Conference Preview: War Eagle
The Teams Akron-Westfield (8-14, 5-12): The Westerners lose their top four scorers from last year’s team. Carter Drent (7.4) was second on the team in rebounding and led them with 19 blocks, but he’s the only returnee who scored more…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
Akron-Westfield (8-14, 5-12): The Westerners lose their top four scorers from last year’s team. Carter Drent (7.4) was second on the team in rebounding and led them with 19 blocks, but he’s the only returnee who scored more than 39 points last season, so this is a group that will have a lot of pieces adjusting to significantly larger roles this year. In a loaded conference, they may be able to pick up a few wins against the bottom of the league, but they’ll struggle to compete with the teams at the top.
Gehlen Catholic (14-9, 10-8): The Jays return four starters to a team that struggled down the stretch after getting off to a 9-3 start. They’re led by the duo of Jacob Nemmers (14.3) and Zach Kraft (13.3). Nemmers is a quality shooter at 37.1% from behind the arc, but his overall efficiency needs to improve (30.9 FG%). Kraft is an efficient interior option who will hold down the paint. Payton Rochford (4.7) and Dylan Lehmann (2.7) are also returning starters. In a league that includes West Sioux, South O’Brien, Unity Christian and Remsen, St. Mary’s, wins will be tough to come by, but the Jays should be a strong team again this year, and will have a say in the league race.
Harris-Lake Park (6-16, 5-12): Most other years, we’d be talking about the Wolves as a team that could potentially make a major leap this season. They return 97.3% of their scoring from last year’s group, but in a league with as much strength as this one has, it’s hard to see them moving up too much. They’re led by the high-scoring backcourt of Isaac Ihnen (18.2) and Bubba Sohn (13.4), who combined to make 81 3s last season. They were top two in every major category for this team last year, and should be again this year. Luke Gunderson (5.0) and Brody Boles (3.2) give them some more shooting, while Abdulla Elbuytari (4.8) gives them a bigger body in the paint. Expect improvement, but they’ll likely finish in a similar spot as last season given the high-level teams they have to compete against.
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (8-14, 8-10): After putting together a respectable season last year, it’ll be a tough winter for the Hawks, who lose their top three scorers and bring back just 25% of their scoring from last season. Nick Smythe (6.9) is the top returnee. He’s an efficient 6-4 forward who shot 52.3% from the floor last year. Samuel Haack (4.5, 19 3PM) is the top returning perimeter option. The other returnees combined to score just 43 points last season, so there will be a lot of new faces on the floor this year for H-M-S.
Hinton (9-13, 6-9): No player averaged more than 8.9 points a game last year for the Blackhawks. They had ten players who averaged between 2.7 and 8.9 points a game, giving them a really balanced group, and six of those players return. Tate Kounkel (8.9) led the team in scoring and rebounding last year, and is an efficient forward to build around. Brenden Gengler (2.7) is the top returning perimeter shooter, while Justin Kirwan (2.9), Caleb Holmes (5.2), Keanen Wiesler (3.7) and Tate Linton (7.3) are the other key returnees. If this group can cut down on the turnovers (306 last year, 245 assists), they could win some more games. Their balance is a good thing.
MMCRU (4-18, 4-14): It’s going to be a long winter for the Royals. Cade Pepper (7.8) is the leading returning scorer, and the only player on the roster who scored more than eight points last season. The other three returnees combined to score 15 points on the year, so it’ll be an almost entirely new group. In a league that is loaded with talent, they’ll struggle to stay competitive on most nights.
South O’Brien (20-5, 17-3): The 2016 state champions are the last 1A team to win a title not named Grand View Christian, and they’ll have a great chance to book-end that GVC 3-peat this season. The Wolverines return four starters and will have one of the best players in the class in Jackson Louscher (20.5), a do-everything wing who led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. He’s a versatile, 6-2 scorer who can get the job done at all three levels and was second in 1A in free throw attempts last season (Central City’s Nick Reid). Layn Case, who averaged 4.8 points and led the team in steals last season, is the only player gone from last year’s roster. Zeke Lundquist (10.2) is an efficient post player who shot just under 54% from the floor last season, while Tristan Wilson (5.2) and Case Moermond (4.7) are the other two returning starters. Alex Presthus (6.2) and Caden Hale (5.5) gave them some solid scoring punch off the bench last season and will be asked to step into some bigger roles this year. The Wolverines’ 2-3 zone always has them near the top of the ranks in 1A scoring defense, and last year was no exception, ranking second at just 40.6 points a game. Expect them to be excellent on that end of the floor again this year, and with the scoring punch that Louscher provides, they will rack up plenty of wins again. The key to them getting to Des Moines this year could come down to the postseason draw. Two of their five losses last season came to Remsen, St. Mary’s, who we have ranked second in the class heading into next season. The Hawks will be a difficult team to get past next year, although those two losses came by a combined eight points. Ideally we see those two teams separated and they each have a chance to stake a claim at a state title.
Spencer Schorg
St. Mary’s, Remsen (21-7, 12-6): Three straight seasons have ended in the state semifinals for the Hawks, with them finally taking home a third place trophy last season after a pair of consolation game losses in the two prior seasons. They return every player from last year’s group, and should be in line to be one of the top contenders in 1A this winter. Always one of the best defensive teams in the state, St. Mary’s allowed under 45 points a game last season, and should be among the best in the state on that end of the floor again. They’ll be headlined by senior wing Spencer Schorg (15.8), who not only led the team in scoring but also in assists and steals. He’s joined in the backcourt by Skyler Waldschmitt (10.4), Brayden Ricke (8.9) and Blaine Harpenau (7.8), who give the Hawks plenty of balanced perimeter punch. While they don’t have elite size, senior Brady Homan (5.7) and sophomore Austin Jensen (4.3) are efficient options in the paint and tough on the glass. Look for Jensen to take another step forward after a solid freshman campaign. St. Mary’s has been one of the best programs in 1A over the last three seasons, losing just 11 games in the those three years (seven coming last season). Coach Scott Ruden has an experienced group that now knows they can win on the biggest stage. Look for the Hawks to make another trip to Des Moines, where they’ll be considered one of the favorites to finally cut down the nets.
