Conference Preview: North Central
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The Teams Algona (18-5): The Bulldogs were great last season, running out to a quick 8-0 start on the year, and really pushing Ballard in the substate semifinal before losing 73-71. Three of the top four scorers graduated from that…
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Algona (18-5): The Bulldogs were great last season, running out to a quick 8-0 start on the year, and really pushing Ballard in the substate semifinal before losing 73-71. Three of the top four scorers graduated from that group, so expect a fairly significant drop-off here. Senior Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'8" | PG Algona | 2021 State IA (9.6 points per game) is the top returnee, while Tyler Manske (4.8) and James Wartick (3.7) are the other key returnees. The losses of Wyatt Wegener Wyatt Wegener 6'2" | PG Algona | 2020 State IA and Collin Bleich Collin Bleich 6'2" | CG Algona | 2020 State IA , who combined for over 30 points a game last season, is a lot to overcome.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (8-15): Expect the Cowboys to be much more competitive this season, as they bring back 98.5% of their scoring, the most in 2A. Junior big man Connor State Connor State 6'4" | PF Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022 State IA (13.9, 6.4 rebounds) is the standout here, an impact player on both ends of the floor who controls the paint and protects the rim. Two other players who averaged in double-figures return in Coady Olson (11.9) and Mateo Martinez (11.7), as well as Christian Gaytan (9.6). Scoring won’t be an issue for the Cowboys, but if they want to make a jump up the league standings, they’ll need to trim some points off on defense after allowing 59.6 points a game last season. They’ll be improved, but the extent of their improvement will be determined by the defense.
Clear Lake (20-4): The Lions have been the class of the league for several years now, putting together a 39-2 record against league opponents in the last three seasons, and there is no reason to expect that to change this year. They bring back their top two scorers in senior forward Andrew Formanek Andrew Formanek 6'6" | PF Clear Lake | 2021 State IA (15.7, 9.3 rebounds) and junior guard Carson Toebe Carson Toebe 6'3" | PG Clear Lake | 2022 State IA (14.5, 4.4 assists). They have a lot of pieces to fill in the rotation, but they have two of the top three players in the conference, and that will be enough to win them lots of games again this year. The question will be how the role players develop over the year, as they’ll need more than Formanek and Toebe come late February and postseason play.
Hampton-Dumont-CAL (3-17): The Bulldogs won just one game against a league team last year, and lost only four games by 10 points or fewer. The real issue was turnovers, as they turned the ball over nearly 18 times a game last season. Leading scorer Jordan Severs (12.5) returns, as do role players Jace Spurgeon (5.4) and Mario De La Cruz (4.3), but they need to protect the ball if they want to win more games this season.
Humboldt (13-9): The Wildcats bring back big man Sam Fischer Sam Fischer 6'2" | PF Humboldt | 2021 State IA (13.1, 9.7 rebounds), a double-double machine who is a tough matchup for the teams in this league with his ability to control the glass and score efficiently on the block. They have to replace two key pieces in their backcourt following the graduation of Jacob Thurm and Jamison Heinz Jamison Heinz 6'0" | PG Humboldt | 2020 State IA , so look for senior guard Gabe Gidel (9.9) to step into the primary ball-handling role. The ’Cats don’t have much shooting returning, so they’ll really need to lean on getting Fischer involved and playing inside-out basketball and put points on the board.
Iowa Falls-Alden (13-10): The Cadets are dropping down to 2A this season, which will help them during postseason play, but won’t come into play during the league slate. They’re led by dynamic scoring guard Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA (23.6), one of the state’s best scorers. He’s capable of putting up massive numbers on any given night and carrying the Cadets to a win. They’ve struggled in recent years against Clear Lake, but have been competitive against every other school in the conference. Lead guard Blake Janssen Blake Janssen 5'11" | CG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2022 State IA (8.7) also returns, giving them a strong backcourt. Janssen averaged 4.1 assists a game last season as a sophomore and limits turnovers. Sam Weaver (6.0) and Garret Renaud (5.6) are also key pieces who return. Sharar is good enough to win this group plenty of games, but they’ll need to improve on the defensive end if they want to seriously push Clear Lake at the top of the league. This group should be primed to make a run in 2A, however.
St. Edmond (8-14): St. Edmond won just one league game against a non-Hampton-Dumont team (a five-point win over CGD), but they were fairly competitive, especially early in the season. The Gaels bring back a trio of key pieces in Drew Schaeffer (8.6), Hayden Mayer (7.4) and Cael Kolacia (7.2). Mayer and Kolacia provide some physicality in the paint, while Schaeffer will be the team’s lead ball-handling option. With three key pieces back, and a few other rotation pieces returning, the Gaels should remain competitive, but they don’t have the top-end talent to propel them to the top of the league.
Webster City (11-10): The Lynx bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in Tyler Olson Tyler Olson 6'1" | SF Webster City | 2021 State IA (12.6) and Tavis Eklund Tavis Eklund 6'4" | SF Webster City | 2021 State IA (10.7), which gives them a really strong base to build off of. Olson will be one of the league’s best players, with his ability to stuff the stat sheet. They’ll need to find someone to step into a lead ball-handling role following the graduation of Carter Neuroth, who led the team with 4.0 assists a game, so look for Olson to have the ball in his hands even more this season as a playmaking guard. If they can find a reliable tertiary scorer to step up, they could make a jump up the league standings and contend for a top-3 finish.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Clear Lake
2. Iowa Falls-Alden
3. Webster City
4. Algona
5. Humboldt
6. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
7. St. Edmond
8. Hampton-Dumont-CAL
Analysis: Despite losing a major chunk of their rotation, it’s Clear Lake, then everyone else in this league. The Lions have had a stranglehold on the conference for the last three years, putting up a 39-3 record against league opponents, and they have two of the top three players in the conference on their side. This is an easy choice. Iowa Falls should be a player in the 2A race, and Webster City, Algona and Humboldt will be tricky postseason teams.
Preseason Players of the Year
Andrew Formanek
Andrew
Formanek
6'6" | PF
Clear Lake | 2021
State
IA
, Clear Lake (2021): 15.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks
Carson Toebe
Carson
Toebe
6'3" | PG
Clear Lake | 2022
State
IA
, Clear Lake (2022): 14.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.5 steals
The formidable duo from Clear Lake are both equally important to the Lions success and share the preseason POY honors. Iowa Falls’ Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA will also put up some huge numbers, but Clear Lake is the league’s best team, and these two are excellent players in their own rights.
Players to watch
Andrew Formanek Andrew Formanek 6'6" | PF Clear Lake | 2021 State IA , Clear Lake (2021)
Carson Toebe Carson Toebe 6'3" | PG Clear Lake | 2022 State IA , Clear Lake (2022)
Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'8" | PG Algona | 2021 State IA , Algona (2021)
Tyler Olson Tyler Olson 6'1" | SF Webster City | 2021 State IA , Webster City (2021)
Tavis Eklund Tavis Eklund 6'4" | SF Webster City | 2021 State IA , Webster City (2021)
Connor State Connor State 6'4" | PF Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022 State IA , Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (2022)
Coady Olson, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (2022)
Mateo Martinez, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (2021)
Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA , Iowa Falls-Alden (2021)
Blake Janssen Blake Janssen 5'11" | CG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2022 State IA , Iowa Falls-Alden (2022)
Sam Fischer Sam Fischer 6'2" | PF Humboldt | 2021 State IA , Humboldt (2021)