Iowa’s Top Turnaround Teams
Every year, there are dozens of teams across the state that rebound from poor seasons the prior year and put together a nice “turnaround” year. Here, we take a look at 10 teams across the four classes that have turned things around this season.
Note: Teams listed in alphabetical order. Records are current as of Feb. 21.
Alta-Aurelia (20-1): After going 10-11 last season and giving up 57.4 points a game, the Warriors have turned their fortunes around on the strength of one of the best defenses in the state. They’ve dropped their scoring defense average to an astounding 40.5 points, a solid 16.9 points less than they were giving up a year ago. Ryan Radke (14.0) and Carson Kruger (13.7) pace an offense that has become more efficient, shooting nearly five percentage points better than they did a year ago. But the story here is on the defensive end, where they’ve become stifling.
Avoca, AHSTW (20-2): While Alta-Aurelia made their turnaround on the defensive end, Avoca has made it on the offensive side. After going 10-11 last year, and scoring just 56.4 points a game, the Vikings have become one of the state’s most explosive offensive teams, scoring 74.9 points a game. Led by R.J. Harris (18.5) and Rhett Welsh (13.8), they’re one of the few teams across the state shooting better than 50% as a team (50.8%). They’ve risen their shooting percentage as a team by an astounding 11%, and Harris is a big reason why. After leading the team in scoring last year at 15.7 points on 37.3% shooting, he’s now at 18.5 points on 51.1% shooting.
Carlisle (15-7): Sophomore shooting guard Collin Lister has really helped spark this turnaround, after the Wildcats went just 6-16 a year ago. Lister is averaging 17.4 points a game, up from eight a game as a freshman. The uptick in play of junior point guard Tommy Donovan has been noticeable as well, and Carlisle has improved their scoring defense by seven points a game. Ten of those 16 losses last year came by single digits (Carlisle went 4-10 in single digit games last year; they’ve 5-3 in those types of games this season), so you could see an improvement coming here with all of their pieces back.
Cedar Rapids Prairie (14-7): After going 8-15 last year, the Hawks have used one of the state’s most potent 3-point attacks to not only improve by six wins, but grab a first-round bye in substate play. They’ve become one of 4A’s highest scoring teams, putting up 68 points a night, behind a barrage of shooters. Prairie is shooting 41.6% from behind the arc as a team, led by Jake Eilers (74-136, 54.4%), a marksman who is capable of getting red hot. Max Smith-Drahos (16.9 points, 62.0 FG%) has been sensational as their point guard, and they can win close games as a result of the tremendous free throw shooting (81.5% as a team). The Hawks have signature wins over Iowa City West and Dubuque Senior, arguably the top two teams in the state.
Davenport Assumption (13-9): 6-11 senior center Liam Robbins has made a huge (literally) impact on both ends of the floor for the Knights, who went 5-18 last year. Part of the reason for the poor record, of course, was being a 3A team playing in a loaded 4A conference. But that hasn’t slowed them down this season, behind the improved play of Trenton Wallace (14.3) and Trent Fitzpatrick (12.0), as well as the development of their role players like Dylan Peeters, Ray Thrapp and Luke Fennelly. They’re scoring 11 points more, shooting nearly nine percent better from the floor, and are allowing four fewer points a night, turning themselves into a contender for the 3A state title.
Dubuque Hempstead (16-5): After seeing this team over the summer at a few team camps, it was evident they were ready to take a major step forward after finishing 10-14 last season. They’ve done just that, compiling a 16-5 regular season record and a first-round postseason bye. The Mustangs have many of the same pieces as last year, but they’ve all grown older and improved, in particular Lucas Duax and Keith Johnson, who are scoring a combined 13 points a game more than they did last season. Johnson has made a big impact on the defensive end, blocking 31 shots, and this is a team that is much more comfortable pushing the ball in transition than they were a year ago. As a result, they’ve increased their scoring offense by 14 points a game, while maintaining one of the state’s better defenses.
East Marshall (16-5): After going 9-13 last year, the Mustangs are on this list for the second consecutive season, the signs of a very young team from a few years ago steadily improving. They added a major impact transfer in Zaine Leedom (Grinnell), who has led the team in scoring since becoming eligible, averaging 18.7 points a game. With four players averaging in double figures, the Mustangs have increased their scoring average by 15 points a game, from 50.1 to 65.0, while also allowing three fewer points each night. With only one senior that plays meaningful minutes on the roster, they’ll be even better next year.
Johnston (17-5): The Dragons finished an even 11-11 last season, and have turned themselves into a legitimate state title contender in Class 4A this year. They’ve improved on both ends of the floor, raising their scoring offense by six points a game, and allowing seven fewer points a night. They’ve used a tremendous amount of size (four regulars that are 6-5 or taller), paired with a solid tandem of guards who can shoot in Camden Vander Zwaag (41.5 3P%) and Jaden Kephart (37.6 3P%) to give themselves balance. Veteran point guard Jeran Proctor is the straw that stirs the drink, posted a nearly 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The marked improvement on both ends of the floor has led to this resurgence in Johnston.
Oskaloosa (14-8): There was a lot of preseason buzz around this Indians team that went just 6-16 a year ago, and it was almost entirely tied to freshman phenom Xavier Foster. He has had a very good freshman year, averaging 7.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 blocks, but the buzz around him has overshadowed a really solid team that has grown up a lot. Junior forward Jared Kruse (14.2) has raised his average by six points and sophomore power forward Cole Henry is averaging 12 points a game after scoring 12 points total last season. Spencer Tucker has given them some perimeter shooting, and of course, Foster’s rim protection has been critical as well. The emergence of all of this young talent has taken the pressure off of Jack Moore, who in turn has put together his most efficient season as a high schooler, averaging 12.7 points and shooting 60% from the floor.
Wapsie Valley (16-7): One of the biggest turnarounds in the state belongs to the Warriors, who went 5-18 a year ago. Like East Marshall, this turnaround is largely about a young team growing up, as a majority of the rotation players from last season are back. They’ve raised their team field goal percentage by nearly six points and are scoring 15 more points a night as a result. 5-9 sophomore guard Paul Rundquist is averaging 21 points a game, but they’ve also got four other players averaging between 7.0 and 11.1, as opposed to last year, when Rundquist averaged 20, Jaden Kuethe had 10.1, and nobody else was over 6.5. They’ve become a more balanced team and have plenty more wins to show for it.