Conference Preview: Iowa Star North
The Teams
CAL, Latimer (5-17): The bad news for the Cadets is that they averaged only 42.4 points a game last season, and had an abysmal 193-407 assist-to-turnover ratio while shooting 34.7% from the floor. The good news is that they only lose one player from last year’s roster and that consistency and experience alone should help them improve. They’ll be led by Israel Rivera (11.8), a senior guard who will pair with Brock Guerrero (8.0) to give them a serviceable backcourt. Nate Rapp (8.3), Ben Rapp (5.5) and Luke Rapp (2.6) are the other key contributors returning from last year’s group. In a strong North Division with three really good teams, it’s hard to imagine this group competing for a title. But they should be better and more competitive than they were a year ago.
Cedar Falls, Valley Lutheran (0-3): The Crusaders competed in three games last season before a pair of injuries prevented them from being able to field a team to compete for the rest of the year. In those three games, they lost by an average of 71-9. Assuming the roster returns in tact, it’s hard to see them competing again this year. Junior Trey Berger (6.0) was the team’s leading scorer a year ago.
Clarksville (3-19): Leading scorer Ben Waetjen (12.4) returns for the Indians, but he’ll need to improve on his assist-to-turnover ratio (19-83; Clarksville was 119-457 as a team) in order for the Indians to see a few more wins pop up this winter. Ethan Schmidt (6.3, 53.1 FG%) was a lone efficiency bright spot for a team that shot 34.6% from the floor as a team. Dawson Holub (4.1) and Chris Behrends (3.8) saw significant playing time last year, giving Clarksville some experience, but they’ll need to learn to protect the ball better if they want to be more successful.
Don Bosco (21-2): The Dons move up to the North Division after a little bit of conference reshuffling, and they’ll be the favorite to take down the division in their first year. Returning their top seven scorers from a 21-win team, this is a group that has their sights set on a trip to Des Moines. They’re led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Sean McFadden (14.5), Jack Kelley (12.4) and Zach Nie (11.7), each of whom provides something different. McFadden is an efficient post scorer who provides rim protection. Kelley is one of the better lead guards in 1A, a solid distributor and scorer. And Nie knocked down 59 3s last season and will be one of the league’s best shooters. Throw in other pieces like Clayton Weber (8.7, 68.7 FG%), Zach Huff (5.5), Cael Tenold (4.8) and Kendall Becker (3.1), and the Dons will be deep and talented. A borderline top 10 team in 1A to begin the year, this group is a healthy favorite to win the division.
Dunkerton (19-5): The top three, and six of the top seven, scorers return for a Raiders team that was one of the highest scoring teams in Class 1A last year, averaging 64.7 points a game. They’ll be led by Kaleb Cox, a 6-1 combo forward who is capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor and led the team in rebounding last season. Brady Happel (10.5) and Zach Johnson (9.9) will join him as the primary scoring threats for this team, each a threat to knock down 3s or get to the rim for buckets. Dalton Burch (5.8), Travis Schake (4.5) and Brady Stone (4.4) all saw plenty of action last year as well and return with experience. The key to this team’s success, however, may sit with 6-4 senior George Peterson (3.1), who blocked 10 shots a year ago in somewhat limited action. If he’s able to turn into a rim protector and low-post scorer, he could make the difference for the Raiders.
Janesville (14-8): Everybody returns for a Janesville team that finished the season strong, going 10-3 after the winter break (with two of those losses coming to Dunkerton). The Wildcats will be led by one of the best inside-out tandems you’ll find at the 1A level with Codey Hicks (13.9, 68.0 FG%) and Spencer Hoff (17.5). Hicks is a big, physical post presence who led the team in rebounding and was second in the division in the category. Hoff is a big-time wing scorer who excels at getting to the rim, but is also a threat to knock down 3s. He’ll have the ball in his hands a lot, as will Josh Hahn (7.4), who led the team in assists last season (Hoff missed seven games). Peyton Meyer (10.0) gives the Wildcats another scoring option, with a majority of his work coming inside the arc as well. With plenty of experience returning, and a versatile set of skills on the roster, this is a team that can push Don Bosco and Dunkerton, but probably just doesn’t have quite enough talent to break through all the way to the top of the league. They’ll be dangerous all year, and a threat to upset some teams come February.
Riceville (7-15): The top two scorers return for the Wildcats in John Miller (13.2) and Grant Shedenhelm (12.6). That tandem combined to score over half the team’s points last season, and will have to do so again this year. The duo combined for 94 steals and should be solid enough on that end of the floor to keep this group afloat as they look to find other scoring options.
Tripoli (11-11): The Panthers return leading scorer Zach Johnson (14.2) to a team that proved to be dangerous last season, knocking off Colo-NESCO during the regular season and playing competitive games against Dunkerton. Johnson is one of the league’s best perimeter threats, knocking down 60 3s last season, and he’ll be tasked with shouldering a large scoring load again this season, as they lost a pair of double figure scorers alongside him. Elias Seehase (9.5) is back after blocking 48 shots, a 6-3 power forward who provides some protection in the paint. They’ll need to find some increased production out of guys like Zach Hereid (3.4), Elijah Cheever (3.1) and Jared Cheever (1.1) if they want to remain competitive in the league. They should finish in the middle of the pack.
Waterloo Christian (0-22): The Regents went winless last season, shooting just 29.8% from the floor as a team, and they lose leading scorer Luke Zwack, who accounted for over 60% of their scoring last season, so things aren’t looking too bright in Waterloo. John Zwack (5.5) figures to step into older brother’s shoes and take on the leading scoring role, but there isn’t much else returning to this roster. If they’re able to win a game or two, that would count as a successful season.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Don Bosco
2. Dunkerton
3. Janesville
4. Tripoli
5. Riceville
6. CAL, Latimer
7. Clarksville
8. Waterloo Christian
9. Cedar Falls, Valley Lutheran
Analysis: It figures to be a two-horse race here for the division crown, but the experience and talent of Don Bosco should be too much for Dunkerton to overtake. The Dons are one of the best 1A teams in the state, and they should prove it by marching through this league. Janesville and Tripoli have players who could make things interesting in postseason play.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2018 Sean McFadden, Don Bosco: 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 61.0 FG%
The leading scorer for a Don Bosco team that went 21-2 last year, McFadden led the Dons in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks, while shooting 61% from the floor. He’s the focal point of a team that figures to be highly successful again this year, and has their sights set on a trip to Des Moines.
BIGGEST SLEEPER
2018 Elias Seehase, Tripoli: The 6-3 senior forward was the division’s top rim protector last season, blocking more than twice as many shots as the next player on the list. He’s a versatile forward who also handles the ball fairly well, leading his team in assists last year. Look for him to have a big senior season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
2018 Sean McFadden, Don Bosco
2019 Jack Kelley, Don Bosco
2018 Zach Nie, Don Bosco
2018 Clayton Weber, Don Bosco
2020 Zach Huff, Don Bosco
2018 Kaleb Cox, Dunkerton
2019 Zach Johnson, Dunkerton
2019 Brady Happel, Dunkerton
2018 Dalton Burch, Dunkerton
2019 Codey Hicks, Janesville
2019 Spencer Hoff, Janesville
2019 Josh Hahn, Janesville
2018 Zach Johnson, Tripoli
2018 Elias Seehase, Tripoli
2018 John Miller, Riceville
2018 Grant Shedenhelm, Riceville
2018 Ben Waetjen, Clarksville
2020 Ethan Schmidt, Clarksville
2018 Israel Rivera, CAL, Latimer
2019 Nate Rapp, CAL, Latimer
2018 Brock Guerrero, CAL, Latimer