Conference Preview: West Central
The Teams ACGC (6-16, 3-13): The Chargers bring their top two scorers back from last year’s team, headlined by Bryce Littler (13.8). He led the team in assists as well, and was second with 26 made 3s. Quynton Younker (9.6)…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
ACGC (6-16, 3-13): The Chargers bring their top two scorers back from last year’s team, headlined by Bryce Littler (13.8). He led the team in assists as well, and was second with 26 made 3s. Quynton Younker (9.6) led the team in rebounding and is an efficient forward who shot 51.1% from the floor. Lucas Marsh (4.9), Eli Kading (4.5) and Miles Kading (3.7) are the other notable returnees. This group will need to improve on the defensive end of the floor if they want to pick up some more wins. They ranked 86th in 2A last year, allowing 64.1 points a game. That number needs to get down into the 56-57 range if they want to be more competitive within the league.
Des Moines Christian (17-7, 13-3): The Lions have consistently been a winning program, and that should continue this year with over 80% of last year’s production returning to a state tournament team. The top three scorers, and six of the top seven, are back, headlined by athletic guard Curran Ingram (15.0), a versatile scorer who is a threat to score from all three levels. Seth Juhl (7.8), Jackson Waring (7.5) and Brady Hewitt (6.1) are the other returning starters, while Ben Loverude (4.8) and Grant Veenstra (4.0) are back after seeing significant playing time off the bench. That’s six key returnees, which is plenty of returning experience. If this group can improve on their perimeter shooting (31.6% last year from 3), they could turn themselves from a state tournament threat to a state title threat. Until that happens, however, it seems like a trip down the road to play at Wells Fargo may be the ceiling.
Earlham (18-6, 12-4): The Cardinals lose one of the school’s best players in recent history in Trent Williamson, who averaged just under 20 points a game and was a dynamic playmaker. TJ Harkins (11.7) is the top returnee, the only returnee of the top four scorers from last year’s team. Harkins is a great shooter who knocked down 70 3s last season (39.3%), and he should get plenty of shots up this year. John Humphrey (4.1), Jackson Vandever (3.7), Alex Caskey (3.3) and Jake Willem (2.1) are the other key returnees. Humphrey, a 6-4 senior forward, looks primed for a much larger role this year after shooting 52% from the floor last season. This group was solid on the defensive end last year, allowing just 46.8 points a game, and they’ll need to lean on that end of the floor again this season.
Interstate 35 (2-19, 1-14): The Roadrunners really struggled on the defensive end last year, allowing 65.8 points a game, which ranked 88th in 2A. They also ranked 88th on the offensive end, averaging 34.3 a night, and they lose the top two scorers from that group. Carter Bussanmas (8.4) is the top returnee. He led the team in rebounding last season. The ‘Runners six returnees combined to dish out just 12 assists last season, and this is a team that really struggled with turnovers last year (268 against 68 assists). They really need to improve on that end if they want to win more than the two games they won last year.
Madrid (16-6, 12-5): The Tigers will be led by one of the state’s best guards in Braden Gibbons (22.0), who is tied for the most assists among returnees in the state. He dished out 182 helpers last year in addition to his scoring prowess, helping pace the #2 offense in 2A (76.4 points a game). While they lose a lot of other key pieces from that group, they bring back a few solid returnees in Mason Lobeck (7.9) and Jacob Loew (6.7). Lobeck shot 52% from the floor and pulled down nearly as many offensive as defensive rebounds last season, while Loew made 38 3s. Madrid loses a lot of firepower, but brings back one of the state’s best guards, and that is going to lead to a lot of wins again this season.
Ogden (14-9, 10-8): The Bulldogs used one of 2A’s most dynamic offensive attacks to rack up 14 wins last year. They ranked 3rd in the class, averaging 75.9 points a game. The issue was on the defensive end of the floor, where they ranked 85th, allowing 63.6 a night (that number ballooned up to 80 points a game in losses). They lose the top two scorers from that group, who take over 40 points a game with them. Griffin Diggs (9.4) is the top returnee. He was second on the team with 82 assists and led them with 68 steals last season. The other key returnees are Kaleb Badker (7.0) and Ethan Snedden (7.0). No other returnee scored more than 29 points last season, so a lot of pressure will fall on those three, at least to start the season. Anticipate seeing this group play a little slower this year, especially early, while breaking in new pieces. They won’t be at the bottom of the league; there is still enough firepower here to keep them out of the basement. But they will fall off from last year.
Panorama (13-11, 11-8): The Panthers lose their top scorer from last season, but bring back a pair of double figure scorers and nine of their top 10 from last year’s rotation. They’ll be led by Kolby Shackelford (12.8), who led the team with 49 made 3s last season at a 38.3% clip. Zach Rizzuti (11.8) returns as well. He does a majority of his damage inside the arc, but is capable of stepping out and knocking down an occasional 3 as well. Malachi Peasley (6.0) led the team with 93 assists (against just 35 turnovers), and will pace the offense, while Lucas Leiferman (3.1), Jack Weinkoetz (3.7), Jared Wasson (3.2), Evan Taylor (2.3), Jackson Carstens (2.7) and Domonic Walker (1.7) all saw time last year. Lots of experience returns, and this is a darkhorse team to push Des Moines Christian and Van Meter at the top of the league. (Note: After publishing, we learned that ACGC’s Hunter Pauley transferred to Panorama. He averaged 2.3 points for the Chargers last season, and gives the Panthers another rotation piece.)
