First Look: Class B

<h2>Top Contenders</h2>Irene-Wakonda. They lost only six games last year, made a run and now bring one of the state’s best players back in Gabe King as well as Tate Gale who scored 13 a night as a freshman last year. Don’t forget that Trey King also is returning after a double digit season as an eighth grader. A lot is expected from this team and they have the talent to fulfill expectations. Langford. Without Fries and Steiner repeating a 25-2 record seems like a very tough task. That said. This team does return four of their next five guys including three starters. Senior leaders are now Josh Punt and Jordan Carson while junior Chance Olson and sophomore Mason Larson will step into big roles. Larson has a chance to be a standout immediately. Warner. Not only is Warner coming off a strong 17-5 year but they have one of the state’s elite prospects and players in Michael Rogers, fellow senior Ethan Westby is solid, and there are good guards and forwards in the junior class as well. Big expecations this winter. Gregory. A 19 win state returns senior point guard Sean Kafka, junior worker Robert Vomacka, and leading scorer sophomore Jayd Vanderwerff, but they do lose three key seniors from a balanced club. They will once again be in the thick of things. <h2>Potential Contenders</h2>Hanson. After a 22-4 season and a state championship basketball fever in Hanson is a Royal Blue as it’s ever been. The top returning name is Aaron Wenande who made the game winner in the state semi-final to send his team to the final. Can they repeat? Five guys from the seven man rotation are gone but Wenade does return with Andrew Arend. White River. Half of the 22 win White River team is gone but senior Nicholas Young is back as are junior Lucas Iron Hart and Justice Morrison. I would expect them to be in the thick of things once again this season. Wolsey-Wessington. After winning 24 games they still have high expectations even though Lorenzo Williams is now playing college football. Junior Bennett White, junior Darion Ogunjamalousi, and senior Jerrett Weber are all double figure scorers. Expect another good season from W-W. Canistota. This Shay Jolley led club lost only six times a year ago and they return four of their five starters so getting this team back to state is their goal of course. Jolley was third team all state last year and will push for first team. Parker. Won two of three games at state and took fifth place. Their top guy Zach O’Keefe is gone but they return a lot including Landon Leberman, Cody Knock, and Zach Anderson so this will still be a good team. Potter County. They lost only five games a year ago and 6-foot-9 Rease Logan returns after a 10 point per game season. He’s one of the bigger players in the class plus junior Tanner Storer returns after putting up ten a game. To have a pair of scorers and one being a shot blocking presence is a big deal but they still lost guard Caleb Meinke which is a tough blow. <h2>Hanson. After a 22-4 season and a state championship basketball fever in Hanson is a Royal Blue as it’s ever been. The top returning name is Aaron Wenande who made the game winner in the state semi-final to send his team to the final. Can they repeat? Five guys from the seven man rotation are gone but Wenade does return with Andrew Arend. White River. Half of the 22 win White River team is gone but senior Nicholas Young is back as are junior Lucas Iron Hart and Justice Morrison. I would expect them to be in the thick of things once again this season. Wolsey-Wessington. After winning 24 games they still have high expectations even though Lorenzo Williams is now playing college football. Junior Bennett White, junior Darion Ogunjamalousi, and senior Jerrett Weber are all double figure scorers. Expect another good season from W-W. Canistota. This Shay Jolley led club lost only six times a year ago and they return four of their five starters so getting this team back to state is their goal of course. Jolley was third team all state last year and will push for first team. Parker. Won two of three games at state and took fifth place. Their top guy Zach O’Keefe is gone but they return a lot including Landon Leberman, Cody Knock, and Zach Anderson so this will still be a good team. Potter County. They lost only five games a year ago and 6-foot-9 Rease Logan returns after a 10 point per game season. He’s one of the bigger players in the class plus junior Tanner Storer returns after putting up ten a game. To have a pair of scorers and one being a shot blocking presence is a big deal but they still lost guard Caleb Meinke which is a tough blow. </h2>Maybe Contenders</h2>Faith. Senior club that received a lot of it’s production from graduated players but will have experience returning in senior wings Wyatt Schuelke and Trister Rhoden. Most of the top guys from a 22 win team have graduated though including four starters. Rosholt. They were 14-9 a year go but Alex Krueger is back and we saw Nathan Lick do some things this summer so this could be a club that improves by three or four games. Krueger is a player that PHD is really high on. Hitchcock/Tulare. The third place team at state last year winning 17 games but they lost most of their scoring punch. Chase Bixler will help them push on as will Boston Knippling and Grayson Binger but not sure they can match last year’s outstanding late season run. De Smet. Broderick Poppinga will pop treys from deep and lead his team every step of the way. This senior group was a big part of last year’s 14 wins which could push towards 18 this year. Ethan. Camden Myers will have this team improving on their 14-8 record this winter. How improvement depends on the depth around him.