Conference Preview: WaMaC East
The Teams Michael Keegan Beckman Catholic (16-6, 12-5): Four starters return to a Blazers team that gave 2A champion North Linn their second closest game of the season (12 points) in the district final last year, and Beckman looks poised…
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Michael KeeganBeckman Catholic (16-6, 12-5): Four starters return to a Blazers team that gave 2A champion North Linn their second closest game of the season (12 points) in the district final last year, and Beckman looks poised to get over that hump this year and punch their ticket to Des Moines for the first time since 2007. They’re headlined by do-everything guard Michael Keegan (18.2), a 6-6 bundle of versatility who led the Blazers in every major category, and it wasn’t even really close. In addition to his scoring prowess (and 53-41-71 shooting splits), he dished out 102 assists, had 72 steals and blocked 59 shots. His versatility on both ends of the floor really opens up everything for Beckman. He will have his pick from a number of Division II offers and is one of the best players in 2A. Luke Goedken (9.5), Tom Jaeger (6.9) and Jack Westhoff (4.3) are the other returning starters for this group, and while they will need to find some depth behind that quartet, they’ll have one of the best players in the class to fall back on. Beckman Catholic is annually a strong program, and they should be able to find the rotation pieces to fit in alongside the rest of the group, and Keegan is good enough to win games for them while they find those parts. This group should be battling it out for the division crown with Marion all winter, and their strong defense (21st in 2A, 49.3 points a game) may help carry them to the top.
Central DeWitt (10-10, 10-9): The Sabers showed how dangerous they can be last season, sweeping Marion, who went on to qualify for State. And they bring back three double figure scorers from that team, so they should be even better this year. Tucker Kinney (13.7), Alex McAleer (12.1) and Logan Paulsen (11.2) all return, as do Henry Bloom (5.1) and Zach Hinkle (3.2), giving DeWitt a solid core to build around. Kinney led the team in rebounding, assists, steals, scoring and made 3s last season. McAleer is a long, athletic wing who can do a bit of everything and serves as a rim protector, and Paulsen is an efficient interior scoring threat. This group should be balanced, and if they can improve their 3-point shooting (28.7% as a team last year), they will be really dangerous. They need to improve on the defensive end of the floor after allowing 59.3 points a game last season. If they can get that number down into the 54-55 range, with the firepower they have coming back, they could make a leap and really push the top teams in the division.
Maquoketa (20-3, 18-3): It was a magical year for the Cardinals, who lost just three games, by a combined 15 points. They got off to a 14-0 start and for a brief period of time, the #1 ranking in Class 3A. The top three scorers from that group are gone. Connor Becker (8.4), a solid defensive guard and decent perimeter shooter, is the top returnee. He’ll be asked to take over the primary scoring role for a team that loses a lot of firepower. Caiden Atienza (5.5) is a big, athletic forward who runs the floor and is efficient, but is somewhat limited offensively. They need him to emerge as a low-post scorer. Clayton Widel (1.3) is the only other returnee who scored more than four points last season, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor this year for Maquoketa. Expect a significant drop-off after last year’s sensational season.
Will Henricksen
Marion (16-6, 13-5): Coming off back-to-back state tournament appearances, the Indians will have a slightly different look this year following the resignation of coach Mike Manderscheid. He always had the Indians playing great defense and doing just enough on the offensive end to scrape out some wins. They were a little more explosive on that end last year after bringing back in transfer Will Henricksen (16.9), who is one of two returning starters for new coach Pete Messerli. Messerli has been at Marion for 11 years, serving four years as a freshman coach and the last seven as an assistant for the girls program, who has been one of the most dominant girls basketball programs in the state in that time. He has familiarity with the roster, and the transition should be smooth. The other returning starter for Marion is Jaffer Murphy (9.3), a highly athletic guard who is at his best playing downhill and using his quickness to get to the rim. He’s also a very good on-ball defender with length and quickness to bother opposing ball handlers. While only Henricksen and Murphy are back as returning starters, three others who saw significant time for last year’s state qualifying team return in Connor Whalen (5.3), Gage Franck (4.6) and Owen Puk (2.8). Anticipate seeing those five start, at least at the beginning of the year. Henricksen will be asked to do a large chunk of the scoring, as he did last year, and he’s capable of doing so. He shot 41.5% from the arc last year and can score from anywhere on the floor. Marion has been a scrappy, aggressive and tough team under Manderschied, and that should continue under Messerli. Don’t expect to see too much of a drop-off here, and the Indians will be in contention to make a third straight trip to Des Moines.
