Conference Preview: Missouri River
The Teams
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln (18-4): The Lynx put together a really strong season last year, as they didn’t drop a game to an in-state team not named Sioux City East. They lose a big chunk off that team, however, as five of the top eight from last season are gone, including three of the top four. Leading scorer Troy Houghton (13.1) returns, and he’s a great piece to build around. An athletic 6-3 wing, he thrives on the offensive end with his slashing ability and the way he attacks the offensive glass. Where he truly shines is on the defensive end, as he’s a lockdown defender with great lateral movement and length who can slow down anyone. His defense feeds into his offense. Lightning quick point guard Preston Fant (8.9) is also back after being a sparkplug off the bench last season. He’s a small guard but he’s a pest on the defensive end, making life difficult for opposing ball handlers. The Houghton-Fant duo is going to make it tough to score against the Lynx, especially from the perimeter, but the question will be whether or not this team is going to be able to score enough. There are lots of holes to fill, but putting a pair of high-level defenders on the floor is a good place to start. They’ll be a notch below East and Heelan, but should be able to contend for third in the league.
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson (3-19): The Yellow Jackets look like they’ll be at the bottom of the league again this season after winning just three games last season (against two 1A teams and a 2A team). They were rarely competitive in league play and averaged just 43 points a game on 37-31-58 shooting splits. They only lose one player from last year’s roster, so they may be more competitive in games this year, but there isn’t much reason for optimism. They’ll be led by Chandler Squibb (8.6), Cameron Lukavsky (8.0) and Devonte Starks (7.7).
Sergeant Bluff-Luton (17-10): The Warriors made a somewhat surprising run to the 3A championship game last season before falling to Cedar Rapids Xavier. They were dominant throughout the week at the state tournament, but have to replace a lot of those pieces. Junior guard Conner Groves (10.9) is the only returnee among the top four. He’s a talented sharpshooter who knocked down 70 3s last season and posted a 66-26 assist-to-turnover ratio last year. He’ll be asked to have the ball in his hands a lot this winter after Keegan Savary and Chris Kroll both graduated. Ty Boekelman (3.9) and Sam DeMoss (2.9) are the only other returnees who saw significant time for last year’s team, so there are a lot of question marks that need to be answered for the 2017-18 Warriors.
Sioux City Bishop Heelan (17-7): The Crusaders bring back seven of their top eight scorers from last year’s team, and they’ll be looking to get to their first state tournament since 2012. They’ll be led by one of the state’s most productive players in combo forward Elijah Hazekamp (17.7), who posted a big double-double average chipping in 12.4 rebounds a night. He has the ability to score from anywhere, plays with a non-stop motor and will lead a talented group of returnees. Jack Boever (10.1) is the top scoring threat from the perimeter, making 40.5% of his attempts from behind the arc last season. He’s joined by Brendan Roder (6.2, 37.2 3P%) and Tommy Schilz (3.3, 45.5 3P%) in the backcourt. Colin Kasperbauer (6.6), Bryce Reynolds (9.5) and Eli Mollet (2.0) provide plenty of additional depth and versatility alongside Hazekamp in the frontcourt. With one of the state’s best, most consistent and most versatile players on their squad, the Crusaders should challenge East at the top of the league and are a real threat to win a 3A state title (they open the season ranked No. 4 in our 3A rankings).
Sioux City East (23-3): The Black Raiders return a pair of big-time scorers in Van Rees (20.8) and Aidan Vanderloo (16.8), who will give them the best inside-out combination in the league, and one of the best in the state. Our preseason No. 2 team in Class 4A, they should be considered a healthy favorite in the conference, with the strength of that duo leading the way. Rees is a double-double machine who lives at the free throw line, while Vanderloo is an elite shooter who shot 55.3% from behind the arc last season. He’ll be asked to play on the ball a bit more this season following the graduation of Jailen Billings. Sam Hildahl (5.2) gives the Raiders another big body in the paint to take some of the pressure off of Rees, while Cole Taylor (3.9) and Jack Peterson (3.2) return on the perimeter to help out Vanderloo. The key to this group’s success this season may be sophomore wing Jaleque Dunson (2.2), a long, athletic wing who contributed last season as a freshman and if he’s able to take another step forward, it’ll go a long way towards providing them with another scoring option and solid wing defender. Routinely one of the top scoring teams in the state, look for more of the same from East. They’ll be the favorite to come out of the substate that always groups the Sioux City and Council Bluffs schools together, meaning they should be making another trip to the state tournament.
Sioux City North (6-16): Leading scorer Dustin Birkes is gone, but the Stars bring back their second, third and fourth leading scorers from last season, so they should be improved. They’ll be led by Trent Frerichs (12.7), a 6-1 guard who led the team in rebounding last season. He’s a capable shooter from distance, but does more of his damage around the rim. Robert Mosey (9.6) led the team in blocks last year with 25 and at 6-2 does all of his damage inside the arc. Nick Opsahl (8.5) has a versatile skill set and can score inside and out, as can Tyrell Blakey (4.4), who led the team in assists. That quartet are all juniors this season, and they should be looking to improve this season, then be a legitimate contender in the 2018-19 season.
Sioux City West (12-9): The Wolverines had one of their most successful seasons in recent history last year, finishing above .500. They have to replace a pair of double figure scorers now, but bring back a talented pair of guards in Cliff McRay (9.5) and DeSean Foy (7.9), a pair of athletic, quick guards who will attack the rim relentlessly this season. Koryatt Woodruff (6.4) will give them some size and physicality on the interior, as will Aiden Belt (3.8), a pair of 6-5 forwards. McRay is going to be one of the best playmakers in the league, and they’ll go as far as he and Foy take them this year. They should be competitive after playing East and Heelan really tough last season, and will battle with Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln for third in the league.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Sioux City East
2. Sioux City Bishop Heelan
3. Sioux City West
4. Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
5. Sergeant Bluff-Luton
6. Sioux City North
7. Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
Analysis: The basketball in Sioux City should be pretty entertaining this year, as we’ve got three Sioux City teams pegged for the top of the league. East and Heelan are a notch above West, but the Wolverines played both teams really tough last season. CBAL and SB-L are both dangerous teams with plenty of talent on their rosters, while North will be building towards next season with a big stable of juniors leading the way.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2018 Van Rees, Sioux City East: 20.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 57.0 FG%, 163 FTM
The league’s leading scorer and second leading rebounder last year, Rees, a recent Wayne State commit, is a walking double-double for a Black Raiders team that will be among the best in 4A.
BIGGEST SLEEPER
2018 Preston Fant, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln: He’s small (listed at 5-9 last year), but lightning quick and provided a big spark off the bench last season for the Lynx. He’ll be a starter now, and with his quickness and athleticism, should live in the lane on the offensive end while being a great defender on defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
2018 Van Rees, Sioux City East
2019 Aidan Vanderloo, Sioux City East
2020 Jaleque Dunson, Sioux City East
2018 Sam Hildahl, Sioux City East
2018 Elijah Hazekamp, Sioux City Heelan
2018 Jack Boever, Sioux City Heelan
2018 Colin Kasperbauer, Sioux City Heelan
2018 Troy Houghton, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
2018 Preston Fant, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
2019 Conner Groves, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
2018 Ty Boekelman, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
2018 Jeremiah Bor Khat, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
2019 Trent Frerichs, Sioux City North
2019 Robert Mosey, Sioux City North
2019 Nick Opsahl, Sioux City North
2019 Cliff McRay, Sioux City West
2018 DeSean Foy, Sioux City West
2019 Cameron Lukavsky, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson