Conference Preview: Raccoon River

The Teams ADM (13-10): The Tigers are looking for another productive season, but will have to do so by replacing 3 of their top 5 scorers, including their leading scorer Jaxson Millsap (15). The good news is that their next two leading scorers, [player_tooltip player_id="796113" first="Nathaniel" last="Mueller"] and [player_tooltip player_id="964919" first="Tate" last="Stine-Smith"], return to the team with their respective 14.5 points per game and 8.9 points per game. Mueller is a candidate to take the next step and put himself into consideration for player of the year in the conference and provides good lead guard abilities pushing 5 assists per game this past season. They will also be relying on 6’6 senior Dyaln Anderson to provide some length and inside presence. After getting to a substate semi-final and eventually losing to a good Dallas Center-Grimes team, the Tigers will be looking for some unproven players to step up and fill the needs. Ballard (19-8): Having only lost two total conference games and making it to the state consolation game, the Bombers will have high expectations going into this season. They will only lose two of their top 10 scorers from that 4th place team a year ago, and are returning 4 of their top 5 scorers from a year ago. The team is led by conference player of the year leading candidates [player_tooltip player_id="796112" first="Connor" last="Drew"] (18.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="962491" first="Ashton" last="Hermann"] (15.7 ppg). The Winona State commit Drew also throws in 7.5 rebounds per game for his team, and if he can clean up his 3 turnovers per game he will take his game to another level. Hermann is playmaking guard, who can score from all levels. Solid PG, [player_tooltip player_id="964880" first="Mason" last="Murphy"] will continue his production throwing in 5.5 assists, and [player_tooltip player_id="962630" first="Kale" last="Krogh"] at 6’6 is an interior force who runs the floor well. I expect Seniors Isaiah Peasley, Sam Peterson, or Junior Jacob Ihle to slot in as the 5th starter in the Bombers lineup who all provide good guard play. Ballard enters the season as the favorites in the conference as long as their depth holds up, and I expect them to compete for a class 3A championship at the end of the season. Bondurant-Farrar (10-13): Though the Bluejays will have to replace their second leading scorer from a year ago in [player_tooltip player_id="956056" first="Marquis" last="George-Townes"], they were a relatively young team looking to build upon an inconsistent season. Led by then Freshman, [player_tooltip player_id="956874" first="Colby" last="Collison"], with 13 points per game, a growing talent on the wing after a year of development looking to take another step leading this Bluejay team. Of the 12 players who played for the Bluejays last year there were only 3 seniors, so putting it together will be key for this team. Cutting down on turnovers and putting the defense together consistently will be key factors if this team is going to finish in the top half of the conference. Seniors Kade Eichmeyer, Braden Miller, Ben Trulson, and finding size inside will be the support for Collison. Look for the Bluejays to make a move up the standings, but how far is the question going into the season. Boone (1-20): Boone split the season series with the Perry Bluejays, but did lose out on the overall record landing them last in the conference at the end of the year. To add to the Torreadors upcoming season, they will also be looking to replace leading scorer Quali Sporaa (11.5 ppg). They will look to Juniors Evan Behn (8.2) and Colby Dotzier (7.4) to step up in the scoring deparment and a cast of others such as Tate Sandvig, Marcus McPartland and Freshman Nathaniel Winter. On the plus side, Boone is a young team and will use their experiences last year as building blocks going into this season looking for improvements overall. This team will go as far as offseason developments take them this winter. Carlisle (8-13): The bad news, Carlisle loses 4 out of their top 5 scorers on a team that only topped 60 points in 3 games all season. The good news, They return their third leading scorer in Junior, Tyson Guard (8.5 ppg) and behind him they will have a core of 5 seniors for leadership that will have a chance to step up and produce for the Wildcats. A bright part of the Wildcats season this past season was towards the end of the regular season when they beat a good Winterset team and secure a good conference win for their team. Carlisle will look to refrain from taking a step down in the standings, but it will rely on some parts of the team taking those offensive steps to pace the offense. Carroll (19-4): The Carroll Tigers tied for second in the Racoon River this past season, and they are the team who will most challenge Ballard. The Tigers will have to perform better against the Bombers losing by double digits in both contests. The leader on this group has to be [player_tooltip player_id="962631" first="Kaleb" last="Booth"] (9.6 ppg), as the Tigers’ leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="721255" first="Karter" last="Lein"] (15.5) exhausted