Conference Preview: Top of Iowa (West )
The Teams Belmond-Klemme: After a dreadful 4-19 campaign last season, the Broncos could find themselves feeling optimistic for the upcoming season. Their top two scorers are back, and only one regular contributor from last season’s squad has graduated. Onward and…
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Belmond-Klemme: After a dreadful 4-19 campaign last season, the Broncos could find themselves feeling optimistic for the upcoming season. Their top two scorers are back, and only one regular contributor from last season’s squad has graduated. Onward and upward in Belmond.
Bishop Garrigan: It was a tough go last season for the Golden Bears, but this season we expect them to improve upon their seven wins from last winter. One of the more promising young bigs in the state will man the paint, that’s TJ Schnurr. And plenty of other regular contributors are back as well.
Eagle Grove: As sophomores Ryan Smith and Spencer Espejo led the charge for the Eagles, and now as juniors they bring a combo of talent plus experience back. And though last season was not the greatest in Eagle Grove (5-17), their team could see considerable improvement this winter.
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura: One of the state’s best young forwards, James Betz, is ready to breakout this season for the Cardinals, and prove why he’s our 4th-ranked 2019. He, along with senior Johnny O’Connor will have their team in the upper third of conference standings once again this season.
Forest City: The always-good Indians were down a bit last year (relatively speaking), winners of “only” 15 games. And though they do graduate their best scorer from that team (Mitch Lambert), the cupboard is far from bare. Sam Snyder will lead the way this season, he averaged 10.9 points per game last season, and Ryan Theel could make some major contributions as well.
Lake Mills: When a guy like Granger Kingland (27.3 PPG) graduates, it’s near-impossible to fill the void. But Lake Mills will have a chance to be pretty darn good again this season. And after winning 16 games last season behind Kingland’s shooting, it will be another sharpshooter, Charlie Dugger, to lead the way this season.
North Iowa, Buffalo Center: The lowly Bison finished in the cellar last season, winners of just three games. Top two scorers Austin Haisman and Drew Jensen are back though, so there’s reason to think they will eclipse that win total this winter.
North Union: A Warriors team that finished middle-of-the-pack last season will likely be vastly improved this winter. After a 10-12 2015-16 campaign, they return their four leading scorers and should vault into the upper third of the standings.
West Hancock, Britt: What a run the Eagles have had the past couple of seasons, culminating in a state tournament berth last winter. Triple-double machine Connor Sonius is gone though, and also sidekick Nate Paulus. But there’s seemingly another very strong season in store, and 2017s Dylan Eckels and Seth Weiland should be a dynamic duo this season for a West Hancock squad that will win a lot more games.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
2. West Hancock, Britt
3. North Union
4. Forest City
5. Lake Mills
6. Bishop Garrigan
7. Belmond-Klemme
8. Eagle Grove
9. North Iowa, Buffalo Center
Analysis
This was not an easy conference to pick, and there is no clear favorite. We went with the Cardinals because they have the preseason player of the year with James Betz, and we feel he’ll set them apart (albeit by a slim margin), from other serious contenders. Look for the teams from the bottom half of the conference to be much-improved from a season ago – this will be a very fun group of teams this season.
Preseason Player of the Year
James Betz, 6’6, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
If you just see his stats from last season this may seem like a stretch. But this well-built and supremely athletic stretch-four is exceptional. He spent his summer playing around the county with Kingdom Hoops Elite, and was dominant at times against the nation’s best. We expect that to carry over into his sophomore season.
Biggest Sleeper
Seth Weiland, 6’7, West Hancock
He was a starter last season for one of 1A’s best and most exciting teams, but this season — with the departure of Paulus and Sonius — he could emerge as one of the conference’s most productive players. A rare shot-blocking/3-point specialist, Weiland brings a unique approach to the game that makes him one of the state’s most intriguing players.
Players to Watch
James Betz, 6’6, G-H-V
Ryan Smith, G, Eagle Grove
Charlie Dugger, 6′, Lake Mills
Trent Pederson, 6’1, North Union
Dylan Eckels, 6′, West Hancock
Trevor Hannah, 5’10, Lake Mills
Johnny O’Connor, 6’1, G-H-V
Seth Weiland, 6’7, West Hancock
Nathan Eaton, 5’10, North Union
Sam Snyder, 6’4, Forest City
TJ Schunurr, 6’5, Bishop Garrigon