Conference Preview: River Valley North
THE TEAMS Bellevue (2-21): Cade Daugherty (13.9) is the second leading returning scorer in the division, but needs to improve on his 35.9% shooting if the Comets want to improve on their two wins. Corbin Stillmunkes (3.9) and Dalton Anderson…
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Continue ReadingTHE TEAMS
Bellevue (2-21): Cade Daugherty (13.9) is the second leading returning scorer in the division, but needs to improve on his 35.9% shooting if the Comets want to improve on their two wins. Corbin Stillmunkes (3.9) and Dalton Anderson (2.8) also return after playing a role last season. Still, in this tough division, it’ll be tough for them to finish anywhere but the cellar.
Camanche (17-6): Three very talented players are gone from the Indians’ most successful team in school history, but a pair of big-time players on the wing return in Dakota Soenksen (14.1) and Dylan Hundley (13.1), giving them enough returning talent to potentially make another run. Both Soenksen and Hundley are versatile, athletic and lanky wings who will be matchup problems for most teams on their schedule, and while they’ll greatly miss big man Dylan Dodson, point guard Blake Bialas and off guard Will Seeser, there is still talent waiting in the wings. Tre Austin (3.5) played well last year and returns, as do David Gonzalez (2.6), Dev Patel (1.3) and Andy Smith (1.8). Watch for a pair of youngsters to contribute as well in sophomore Carson Seeser and freshman Cameron Soenksen. This team should be very good and will compete for the division title.
Cascade (22-4): There is an awful lot to replace for the 2A runners up, as they have lost legendary coach Al Marshall, the third winningest coach in state history, as well as Devin Green, one of the best players to ever come through the school. A number of other big contributors are gone as well, most notably Jarrett Knepper, Kurt Trumm and Trace Hoffman. Johnny Supple (6.3) is the only returnee who scored more than 40 points last year. A versatile wing, he’s got the ability to be the go-to guy they’ll be looking for this year. Gannon O’Brien (1.8), Haris Hoffman (2.2) and Brock Simon will be asked to step into much bigger roles for new coach Jacob Brindle. The Cougars have long been a solid program, and despite losing a load of talent, and a legend on the sidelines, they should still be competitive.
Monticello (17-6): Andrew Tjaden (3.1) is the only returnee for the Panthers who scored more than a point a game last season. Their entire starting five must be replaced after a great four year run. The rest of the rotation to be is largely unknown, so we’ll see have to see how Jacob Manternach, Taylor Manternach and Jordan Breashears play in larger roles. This entire group is a mystery.
North Cedar (6-17): Three of the top four scorers return for the Knights, led by Carter Johnson (8.7) and Logan Minar (8.7), a solid inside-out duo. Aaron Woodward (6.6) is also back, giving them an experienced trio of players to build with. Still, like Bellevue, there just isn’t enough talent here to make a run in this loaded division.
Northeast, Goose Lake (20-3): The Rebels had an extremely successful season last year, winning 20 games before losing to a very good Anamosa team in the district championship. Leading scorer Will Hasken is gone, but four of the next five scorers are back, headlined by the trio of Kyle Dell (8.8), Zach Parson (8.4) and Luke Empen (8.1). Axel Dondiego (5.0) is also back, giving them a solid quartet to build around. They were an exceptional defensive team last year, and with Empen back on the interior, look for that to continue. This is a group that will be fairly efficient on the offensive end, defend at a high level and win lots of games.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Northeast Goose Lake
2. Camanche
3. Cascade
4. North Cedar
5. Monticello
6. Bellevue
Analysis: The battle between Northeast and Camanche for the division crown should be a very fun one to watch, but we’ll give the slight edge to the defending champions. They should be the best defensive team in the division, and while they don’t have the league’s best player, they probably have more proven pieces. Regardless, this race will be entertaining.
Photo credit: Camanche High SchoolPRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dakota Soenksen, Camanche, 2017: 14.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 45.5 FG%, 45.1 3P%
A long, lanky and athletic wing, Soenksen helped lead the Indians to the best season in school history last year. A versatile scoring threat who shot 45% from the arc last year, he’ll look to build on last season’s success and try to get Camanche to the state tournament for the first time.
BIGGEST SLEEPER
Johnny Supple, Cascade, 2018: Overshadowed last year on a senior-laden roster, Supple still put up some good numbers, averaging over six points a game. Look for that number to skyrocket after the Cougars lost so much, and he should become one of the better players in the division this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dakota Soenksen, Camanche, 2017
Dylan Hundley, Camanche, 2017
Kyle Dell, Northeast Goose Lake, 2017
Luke Empen, Northeast Goose Lake, 2018
Zach Parson, Northeast Goose Lake, 2017
Axel Dondiego, Northeast Goose Lake, 2017
Cade Daugherty, Bellevue, 2018
Carter Johnson, North Cedar, 2017
Logan Minar, North Cedar, 2017
Johnny Supple, Cascade, 2018