Conference Preview: River Valley South
The Teams
Durant (13-10, 9-9): The Wildcats showed what they can be capable of late last season, beating Northeast by three in one of the final regular season games of the year. The key now will be competing against the upper echelon teams in the league on a consistent basis, and it’s something that they should be able to do this winter, with four of their top five scorers, including their top three, returning. They’ll be headlined by guard Easton Botkins (14.2), a talented scoring guard who was the team’s best 3-point shooter last season. He’s joined by Mason Compton (9.8), Bryce Lafrenz (9.7) and Joe Lilenthal (8.2) as key returnees. Compton gives the ‘Cats another perimeter shooter, while Lafrentz is more of a slasher and distributor who led the team in assists last season. Lilenthal is a massive body in the paint, but he’s more than just a big body. He has soft hands and good feet, and looks primed to have a really strong junior season. Not much returns in terms of depth, but the ‘Cats will have one of the best quartets in the division and they’ll factor into the league race.
Iowa City Regina (18-4, 17-2): The Regals dominated RVC competition last season, with their only two losses to conference teams coming to Cascade (one in postseason play). They lose a lot of production from that roster, as five of their top seven scorers graduated, and a sixth, potential Division I big man Even Brauns, transferred to Iowa City West. But the cupboard isn’t bare on the east side of Iowa City. The Regals will be led by junior lead guard Masen Miller (11.9), a dangerous shooter (43.7 3P%), ball handler and facilitator (66 assists to just 18 turnovers) who will be asked to do an awful lot this year. He’s up for the task, as he’s probably the most talented player in the division. Luke Stein (3.3), Bryce Barnett (2.5), Nick Wagner (2.3) and Ashton Cook (1.5) are the other key returnees for Regina. Stein and Barnett are the most experienced, a pair of seniors who have contributed for a while now. Barnett gives them another capable ball handler and passer if they choose to move Miller off the ball a bit to free up his offense. Wagner and Cook had solid freshmen seasons, contributing to a loaded and deep rotation. They’re talented and should become a dangerous combination in the paint before their high school careers are over. There is still plenty of talent at Regina, but it’s not very experienced. How quickly everything comes together will determine whether or not the Regals will compete for a division title again this year.
Mid-Prairie (5-17, 5-13): Six players return for the Golden Hawks who averaged at least 3.5 points a game last season, giving Mid-Prairie one of the more experienced cores in the division. They’ll need to become more efficient (39-30-57 shooting splits) if they want to make a jump up the standings, however, as well as improve on the defensive end (87th in Class 2A at 64.3 points a game). They’ll be led by Cale Robertson (10.3), Tom Butters (8.0) and Dominic Pickard (7.1), while Brad Tornow (3.7) is back as the team’s primary ball handler.
Tipton (16-8, 14-7): The Tigers lost a big piece in Logan Hoffman, who averaged over 20 points a game last season. But they bring back their next five scorers from a team that won 16 games last year. Andrew Stewart (13.6) is the leading returning scorer. He led the team with 41 3s last season. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Jacob Tischuk (7.0), Luke Becker (7.0) and Trent Pelzer (3.7). Tischuk led the team in assists, and Pelzer is a solid secondary ball handler, while Becker will pair with Stewart as the team’s primary perimeter scorers/shooters. Frank Bierman (6.0) is one of the best rebounders in small school basketball, and he should average close to a double-double this year. He’s a big, strong junior who should impose his will on a nightly basis. Losing a player like Hoffman is a big blow, but Tipton has plenty of experience and balanced threats coming back, and they’ll be among the top two or three teams in the division all year.
West Branch (13-10, 11-9): The most explosive player in the league plays for the Bears in senior guard Beau Cornwell (23.3). He’s capable of going off for 40 points on any given night, especially if he’s able to improve his efficiency this year (just 27.8% from the arc last year). He has as green a light as any player in the state, which can be a bad thing at times, but there’s no denying his shot making abilities when he gets it rolling. Tanner Lukavsky (10.9) gives them another strong scorer, while Brady Lukavsky (5.1), Ted Bridges (3.6) and Brett Schiele (3.6) all have plenty of experience. This is going to be the most up-and-down team in the division, as they’ll go as Cornwell goes. That means they could look like a world beater one night, and like a lower-tier team in 2A the next. They’ll be difficult to predict on a nightly basis, but they’ll be capable of beating anyone on a given night.
West Liberty (2-19, 1-16): The Comets, like Wilton, struggled last season, being outscored by an average of 62-43. They bring back their top three scorers, led by Seth Feldman (17.1), one of the most versatile scoring threats in the league, but he’ll need to be much more efficient (39.5% last year) if West Liberty is going to compete on a nightly basis. Spencer Daufeldt (9.0) and Brent Meyers (7.0) provide some experience.
Wilton (1-20, 0-18): Not much went right last year for the Beavers, who ranked 94th in 2A (out of 96 teams) offensively, at 37.8 points a game, and 95th defensively (75.0). They bring back six of their top seven from that group, led by Jared Townsend (13.0), but it figures to be another long season in Wilton.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Iowa City Regina
2. Tipton
3. Durant
4. West Branch
5. Mid-Prairie
6. West Liberty
7. Wilton
Analysis: Regina lost a lot of production from last year’s group, but bring back the most talented player in Masen Miller. And it’s hard to pick against them when nobody in the division beat them last year. That said, any of the top four can beat each other on any given night, and Mid-Prairie might sneak up and grab one or two of them at some point this winter if they can improve on the defensive end.
Preseason Player of the Year
2019 Beau Cornwell, West Branch: 23.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.8 steals
The talented senior guard has put up huge scoring numbers for three years now, and could be among the state’s leaders in scoring this season if he improves his efficiency, especially from behind the arc (27.8% last year). He contributes across the board and is the most dynamic player in the division.
Biggest Sleeper
2021 Nick Wagner, Iowa City Regina: A big, strong, 6-6 sophomore forward, Wagner could become one of the best interior players in the league this year. He’s not going to be bullied around by anyone in the paint, and he should emerge as one of the best rebounders in the division.
Players to Watch
2019 Beau Cornwell, West Branch
2020 Tanner Lukavsky, West Branch
2019 Andrew Stewart, Tipton
2020 Frank Bierman, Tipton
2019 Jacob Tischuk, Tipton
2019 Luke Becker, Tipton
2020 Masen Miller, Iowa City Regina
2019 Seth Feldman, West Liberty
2019 Spencer Daufeldt, West Liberty
2019 Easton Botkins, Durant
2020 Joe Lilenthal, Durant
2019 Mason Compton, Durant
2019 Bryce Lafrenz, Durant
2019 Jared Townsend, Wilton
2019 Cale Robertson, Mid-Prairie
2019 Tom Butters, Mid-Prairie
2019 Dominic Pickard, Mid-Prairie