Pleasantville (8-14, 5-11): The Trojans bring back their top three scorers, and seven of their top eight overall. Teron Mount (11.6) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season, while Tagen Douma (10.5) led the team with 54 3s (at a 40% clip). Parker Elder (7.8), Brady Powers (5.6), Mitch Harken (5.5) and Caylor Clark (3.5) are the other key returnees. If this group can improve at the free throw line (57.3%), they could be much improved and push for a .500 or better finish.
Van Meter (22-4, 16-1): It’s been a pretty remarkable last five years or so for the Bulldogs’ entire athletics program, and despite losing two big-time scorers from last year’s group, Van Meter should be right back in the thick of things in 2A again this winter. Three starters return to a team that ranked second in the class in scoring defense, allowing just over 40 points a game, and while they lose their best defender in Ryan Schmitt (89 blocks), they return some key pieces who will buy into this defensive system. The large majority of the scoring this season is probably going to be done by Anthony Potthoff (14.3), the only returnee who averaged more than 4.3 points a game. He led the team in made 3s last season and shot over 50% from the floor, so he’s a good place to start. After getting called up to varsity late last season, sophomore guard Chris Schreck (1.3) was starting for the ‘Dogs at State, gaining valuable experience against some strong guards. He’s tiny, but he’s fearless and is going to be a quality leader for this group. The other returning starter is Parker Fryar (2.3), a solid role player. Look for senior wing Ian Abrahamson (4.2) to have a strong bounceback year after missing the second half of the season with an injury, he could emerge as the secondary scoring threat. Brett Berg (4.3) was efficient off the bench, and Zach Madden (3.4), Jackson Wilcox (2.2), Harrison Smith (1.9) and Blade Koons (1.6) all saw significant time last year. Few schools in 2A have the athletes that Van Meter does roaming their halls, so this group isn’t going anywhere. They’ll find new pieces to plug in and be really strong yet again this season.
West Central Valley (2-19, 0-17): The Wildcats allowed over 100 points four separate times last season, and allowed an average of 82.4 points a night. They also lose the top two scorers from a group that averaged just 36.1 points a game. Hunter Keller (4.2) and Jake Egger (3.8) are the top returnees. This group is going to struggle mightily again this season.
Woodward-Granger (16-5, 13-4): The Hawks lose a significant scoring threat in Noah Hoyt, who averaged just under 14 points a game last season and shot nearly 60% from the field, but they bring back six of their top seven scorers, including four starters, to a team that won 16 games and should be really strong again this year. This group is led by guard Bryce Achenbach (14.1), who led the team in every major category, and if he can become a more potent threat from the arc (28.4% last season), he could be primed for a huge senior season. Keith Braunschweig (12.7) is a versatile inside-out threat, who at 6-3, can get his shot off whenever he wants at this level. Kaya Bowlsby (7.5), Reese Jamison (6.6) and Alex Bice (4.1) are the other returning starters, while Nick Buch (3.1) returns with plenty of experience as well. With six key pieces returning to what was a strong group, Woodward-Granger has their sights set on a trip to Des Moines for the first time since 1986.
Note: Woodward Academy is also in this league, but they are a residential facility with complete roster turnover every year.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Des Moines Christian
2. Van Meter
3. Madrid
4. Woodward-Granger
5. Earlham
6. Panorama
7. Pleasantville
8. Ogden
9. ACGC
10. Interstate 35
11. West Central Valley
Analysis: DMC looks like the favorite here, but you can never count Van Meter out. They’re loaded with talented athletes who will lock down on the defensive end of the floor. On the other side of the spectrum, you have Madrid and their dynamic guard Braden Gibbons.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Braden Gibbons, Madrid: 22.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.5 steals
Gibbons is not only the league’s leading returning scorer, he also is tied for the most assists among returnees in the state with 182 last season. The 5-9 lead guard paces an explosive Madrid offense that averaged 76.4 points a game last year.
Biggest Sleeper
2020 Malachi Peasley, Panorama: Peasley isn’t much of a scoring threat, but he’s a stron glead guard who dished out 93 assists against just 35 turnovers last season, and he should help pace a Panthers attack that will be more efficient this season.
Players to Watch
2020 Braden Gibbons, Madrid
2021 Mason Lobeck, Madrid
2020 Curran Ingram, Des Moines Christian
2020 Seth Juhl, Des Moines Christian
2020 Jackson Waring, Des Moines Christian
2021 Ben Loverude, Des Moines Christian
2020 Anthony Potthoff, Van Meter
2020 Bryce Achenbach, Woodward-Granger
2020 Keith Braunschweig, Woodward-Granger
2020 Kaya Bowlsby, Woodward-Granger
2021 TJ Harkins, Earlham
2020 Bryce Littler, ACGC
2020 Quynton Younker, ACGC
2020 Kolby Shackelford, Panorama
2021 Zach Rizzuti, Panorama
2020 Treon Mount, Pleasantville
2020 Tagen Douma, Pleasantville
2022 Parker Elder, Pleasantville
2020 Griffin Diggs, Ogden
2020 Kaleb Badker, Ogden
2020 Ethan Snedden, Ogden
2020 Carter Bussanmas, Interstate 35