Conference Preview: Bluegrass
The Teams Matthew Voll Ankeny Christian Academy (23-1, 15-0): The Eagles were dominant last season, posting 1A’s top offense (80.0 a game) and defense (39.2), eclipsing the 90 point mark nine different times last season (including four times over 100…
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Matthew VollAnkeny Christian Academy (23-1, 15-0): The Eagles were dominant last season, posting 1A’s top offense (80.0 a game) and defense (39.2), eclipsing the 90 point mark nine different times last season (including four times over 100 points). Then they ran into St. Albert, who plays in a 3A-dominant league, in the substate final and lost by two points, falling just short of State. They lose a lot of production from that team, with four of their top five scorers gone, but they still have plenty of talent and should be considered the team to beat. David Nelson (10.9) is the leading returning scorer, while Nic Worsham (7.0), Cale Leever (4.0), Colby Elrod (3.9) and Malachi Johnson (2.6) all have experience as well. Worsham (20 3PM, 37.7%), Leever (14 3PM, 46.7%%) and Elrod (21 3PM, 52.5%) are all capable shooting threats. They also add in Ankeny Centennial transfer Matthew Voll, who should be able to put up massive numbers in this league. After cutting his teeth playing sophomore ball in the CIML, dropping down to this league will be eye-opening. Look for ACA to once again be a high-powered offense that routinely blows teams in this conference out, and with the right draw, they could make their way to Des Moines.
Diagonal (5-13, 4-8): The Maroons return all of their scoring from last season, so they should improve on their five wins, especially with some of the key losses that other teams in the league suffered. Kade Klommhaus (15.8, 10.4 rebounds) is the undisputed leader, while Tyler Jarred (8.3), Clayton Hansen (7.2) and Skyler Stamps (6.1) add a bit of scoring punch. They’ll need to improve their efficiency (33-25-53 splits) and on the defensive end (58.5 points a game allowed) if they want to make a real move in the league.
Lamoni (12-7, 9-5): The Demons pretty much did what was expected of them last season – beat everyone in the league not named Ankeny Christian, Murray or Mormon Trail. With six of their top seven returning this season, including leading scorer and rebounder Stephen Ansong (13.1), expectations should be a little higher this year in Lamoni. They bring back just under 75% of their scoring from last year’s group. The big key for them will be replacing the shooting that Nicholas Patience (32 3PM, which was 39% of the team’s total) provided. This group shot just 29% from the arc and 55.4% from the free throw line last season, and both numbers will need to improve if they want to beat the top teams in the league. But with plenty of experience back, they should be better and more competitive against those upper-echelon squads.
Melcher-Dallas (11-8, 8-5): The Saints have to replace a pair of double figure scorers in Ethan Harrington and Blaise Cooper, who combined to average 26.6 points a game last season. The good news is that the Krpan brothers, Ryan (15.4) and Steven (9.2) return. Ryan led the team in scoring, assists and 3-pointers made last season, while Steven should be a solid secondary scoring option this season. In all, six of the top eight scorers from last season are back, giving the Saints plenty of experience. They probably don’t have the top-end talent to compete with the ACAs, Murrays or Mormon Trails in the league, but they should be a middle-of-the-league team again.
Moravia (14-7, 9-6): Carson Brown (12.0) led the team in scoring and proved himself to be a solid shooter last year for the Mohawks, knocking down 48 3-pointers at a 42.1% clip. He’s back, but he’s the only returnee among the top five from last season. Brett Cormeny (4.1), Tanner Cormeny (2.1), Chace Hamilton (1.7) and Warren McLeod (3.1) each saw some time last year, but will be asked to step into significantly larger roles this year. The top two ball handlers from last year have graduated, so more will be asked of Brown, not only in the scoring department, but also in getting others involved. Like Melcher-Dallas, they should be a middle-of-the-pack team in the league, behind the “Big Three”, fighting it out with Lamoni and the Saints for fourth.
Mormon Trail (19-5, 14-3): Since Grand View Christian left the league a few years ago, the Saints have firmly established themselves as the second best program in this conference, behind only ACA. And despite losing their leading scorer, and two double-figure scorers, they should be right back in their spot in second place again this year. They’re led by George Shanks (13.5), a talented lead guard who dished out 102 assists (against just 41 turnovers) last year as the team’s secondary ball handling option. He should have the ball in his hands a ton this year with Keaton Gwinn and Parker Hitt graduated, who took 32 points a game and 249 assists with them. Jannis Rodeck (8.0) is a big body in the paint who shot 63.5% from the floor last year, while Luke Parmer (5.6) is another efficient (51.2 FG%) option in the paint. Gabe Stripe (2.9) contributed as a freshman, as did Remington Newton (2.0), and they will both be asked to step into much larger roles this year. Shanks is a great place to start to build this team, and they have some key experience returning. Mormon Trail has proven time and again that they’ll be heard from in this league, and we expect nothing less this year.
Moulton-Udell (4-15, 2-12): The Eagles ranked as one of the worst defensive teams in 1A last season, allowing 61.9 points a game, while averaging just 39.6 on their own. The good news is that five of their top seven from last season return. The bad news is that the top two scorers have graduated. Look for Wyatt Stansberry (7.6), a senior forward, to become the team’s top scorer, while Trent Rockwood (4.9) and Clayton Morlan (4.0) have some experience.
