Fewer players and fans reshape Iowa girls basketball
Iowa girls basketball moves from six to five players amid declining participation and attendance since 1993. Executives like Troy Dannen cite TV saturation and game speed as key factors, while coaches note increased athleticism and offseason demands. Ankeny’s fans surged in recent finals even as programs shrink.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jeff Linder
Gazette
Iowa
Troy Dannen
Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
Dannen
University of
End of six-player era reshapes Iowa girls basketball
The 1994 state tournament marked the last six-player girls basketball season in Iowa after a long, divisive shift to five-on-five. Coaches and players adapted, with conferences and schools phasing in the new game despite early resistance and mixed memories from former six-player communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shauna Russell Shields
Russell Shields
Iowa
Linn- Mar
Cedar Rapids
Washington
Troy Dannen
Cooley
Des Moines Register
Deep River-Millersburg
Janet Grimm Burgess
Montezuma High School
DRM
Iowa State University
Dannen
Ighsau
Mike Henderson
Henderson
Keota
Fish
Upper Iowa
Gene Klinge
West Central
Klinge
Midland
Jerry Carstens
Carstens
Montezuma
Grimm
Grimm Burgess
Michigan State University
Maynard
Mediapolis
al Rabenold
Six-player girls basketball era in Iowa ends
The piece recalls Iowa high school girls hoops from the six-player era, its local appeal during state tournament weeks, and notable teams like Farragut, Mediapolis, Everly’s Cattlefeederettes, and star Denise Long. It notes the transition away from six-player rules as the era closed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Farragut
Mediapolis
Vets
Everly
Denise Long
Transition from six on six to five on five changes college prospects
The article profiles Elk Horn Kimballton star Jan Jensen who became a five player All American at Drake and notes over 100 colleges pursued her. It discusses shifting norms from six on six to five on five, impact on scholarships, and insights from Iowa coaches about fitting players into college programs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jeff Lindert
Elk Horn-Kimballton High School
Jan Jensen
Drake University
Jensen
University of Iowa
Troy Dannen
Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
Lisa Bluder
Drake
Kristi Kinne
Lisa Brinkmeyer
Bulldogs
Dannen
Also Mentioned on This Page
Dave Fish
Dunkerton
Olin
Billy Packer
al McGuire
Ankeny
Waterloo West
Wayne Cooley
Cnt
Veterans Audio
Correctionville
Nevada
Audubon
Iowa Girls High School Athletic
Elk Horn
Kimballton
Des Moines
Guthrie County
E. Wayne Cooley
Ruth Lester
Oakland
O.E
Lester
Frosty Mitchell
Veterans Auditorium
Olson
Ineer
Melvin
Sibley
Lynnville-Sully
Buzz Orr
Rippey
Frances Peterson
Waukee
O.E. Lester
Mike Hlas
the Gazette
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