Conference Preview: Tri-Rivers West
In this article:
The Teams Alburnett (13-11): All three double-figure scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving senior wing Andrew Ossman (5.9, 5.1 rebounds) as the top returnee. He’s a solid shooting threat, knocking down 39.2% of his 3-point attempts last year, and…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Teams
Alburnett (13-11): All three double-figure scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving senior wing Andrew Ossman (5.9, 5.1 rebounds) as the top returnee. He’s a solid shooting threat, knocking down 39.2% of his 3-point attempts last year, and he rebounds at a solid clip as well. Fellow senior wing Gavin Soukup (3.3) gives them some more perimeter shooting, as does Mason Neighbor (4.7). Look for increased production out of sophomore guard Braydon Osborn (2.1) who contributed as a freshman. The Pirates will take a step back after graduating three major contributors.
Central City (1-20): The Wildcats lost their leading scorer from last year’s team, but bring back a quintet of sophomores, three of whom started a majority of their games last season. Aiden Klostermann (8.1) is the top returning scorer, while Mekhi Benton (4.8) trailed only junior Marcus Schellhorn (1.4) in rebounding last season. Jayden Hansen (1.4) was the team’s most efficient scoring option, while Castor Abernathey (1.4) saw plenty of time last year as well. A young ’Cats team struggled to score efficiently and with turnovers last season, but with the number of sophomores returning, there is some reason for optimism within the program for the next few years.
East Buchanan (6-16): The Pirates haven’t posted a double-digit win season since they won 20 games back in 2008-09, but with five of their top seven scorers back, they’ll have a chance to do so this season. Senior wing Kaiden Gage Kaiden Gage 6'5" | PG East Buchanan | 2022 State IA (17.4) is a good athlete who can score from all three levels, and he uses his length well defensively. Senior guard Adam Hackett (5.7) and junior Dalton Kortenkamp (3.6) give them some experience on the perimeter, and junior Chance Beeh (3.1) was solid on the glass in a limited role last season. Look for sophomore forward Hunter Bowers (3.5) to take another step after a productive freshman campaign as well. With Gage returning, they’ll have one of the league’s better players on their side, and while they won’t be able to compete with the Ed-Cos, North Linns or Springvilles, they can compete with the rest of the teams in the league.
Edgewood-Colesburg (17-6): The Vikings lost leading scorer Parker Rochford to graduation, but bring back two double-figure scorers and seven seniors who played key roles last season, giving them a ton of experience and talent coming back. Jack Wiskus (11.4) and Mason Ashline (10.4) are the headliners, but Lance Voss (10.0, in one game), Korey Putz (7.4), Nathan Carter (7.0), Ike Jones (6.0), and Konner Putz (5.3) give them a lot of depth and versatility on both ends of the floor. Wiskus is a solid 3-point shooter, and this team pounds the offensive glass hard, pulling down 13.0 offensive boards a game last season. That type of physicality and aggression will make them a dangerous team all season long, and if they can find one more shooting threat to step up alongside Wiskus, this team could be a real threat to make it to the state tournament. Their two losses to North Linn came by a combined 13 points last season, so this team knows that they can play with the Lynx. Expect them to battle with Springville for second in the division.
Maquoketa Valley (12-12): Two key contributors return for the Wildcats in junior Avery Holtz (9.1) and senior AJ Ambundo (9.0). Holtz led the team in assists and steals last season, while Ambundo led them in rebounding. That gives them a strong one-two tandem to start building around, but this was a senior-heavy team last year, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor alongside Holtz and Ambundo. Expect to see this group take a step back this year.
