Conference Preview: North Central

<h4>The Teams</h4> <p><strong>Algona (16-7):</strong> Five of the Bulldogs’ seven losses last season came by single digits, and they bring back a pair of double-figure scorers from that group. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="1158451" first="Garrett" last="Goche"] (13.0) and [player_tooltip player_id="1158509" first="Tyler" last="Manske"] (11.5) lead the charge for the ’Dogs, and they’ll need to be spectacular this season, especially early on, as no other returnee scored more than two points last season. Goche is a dangerous three-point shooter, while Manske does more of his damage inside the arc. The Goche-Manske tandem will be among the best in the league, but if Algona wants to rack up the wins and remain near the top of the NCC, they’ll need to find some quality role players to step in alongside them.</p> <p><strong>Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (11-11):</strong> In 6-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id="962687" first="Connor" last="State"] (16.9), the Cowboys have one of the best two-way players in the league. He blocked 2.8 shots a game and led the Cowboys in both scoring and rebounding last season. Five of the next six scorers return, so if you’re looking for a potential darkhorse team in the NCC, this may be it. Coady Olson (10.2), [player_tooltip player_id="1235027" first="Jaxon" last="Carpenter"] (9.3), Aiden Harrington (5.1), and Jacob Moore (4.0) are the other key returnees. Carpenter is a solid two-way lead guard who led the team in assists and steals last season. This group struggled from behind the arc as a team, shooting just 25.4% last season, and that number will need to improve, but there is a lot of experience coming back, so expect to see this high-powered offensive team become more efficient this season.</p> [caption id="attachment_1085413" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Carson-Toebe.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085413" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Carson-Toebe-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Toebe[/caption] <p><strong>Clear Lake (22-3):</strong> The Lions have become the model of consistency lately, averaging 22 wins a year over the last three seasons with a pair of state tournament appearances. The common thread among those three iterations of Lions? Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682292" first="Carson" last="Toebe"] (19.0). Toebe is an elite shot making guard who can also get others involved, and with his size and strength, he can bully his way to the rim or pull up off the dribble and burn teams with his jumper. [player_tooltip player_id="1235048" first="Joe" last="Faber"] (5.7) is a solid perimeter shooter and role player, and junior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167712" first="Travaughn" last="Luyobya"] (4.7, 5.6 assists) emerged as a highly effective guard who values possessions last year. He’s not a major threat to score, but with his quickness and court vision, he’s a menace on both ends of the floor. Jagger Schmitt (4.1) is the other key returnee. They’ll need to find someone to contribute on the glass following the graduations of Andrew Formanek and Eric Ritter, who combined to average over 19 rebounds a game. Toebe is a fantastic piece to build around, and with him, Faber, and Luyobya returning, the Lions have a dynamic trio of perimeter threats. They should pile up wins in the NCC.</p> <p><strong>Hampton-Dumont-CAL (4-19):</strong> The top two scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving junior guard Marco Guerrero (6.9) as the top returning scorer. Guerrero also led the team in assists last season and will have the ball in his hands a ton this season. Cal Heeren (6.2), Payton McNealy (5.4), and [player_tooltip player_id="1171692" first="Scott" last="Harr"] (4.0) each return with significant experience as well. Heeren and McNealy are seniors, while Harr is a sophomore who was a solid role player as a freshman. He could be in line to take on a more significant role this season.</p> <p><strong>Humboldt (15-8):</strong> Four players averaged in double-figures last year for the Wildcats, and two of them return in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1240078" first="Will" last="Orness"] (10.4) and senior forward Caden Matson (10.3). Orness looks primed to make a major leap this year as he becomes the go-to perimeter scoring threat. He has the ability to score from all three levels, create his own shot, and he can get others involved as well. Trevor Jacobson (7.7) started all 23 games last year (as did Matson), and gives the ’Cats some additional perimeter shooting, knocking down 39.3% of his 3-point attempts last year, while Ben Kuehnast (5.5) and Jacob Heier (4.4) also started some games last year for the Wildcats. If Orness can develop into the big-time scoring threat that we believe he’s capable of, they could make some real noise.