Conference Preview: Iowa Star South
The Teams Baxter (11-10, 7-5): The Bolts bring back just five players from last year’s varsity roster, but luckily for them, three of them ranked among the top five in scoring last season, so they have a decent core to…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
Baxter (11-10, 7-5): The Bolts bring back just five players from last year’s varsity roster, but luckily for them, three of them ranked among the top five in scoring last season, so they have a decent core to build around. Cole Damman (12.4) far and away led the team in made 3s last season (47) and assists (80), and should have the ball in his hands a ton this year. The offense flowed through big man Will Clapper last year, this year will be a bit more perimeter oriented, with Damman joined by Kael Johnston (3.9) in the backcourt. Carter Nelsen (9.7) was solid alongside Clapper in the paint last year, leading the team with 23 blocks and pulling down 8.6 rebounds a game. He’ll fill Clapper’s shoes nicely. Rory Heer (1.4) is the other returnee who saw any time last year. This group probably isn’t as good as Meskwaki at the top of the league, but they should be battling for a second place finish.
Collins-Maxwell (5-15, 3-11): The Spartans struggled last year, winning just five games and posting shooting splits of 33-25-58, but they should be improved this year with lots of experience returning. The top six scorers from last year are back, and in total, 96.7% of last year’s scoring production returns. They’ll be led by forward Brett Livesay (14.9), who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season. A trio of guards will flank him in Mason Markley (10.0), John Kasper (9.9) and Ben Hofer (5.8). That trio combined to make 85 3-pointers last season, and will provide just enough shooting to take some of the pressure off of Livesay. Kasper led the team in assists and steals, and if he can clean up the turnovers a bit (94 last season), he could emerge as one of the better point guards in the division. With lots of experience back, expect to see the Spartans add a few more wins to their total.
Colo-Nesco (3-19, 2-12): The Royals were one of the worst offensive teams in 1A last year, averaging just 36.5 points a game (139th out of 147 teams), but they should be improved this year with their top three scorers back, and five of their top six. Francis Bower (11.8) leads the charge, a forward who does nearly all of his damage around the rim. Brighton Clatt (9.0) led the team with 19 made 3-pointers last year, while Jack McKinney (6.8) chipped in 17 of his own, and Trevor Burg (3.1) added another 16. Tanner Ingle (2.5) is an undersized forward who competes on the glass on both ends of the floor and should give this group some toughness in the paint. Turnovers were the plague of this team last year, as they averaged over 19 giveaways a game. If they can trim that number down to 12-13 a night, they should be much more competitive.
GMG (10-10, 8-7): The Wolverines will likely fall down the standings quite a bit this year following the graduations of Brayden Peterson, Aaron Fleming Brock Baldozo and Kolton Gill, who accounted for 69% of the team’s scoring output last year. The good news is that a few key players from last year’s team return in Avery Bryant (9.1) and Justin Savadty (7.4), so they have a decent foundation to build around. Bryant shot 57.8% from the floor and led the team in rebounding last year, while Savadty ranked second on the team in made 3s with 23, and made them at a 38.3% clip. They should form a solid two-man game. But, like Baxter, only five players from last year’s varsity roster are back, so lots of holes need to be filled.
Meskwaki Settlement (13-6, 9-4): Three of the Warriors’ four league losses last year came against elite teams from the North Division (Janesville, Don Bosco, Dunkerton), and the other was a 3-point, season opening loss to North Tama. Other than those setbacks, the Warriors cruised through this division, winning games by an average of 18.6 points. They bring back two of their top three scorers, and four of the top six, and this should be the team to beat in the division again. They’ll be led by Taurice Grant (11.5), a slashing lead guard who dished out 108 assists and had 54 steals last year. He should be the best two-way player in the division. Emmett Roberts (10.1) is also back, as are Tiernan Wanatee (5.1) and Evan Nelson (2.9). The issue for this group will be perimeter shooting. They made just 59 3-pointers last year as a team, and graduation took 44 of those makes. Nonetheless, with Grant leading the charge, the division crown goes through Meskwaki.
North Tama (12-9, 10-4): The Red Hawks return two starters in Ryan McLean (12.4) and Zach Greiner (4.5). McLean led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring last year. He should emerge as one of the best scorers in the division and carry this team this year. Skyler Staker (3.4) is the only other returnee with experience. This group will need to find a lead guard following the graduation of their top three leaders in assists last season – look for that to fall on Greiner. North Tama has a solid tradition, and should be pretty solid again with McLean leading the charge, but there may be a few bumps along the way.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Meskwaki Settlement
2. North Tama
3. Baxter
4. GMG
5. Collins-Maxwell
6. Colo-Nesco
Analysis: It looks like it’s Meskwaki, then everyone else in the division this year. Each team has a lot of production to replace (outside of the bottom two teams), and whoever fills those holes the best, and quickest, will find themselves at the top.
Preseason Player of the Year
2021 Taurice Grant, Meskwaki Settlement: 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.8 steals
A dynamic two-way player who excels at getting his teammates involved, Grant will be asked to take on more of a scoring role this season for the Warriors following the graduation of Tate Bear. The quick guard should be able to get into the paint for buckets all winter in this league.
Biggest Sleeper
2020 Carter Nelsen, Baxter: It may sound odd saying that a player who averaged 9.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game is a sleeper, but Nelsen was overshadowed in the paint by Will Clapper last year, and he should have a chance to shine as a two-way threat for the Bolts this season.
Players to Watch
2021 Taurice Grant, Meskwaki Settlement
2020 Emmett Roberts, Meskwaki Settlement
2021 Tiernan Wanatee, Meskwaki Settlement
2020 Brett Livesay, Collins-Maxwell
2021 Mason Markley, Collins-Maxwell
2020 John Kasper, Collins-Maxwell
2020 Ben Hofer, Collins-Maxwell
2020 Ryan McLean, North Tama
2020 Cole Damman, Baxter
2020 Carter Nelsen, Baxter
2020 Francis Bower, Colo-Nesco
2020 Brighton Clatt, Colo-Nesco
2020 Jack McKinney, Colo-Nesco
2021 Avery Bryant, GMG
2020 Justin Savadty, GMG
2020 Zach Greiner, North Tama