Conference Preview: Top of Iowa – West
The Teams
Belmond-Klemme (4-19)
After a tough 2017-18 campaign, there’s reason to believe that this season’s edition of the Broncos could fare better. The top five scorers from last season are back, and while they may not finish atop the conference, the Broncos have a chance to pull themselves out of the cellar.
Bishop Garrigan (19-5)
Preseason No. 2 in Class 1A Bishop Garrigan has state title aspirations this season, winning the West division of the Top of Iowa is juts one of many hurdles en route to that final goal. Not one senior was rostered on last season’s 19-win team. Any losses will be a surprise this season for the Bears in Algona.
Eagle Grove (11-11)
Last season’s middling squad was senior-laden, making this season’s Eagle Grove unit a mostly new-look one. Guys like Enzo Gebara and Jake Darland were role players last season and will see their roles increase considerably this winter.
Forest City (20-3)
Sam Snyder was one of the best players in the conference last season, but he’s graduated now. Still, returning seniors Micah Lambert and Avery Busta give Forest City fans plenty to remain optimistic about. Look for sophomore guard Noah Miller to have a breakout season this winter.
GHV (20-5)
The preseason player of the year resides on the Cardinals roster, that’s big and athletic senior James Betz. The Northern Iowa signee is 6-foot-6 and will showcase a versatile skill-set, he’s able to both play above the rim and can 3-balls with regularity. The rest of last season’s key players have graduated. Senior Jared Graham will see an increased role alongside Betz.
Lake Mills (9-14)
Chett Helming is emerging as a star, and he’ll have plenty of help this season in the form of sophomore DaShawn Linnen. Those two were the top scorers last season for the Bulldogs, and we expect them to be above the .500 mark in 2018-19.
North Iowa (7-15)
The bulk of scoring from last season’s seven-win team has graduated, that leaves the door wide-open for guys like sophomore Dominyk Price and junior Isaiah Walk to take the reins.
North Union (4-18)
Juniors Robert Ortman and Noah Morphew are poised for big seasons, but will it be enough to get North Union out of last place?
West Hancock (11-11)
Things are looking up for the Eagles in 2018-19. Two top guys from last season’s team are seniors now, that’s Gavin Becker and Lucas Weiland. Becker is a preseason first-team all-conference selection who averaged 16.9 points per game last season. Expect the Eagles to be near the top of the division come February.
Projected Order of Finish
1 Bishop Garrigan
2 West Hancock
3 Forest City
4 Lake Mills
5 GHV
6 Belmond-Klemme
7 Eagle Grove
8 North Iowa
9 North Union
Analysis
Bishop Garrigan is the obvious choice here. Not only are they the best team in the division, but the Golden Bears are the best team in the conference, and might be one of the best two teams in all of Class 1A. Any team in the top five will be a formidable threat on any given night for the Bishop Garrigan, that’s West Hancock, Forest City, Lake Mills and GHV. But if Bishop Garrigan finished the regular season without a loss, it wouldn’t be too surprising.
Preseason Player of the Year
James Betz, GHV — 2019
The Northern Iowa-commit has long-established himself as one of the best prospects in the state, and is now heading into his senior season as a grizzled vet. As a junior, he was dominant, and was just a hair shy of averaging a double-double. We expect him to get that double-double average this year, and should be dominant on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals.
Biggest Sleeper
Noah Miller, Forest City — 2021
A Martin Brothers product, Miller spent his summer improving with one of the Midwest’s best grassroots teams. He was an impact player last season as a freshman for a 20-win Forest City squad, and with the departure of leading scorer Sam Snyder, will have an opportunity to make a much larger impact this winter. We expect the 5-foot-10 freshman to average double-digit points as a sophomore.
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