Trinity Christian (12-11, 10-9): The Tigers lose their top two scorers from last year’s group, but bring back their next six, so they should be solid. Torrey Heynen (5.9) is the top returning scorer, but each of the six returnees averaged between 2.4 and 5.9 points a game, so expect to see this be a pretty balanced team again. Traiton Cleveringa (4.7) led the team with 32 made 3s last season and could emerge as the go-to scorer. Trinity was good on the defensive end last year, allowing 50.3 points a game, which ranked 38th in 1A. If they can remain at that number, they should be solid again. But that’ll be easier said than done against the teams in this league.
Unity Christian (15-8, 9-2): The Knights lost just two games against league foes last season, dropping contests to West Sioux and South O’Brien. They bring back the top two scorers from that group in Austin Van Donge (15.3) and Ethan Klompien (10.8). Klompien made 50 3s last season at a 43.9% clip, while Van Donge led the team in nearly every major category and is a versatile combo forward who can score inside and out. Brody Rens (4.3) is an efficient forward (62.0 FG%), and Logan Franken (2.8) provides some more experience returning. They’ll need to find some new role players, but any time a team that was as successful as Unity was last year brings back their top two, expectations should be high.
Bryce Coppock
West Sioux (21-1, 16-0): The Falcons put together perhaps the best season in the school’s history last year, winning their first 21 games before falling to Rock Valley, 60-56, in the district final. They bring back three starters from that highly successful group, and are adding another major piece to that core as well in the form of former Newell-Fonda guard Bryce Coppock, who averaged 28.2 points a game last year with the Mustangs. Pairing Coppock with returnee Hunter Dekkers (22.5), an Iowa State football commit, gives the Falcons one of the best backcourts in the state, and an awful lot of scoring punch. Coppock and Dekkers combined to shoot 154-350 (44%) from behind the arc last season, and the scary thing is, they won’t be alone. Also returning is Baxter Walsh (15.1), a big-time shooter in his own right who made 48 3-pointers at a 49.5% clip last year. Putting those three snipers on the court together is going to make this perhaps the most potent offense in 2A. They averaged 74.5 points a game last season, shot above 51% from the floor and just shy of 40% from behind the arc last year. All of those numbers may improve. Kade Lynott (6.5) is the other returning starter. He showed some playmaking ability dishing out 63 assists against just 28 turnovers, which means that West Sioux is going to be able to feel comfortable having any of these four key players handling the basketball. Nobody is going to outscore this group, and they are going to rack up the wins. Look for Hunter Dekkers to continue adding bullet points to his stellar high school athletics resume, and he should help lead West Sioux to the school’s first ever state tournament appearance, and they’ll be a strong threat to take home the crown with all their firepower.
Projected Order of Finish
1. West Sioux
2. St. Mary’s
3. South O’Brien
4. Unity Christian
5. Gehlen Catholic
6. Trinity Christian
7. Harris-Lake Park
8. Hinton
9. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
10. Akron-Westfield
11. MMCRU
Analysis: The top five in this league are about as good as it gets in small conference basketball. West Sioux is a 2A state title contender, and St. Mary’s and South O’Brien are both among the chief contenders in 1A, while Unity and Gehlen are darkhorses in 2A and 1A, respectively.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Hunter Dekkers, West Sioux: 22.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 82 3PM, 46.3 3P%
Dekkers is a big-time scorer and distributor at the lead guard spot, and his 82 made 3s (at a ridiculous 46.3% no less) rank third among all returnees around the state. He’ll pace an offense that averaged 74.5 points a game last year. This is one of the most difficult POY races to pick, not only because of the other returning talent in the league, but because we actually aren’t 100% sure if Dekkers is actually going to play basketball this winter. He’s committed to play quarterback at Iowa State, and has a bright future there. If he takes the court this winter though, the Falcons have a dynamic offense that he’ll lead. He’s the league’s leading returnee in scoring and assists.
Biggest Sleeper
2020 Brody Rens, Unity Christian: The 6-5 senior forward was efficient last year for the Knights, shooting 62% from the floor and blocking 13 shots. With more shots and playing time opened up, he should be a solid piece for this group this year.
Players to Watch
2020 Hunter Dekkers, West Sioux
2020 Bryce Coppock, West Sioux
2020 Baxter Walsh, West Sioux
2020 Kade Lynott, West Sioux
2020 Jackson Louscher, South O’Brien
2020 Zeke Lundquist, South O’Brien
2020 Alex Presthus, South O’Brien
2020 Spencer Schorg, St. Mary’s
2020 Skyler Waldschmitt, St. Mary’s
2020 Brayden Ricke, St. Mary’s
2021 Blaine Harpenau, St. Mary’s
2020 Austin Van Donge, Unity Christian
2020 Ethan Klompien, Unity Christian
2020 Isaac Ihnen, Harris-Lake Park
2021 Bubba Sohn, Harris-Lake Park
2020 Jacob Nemmers, Gehlen Catholic
2021 Zach Kraft, Gehlen Catholic
2020 Tate Kounkel, Hinton
2021 Tate Linton, Hinton
2021 Cade Pepper, MMCRU
2022 Carter Drent, Akron-Westfield