North Linn (27-1): The Lynx rolled to a 27-0 record before getting tripped up by a red-hot Montezuma team in the 1A championship game. They bring back all five starters from that runner-up team and should be considered the favorites in 1A this year. They’re led by senior point guard Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA (17.3), the catalyst on both ends of the floor who also had 7.7 assists and 3.6 steals a game. He has signed to play his college ball at Upper Iowa, and he’s one of the fastest players in the state with the ball in his hands. Junior forward Tate Haughenbury Tate Haughenbury 6'5" | PF North Linn | 2023 State IA (15.6) was fantastic last year, shooting 63% from the floor and showing the ability to stretch the floor on occasion. He’s a lanky and athletic big who runs the floor and is the beneficiary of a lot of easy buckets from the Lynx pressure defense and Hilmer’s penetration. Dylan Kurt Dylan Kurt 6'3" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (14.1) is a versatile 6-2 wing who can score inside and out, and junior guard Ben Wheatley Ben Wheatley 6'1" | SG North Linn | 2023 State IA (10.2) is another double-digit returning scorer. Cade Haughenbury Cade Haughenbury 6'2" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (9.1) is the other returning starter, while Gunner Vanourney Gunner Vanourney 5'11" | SG North Linn | 2022 State IA (4.2) started two years ago and will step into the starting lineup early in the year while Kurt recovers from knee surgery. They also expect to get some contributions from a strong freshman class, so there is no end in sight for the North Linn destruction of the Tri-Rivers. They have compiled a 155-5 (.969) record since the start of the 2015-16 season.
Springville (22-3): The Orioles lost just three games last season, twice against North Linn, and a substate semifinal setback against New London. They lose leading scorer Alex Koppes to graduation, as well as a slew of key rotation pieces, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in senior wing Rhenden Wagaman Rhenden Wagaman 6'3" | SG Springville | 2022 State IA (15.9) and guard Luke Menster Luke Menster 5'10" | PG Springville | 2022 State IA (15.1). Wagaman is a long, lanky wing who can score from all three levels, and he does a great job utilizing his length to his advantage on the defensive end of the floor. Menster is a quick lefty guard who flies all over the place on the defensive end, gets to the rim, gets others involved, and can really shoot it. Those two will be asked to do a ton for this group, as no other returnee averaged more than 1.8 points a game last season, but that tandem is about as good as it gets in 1A and should keep them competitive.
Starmont (2-18): The Stars averaged just 29.9 points a game last season, but bring back a few key contributors from last year’s team in Garrett Waterhouse (6.7) and Draven Kramer (6.7). Sophomores Logan Gates and Isaiah Maker each appeared in one game last season but were productive in those games and should be expected to become bigger contributors this season.
Projected Order of Finish
1. North Linn
2. Springville
3. Edgewood-Colesburg
4. Alburnett
5. East Buchanan
6. Maquoketa Valley
7. Central City
8. Starmont
Analysis: North Linn has dominated this league for years now, and don’t expect that to change with all five starters returning. Springville with Menster and Wagaman will still be dangerous, as will Ed-Co with their vast amount of experience returning. All three will be viable state tournament teams this year.
Preseason Player of the Year
2022 Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA , North Linn: The Lynx have dominated this league for the last handful of seasons, and that domination won’t end this year. Hilmer impacts the game on both ends of the floor, among the state leaders in assists and steals last season, and he paces North Linn’s attack on both ends of the floor.
Players to Watch
2022
Austin Hilmer
Austin
Hilmer
5'10" | PG
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
, North Linn
2023
Tate Haughenbury
Tate
Haughenbury
6'5" | PF
North Linn | 2023
State
IA
, North Linn
2022
Dylan Kurt
Dylan
Kurt
6'3" | SF
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
, North Linn
2023
Ben Wheatley
Ben
Wheatley
6'1" | SG
North Linn | 2023
State
IA
, North Linn
2022
Cade Haughenbury
Cade
Haughenbury
6'2" | SF
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
, North Linn
2022
Kaiden Gage
Kaiden
Gage
6'5" | PG
East Buchanan | 2022
State
IA
, East Buchanan
2022
Rhenden Wagaman
Rhenden
Wagaman
6'3" | SG
Springville | 2022
State
IA
, Springville
2022
Luke Menster
Luke
Menster
5'10" | PG
Springville | 2022
State
IA
, Springville
2022 Jack Wiskus, Edgewood-Colesburg
2022 Mason Ashline, Edgewood-Colesburg
2022 Lance Voss, Edgewood-Colesburg
2022 Korey Putz, Edgewood-Colesburg
2022 Nathan Carter, Edgewood-Colesburg
2023 Avery Holtz, Maquoketa Valley
2022 AJ Ambundo, Maquoketa Valley
2024 Aiden Klostermann, Central City
2024 Logan Gates, Starmont
2022 Andrew Ossman, Alburnett