Conference Preview: South Iowa Cedar – West
The Teams (2016-17 record in parenthesis)
BGM, Brooklyn (10-12): Four of last season’s five leading scorers were seniors, that leaves the door wide open for guys like Ulises Felix and Noah Beck to come in and make some noise. Kyle Doty is the Bears’ leading returning scorer, and should have a breakout season.
Colfax-Mingo (10-13): There’s justifiable reason to be very excited in Colfax this season. After notching double-digit wins last season, the Tigerhawks’ top nine scorers return. Including double-double machine Jarod Nichols.
HLV, Victor (4-19): After struggling to just four wins all of last season, the Warriors could struggle again this time around. Good news for them is that five of its six leading scorers return, and three of those guys will be back again next season.
Lynnville-Sully (24-2): Not only will the Hawks likely win a conference title, but they’ll compete for a 1A state title. Jesse Van Wyk, Brevin Hansen, Tanner Foster, Rylan James and Co. will be very tough to beat. Expect them to roll through the competition this season.
Montezuma (18-6): Last year’s squad was the definition of senior-laden, and the top five leading scorers from the 18-win unit have all graduated. That leaves guys like Hunter Ray and Vance Bushing to lead the way this winter. The Braves will open their season Nov. 28 at Lynnville-Sully.
North Mahaska (13-10): All five regular starters graduated, and it will be a new-look squad taking the floor for the Warhawks this winter. Expect a bit of a rebuild in New Sharon. They’ll start the season Nov. 28th at BGM, Brooklyn.
Projected Order of Finish
- Lynnville-Sully
- Colfax-Mingo
- Montezuma
- North Mahaska
- BGM, Brooklyn
- HLV, Victor
Analysis: Lynnville-Sully will take this division of the conference, and no disrespect the rest of the teams, but it should be relatively easy. Colfax-Mingo will come away with its fair share of wins, and will certainly be amped-up to play the Hawks on Dec. 5th and then again on Jan. 23rd.
Preseason Player of the Year: Jesse Van Wyk, Lynnville-Sully (2018)
After helping lead his team to state last season as a junior, this do-it-all forward is back and ready to make another run to Wells Fargo Arena. the 6-foot-2 senior will score from inside and work from the perimeter too, and he’ll certainly have plenty of help on a roster that makes up one of the best squads in 1A.
Biggest Sleeper: Kyle Doty, BGM, Brooklyn (2018)
With the rest of last season’s Bears starters graduating, it’ll be senior guard Kyle Doty that will take control of his new-look squad this season. Expect his numbers to inflate dramatically, and he coiuld average north of 15 points per game this season.