Conference Preview: Corner
The Teams East Mills (20-4, 13-3): The Wolverines handed Stanton their only loss against a league team last year, when they knocked them out of the postseason with a 56-48 win. The unfortunate news for them is that they lose…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
East Mills (20-4, 13-3): The Wolverines handed Stanton their only loss against a league team last year, when they knocked them out of the postseason with a 56-48 win. The unfortunate news for them is that they lose their top two scorers from that group. Michael Schafer (10.6) figures to be the team’s go-to scorer this year, while Nic Duysen (5.4) returns after averaging 7.8 rebounds last year. The only other returnee with significant experience is Nolan Smiley (2.1). The Wolverines have solid athletic programs, and should find some pieces to plug in, but with the lack of experienced players returning, they should probably fall off a bit from last year’s 20-win team.
Essex (1-19, 1-13): The Trojans were the sixth lowest scoring team in 1A last year, averaging 34 points a game, and nothing in the underlying statistics lends itself to thinking there will be much improvement. They had 30-25-41 shooting splits, and 421 turnovers (an average of 21 a game). The good news is that leading scorer Colton Thornburg (10.1) returns. It’ll be a battle between Essex and Griswold to stay out of the basement of the league again this year.
Fremont-Mills (8-14, 6-10): The Knights have a big hole to fill in the form of Mason Vanatta, who averaged over 17 points a game last year and led the team in nearly every major category. The good news is that Eli Owen (10.9) returns after making 43 3-pointers last year and finishing second in both assists and steals. He should have the ball in his hands a ton, and emerge as one of the league’s best scoring threats. Cooper Langfelt (4.6) and James Switzer (3.6) have some experience. They should be a middle-of-the-league team again this year.
Griswold (3-17, 1-13): Like Essex, the Tigers really struggled to score last year, ranking as the fourth lowest scoring team in 1A, averaging 32.7 a game and shooting 27.5% from the floor. Sage Archibald (7.5) and Jayden Amend (7.4) return, and Amend could emerge as one of the league’s better perimeter shooters. Their pair of games against Essex should determine who finishes last in the conference.
Sidney (14-9, 11-5): If you’re looking for a team to rise up and challenge Stanton in the league this year, it’s probably the Cowboys, who bring back the league’s leading returning scorer in Noah Jorgenson (16.5). He’s a good enough player to carry this group to plenty of wins, although they’ll really miss the interior presence that Brady Lorimor brought, pulling down 270 rebounds and blocking 40 shots last year. Cole Jorgenson (4.8), Garett Phillips (3.7) and Sam Pierce (2.4) return with some experience, but this will come down to how good Jorgenson can be. If he’s great, they can finish second and give Stanton a real scare. If he struggles as they struggle to find other pieces, they’ll be a middle-of-the-road team.
Stanton (22-2, 16-1): The Vikings have rolled through this league for the last several years, winning league games last year by an average of nearly 30 a game. They should be strong again this year, despite the fact that they are losing a pair of 22-point scorers in Donnie Weis and Drake Johnson. They’ll be led by Tyler Peterson (14.1), who was a strong tertiary scorer last year, shooting 60.8% from the floor while leading the team in rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. He’s ready to become a star, and keep the Vikings at the top of the league. Easton Hultman (5.8), Keygan Day (5.9) and Carter Johnson (3.0) also return after seeing plenty of time last year and should be ready to step into bigger roles. Stanton has had a stranglehold on this league for a while now, and they should be at the top again, battling it out with East Mills.
Note: Clarinda Academy is also in the Corner Conference, but they are a residential foster care facility that has complete roster turnover every year. Therefore, we don’t know what to expect from them.
Note #2: Heartland Christian was in this league last year, but has moved to the Frontier Conference, in Nebraska.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Stanton
2. Sidney
3. East Mills
4. Fremont-Mills
5. Griswold
6. Essex
Analysis: This has been Stanton’s league for a while now, and it should continue to be. The Vikings return the league’s best player and a decent amount of talent around him. Sidney has a standout in Noah Jorgenson who could provide a scare, and East Mills is always going to be solid and athletic.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Tyler Peterson, Stanton: 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.4 steals, 1.3 blocks, 60.8 FG%
The 5-11 guard was a stat sheet stuffer for the Vikings last year as the third member of a three-headed monster (Donnie Weis, Drake Johnson), leading the team in rebounding, assists, steals and blocks while shooting over 60% from the floor. With Donnie Weis and Drake Johnson’s 44 points a game gone, Peterson’s scoring numbers should explode this year.
Biggest Sleeper
2020 Keygan Day, Stanton: Day averaged just 5.9 points a game last year for the Vikings, but a large part of that was because of how good Donnie Weis, Drake Johnson and Tyler Peterson were. He should see his scoring uptick, and he dished out 80 assists against just 39 turnovers last year.
Players to Watch
2020 Tyler Peterson, Stanton
2020 Easton Hultman, Stanton
2020 Keygan Day, Stanton
2020 Noah Jorgenson, Sidney
2020 Cole Jorgenson, Sidney
2022 Garett Phillips, Sidney
2020 Michael Schafer, East Mills
2020 Nic Duysen, East Mills
2020 Eli Owen, Fremont-Mills
2021 Cooper Langfelt, Fremont-Mills
2020 Colton Thornburg, Essex
2020 Wesley Johnson, Essex
2021 Jayden Amend, Griswold
2020 Sage Archibald, East Mills