Conference Preview: North Central
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The Teams Algona (12-11, 9-6): The Bulldogs were essentially the definition of a .500 team last year, as they didn’t have a winning or losing streak longer than two games. They basically alternated wins and losses all season, but they…
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Algona (12-11, 9-6): The Bulldogs were essentially the definition of a .500 team last year, as they didn’t have a winning or losing streak longer than two games. They basically alternated wins and losses all season, but they should be among the most improved teams in the state this year. Seven losses came by single digits last year, and their top two scorers return (five of the top seven overall). Collin Bleich (15.0) and Wyatt Wegener (10.8) will combine to give the ‘Dogs a really solid backcourt. Each shot over 41% from behind the arc last season. Perhaps the most important returning piece, however, is 6-6 big man Jason Cecil (6.6), who this offense really flows through. Cecil led the team in assists (89) last season, and posted an 89-53 assist-to-turnover ratio last year, while also leading the team with 32 blocks. Noah Nelson (4.10, 38.6 3P%) gives this team another shooter, while James Wartick (3.8) gives them some more bulk and toughness on the interior. Wartick pulled down 38 offensive rebounds, and 38 defensive rebounds, last season. Algona will put a lot of shooting around the Cecil-Wartick duo in the paint, giving this team a nice, balanced attack. They should really test Clear Lake at the top of the league this year with the personnel losses the Lions suffered and the returnees the ‘Dogs have coming back.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (4-18, 1-13): The Cowboys really struggled last year, ranking 81st (out of 96) in 2A in scoring offense, and 83rd in scoring defense. The good news is that this year’s team should be much more experienced, with four of their top five scorers from last year returning, and six of the top nine rotation pieces back. Connor State (10.8) played in just 10 games last year, but he was an efficient scoring forward (55.4 FG%) who also pulled down 5.9 rebounds a night. Mateo Martinez (9.1) gives them another scoring forward who does most of his damage inside the arc, while Christian Gaytan (8.2) led the team in assists and steals last season and should be the team’s primary perimeter option. Jaace Weidemann (6.7), Coady Olson (3.2) and Clinton Miller (2.1) provide some more experience. This group really needs to improve on the defensive end after allowing 63.5 points a game last season. If they can do that, they could sneak out a few more wins, but this is probably still a bottom three team in the league.
Carson Toebe
Clear Lake (24-2, 15-0): The final remaining undefeated team in 3A last season, the Lions were questioned heading into the state tournament, in large part because of this league. They proved themselves to be a high-level team, crushing West Delaware in the opening round before giving Norwalk a great game in the semifinals. Two starters, and six key players overall, return to that group which will have a chance to make a return trip to Des Moines this year. They’re led by sophomore point guard Carson Toebe (11.2, 40.2 3P%, 51 3PM), who was one of the state’s most productive freshmen last year and showed himself to be the real deal at State. He’s a smart, active and skilled lead guard who dished out a team-high 138 assists last year and will emerge as an even bigger scoring and playmaking threat this year. Jaylen DeVries (6.0) is the other returning starter, a 6-2 forward who led the team in rebounding and shot an efficient 56.4% from the field. Andrew Formanek (7.4) was a quality scoring threat off the bench last year, a long (6-5) and athletic combo forward who can do a bit of everything. He led the team with 25 blocks last year, and should emerge alongside Toebe as a nice secondary scoring threat. Kody Kearns (4.6), Jack Barragy (4.0) and Ryan Thomas (2.1) also return after seeing significant time last year. They proved last year that they aren’t a fluke team that racks up wins against a weak schedule. This is a legitimate basketball team, and they will be good again this winter with Toebe leading the charge.
Hampton-Dumont/CAL (3-17, 2-13): It’s likely going to be another long winter for the Bulldogs, as they their leading scorer from a group that shot just 29.2% from the floor, 18.9% from 3 and averaged 38.5 points a game. The next four scorers return, which is the good news. They’ll need to get some major production out of Wyatt Sutter (8.5), who led the team in rebounding last season. Drew Uhlenhopp (4.6), Carson Miller (4.1) and Matt Waddingham (3.2) are the other key returnees. This group needs to take better care of the ball (338 turnovers, 119 assists) and become more efficient on the offensive end if they want to scrape together some more wins.
Humboldt (8-12, 6-8): The Wildcats really struggled down the stretch last year, going just 3-9 after the holiday break. Maybe the break broke up their rhythm. They lose leading scorer Calvin Carlson, but have a good amount of talent coming back, so expectations should be much higher this year. Scorers 2-5 from last season return, headlined by lead guard Jamison Heinz (12.3), who dished out 110 assists against just 40 turnovers last year. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Jacob Thurm (7.9, 39 3PM, 44.3 3P%) and Matt Miller (4.8, 19 3PM, 38.8 3P%), giving the ‘Cats a good amount of shooting alongside a really strong lead guard. That trio gives Humboldt one of the best backcourts in the conference, and that should win them some games. Sam Fischer (4.8) gives them some toughness in the paint and an efficient scoring option. This group will go how the backcourt, and Heinz, go. And they should get back above .500 this winter, and likely battle with Iowa Falls, Webster City and St. Edmond for a third place finish in the league.
