Big Shoes to Fill in 1A D2

<p>Graduation claims some of the best players every year. When a great player moves on, it opens the door for another to step up and show their talents. But there can be some pressure when it comes to trying to replace a lot of production.</p> <p>Here are some returning players in 1A Div. 2 who will have big shoes to fill next year:</p> <p><strong>Keagan Dimler</strong>, junior, Hanover:</p> <p>Hanover won state because it had so many great athletes, it simply overwhelmed opponents. The Wildcats have all-stater [player_tooltip player_id="1076414" first="Emmitt" last="Jueneman"] back, but they lose some other really good players. Graduating are <strong>Jacob Jueneman</strong>, a rugged 6-foot-4 defender and rebounder who earned second team all state, and 6-foot-4 <strong>Blake Hynek</strong>, an honorable mention pick who would have been a star at most programs. But watch for 6-foot-2 junior Dimler to step into the spotlight next year. He is a versatile guard who stuffs the stat sheet with assists, rebounds and steals. He scored 18 in the state championship against Elyria Christian.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1146298" first="Ben" last="Busse"], sophomore, St. Francis:</p> <p><strong>Jesse Baxter</strong>, a 6-foot-3 senior at St. Francis, brought the type of toughness and intensity to the court that made him one of the best football players in the small school level. He earned second-team 1A Div 2 in basketball and will be greatly missed. At 5-11, sophomore Busse brings a different type of physicality to the game. But he has a lot of skills and the ability to do a lot of things on the court despite his size. He rebounds, defends, and can handle the ball and score.</p> <p><strong>Nathan Hilt</strong>, junior, South Haven:</p> <p><strong>Cooper Wolf</strong>, one of the top scoring guards in the small school ranks, graduates. He takes 23 points and 6.8 boards with him. That’s a big hole to fill. Hilt, a 6-foot-1 junior, was really good last year in his own right, and will be a player to watch next year when he is in the leading role. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.2 boards as a junior.</p> <p><strong>Jett Vincent</strong>, sophomore, Wheatland-Grinnell:</p> <p>At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, <strong>Trevor Zarybnicky</strong> gave the Thunderhawks a big presence in the middle. He led the team in rebounds with 6.8, and his 9.7 points per game led him to honorable mention in 1A Div. 2. His departure will leave a hole in the middle, but 6-foot-2 sophomore Jett Vincent has the athleticism to help fill the gap. Vincent earned second-team all state by scoring 13.4 points and pulling down 6.5 boards per game.</p> <p><strong>Ryan Stevens</strong>, sophomore, Blue Valley-Randolph:</p> <p><strong>Jeremiah Duncan</strong> gave it his all for the Rams. He put up 20 points in numerous outings, and finished with 21 of his team’s 40 in the final defeat against Axtell. He was a 6-foot-3 senior leader who never quit on the team. Stevens is a 5-foot-10 guard who will have to pick up a lot of slack in Duncan’s absence. Stevens did a lot of good things for the Rams last year, including hitting multiple 3-pointers in several outings.</p>