DCG girls’ basketball had a season for the ages, and it will be remembered for a long time in the history of Dallas Center-Grimes High School athletics.

The Mustangs finished with a record of 23-3(11-1) and held a share of the Little Hawkeye Conference title for the sixth straight year. They had an eight-game winning streak to start the season before they lost back-to-back games. This team proved its resilience by ripping off 15 more wins in a run to the state tournament. In the state semifinals, they beat the Norwalk Warriors, who were the team they split a portion of the conference crown with. Their third meeting was basketball cinema that will live in the annals of Iowa girls’ basketball forever. Ava Smid scoring 6 points in 10 seconds in the final minute was a never-before-seen individual effort to nickname the contest “The Ava Smid Game.” DCG beat Norwalk to win the season series and move on to the finals. While they fell short in the title game, this team was truly something special.

Smid was a leader for DCG, along with Macy Meyer and Leah Brauch. All three of the girls were awarded all-state recognition in Class 4A. Leah garnered 3rd team, while Macy was recognized by both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association as 2nd team. The Des Moines Register chose Meyer as 1st team all-state. A remarkable recognition for a fantastic player. Smid got the chance to add more accolades as well. She was picked for 2nd team all-state by the IGCA, and 1st team thanks to the IBCA and Iowa Print Writers Association. 

While recognition and commendation isn’t what these girls strive for, it is a marker for team success. When the Mustangs do well, so do the individuals. Each player on the team played a pivotal role in DCG basketball flourishing this season. Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Mustangs on a Marvelous year.