Karson Sharar
Iowa Falls-Alden (8-10, 6-7): The Cadets have one of the best scorers in the state in junior guard Karson Sharar (24.1), a 6-1 scorer who can explode on a nightly basis. He played in just seven games last season due to injuries, but his scoring ability will take the pressure off of the others on the floor, including Logan Aldinger (15.4, 64 3PM), who showed himself to be a very capable scoring threat while Sharar was sidelined, and should be a very good sidekick to Sharar this year. Blake Janssen (5.9) is coming off a solid freshman year and should be the primary distributor for this team, while Caden Mentzer (7.0), Nolan Frohwein (4.4), Garret Renaud (3.3) and Brody Steinfeldt (2.3) all saw plenty of time last season. This team is going to go as Sharar does, and having him on the floor and healthy will open up some opportunities for other threats on this roster. This team is going to score, and if Sharar can stay on the floor, they’ll be dangerous.
St. Edmond (12-11, 7-7): The Gaels have a lot of production to replace, as only 24% of their scoring from last year returns. They lose one of the state’s most prolific scorers in Andrew Gibb, who averaged 28.7 points last season, as well as Jackson Kochendorfer, who averaged just under 14. In all, the top three scorers are gone, but five of the top nine from last year’s rotation are back, so this team does have some experience returning, which should keep them competitive. While not much of a scorer, Jed Tracy (3.3) is a solid lead guard to build around. He dished out 83 assists (against 41 turnovers) last season, and he should keep this offense running. Drew Schaeffer (5.6) is the team’s leading returning scorer, while Jerris Duncan (4.3), Cael Kolacia (2.6) and Connor Bocken (1.5) have some experience. Duncan and Kolacia will be asked to be key pieces in the paint, while Bocken gives them some more shooting. St. Ed has a lot of major holes to plug, but this is a solid program that should still have enough talent in the system to be competitive in the league.
Webster City (15-8, 11-3): The Lynx lose their only two double figure scorers from last year’s team, but bring back four players who averaged between 4.2 and 9.3 points a game last season. Tyler Olson (9.3) is the leading returnee, and should share primary ball handling duties with Drake Doering (6.3). Tavis Eklund (6.6, 38 3PM, 43.7 3P%) is the team’s top returning shooter, while Doering (33 3PM) is another solid shooting option. Carter Neuroth (4.2) is the final returnee with experience. Webster City routinely puts together 12-15 win seasons, and this shouldn’t be an exception. They have enough talent returning to still be really solid and fight for a top-3 finish in the conference.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Clear Lake
2. Algona
3. Iowa Falls-Alden
4. Webster City
5. Humboldt
6. St. Edmond
7. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
8. Hampton-Dumont-CAL
Analysis: Clear Lake ran through this league last year, and while we still consider them to be the favorite, it should be a bit more competitive this year, given the personnel losses they suffered, and the talent Algona and IF-A have coming back.
Preseason Player of the Year
2021 Karson Sharar, Iowa Falls-Alden: 24.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.9 steals
Sharar has established himself as one of the best players in Iowa’s junior class. A big-time scorer with in-the-gym range, he’s capable of dropping 40 on any given night for the Cadets.
Biggest Sleeper
2021 Tavis Eklund, Webster City: Eklund was overshadowed on a Webster City team that featured Henry Hoversten and Dylan Steen last season, as he finished fourth on the team in scoring. But the 6-3 sophomore is a big-time shooter who made nearly 44% of his 3-point attempts last season. With way more scoring opportunities opened up this year following some graduations, he could emerge as one of the better scorers in the conference.
Players to Watch
2021 Karson Sharar, Iowa Falls-Alden
2020 Logan Aldinger, Iowa Falls-Alden
2020 Caden Mentzer, Iowa Falls-Alden
2022 Blake Janssen, Iowa Falls-Alden
2020 Collin Bleich, Algona
2020 Wyatt Wegener, Algona
2020 Jason Cecil, Algona
2021 Tyler Olson, Webster City
2021 Tavis Eklund, Webster City
2020 Drake Doering, Webster City
2022 Carson Toebe, Clear Lake
2021 Andrew Formanek, Clear Lake
2020 Jaylen DeVries, Clear Lake
2020 Jamison Heinz, Humboldt
2020 Jacob Thurm, Humboldt
2021 Sam Fischer, Humboldt
2022 Connor State, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2021 Mateo Marteinz, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2021 Christian Gaytan, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2020 Jaace Weidemann, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2020 Wyatt Sutter, Hampton-Dumont-CAL
2021 Drew Schaeffer, St. Edmond