Reece HeldMurray (15-5, 12-3): The Mustangs were one of the best defensive teams in 1A last season, allowing just 46.6 points a game, which ranked 16th in the class. They’ll need to be really strong on that end of the floor again this year, especially early in the season as they break in some new pieces. The good news is that they bring back our preseason POY pick in Reece Held (17.1), a solid do-everything guard who led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals last season. An efficient scorer who thrives on getting to the rim, a lot will be asked of him this season. Jace Rodecker (7.4) is the only other returning starter, an efficient forward. Colton Siefkas (3.9), Rilee Werner (3.3), Kegan Johnson (2.7), Aden Cosner (1.5) and Brycen Wookey (1.3) all saw significant time last year, and will have to step into much more prominent roles. The ‘Stangs aren’t as good, or deep, as ACA or Mormon Trail, and don’t bring back as much experience as Lamoni, but that’s the area they should be realistically expect to be in – battling it out with Lamoni for third place in the league.
Orient-Macksburg (7-15, 5-13): The Bulldogs lose leading scorer and rebounder Noah Nichols, who averaged 17.6 points. Dewayne Figgins (11.8) should step into that primary scoring role. The ‘Dogs won seven games last year, but three of those wins were against an Iowa Christian team that went winless and no longer exists. Like many teams at the bottom of the league, their defensive numbers from last year are skewed a bit by blowout losses to Ankeny Christian (gave up 90 and 99 in two games), Murray (78) and Mormon Trail (81 and 73). Look for 5-8 guard Carson Thompson (5.6) to become their top shooting threat, but this team will finish below .500 again, racking up a few wins against the bottom of the league, and get blown out by the top teams.
Seymour (7-12, 6-11): The good news for the Warriors is that they return a pair of double figure scorers in Prestyn Lawson (12.4) and Noah Wells (11.4), who should give them one of the better backcourts in the league. Wells dished out 100 assists against just 38 turnovers last year, while Lawson shot 44.6% from behind the arc. The bad news is that nobody else who scored more than 42 points on the season returns, so they’ll have to find some new pieces to fit into the holes. With a pair of talented guards returning, and ones who protect the ball at that, this team should be battling it out with Melcher-Dallas and Moravia in the middle of the league. They’ll beat up on the teams at the bottom, get beaten by the teams at the top, and their final positioning will come down to how they do in those games against the teams in their tier.
Twin Cedars (5-16, 4-9): The Sabers return leading scorer Kade Dunkin (9.9), but the next four scorers have graduated, so they’ll have a lot of inexperienced players around Dunkin. Hunter McCombs (2.2), Zach Peterson (1.2), Jace Nichols (0.3) and Brett Sedlock (0.2) are the only other returnees who scored last season, and they combined for 77 points last year. With not much returning to a team that won just five games to begin with, it’s hard to see the Sabers not fighting it out with Orient-Macksburg and Moulton-Udell at the bottom of the league.
Note: Iowa Christian Academy competed last year and went 0-17. The school has permanently closed.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Ankeny Christian Academy
2. Mormon Trail
3. Murray
4. Lamoni
5. Melcher-Dallas
6. Moravia
7. Seymour
8. Diagonal
9. Orient-Macksburg
10. Twin Cedars
11. Moulton-Udell
Analysis: Until proven otherwise, this is Ankeny Christian’s league. The battle for spots 2-4 with Mormon Trail, Murray and Lamoni will be interesting to track, and if you’re looking for a potential darkhorse to pop up into the top three, it’s Melcher-Dallas, with the Krpan brothers.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Reece Held, Murray: 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.8 steals, 50.4 FG%
A two-time first team selection already, Held is the conference’s leading returnee in scoring and assists. A diminutive, but fearless, lead guard, he should rank among the conference leaders in those categories, as well as steals, again this season for a Murray team that will be among the top few teams in the league.
Biggest Sleeper
2021 Cale Leever, Ankeny Christian Academy: A role player last season, Leever averaged 4.0 points a game, and shot 46.7% from behind the arc (albeit on just 30 attempts). With lots of scoring firepower graduated from last year’s Eagles team, look for Leever to step into a much more prominent role this year, both scoring and facilitating.
Players to Watch
2020 David Nelson, Ankeny Christian
2021 Matthew Voll, Ankeny Christian
2020 Nic Worsham, Ankeny Christian
2020 Reece Held, Murray
2021 Jace Rodecker, Murray
2020 George Shanks, Mormon Trail
2020 Jannis Rodeck, Mormon Trail
2021 Ryan Krpan, Melcher-Dallas
2021 Steven Krpan, Melcher-Dallas
2021 Carson Brown, Moravia
2020 Stephen Ansong, Lamoni
2021 Hayden Stewart, Lamoni
2020 Prestyn Lawson, Seymour
2020 Noah Wells, Seymour
2020 Kade Klommhaus, Diagonal
2021 Kade Dunkin, Twin Cedars
2021 Blake Thompson, Orient-Macksburg