Conference Preview: Mississippi Athletic Conference

<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Teams</strong></span></p> [caption id="attachment_1074196" align="alignright" width="231"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Emarion-Ellis.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1074196" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Emarion-Ellis-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="231" height="152" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"][/caption] <p><strong>Assumption (19-5): </strong>Assumption’s season ended after a thirteen point loss to Clear Creek Amana in the Substate final game. The Knights graduated the MAC’s leading scorer last year, [player_tooltip player_id="801857" first="Sean" last="Peeters"], who averaged 23.6 points a game last year. However, Texas commit and third ranked player in the class of 2021, [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] will join the Knights this season. The 6’4" small forward did it all last season for Davenport Central, averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Averaging 10.6 points last year, [player_tooltip player_id="964862" first="Dayne" last="Hodge"] will help Ellis carry the load for the Knights this season. Assumption also brings back [player_tooltip player_id="962602" first="Noah" last="Mack"] (6.6), Logan Ehrecke (2.1), and Tyler Maro (2.3), who all earned some solid minutes last season. With the addition of [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"], the Knights will be primed for another solid season.</p> <p><strong>Bettendorf (8-14): </strong>The Bulldogs didn’t pick up a win outside of the conference last season, losing all of their non-conference battles. Unfortunately, Bettendorf graduates three seniors who all started twenty plus games. The Bulldogs do have some solid pieces returning though. Top returnees for the Bulldogs this season will be [player_tooltip player_id="964875" first="Carter" last="Furness"] (7.4), [player_tooltip player_id="962647" first="Tynan" last="Numkena"] (4.4), and [player_tooltip player_id="796158" first="Oliver" last="Bakeris"] (3.3). These three returners will need some help from their role players if Bettendorf looks to improve from their 8-14 record from last year. </p> <p><strong>Central DeWitt (18-6): </strong>Coming over from the WaMac, Central DeWitt will look to compete in a tough MAC conference. The Sabers return one starter from last year’s lineup. [player_tooltip player_id="964921" first="Henry" last="Bloom"] (8.7) is the lone returnee. He will be accompanied by Ben Mason (1.8), Kaiden Muhl (2.6), and John McCohony (2.1), who all saw some decent playing time last season. Losing a lot to graduation, the Sabers may have a tough first season in the tough Mississippi Athletic Conference. </p> <p><strong>Clinton River Kings (3-19): </strong>The River Kings bring back four players that all started games last season, which sheds a little hope for the upcoming season. The top returners will be Treveon Bailey (6.7) and Taylon Hayes (6.5). Even with everyone returning, they will need to improve tremendously on both sides of the ball. </p> <p><strong>Davenport Central (15-7):</strong> The transfer of [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] is a huge loss for the Blue Devils. The lone returnee will be [player_tooltip player_id="964803" first="John" last="Miller"], who started all twenty-two games and was the teams second leading scorer. Kaden Johnson (1.3) and Donovan Wakefield (2.7), who both saw decent playing last season, will also return for Davenport Central. They will have to find replacement for Ellis if they want to be competitive in the league this season.</p> <p><strong>Davenport North (16-9): </strong>After losing four of their last five games, the Wildcats got hot in the postseason and made a trip to Wells Fargo. They bring back four starters, and five of their top six scorers. The duo of Jaydon Houston (17.5) and [player_tooltip player_id="796122" first="Quincy" last="Wiseman"] (14.0) will bring back 55% of the Wildcats scoring. Cade Guinn (3.1), [player_tooltip player_id="796197" first="Makhi" last="Jacobs"] (7.8), and [player_tooltip player_id="796159" first="Alec" last="Brown"] (3.5) also return for the Wildcats coming off of solid season last year. Look for Davenport North to have another solid season and make another run in the postseason.