Conference Preview: Tri-Rivers West
The Teams
Alburnett (12-10): The top six scorers return for the Pirates, headlined by senior guard Ian Boline (16.8), who led the team in assists in addition to his scoring prowess. He’ll have the ball in his hands a ton this winter. Izic Mackey (10.0) provides an interior presence, averaging nearly nine rebounds and two blocks a game last season. Jared Graubard (9.6), Austin Huber (7.0) and Luke Smith (5.7) round out the likely starting five, each capable of knocking down an occasional 3 and taking some scoring burden off of Boline. With nearly the full complement of rotation players returning, the Pirates could see an improvement in their record. The problem is they’re in a pretty talented division, so there’s only so much room for upward mobility.
Central City (7-14): Four of the top five scorers from last year are back for the Wildcats, led by Nick Reid (10.1), a scoring guard who could see his numbers explode if he can become a bit more efficient. Cody Gray (6.0) is a good shooter from the arc (41.7%), while Bryce Silver (5.6) gives them a body inside, as does Michael Walker (5.3, 15 blocks). Braxton Van Alst (6.3) is the final piece of the returnee puzzle, another kid who is capable of knocking down shots from deep. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the teams above them in the division didn’t lose much, so there isn’t much room for ascension in the standings here.
East Buchanan (4-20): Christian French (10.8) will lead a Buccaneers team that is likely to finish in the basement again this year, but could potentially improve on their four wins from last year with some solid experience returning. Jacob Hesner (7.1) knocked down 49 3s last year, and Jake Ohl gives them a body on the interior. If you’re looking for a breakout player in the league this year, it may be Kanyon Cooksley (3.7), who was really effective last season, shooting 55.7% from the floor and knocking down eight of ten 3s.
Edgewood-Colesburg (15-7)*: The Vikings are making the move into the Tri-Rivers after playing in the Upper Iowa Conference for years. And they’ll have a great chance at competing in their first year, bringing back leading scorer Ethan Streicher (13.2) and quality role players Preston Rochford (9.8) and Jacob Wessel (8.5) back. Streicher is a talented scoring guard capable of getting hot from the arc and making an impact on the defensive end as well after finishing second on the team in steals last year. Rochford is a capable lead guard who averaged over five assists a game, and Wessel is an efficient forward who led the team in rebounding and averaged over two blocks a game. That trio is going to win plenty of games in their first year in the Tri-Rivers, and in most other years, they may be enough to win the division.
Lisbon (17-8): Last year could be classified as somewhat disappointing for the Lions, who entered the season expecting to compete for the division crown with North Linn. They struggled early on, but closed the season with a nine-game winning streak before dropping a postseason game to New London (who ended up qualifying for the state tournament). They’ll be hoping that late season momentum carries into this year, as they bring back five of their top six scorers, including both double figure scorers in Bailey Arwine (15.1) and Brett Givens (12.0). Arwine might be the best player in the league not named Hilmer, a versatile wing who can stretch the floor or score at the rim. Givens dished out 118 assists (to just 56 turnovers) last year and provides stability in the backcourt. Devin Robinson (7.7) provides more size on the interior, and Hagen Waters (6.9) provides more perimeter shooting. With plenty of experience returning to a team that finished strong, this group looks like the second best team in the division.
Maquoketa Valley (10-13): Three key rotation players from last year have graduated for the Wildcats, but they return leading scorer Brock Hillers (9.3), as well as Tyson Tucker (7.8), Garrett Hogan (6.9) and Trevor Elgin (4.5). This was an extremely balanced team last year, with seven players averaging between 4.5 and 9.3 points a game. Expect more of the same this year. They’ll need to take better care of the basketball (200-384 assist-to-turnover ratio) and shoot better (34-25-59) if they want to compete for a finish in the upper half of the league.
North Linn (27-1): The Lynx rolled to a 25-0 record before the state tournament last year, posting some ridiculous numbers along the way. A team that outscored teams by an average of 37 points a game last season returns everyone, so watch out. They’re led by junior point guard Jake Hilmer (21.8), the best player in 1A, who has an outside chance at breaking the state’s career assist record this year. He sits 305 behind the record (had 275 last year), and with everyone back, this offense could be even more potent than it was last year. Hilmer’s joined in the backcourt by Ryan Miller (18.8, 73 3PM) and David Seber (14.7, 85 3PM) who are perfect compliments to the brilliance of Hilmer with their ability to knock down shots consistently. Trevor Boge (7.8) and Adam Waskow (6.8) are back to round out the starting five. The key for this team to be more successful come state tournament time may lie with Waskow, a 6-5 power forward who can cause issues with his size. This team plays an aggressive, up-tempo style that will lead to dozens more lopsided scores this year, and they’ll cruise through this league yet again. The real question is how will they perform in Des Moines.
Springville (14-9): The Orioles lost ten players from last year’s roster to graduation, so naturally a step back should be coming, right? Maybe not. Not included in those departed is leading scorer Zach March (14.7) or third leading scorer, and leading rebounder, Ryan Barner (8.0), who will combine to give Springville a pretty solid one-two punch. March is a menace on both ends of the floor, swiping 70 steals last year in addition to being one of the more versatile scoring threats in the league. The issue will be depth, as the next leading returnee is Blake Jordan, who scored just 19 points last year in limited action. If they’re able to find some players to plug into all the departed holes, they can compete for an upper half finish.
Projected Order of Finish
1. North Linn
2. Lisbon
3. Edgewood-Colesburg
4. Alburnett
5. Springville
6. Maquoketa Valley
7. Central City
8. East Buchanan
Analysis: There may not be a more overwhelming favorite in any league across the state than North Linn is here. They should roll through their conference schedule again and post ridiculous numbers while doing so. Lisbon and Edgewood-Colesburg are both solid teams who could win this division if the Lynx weren’t in it, and could make some noise come postseason time, given the right draw.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2019 Jake Hilmer, North Linn: 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 4.5 steals, 56.4 FG%
The best player in Class 1A, Hilmer is closing in on the state’s all-time assist record, still with two years left to play. After dishing out a state-best 275 assists last year, he sits 305 assists shy of the record. He’s the second leading returning scorer in 1A, and the leading assist and steals man in the state, regardless of class. He’ll pace one of the state’s most potent attacks.
BIGGEST SLEEPER
2018 Adam Waskow, North Linn: A talented 6-5 forward, Waskow gets overlooked because he plays with arguably the best trio of guards in the state. But he runs the floor well, rebounds, can block shots and finishes effectively around the rim. If he’s taken another step forward in his game, the Lynx could be the favorite in 1A.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
2019 Jake Hilmer, North Linn
2018 Ryan Miller, North Linn
2019 David Seber, North Linn
2019 Trevor Boge, North Linn
2018 Bailey Arwine, Lisbon
2018 Brett Givens, Lisbon
2018 Devin Robinson, Lisbon
2019 Zach March, Springville
2018 Ryan Barner, Springville
2018 Ian Boline, Alburnett
2019 Jared Graubard, Alburnett
2019 Izic Mackey, Alburnett
2018 Christian French, East Buchanan
2019 Ethan Streicher, Edgewood-Colesburg
2019 Preston Rochford, Edgewood-Colesburg
2018 Brock Hillers, Maquoketa Valley
2020 Nick Reid, Central City