Conference Preview: Siouxland
The Teams Keyton Moser Boyden-Hull (24-3, 18-2): If you’re a basketball purist, you’ll always love watching the Comets play, as they generally put five kids on the floor who are fairly interchangeable, able to do everything on the floor, and…
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Keyton MoserBoyden-Hull (24-3, 18-2): If you’re a basketball purist, you’ll always love watching the Comets play, as they generally put five kids on the floor who are fairly interchangeable, able to do everything on the floor, and they always have great depth and balanced scoring. Look for more of the same this season for Boyden-Hull, which has been one of the most successful programs in the state since the turn of the century, playing in six state championship games since 2000, including last season, when they lost to North Linn. Two starters are back from that group in Keyton Moser (12.1) and Spencer Te Slaa (10.0), while Tanner Te Slaa (8.9) also returns after a really solid freshman season. In all, six of the top nine scorers from last season’s group return. The Te Slaa brothers are both good perimeter shooters, especially Spencer, who shot 45.5% from the arc last season, and they provide length and athleticism on the wing. Moser led the team in rebounding and ranked second in assists last year, and he will likely have the ball in his hands quite a bit this season, making plays for others from all over the floor. He’s a versatile, inside-out scoring threat. Andrew Frick (5.8, 42.4 3P%), Josh Heitritter (4.8, 37.5 3P%) and Marcus Kelderman (3.3, 5-12 3P) give them some more shooting and depth, and they will always find more pieces to plug into whatever holes they may have. This group, much like Cascade in eastern Iowa, plays the game beautifully, sharing the basketball with all five players on the floor being viable threats to do anything. They should be considered the favorites in the league.
Central Lyon (5-18, 1-17): The Lions won just a single league game last season, outmanned on a nightly basis, giving up 68.9 points a game in league play. They’ll need to improve on that end of the floor if they want to move up the conference standings. Cole Hoogendoorn (9.9) is the leading returning scorer. he made a team-high 48 3s last season. He’ll pair with sophomore Mason Gerleman (9.5) to give the Lions a dynamic backcourt. Gerleman made 51.1% of his 3s last season as a freshman, and should be one of the best players in the conference by the time he’s a senior. Other key returnees are Breyden Dieren (4.3), Carter Kurll (3.8), Cooper Spiess (3.3) and Addison Metzger (2.5). Krull should be the team’s primary ball handling option this season after dishing out 51 assists last year. Dieren made 31 3s of his own, while Spiess and Metzger give them some size. This group is going to be able to put points on the board, but they’ll need to improve in keeping them off the board if they want to make a leap.
George-Little Rock (20-4, 15-3): The Mustangs have used the league’s best defense to win a ton of games the last few years, and they’ll need to rely on that end of the floor again this year with just 32.4% of their scoring output returning. The good news is that leading scorer Payton Mauldin (13.0) is back. A stat-sheet stuffer, he’s a versatile player who can make a major impact on both ends of the floor. The defense should continue to be strong with Matt Haken (7.6) returning in the paint. The 6-5 senior forward is a rim-protector who blocked 42 shots last season and should control the paint. This group is going to look to slow games down, which can be difficult to do against some of the high-powered offensive attacks in this league, but if they can dictate the pace and use their defense to control games, they should be really strong again, despite all the personnel losses.
Alex Van Kalsbeek
MOC-Floyd Valley (11-10, 11-7): Few players in the state had a better spring and summer than Dutchmen big man Alex Van Kalsbeek (17.8, 71.4 FG%), who was fantastic with a very good South Dakota Attack team on the grassroots circuit, showing some explosive athleticism and impressive low-post scoring abilities. His efficiency last year was outstanding, and he also blocked a team-high 52 shots last season, proving himself to be a strong two-way player. Two other starters return in Kyle Christy (8.7) and Keegan Douma (4.8), who are both capable perimeter shooters to place around Van Kalsbeek. Graham Mayrose (5.0), Justin Schipper (2.8) and Adam De Boer (1.7) each saw time off the bench last year and should be counted on to be quality producers as well. But the reason this team is going to be one to watch this winter is Van Kalsbeek. If he can take his game up yet another level, MOC-FV could be a state tournament threat in 3A, and a league threat to Boyden-Hull.
Lucas Lorenzen
Okoboji (8-14, 7-12): Looking for a team to make a major leap and become a real player in the Siouxland this year? Look no further than the Pioneers, who return over 90% of last year’s scoring from a team that lost seven games by single digits. They’ll be led by one of the best duos in the state in Jamison Helmers (16.9) and Lucas Lorenzen (15.4), a pair of highly productive players who compliment each other well. Helmers is a high-scoring guard who led the team with 58 3s last season, while Lorenzen is a very talented combo forward coming off one of the most productive freshmen seasons in the state, leading the team in rebounding and shooting 53.6% from the floor. He’s a versatile scorer who showed an improved 3-point stroke, and he could be a double-double player on a nightly basis this year. Kyle Martin (9.0) shot 42.1% from the arc and returns, and Tyler Adams (5.5) returns as the team’s primary ball handler. This team gave up 69.3 points a game last season (and that number ballooned up to 73.7 in losses). If they can get that number down into the low 60s, they will win a ton of games.