Keaton Kutcher
Mount Vernon (9-12, 7-11): The Mustangs bring back one of the state’s best shooters and scoring threats in junior guard Keaton Kutcher (20.5, 73 3PM), who is capable of getting red hot at any given moment and dropping 35 on someone. He holds an offer from Western Illinois and is one of three returning starters for Mount Vernon. Noah Erickson (10.1) and Nolan Brand (6.1) are also back, the team’s top two rebounders last season. Coach Ed Timm has a deep roster with lots of returnees, although not many of those returnees contributed much last season. Look for guys like Jack Kragenbrink (0.7), Kolby Volesky (1.8), Derek Jordan (1.1) and Aiden Nosek (0.7) to become key contributors for the ‘Stangs this year, but this team is really going to go as far as Kutcher can take them. He’s an elite-level scoring threat, and with him on their side, Mount Vernon is going to be capable of beating anyone on a given night.
Solon (9-12, 9-10): The Spartans looked like they may have been poised to make a leap this year under new coach Matt Lesan, but star forward AJ Coons suffered a major injury in the 3A football championship game, and is likely out for the season. Coons led the team in scoring and assists last season, and he had the size and length to be a versatile piece on the defensive end of the floor. David Bluder (8.9), son of Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder, is the top returning scorer now. He has steadily improved over the last few years, and should be a solid option as the Spartans “go-to” scorer. Carson Shive (7.1) is a solid shooter, and Cam Miller (6.2) led the team in rebounding and should be the team’s primary ball handler. Bo Janssen (3.6) and Joe Stahle (2.5) also saw plenty of time last season. Lesan knows Solon basketball, having played his high school ball there, and should get this program back up to where they used to be in a matter of time. This group will compete on both ends of the floor, but lacks the high-end talent to contend for the division crown this season.
West Delaware (17-7, 13-5): The Hawks lost one of the state’s most productive big men of all-time with the graduation of Derek Krogmann, and he’ll be a huge hole to fill. This West Delaware team will likely become more of a guard-oriented group with the pieces they have coming back. Kyle Kelley (13.5) is a talented scorer who creates his own shot well and can really shoot it off the dribble. He led the team with 39 made 3s last season, and could become a 20+ point scorer this year. Logan Woellert (6.1) should serve as the team’s primary ball handler, and Blake DeMoss (2.8) will fill in the third perimeter spot alongside Kelley and Woellert. DeMoss is coming off a solid freshman season in which he shot 14-27 (51.9%) from the arc. Mitch Krogmann (3.1) isn’t as skilled as older brother Derek, but is a big body to put in the paint, and he should contribute on both ends of the floor. Coach Matt Uthoff has turned West Delaware into one of the state’s premier defensive teams, and that continued last season. In the last four seasons, the Hawks have ranked 10th, 4th, 2nd and 4th in scoring defense in 3A, and that will be the case again this year. He’s a great coach who gets the most out of his kids, and while Krogmann is a major, major loss, don’t expect West Delaware to fall too far.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Marion
2. Beckman Catholic
3. West Delaware
4. Central DeWitt
5. Mount Vernon
6. Maquoketa
7. Solon
Analysis: This is one of the toughest divisions in the state, and is strong top-to-bottom. Marion and Beckman figure to be the top teams, but any of the top five can make a legitimate argument to win this division.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Michael Keegan, Dyersville Beckman: 18.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.3 steals, 2.7 blocks, 53.2 FG%
The Blazers’ do-everything guard is tops among division returnees in assists, steals and blocks, third in rebounding and second in scoring. We expect the Blazers to battle it out with Marion at the top of the division this year, and Keegan is the biggest reason why. You could also make strong arguments for Mount Vernon’s Keaton Kutcher and Marion’s Will Henricksen here, but Keegan’s ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor gives him the nod.
Biggest Sleeper
2022 Blake DeMoss, West Delaware: The sophomore guard was a role player for last year’s Hawks, but should step into a much bigger role this year. He shot 51.9% from the arc last season on limited attempts, but he’s a smart player who should thrive on a more guard-oriented team this season.
Players to Watch
2020 Michael Keegan, Dyersville Beckman
2020 Luke Goedken, Dyersville Beckman
2020 Tom Jaeger, Dyersville Beckman
2021 Keaton Kutcher, Mount Vernon
2020 Noah Erickson, Mount Vernon
2020 Nolan Brand, Mount Vernon
2020 Will Henricksen, Marion
2020 Jaffer Murphy, Marion
2020 Connor Whalen, Marion
2021 Kyle Kelley, West Delaware
2021 Logan Woellert, West Delaware
2020 Tucker Kinney, Central DeWitt
2020 Alex McAleer, Central DeWitt
2020 Logan Paulsen, Central DeWitt
2020 AJ Coons, Solon
2021 David Bluder, Solon
2021 Carson Shive, Solon
2020 Cam Miller, Solon
2021 Connor Becker, Maquoketa
2021 Caiden Atienza, Maquoketa