Conference Preview: NICL East
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The Teams Mackie Aplington-Parkersburg (19-3): The Falcons were upset in postseason play last year by Hudson, but return five of their top six scorers from a 19-win team. They’re led by junior wing Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
Aplington-Parkersburg (19-3): The Falcons were upset in postseason play last year by Hudson, but return five of their top six scorers from a 19-win team. They’re led by junior wing Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA (15.0), an athletic, slashing wing who can stuff the stat sheet and take over games on both ends of the floor. Senior wing Owen Thomas Owen Thomas 6'4" | SF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (10.6) and sophomore Garrett Hempsen (6.9) are also solid perimeter scoring threats. This group also has good size with 6-6 Josh Haan Josh Haan 6'6" | PF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (10.2) and 6-7 Christian Haugstad Christian Haugstad 6'7" | C Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA (8.6), who combined to average 18.8 points and 16.5 rebounds last year. The Falcons always have good athletes, and they should have the depth to apply constant pressure on teams this year.
Columbus Catholic (6-16): The Sailors lose both of their double-figure scorers from last season, leaving Carter Gallagher (9.0), a junior guard, as their top returnee. Gallagher led the team in assists last year, but struggled with turnovers. Ben Trost (5.5) is the only other returnee who saw significant playing time last season. In this loaded division, it’s hard to see the Sailors finding many more wins than they had last year.
Denver (16-7): The Cyclones have been building towards this year for the last three seasons. Their senior trio of Bryce Phelps Bryce Phelps 6'2" | PG Denver | 2021 State IA (15.4), Isaac Besh Isaac Besh 5'10" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (12.9) and Kyler Matthias Kyler Matthias 6'2" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (15.4) have been key contributors since they were freshmen. Including Caylor Hoffer Caylor Hoffer 5'11" | SG Denver | 2022 State IA (9.4) and Will Curtis (7.2), the top five scorers return. Shooting will be a bit of a question for the Cyclones, as no returnee shot above 35% from 3, but they have a lot of threats who find ways to score. This group shares the ball at a high level and doesn’t turn it over, so they’ll stay in every game. They’ll be a major factor in this division race.
Dike-New Hartford (18-5): The Wolverines will have a dynamic backcourt with the return of four talented guards in Dane Fuller Dane Fuller 5'10" | CG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA (18.1), AJ Wegener AJ Wegener 5'10" | PG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA (9.9), Zak Wauters Zak Wauters 5'11" | SG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA (7.3) and Landen Sullivan Landen Sullivan 5'10" | SG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA (5.2). Fuller led the team in scoring; Wauters is a knockdown shooter; Wegener is a talented slashing guard; and Sullivan came on late as he got acclimated to the team following his transfer from Cedar Falls. This group may struggle against size, but guard play wins in high school basketball, and the Wolverines will have excellent guard play.
Hudson (11-13): Hudson had an up-and-down year last season. They notched wins over Denver and Aplington-Parkersburg, but they were swept by Union. A balanced group brings back 70% of their scoring, with three players who averaged between 9.5 and 9.9 points a game returning – Bryce Griffin, Sam Hansen and Carter Swope Carter Swope 6'4" | PF Hudson | 2021 State IA . That senior trio is experienced and they play well together. This group needs to become more consistent, but they’re capable of beating anyone in the league on a given night.
Jesup (5-17): Leading scorer Brodie Kresser Brodie Kresser 6'0" | SG Jesup | 2021 State IA (15.9), a great shooter who knocked down 44.9% of his 3s last year, returns, giving the J-Hawks a dynamic scoring threat who can take over games. Carson Lienau (9.1), Parker McHone (4.2), Jase Pilcher (3.7) and Corbin Fuelling (5.6) all return with experience.
Sumner-Fredericksburg (10-13): The Cougars lost leading scorer James Stimson James Stimson 6'1" | SG Sumner-Fredericksburg | 2020 State IA to graduation, but bring back the next three from last season in Peyton Schmitz (10.7), Kody VanEngelenburg (9.9) and Klay Seehase (6.7), so they have some experienced players on the roster. They’ll struggle against the top-tier teams in the league, and beat up on the bottom feeders.
