The Cedar Rapids Prairie girls basketball team did not receive a single vote in the IGHSAU preseason rankings, but it's hard to blame anyone for that.

The Hawks struggled the last three years with records of 5-16, 3-18 and 4-17, so there was no great reason to predict a dramatic change this season.

On top of that, Prairie has a young team with two freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors and only one senior among the top-seven players in the rotation.

Color everyone surprised, at least everyone on the outside.

The Hawks, riding a six-game winning streak, are 9-3 overall and climbed to No. 9 in the ratings Thursday. Suddenly, the Hawks are battling for bragging rights in the Metro area with No. 7 Cedar Rapids Washington and No. 8 Xavier.

Coach Steve Doser thought he might have a good team this year, but he wasn't sure how good.

"I said we'll probably be the most-fun team to watch in a while, but I didn't know if that meant wins," he said Thursday. "I knew our style was going to be better, our players are better.

"The main thing is, we have a team that just loves being together. They have great team chemistry and they have fun. That's a big part of it. This year has been a blast."

Doser made two radical changes this season, and both have worked. He scrapped a double-low post offense in favor of a running game, and he scrapped their halfcourt man-to-man defense in favor of more full-court pressure.

"In the last four or five years, we've never done that. Not to this level," he said. "I got out of my comfort zone."

Prairie's tallest players are only 5-foot-9, so he designed a system that would fit his players, rather than trying to force players into a system that wasn't best for them.

Doser visited with some of his friends in the coaching fraternity during the summer, seeking advice. One of those good friends is Tom Lilly, the head coach at Xavier.

"Tom and I have been friends for a long time," he said. "I've helped Tom at his camps, he's helped me at my camps. He and I sat down and we helped each other out.

"I really respect Tom tremendously and what he does and how he teaches, especially defensively. Tom has been a great colleague of mine."

The two friends will battle Friday night when the No. 8 Saints visit the No. 9 Hawks in a key Mississippi Valley Conference affair.

Prairie has featured a balanced attack this season in all facets of the game - scoring, rebounding, steals and assists. Courteney McCrary is the leading scorer at 12.9 points, but she's followed closely by Madison Dellamuth (12.5), Cyerra Hutchins (9.8) and Alisa Weiland (9.6).

The scoring depth continues with Emilie Rotter (5.5), Katilyn Yanacek (4.5) and Mackenzie Serbousek (3.7).

Hutchins, McCrary and Dellamuth are all averaging more than five rebounds per game. Hutchins, Weiland and Dellamuth are averaging about three steals per game. Dellamuth and Weiland have combined for more than 100 assists and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-to-1.

"We don't have to count on one player, and we don't," Doser said. "It's been nice."

Dellamuth, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, is a superb ballhandler and passer who is being watched by Division I programs. She poured in a career-high 26 points Tuesday night in an 81-67 victory at Dubuque Senior.

McCrary helped the Hawks snatch victory from defeat against 10th-ranked Iowa City High on Jan. 6. Prairie trailed, 44-42, when she was fouled with 1.2 seconds left. She hit the first free throw, making it 44-43, but missed the second.

Instead of fretting, McCrary grabbed the offensive rebound and got fouled again with two-tenths of a second to go. She hit both foul shots and the Hawks won, 45-44, against a ranked opponent.

Prairie has a 2-2 record against ranked teams this season. The Hawks have defeated No. 10 Iowa City High and No. 13 Waterloo West, balanced by losses to No. 5 Cedar Falls and No. 7 Washington.

The campaign would be called a success if it ended now, but the Hawks have nine more games in the regular season and big tests on the way. They host No. 8 Xavier Friday night and entertain top-ranked Iowa City West next Friday, then will play five straight road games and six out of seven.

"We've had a good start, but these next two games are really going to be tough," Doser said.

He's looking forward to the challenge, because he likes the way his club is playing. As much as anything, he likes their attitude.

"This is probably the most unselfish team I've ever had in my 18 years of coaching," he said. "They just want what's best for the team and want to do the right thing.

"What's been most rewarding, we're winning and they're great kids to be around. That's been the rewarding part."