</p> [caption id="attachment_1218897" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Blake-Janssen-crop-2794x1834-1624067517.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1218897 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Blake-Janssen-crop-2794x1834-1624067517-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Janssen[/caption] <p><strong>Iowa Falls-Alden (14-10):</strong> The Cadets have a lot of scoring production to replace following the graduations of Karson Sharar, Nolan Frohwein, and Garret Renaud, who combined to average nearly 40 points a game last season. The good news is that senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="962665" first="Blake" last="Janssen"] (9.1) is back. Janssen is a heady lead guard who sees the floor at a high level, dishing out 4.2 assists a game last season. He’ll be one of the best players in the conference as a senior. Look for senior Sam Weaver (4.9) and junior Andrew Bicknese (4.6) to step into bigger scoring roles alongside Janssen this year. </p> <p><strong>St. Edmond (7-14):</strong> The top three scorers return for the Gaels, led by senior forward Hayden Mayer (11.1), who led the team in scoring and rebounding. He does all of his damage inside the arc, while Quentin McCarville (9.7, 37.3 3P%), Jackson Palmer (8.1, 38.0 3P%), and Noah Simpson (4.3, 45.2 3P%) give them some perimeter shooting. This should be a balanced team with a number of shooting threats, and with the experience that they have returning, they should be more competitive this year.</p> <p><strong>Webster City (8-12):</strong> Four players averaged in double-figures last year for the Wildcats, and two of them return in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167725" first="Ty" last="McKinney"] (11.6) and senior forward Jamin Stuhr (11.0). McKinney shared primary ball-handling responsibilities with Tyler Olson last year and will have the ball in his hands a ton this season. He dished out 3.8 assists a game last season and should see that number closer to five this year. Stuhr led the team in rebounding, pounding the glass hard on both ends of the floor. McKinney and Stuhr are the only returnees who saw significant playing time last season, so success for Webster City will depend on how the role players develop.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> <p>1. Clear Lake<br /> 2. Humboldt<br /> 3. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br /> 4. Algona<br /> 5. Webster City<br /> 6. Iowa Falls-Alden<br /> 7. St. Edmond<br /> 8. Hampton-Dumont-CAL</p> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Clear Lake has dominated this league for the last several seasons, and despite some heavy personnel losses, they appear to be in the driver’s seat again this year behind [player_tooltip player_id="682292" first="Carson" last="Toebe"]. Humboldt will be dangerous, and if you’re looking for a darkhorse, watch out for C-G-D. Algona and Webster City each return potent scorers as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682292" first="Carson" last="Toebe"], Clear Lake:</strong> The league’s best player on the league’s best team, Toebe is an easy selection here for the POY honors. He’s a dynamic scoring threat from all three levels and a good passer who contributes across the board on both ends of the floor.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Players to Watch</h4> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682292" first="Carson" last="Toebe"], Clear Lake<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167712" first="Travaughn" last="Luyobya"], Clear Lake<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235048" first="Joe" last="Faber"], Clear Lake<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158451" first="Garrett" last="Goche"], Algona<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158509" first="Tyler" last="Manske"], Algona<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167725" first="Ty" last="McKinney"], Webster City<br /> 2022 Jamin Stuhr, Webster City<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962687" first="Connor" last="State"], Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br /> 2022 Coady Olson, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235027" first="Jaxon" last="Carpenter"], Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962665" first="Blake" last="Janssen"], Iowa Falls-Alden<br /> 2022 Hayden Mayer, St. Edmond<br /> 2022 Quinten McCarville, St. Edmond<br /> 2023 Jackson Palmer, St. Edmond<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240078" first="Will" last="Orness"], Humboldt<br /> 2022 Caden Matson, Humboldt</p>