Mt. Pleasant 3-1, 4-6

4. Washington 2-2, 5-3

5. Fairfield 1-3, 1-7

6. Burlington 0-4, 2-5

TOP-FIVE SCORERS

1. Andrea Lorpeato (12), Mt. Pleasant: 20.3 PPG

2. Camille Kruse (12), Fort Madison: 18.9 PPG

3. Mylee Stiefel (9), Burlington: 18.8 PPG

4. Savannah Hollander (11), Fairfield: 11.2 PPG

5. Kendra Boatman (9), Keokuk: 11.1 PPG

TOP-FIVE ASSISTS

1. Kendra Boatman (9), Keokuk: 4.4 APG

2. Camille Kruse (12), Fort Madison: 3.4 APG

3. Adalyn Long (9), Washington: 3.1 APG

4. Mylee Stiefel (9), Burlington: 3.0 APG

5. Kayde Martin (12), Keokuk: 2.6 APG

TOP-FIVE REBOUNDS

1. Andrea Lopreato (12), Mt. Pleasant: 14.2 RPG

2. Alex Murphy (12), Washington: 8.9 RPG

3. Molly Knipe (12), Fort Madison: 6.9 RPG

4. Addison Ferrel (11), Fairfield: 6.8 RPG

5. Camryn Atterberg (10), Keokuk: 6.6 RPG