Conference Preview: CIML Central

The Teams Ames (11-13): The most production gained by a team this offseason was definitely Ames. First of all, they return the #1 ranked player in the Class of 2022 in [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"]. Lipsey, who is fully recovered from knee surgery, which held him out this past season is looking to lead his team back to a positive record this upcoming season. The heady and athletic lead guard, Lipsey is a stat sheet stuffer who does a little bit of everything, but can take over games when needed. The top 2 leading scorers from this past season [player_tooltip player_id="796163" first="Keyshaun" last="Brooks"] (14.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"] (9.2 points and 6 rebounds) both also return as Brooks will be a senior and Phillips a junior. It’s looking like the two players who will fill out the startling lineup is [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"] (14.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="682263" first="Jonathan" last="Beverly"] (6.3), who both have moved to Ames High from their respective schools. Labeaux comes from Waterloo East, and will bring size and athleticism to this lineup along with scoring. Beverly, coming from Des Moines Hoover, will give the Ames backcourt more quickness, defensive capabilities, and talent. Both are ranked in the top 25 of our Class of 2022 rankings. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="678945" first="Casey" last="Mumm"] is also returning to the squad after sitting out the 2019-2020 season with a knee injury as well. Mumm shoots it well and averaged 5.9 points as a sophomore two seasons ago. The questions are about depth and whether this team can put it together. I think with Lipsey at the helm, the ceiling on this team could be higher than some think. Ankeny (21-5): The reigning Class 4A state champs are looking to repeat, though they do face some significant departures as their top 3 scorers exhausted their eligibility. [player_tooltip player_id="801834" first="Braxton" last="Bayless"] (22.9), Jaxon Smith (14.5), and [player_tooltip player_id="721218" first="Jordan" last="Kumm"] (9.3) have both moved onto collegiate life, and the Hawks will be looking to Junior, [player_tooltip player_id="962614" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"] (6 points) to become the leader. He will be helped by a host of others [player_tooltip player_id="796190" first="Brecken" last="Manus"] (5.5), Bentor Neyail (3.3), Matt Stueckradt (2.5), and Braden Simonsen (2.5). They will need to continue their defensive prowess that they had going at the state tournament when they held both Iowa City West and Cedar Falls and their respective offenses to under 60 points in the first two rounds. Their 3pt shooting will be a key to this team as Crandall (40%), Stueckradt (37.9%) and Manus (36.6%) bring back some firepower from the perimeter. 6’6 Sophomore JJ Kohl also could factor into this team as he has moved from Ankeny Centennial to Ankeny. He hasn’t logged any varsity minutes, but provides size and length. Winning a state championship brings about good pedigree and environment for the Hawks to return to, and they will look to build upon that. Centennial (24-3): Centennial Jaguars lose their leading scorer in [player_tooltip player_id="530060" first="Cody" last="McCullough"] (14.3) and 2 more of their top 5 scorers, but I don’t see them taking a step back. The Jaguars will retool with Jaron Crews (13.4), who is a solid PG who I’ve grown to like over the summer and fall season. With him and sharp shooting, Midland commit [player_tooltip player_id="964798" first="Colin" last="McAleer"] (7.3 points, 37.5% 3pt) they will form a solid core to build around. Crews can score the basketball but another attribute he possesses is his ability to distribute at a high level as well, dishing out 4.5 assists per game this past season. Centennial will likely take a step back in conference and overall record, but look for them to be competitive. They will look for an uptick in production from Brock Jensen (2.2), D’Eric Smith (1.9) and Michael Joensen (1.2). Dowling Catholic (16-8): Senior-laden teams who seem to always backfill are what we’ve become accustom to at Dowling, and that won’t change this basketball season. The Maroons did lose Matt Stilwill (12.1), [player_tooltip player_id="721224" first="Drew" last="Daniel"] (8.7) and [player_tooltip player_id="956447" first="Omaha" last="Biliew"] (6.2) by way of school transfer or graduation, but they do bring back their leading scorer in Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="796103" first="Ryan" last="Riggs"] (12.2) and fellow Senior [player_tooltip player_id="964878" first="Matt" last="Riedl"] (6.7). Riggs is a big 6’9 post player who has experienced the varsity level for a couple of years now and is looking to have a big senior season. Riedl is a 6’5 wing who can score it from all three levels and has athleticism that allows him to convert around the basket well. The Maroons will also rely on long distance shooter Simon Daniel (45.5 3pt%) and big men [player_tooltip player_id="796134" first="Jack" last="Groeteke"] (1.3) and Andrew Lentsch (2.5) to bring shooting and size inside. Guard play will be key to Dowling’s success as they have size to go toe-to-toe with any opponent inside. Johnston (15-8): Quite the opposite of Dowling, Johnston has some talented perimeter players and will need depth inside if they’re going to compete for a conference