The Nodaway Valley Girls Basketball Team is ready and excited for the start of the 2024-2025 season. The Wolverines have seen tremendous success over the last 6 six years. They have captured four 20-win seasons, a 46-game home winning streak (broken in January of last year), and a conference championship in 2022-2023. Although ready for the challenge of a new season, things will look a little different this year for Nodaway Valley. The Pride of Iowa altered its scheduling concept as the Wolverines will now play every conference team twice. This includes top teams like Mount Ayr, Martensdale-St. Marys and Lenox. Their non-conference schedule is no cakewalk either as they face Trynor, Atlantic, Panorama, Clarinda, and Ealrham on the road. The lone home non-conference game is a battle with Kuemper Catholic.

In addition to the tough schedule, Nodaway Valley also graduated five seniors last year. This includes Lindsey Davis, who averaged 24.6 points and 6 rebounds per game last season. However, the Wolverines do return five members, including last year’s second-leading scorer Izzy Eisbach, and a four-member senior class that has posted a record of 58-13  with just two conference losses. Head Coach Brian Eisbach knows it will be tough but is looking forward to the task ahead.

One of the key returning pieces for the Wolverines is junior Izzy Eisbach. Last season, she was the highest-scoring sophomore in 2A and compiled a long list of accolades. In addition to breaking her own school records for most assists in a game and a season, she was selected to the first-team All-Conference, All-District, and All-Region teams. She also received a second-team nod from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Despite scoring 19.2 points per game and all the accolades last season, Eisbach says she is still looking to improve her game.

Another one of Nodaway Valley’s returners is their most experienced senior Maddie Weston. She has played in 116 games and ranks second among returners in career 3-pointers made and points. She is very excited to start her last year and wants to do everything she can to improve the team and especially the newcomers.

Last season the Wolverines season came to an end in the regional championship in a hard fought 55-48 loss to Grundy Center. Despite the increased strength of schedule Eisbach and the team beleive they can get back and even go further. A sentiment that was echoed not just by Eisbach but by the team was their willingness to grow off the court as well as on it.

Things won’t be easy for Nodaway Valley. Lossing a considerable amount of seniors and a tougher schedule are tough challenges to overcome. However, it’ll become apparent quick whether it be through the scoreboard or through their play that this is a program that is used to winning.