Union (4-18): The Knights lose their top six scorers from last year’s team, leaving Grant Behrens (3.1) as the top returnee. They’ll have a lot of new faces playing major roles this year, which isn’t great in a division as talented as this one is.
Wapsie Valley (21-7): The defending state champions in Class 1A lose a huge piece in Kiks Rosengarten Kiks Rosengarten 6'7" | PF Wapsie Valley | 2020 State IA , but bring back four starters from that group, and add a major transfer piece. Gunner Meyer Gunner Meyer 6'5" | SF Wapsie Valley | 2022 State IA (10.1) had a breakout week at the state tournament and could emerge as this team’s new star, while Blayde Bellis Blayde Bellis 5'9" | PG Wapsie Valley | 2021 State IA (10.5) and Kobe Risse Kobe Risse 6'0" | PG Wapsie Valley | 2021 State IA (9.8) give them a very experienced backcourt. That duo combined to dish out 10.3 assists against just 4.7 turnovers a game last year, and they should be even better this year. They received a major boost with the addition of Mason Harter Mason Harter 6'6" | PF Wapsie Valley | 2023 State IA (14.5), who averaged a double-double as a freshman at Sigourney and moved to Wapsie Valley. He’ll help replace some of the production that Rosengarten had in the paint last season, giving them some size and physicality. This group is going to be one of the top teams in 1A again next year, and will battle it out all season with Dike-New Hartford, Denver and Aplington-Parkersburg for the divisional crown.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Dike-New Hartford
2. Aplington-Parkersburg
3. Denver
4. Wapsie Valley
5. Hudson
6. Sumner-Fredericksburg
7. Jesup
8. Columbus Catholic
9. Union
Analysis: This is, without a doubt, the best division race to watch this year. Dike-New Hartford, Aplington-Parkersburg and Denver are all top-10 teams in 2A, while we have Wapsie Valley ranked #2 to open the year in 1A. Dike-New Hartford was 1-2 against Denver, 2-0 against A-P and 1-1 against Wapsie last year; Denver 2-0 vs. Wapsie, 0-2 vs. A-P and 2-1 vs. D-NH; Wapsie 0-2 vs. Denver, 0-2 vs. A-P, 1-1 vs. D-NH; A-P 2-0 vs. Denver, 2-0 vs. Wapsie, 0-2 vs. D-NH. Throw them in any order this year and try to figure it out! Just sit back and enjoy it. Hudson is going to be really dangerous as well and can knock off any of those teams on a given night.
Preseason Player of the Year
Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA , Aplington-Parkersburg (2022): 15.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists
This division is loaded with talent, and you could choose a number of players for this honor. We’re giving the edge to Mackie, who can impact the game in a number of ways and looks primed to have a huge junior year for a very good Falcons team. You could make arguments for Fuller, Meyer, Phelps, Risse, Harter or Matthias here as well.
Players to watch
Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA , Aplington-Parkersburg (2022)
Owen Thomas Owen Thomas 6'4" | SF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA , Aplington-Parkersburg (2021)
Josh Haan Josh Haan 6'6" | PF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA , Aplington-Parkersburg (2021)
Gunner Meyer Gunner Meyer 6'5" | SF Wapsie Valley | 2022 State IA , Wapsie Valley (2022)
Mason Harter Mason Harter 6'6" | PF Wapsie Valley | 2023 State IA , Wapsie Valley (2023)
Kobe Risse Kobe Risse 6'0" | PG Wapsie Valley | 2021 State IA , Wapsie Valley (2021)
Blayde Bellis Blayde Bellis 5'9" | PG Wapsie Valley | 2021 State IA , Wapsie Valley (2021)
Dane Fuller Dane Fuller 5'10" | CG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA , Dike-New Hartford (2021)
AJ Wegener AJ Wegener 5'10" | PG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA , Dike-New Hartford (2021)
Isaac Besh Isaac Besh 5'10" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA , Denver (2021)
Kyler Matthias Kyler Matthias 6'2" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA , Denver (2021)
Bryce Phelps Bryce Phelps 6'2" | PG Denver | 2021 State IA , Denver (2021)
Brodie Kresser Brodie Kresser 6'0" | SG Jesup | 2021 State IA , Jesup (2021)