championship. The Dragons returning leading scorer does happen to be 6’6, Senior [player_tooltip player_id="796153" first="Max" last="Roquet"] (11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds) who will be solid inside on the boards and scoring the basketball as he nearly averaged a double-double this past season. Junior, [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] is another 6’6 player who categorizes more as a winger who can score it at all levels and has been impressive all summer and fall that will additionally provide length and athleticism to this Dragons team. The guards who are looking to combine well on the outside are Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] (10.9), [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"] (4.0) and Senior [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"] (9.3). The North Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"] is a tough player on both ends of the court and does well as a pass-first PG with 3.7 assists per game this past season. This team has a lot of potential to go along with it and living up to that will be the challenge for the Dragons. Senior guard, Karter Kriegel should also provide production along with Tyler Kronlage who gives them size depth inside. Urbandale (10-13): The J-Hawks were a young team this past season returning a core of good scoring options. However, they do lose their leading scorer in Cal Watson (9.9) to graduation. It will be on Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="796187" first="Drew" last="Dykstra"] (8.0), [player_tooltip player_id="964932" first="Dylan" last="Sams"] (7.8), [player_tooltip player_id="964927" first="Grant" last="DeKruyf"] (6.3), Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="682276" first="Dillon" last="Kuehl"] (7.7), Greysn Schmitz (1.7) and Sophomores Kai Black (4.4), Jack Craig (0.5) who were all contributors this past season to shoulder the load now. The two that seem primed to have a breakout season are [player_tooltip player_id="796187" first="Drew" last="Dykstra"] and [player_tooltip player_id="964932" first="Dylan" last="Sams"] who are savvy guards who can get the offense going. It will be tough in this conference to get out of the bottom spot this season, but it will all rely on these contributors taking steps in their game.   Projected Order of Finish 1. Ames 2. Johnston 3. Centennial 4. Ankeny 5. Dowling Catholic 6. Urbandale Analysis: This will arguably be the toughest conference in the state and the entire Class 4A. I really like the starting 5 in the Ames lineup but will need to have some depth and bench players to step up. Johnston has another solid top 6 players but will need more depth, but if they can prove that, they could overtake Ames for the top spot. For Centennial they have a nice returning core of players but I’ll be looking to see who steps up to fill the shoes left. Ankeny is almost the same as Centennial in terms of players stepping up, but they don’t have the go-to scorer like the Jaguars have in Crews that gives them the edge. Dowling will always have a say in this conference, but guard play will be important if they’d like to make a run. Urbandale seems to be just a step behind the other teams in the conference, but could make a run in the tournament when they get outside of conference play.   Preseason Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"], Ames High School (2022): Freshman Stats (2018-2019, injured in 2019-2020) 17.0 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 52.3% FG, 37.9% 3PT Though Lipsey has a claim to being the best in the state of any class, this decision still was tough with the talent that is in this conference. Though Lipsey sat out this past season with a knee injury, he was good playing for D1 Minnesota this summer and looked like he was getting back to his full self on the hardwood. Look for him to impact the game in a variety of ways for the Little Cyclones and give opposing defenses fits on both ends of the floor. Players to watch [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"], Ames (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"], Ames (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796163" first="Keyshaun" last="Brooks"], Ames (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="682263" first="Jonathan" last="Beverly"], Ames (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"], Ames (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796153" first="Max" last="Roquet"], Johnston (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"], Johnston (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"], Johnston (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"], Johnston (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"], Johnston (2022) Matthew Riedl, Dowling (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="796103" first="Ryan" last="Riggs"], Dowling (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="796134" first="Jack" last="Groeteke"], Dowling (2021) Jaron Crews, Centennial (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="964798" first="Colin" last="McAleer"], Centennial (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="962614" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"], Ankeny (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796190" first="Brecken" last="Manus"], Ankeny (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="796187" first="Drew" last="Dykstra"], Urbandale (2021) Drew Sams, Urbandale (2021)