Valley Conference Preview
The Valley Conference was a two-horse race in 2015-16 and figures to be similar this upcoming winter. Cleveland and St. Clair remain the two top teams and while there are a few programs that could be on the rise, the…
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Continue ReadingThe Valley Conference was a two-horse race in 2015-16 and figures to be similar this upcoming winter. Cleveland and St. Clair remain the two top teams and while there are a few programs that could be on the rise, the conference as a whole was hit as hard by graduation as any conference in the state.
State Contender:
Cleveland
The Clippers won 28 games a year ago and got within a game of the state tournament. They might be even better this year too. Carter Kopet returns after earning Player of the Year honors in the conference. Kopet averaged more than 20 points per game. He’s not the only premier guy back. Austin Plonski returns after hitting more than 100 3-pointers a year ago and Jaiden Zishka is back after averaging more than 14 points and seven rebounds.
On the verge:
St. Clair
The Cyclones got to the state tournament a year ago, knocking off Cleveland in the Section 2A title game. St. Clair loses several of its top players but Mitch Weber is back to man the middle after averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds a game as a sophomore. Weber might play a little more on the perimeter this year as the other main guy back is Grant Nagel, who also plays inside. The Cyclones have the front court. They’ll need to figure out the guard situation if they want to get back to state.
In between:
Truman/Martin Luther/Granada Huntley East Chain, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton
T/ML/GHEC returns one of the top players in the conference in Zayne Engel to man the middle and his presence should be enough to keep them in a lot of games. Derek Schoen had a solid sophomore year and returns as well to give the Jaguars two all-conference caliber players.
This one might be aggressive given JWP won just five games a year ago but the Bulldogs have a lot of returning talent with Josh Janike, Sam Eustice, Andrew King and Alex Kjolstad.
With so many of the top teams turning over the rosters to graduation, the Bulldogs might have an opportunity to increase their win total dramatically.
Rebuilding:
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Martin County West, Alden-Conger, Mankato Loyola, Nicollet, Madelia
LCWM has two solid guards back in Brady Isebrand and Blaid Friedrichs which could give them a big edge over teams with a lot less experience in the backcourt. The Cyclones graduated six seniors though and the frontcourt looks thin at this point.
Mankato Loyola was very solid last year but graduated eight seniors. Zan Raverty is back after averaging 8.4 points per game and hitting 35 percent of his 3-pointers and Sheldon Price returns to provide some minutes up front but the Crusaders lost an awful lot.
Alden-Conger won four games a year ago and haven’t won more than 10 games in eight years. Dillan Lien gives them something inside after averaging 12 points per game as a junior.
Martin County West graduated eight seniors including its top three players in Brandon Williamson, Richard Eckmann and Jacob Buntjer. Josh Bjerken is back and could be in for a breakout season.
Nicollet graduated all five of its starters including Gavin Thomsen, Marshall Barrer and Carter Strunk. Eon Thomsen is back after playing some last year as a sophomore and he’ll have to take on a big role offensively.
Madelia won 15 games a year ago, but like many teams in the conference, the Blackhawks lost a ton to graduation. Eight seniors including Derek Van Hee, Kyle Schultz and Austin Denn are gone. Augie Reihs is one of the few remaining players and he should provide some stability inside.
Conference Power Ranking
- Cleveland
- Clair
- T/ML/GHEC
- JWP
- LCWM
- Mankato Loyola
- Alden-Conger
- Martin County West
- Nicollet
- Madelia
Preseason All Valley
First Team
Carter Kopet , Cleveland, Jr.
Mitchell Weber, St. Clair, Jr.
Josh Janike, JWP, Sr.
Austin Plonsky, Cleveland, Jr.
Zayne Engel, GHEC, Sr.
Second Team
Jaiden Zishka, Cleveland, Sr.
Dillan Lien, Alden-Conger, Jr.
Brady Isebrand, LCWM, Sr.
Sam Eustice, JWP, Jr.
Blaid Friedrichs, LCWM, Sr.
Third Team
Ean Thomsen, Nicollet, Jr.
Zan Raverty, Mankato Loyola, Jr.
Gavin Steele, Alden-Conger, Jr.
Josh Bjerken, MCW, Sr.
Grant Nagel, St. Clair, Jr.