his eligibility. Booth has big play ability whether that be in the scoring department, passing or just running the offense. Senior guard Colby Christiansen and Senior forward Kellin Jones will be other players looking to have an uptick in their stat lines. Jones is a long 6’5 forward who will look to bring some inside presence to the Tigers offense. Booth, only a Junior, is my most important player for this team as I think he could make a run at a conference player of the year if he can put it all together this season. He really impressed in the Fall Prep Hoops events and could be next in line of guards to come out of Carroll dating back to Casey Kasperbauer. Perry (4-18): Much like Boone, Perry finished at the bottom of the conference tying Boone with a conference record of 1-13 but edging out the Torreadors with overall record. Off the past year the Bluejays will be replacing production from their leading scorer, and the conference’s second leading scorer in [player_tooltip player_id="955692" first="Brendan" last="Ivory"], and on top of that a total of 4 of their top 5 scorers. The one top scorer they do return is June Rey Reisberg (3.5 ppg). The Senior Reisberg is joined in returning by Sophomore Sincere Johnson who got some run of play and experience throwing in 33% of his 3 point shots. Those two will need some production inside from Junior Matthew Booker who put in 2 ppg, and helped in other areas. Winterset (18-5): Losing a player like [player_tooltip player_id="674468" first="Easton" last="Darling"] (26.2 ppg) is going to hurt any team, but Winterset I think is setup well to be able to try to fill those shoes. The name that has stuck out this summer and fall is the Junior, [player_tooltip player_id="784978" first="Dawson" last="Forgy"]. Forgy is the team’s second weapon who is good with the ball in his hands as he spread the love at a 6.7 assists per game clip. Forgy has been a standout on the gridiron this Fall and will look to bring some momentum to the hardwood for the Huskies who will try to replicate the kind of success they had last year finishing tied for second place in the conference. [player_tooltip player_id="796203" first="Hunter" last="Farr"] is another guard who will look to team up with Forgy on the perimeter who will look to take a step up in production. The Huskies bring back some sharpshooters to their team this year go to along with Forgy’s 43% from deep, in Junior Levi Gurwell at 42%, big man Junior Nathan Avery at 38%, and Sam Schrodt at 33% from the perimeter. If the Huskies can take care of the ball, they will look to stay up in the top half of the conference.   Projected Order of Finish 1. Ballard 2. Winterset 3. Carroll 4. ADM 5. Bondurant-Farrar 6. Carlisle 7. Boone 8. Perry Analysis: Ballard might be the most surefire team in this league, but after that it is up in the air for who could take over spots 2-6. If Ballard is operating on all cylinders I could see them going undefeated throughout conference play. Winterset poses threats from the perimeter that most teams don’t have. Carroll will need some pieces to step up, but they will have a say for that second spot. [player_tooltip player_id="796113" first="Nathaniel" last="Mueller"] is a good guard who will lead ADM well, fighting to stay up top. Can Bondurant-Farrar put the young pieces together? And can Carlisle retool from the production they lost this past year.   Preseason Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id="796112" first="Connor" last="Drew"], Ballard (2021): 18.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 51% FG, 39.8% 3PT Winona State signee, [player_tooltip player_id="796112" first="Connor" last="Drew"], is my projection to win Raccoon River Player of the Year. He has a chance to even take his game to another level if he can chop his 3 turnover per game even in half. Drew has a nice feel for the game and can take his defender at any position on the floor. Has good post moves, can step out and shoot it at a good clip, and is athletic to get by defenders. He’s hard to guard at 6’6 for opposing defenses and will be a player to watch this season. Players to watch [player_tooltip player_id="796112" first="Connor" last="Drew"], Ballard (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="962491" first="Ashton" last="Hermann"], Ballard (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="964880" first="Mason" last="Murphy"], Ballard (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="962630" first="Kale" last="Krogh"], Ballard (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="784978" first="Dawson" last="Forgy"], Winterset (2022) Levi Gurwell, Winterset (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="962631" first="Kaleb" last="Booth"], Carroll (2022) Colby Christiansen, Carroll (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796113" first="Nathaniel" last="Mueller"], ADM (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="964919" first="Tate" last="Stine-Smith"], ADM (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="956874" first="Colby" last="Collison"], Bondurant-Farrar (2023) Braden Miller, Bondurant-Farrar (2021) Tyson Guard, Carlisle (2022) Evan Behn, Boone (2021) Sincere Johnson, Perry (2023)