Rock Valley (18-8, 13-5): The Rockets have a lot of production to replace, as they return just 26.3% of their scoring from last year’s state qualifying team. They do have a really nice piece to build around in Jaxon Rus (10.5), a senior guard who has established himself as one of the state’s best shooters. He made 79 3s last season at a 42.0% clip and is primed to have a big season. They’ll need to find a lead guard option to allow Rus to stay off the ball. That may be Cody Moser (1.6), a senior guard who played a bit last season off the bench, and dished out 14 assists (against 3 turnovers) in limited action. Bryson Van Grootheest (2.9) and Alex Godfredson (2.1) are the other key returnees. Rus is a dynamic shooter who can win them games if he gets hot, and Rock Valley always finds new pieces, but there may be some growing pains early on this season.
Sheldon (6-17, 3-15): After losing a majority of the production from a 2017-18 state qualifying team, we expected a significant drop for the Orabs last season. They should bounce back a bit this year with two of their top three scorers back. They’ll be able to put a lot of shooting on the floor with Mitchel Wolf (10.3), Tye Sudbeck (6.1) and Trey Iedema (4.7). That trio combined to make 106 3s at a 40.8% clip, and that type of shooting can win them plenty of games if they’re clicking. This group will need to improve in their ball handling, as no returnee had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio last season. If they can improve there, they could push for a near .500 record.
Sibley-Ocheyedan (10-13, 7-13): The Generals lose a major piece in Grant Brouwer, who led the team at 18 points a game last season, but bring back enough pieces to keep them competitive. They’ll be led by the duo of Caleb Mayer (10.3) and Carter Brouwer (9.7). Mayer led the team in rebounding last season and shot 55.8% from the floor, giving them an efficient forward who can control the paint, while Brouwer will have the ball in his hands a lot after leading the team in assists last season. Thomas Doeden (3.5) and Beau Jenness (3.0) are the other key returnees. Each of them can shoot it a bit. The Generals don’t have the high-end talent that a few of the other teams in the league have, but they should be fairly balanced and remain competitive in the conference.
Sioux Center (15-7, 12-6): Only 35% of the scoring from last year’s team returns for the Warriors, but they’ll be able to build around a player who should be one of the league’s best this year in 6-8 senior Wilson Harshbarger (10.6). The tertiary option to Cade Bleeker and Charlie Dykshorn last year, it’s Harshbarger’s team this year, and he should deliver. Damon Walhof (4.7) and Marshall Schuiteman (4.1) are the other key returnees. Schuiteman gives them a bit of shooting, but they’ll definitely need to find some other pieces who can help stretch the floor and give Harshbarger some room to operate in the paint.
West Lyon (5-15, 5-12): It was an uncharacteristically poor season last year for the Wildcats, but they should enjoy a big-time bounceback year in the 2019-20 season. They lose just 94 points from last year’s group and return a trio of double-figure scorers in Jalyn Gramstad (13.7), Logan Meyer (12.4) and Jaxon Meyer (10.7). The Meyer brothers are both efficient post players who will control the paint, while Gramstad is the team’s top perimeter scoring threat and ball handler. West Lyon almost always has a strong athletics program, and they should be able to take advantage of a league that loses a lot of talent and win way more games this season.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Boyden-Hull
2. MOC-Floyd Valley
3. Okoboji
4. West Lyon
5. George-Little Rock
6. Rock Valley
7. Sioux Center
8. Sibley-Ocheyedan
9. Sheldon
10. Central Lyon
Analysis: Boyden-Hull looks like the favorite here, but there truly isn’t a bad team in this league. Any team in the conference will be capable of beating anyone else on a given night, and every team in this league will be a threat come postseason play, as it’ll be a nightly battle in the Siouxland again this year.
Preseason Player of the Year
2020 Alex Van Kalsbeek, MOC-Floyd Valley: 17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks, 71.4 FG%
Van Kalsbeek had one of the most productive summers of anyone in the state, playing really with with his South Dakota Attack team. He has signed to play NAIA ball at Northwestern College, and the 6-8 big man should have a huge senior year for the Dutchmen. He’s the league’s leading returnee in scoring and blocks, and second in rebounding.
Biggest Sleeper
2020 Matt Haken, George-Little Rock: The 6-5 senior forward was just sixth on the team in scoring last season, averaging 7.6 points a game, but he shot 59.5% from the floor and blocked 42 shots. With the ‘Stangs losing a lot of production, more scoring opportunities should open up for Haken this season, and with his two-way ability, he should have a big senior year.
Players to Watch
2020 Alex Van Kalsbeek, MOC-Floyd Valley
2020 Kyle Christy, MOC-Floyd Valley
2020 Jamison Helmers, Okoboji
2022 Lucas Lorenzen, Okoboji
2020 Kyle Martin, Okoboji
2020 Keyton Moser, Boyden-Hull
2020 Spencer Te Slaa, Boyden-Hull
2022 Tanner Te Slaa, Boyden-Hull
2020 Andrew Frick, Boyden-Hull
2020 Josh Heitritter, Boyden-Hull
2020 Payton Mauldin, George-Little Rock
2020 Matt Haken, George-Little Rock
2020 Jalyn Gramstad, West Lyon
2020 Logan Meyer, West Lyon
2022 Jaxon Meyer, West Lyon
2020 Josh Van Beek, West Lyon
2020 Wilson Harshbarger, Sioux Center
2020 Jaxon Rus, Rock Valley
2020 Mitchel Wolf, Sheldon
2021 Tye Sudbeck, Sheldon
2020 Caleb Mayer, Sibley-Ocheyedan
2021 Carter Brouwer, Sibley-Ocheyedan
2020 Cole Hoogendoorn, Central Lyon
2022 Mason Gerleman, Central Lyon