Panther duo lands Hawkeye 10 recognition

In the release of the Hawkeye 10 all-conference girls basketball teams, two Panthers are being recognized for their efforts this season — seniors Kadley Bailey and Hollynn Rieck.

Bailey finishes her Panther career with 1,185 points, just the fourth Panther to reach 1,000 points. She holds the school records for single-game points (41), most 3-pointers in a game (six) and most steals in a season (103, 2024-25). She is the first 5-on-5 player to record 200 career steals.

Accolades have come in from all areas for Bailey’s senior performance. She was named Hawkeye 10 first-team all conference, earned a spot on the Iowa Girls Coaches Association 3A Southwest all-district team and will be playing on the 3A gray team in the IGCA Senior All-Star game Saturday in Cedar Falls.

Bailey is just the second Panther to earn all-district honors three times, joining Kelsey Fields.

“Kadley has etched her place in Panther 5-on-5 basketball as one of the best all-around players in history,” coach Tony Neubauer wrote in a Facebook post. “She immediately caught our eye the summer before her freshman year with her athletic ability, long arms and quick anticipation skills.”

This season, Bailey led the Panthers in a number of stats. She averaged 20.8 points per game, a total of 436 points. She sank 39 triples, brought in 89/116 free throws (76.7%) and made 154 shots from the field.

In the Hawkeye 10, Bailey finished second in points, fifth in steals (73), third in made field goals and third in made free throws.

Though Bailey is deserving of recognition and accolades, she does it as part of a dynamic duo with Rieck, the Panthers’ all-time assists leader.

Rieck earned honorable mention all-conference honors for her senior performance. Highlighting her season was a terrific game against Earlham where she became the first Creston girl to post a triple-double, scoring 16 points, bringing in 11 rebounds and posting 10 steals. She was just two assists away from an ultra-rare quadruple double. In that game, she also tied the single-game steals record and went over 200 career steals, a mark in which she finished second all-time to teammate Bailey.

Despite standing just 5-7, Rieck was also a menace for shooters, coming away with a team-high 23 blocks this season. Also leading the team in assists, Rieck averaged 5.4 assists per game, totaling 125 for the season. Rieck finishes her career as Creston’s top all-time career assists leader.

Rieck’s 125 was far and away the top assists mark in the Hawkeye 10, second place finishing with just 86. She also led in steals (88) and was third in defensive rebounds (137).

“Hollynn has been our floor general pretty much since she’s stepped on to the court,” Neubauer wrote. “She has by far the best court vision of any player that I’ve ever coached. Her ability to see things in transition before everyone is absolutely amazing. Hollynn is also probably the most fiery competitor that I have coached.”

Bringing away the Hawkeye 10 title was St. Albert with a perfect 10-0 conference record. Kuemper Catholic placed second at 9-1. Creston finished 11-12 overall and 4-6 in H10 play, tied with Lewis Central and Harlan in conference record.

All five Creston seniors, Bailey, Rieck, Ella Turner, Braylee Pokorny and Brynn Tussey, earned academic all-conference honors.