</p> <p><strong>Davenport West (3-19): </strong>After a lone win in the league last season against Clinton, the Falcons bring back some solid pieces. [player_tooltip player_id="962634" first="Jermaine" last="Gardner"] (8.0) and [player_tooltip player_id="962640" first="NaZion" last="Caruthers"] (8.1) will be the top returners. [player_tooltip player_id="796139" first="Aldane" last="Barrett"] (9.9), John Michael Thornton (4.5), and Diontray Whitney (3.5) also bring back some experience for Davenport West. Only averaging fifty points per game, they will have to improve offensively to be more competitive in the conference. </p> <p><strong>Muscatine (4-18): </strong>After a couple of down seasons, the Muskies look to bounce back this season with another year of experience. With their top five scorers coming back this season, the Muskies look to tally a few more wins. Top two scorers [player_tooltip player_id="796169" first="Noah" last="Yahn"] (12.5) and [player_tooltip player_id="965113" first="Josh" last="Dieckman"] (11.8) will lead the charge. To help carry the load, Braden Hufford (3.9), Reed Ulses (4.0), and Walker Cler (4.2) will get solid minutes. There’s some hope for the Muskies in this odd 2020-21 campaign. </p> <p><strong>North Scott (22-2): </strong>The Lancers rode a twelve game win streak all the way to Des Moines, before facing a very talented Waukee team. One of the top teams in 4A last season, they lose three starters to graduation, including UNI commit Tytan Anderson (18.2). Carter Markham (2.5) and [player_tooltip player_id="796118" first="Landon" last="Eiland"] (8.1) will return to lead the Lancers this season. Underclassmen [player_tooltip player_id="956882" first="Cole" last="Kilburg"] (3.0) along with other role players will step into bigger roles this year for North Scott, as they look to repeat last season. </p> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley (13-11): </strong>Pleasant Valley won their last two regular-season games and rode the hot streak into the postseason, making it all the way to the substate championship. The Spartans will look to take it a step further this season as four of their starters return. Top returners will be [player_tooltip player_id="727880" first="Jacob" last="Townsend"] (12.0) and [player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"] (7.5). [player_tooltip player_id="796173" first="CJ" last="Ragins"] (4.9) and Joey Borbeck (2.3) will also return to help carry the load. Averaging only 39.6 points per game as a team, they will have to improve offensively if they want to make another run in the postseason.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></span><br /> 1. Assumption Knights<br /> 2. Davenport North Wildcats<br /> 3. Pleasant Valley Spartans<br /> 4. North Scott Lancers<br /> 5. Muscatine Muskies<br /> 6. Davenport Central Blue Devils<br /> 7. Bettendorf Bulldogs<br /> 8. Davenport West Falcons<br /> 9. Clinton River Kings</p> <p>Analysis: The addition of [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] solidifies Assumption’s spot at the top of the league. After making a run to the substate final last year, look for Pleasant Valley to make a jump to the top of the league this year. Davenport Central will battle with Muscatine and North Scott for the middle spots in the conference, and Daveport West and Clinton will both just look to improve from last season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] (2021): 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, 48.2% from the field, and 62.5% from the free throw line. Playing his last high school season, the Texas commit will look to build off his already pretty stellar junior season stats. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="964862" first="Dayne" last="Hodge"], Assumption (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="964875" first="Carter" last="Furness"], Bettendorf (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962647" first="Tynan" last="Numkena"], Bettendorf (2022)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="964921" first="Henry" last="Bloom"], Central DeWitt (2021)</p> <p>Treveon Bailey, Clinton (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="964803" first="John" last="Miller"], Davenport Central (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796114" first="Jayden" last="Houston"], Davenport North (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796122" first="Quincy" last="Wiseman"], Davenport North (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796197" first="Makhi" last="Jacobs"], Davenport North (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962634" first="Jermaine" last="Gardner"], Davenport West (2022)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962640" first="NaZion" last="Caruthers"], Davenport West (2022)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796139" first="Aldane" last="Barrett"], Davenport West (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796169" first="Noah" last="Yahn"], Muscatine (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="965113" first="Josh" last="Dieckman"], Muscatine (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="796118" first="Landon" last="Eiland"], North Scott (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="956882" first="Cole" last="Kilburg"], North Scott (2023)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="727880" first="Jacob" last="Townsend"], Pleasant Valley (2021)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"], Pleasant Valley (2022)</p>