Conference Preview: Northeast Iowa

<h4>The Teams</h4> [caption id="attachment_1290522" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/115-Chase-Low.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290522 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/115-Chase-Low-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Low[/caption] Charles City (9-13): The Comets lose leading scorer JJ Ritter, who averaged just under 17 points a game last season, but they bring back another double-figure scorer in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1167722" first="Chase" last="Low"] (14.9), who looks primed to have a huge junior season. Low is an athletic 6-5 wing who can get to the bucket, rebound at a high level, and he’s also a versatile defender. Ian Collins (6.9) is back as the team’s top perimeter shooting threat, and Jose Hernandez (6.7) and Mario Hoefer (6.1) also return with experience. Low figures to be one of the best players in the conference, and Collins, Hernandez, and Hoefer are quality role players alongside Low. If they can find a reliable ball-handler alongside Hernandez in the backcourt, they could be improved despite losing a big-time scoring threat. Crestwood (13-7): The Cadets were really close to having a special year last season, with six of their losses coming by eight points or fewer. Unfortunately for them, six of the top seven scorers from that group graduated, leaving senior wing Jeremy Andera (10.1) as the lone returnee who averaged more than two points a game last season. Andera is a solid ball-handler and decision-maker who impacts the game on the defensive end of the floor as well, but he’ll be relied upon to do a ton of this team that is breaking in an almost entirely new roster. With the heavy personnel losses, expect to see Crestwood fall down the league standings this year. [caption id="attachment_1290397" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/19-Treyton-McCain.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290397 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/19-Treyton-McCain-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> McCain[/caption] Decorah (17-7): The Vikings have posted 10-2 marks in league play in each of the last two seasons, and have the pieces in place to be at the top of the conference again this season. Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="1158447" first="Joseph" last="Bockman"] (14.0) is back, as are senior Jacob Pipho (9.1) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171655" first="Treyton" last="McCain"] (5.6), giving them a quick and athletic trio in the backcourt. Bockman is at his best when he’s playing downhill and attacking the rim, Pipho is the team’s best shooting threat, and McCain is a lanky and athletic wing who can defend multiple positions, get others involved, and get to the bucket. They’ll be very reliant on senior forward Carson Wemark (2.7, 6.3 rebounds) to control the painted area on both ends of the floor. This team is going to be small, but they’ll be fast and athletic, and they’ll be looking to use those edges on both ends of the floor. Last season they grabbed 13.4 offensive rebounds a game, a number that helped offset an offensive attack that shot just 39.4% from the floor. They’ll do the same this year. Expect to see the Vikings battling for the conference crown again. [caption id="attachment_1199162" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Drake-Wemark1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1199162 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Drake-Wemark1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Wemark[/caption] New Hampton (7-15): The Chickasaws struggled a bit last season, winning just one conference game. Part of that can be attributed to senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id="682293" first="Drake" last="Wemark"] (15.5, 7.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists), the team’s best player only playing 13 games. He’s back, healthy, ready to go, and coming off a strong summer and fall. He has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor and should be the leader for a team that will be improved. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1167749" first="Carter" last="Steinlage"] (11.6) stepped up in Wemark’s absence and put together a solid sophomore season, and he’ll give them a solid secondary scorer. Mason Lane (4.5) and Ben Gilbert (3.3) are solid returnees with experience as well. With Wemark back on the floor on a full-time basis, New Hampton should be improved and more competitive against league foes. Oelwein (4-18): The Huskies really struggled on the defensive end last season, allowing 65.3 points a game, which ranked 91st out of 96 teams in 2A. That number has to improve if they want to be more competitive this season. Leading scorer Jacob King, a 21-point-a-game scorer, graduated, leaving senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1235031" first="Cole" last="Hamilton"] (8.7, 2.5 blocks) as the top returnee. Hamilton is a rangy big who blocks shots and can score around the rim. Carter Jeanes (5.2) and Duncan Tripp (3.6) return on the perimeter. A significant chunk of the defensive struggles can be attributed to turning it over 16.5 times a game, another area that must improve. Hamilton is a solid rim protector, and this team should be more balanced offensively than it was last year, but more wins will only come with improvement on the defensive end. [caption id="attachment_1288256" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Sean-Murphy-crop-4670x3066-1632260437.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1288256 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Sean-Murphy-crop-4670x3066-1632260437-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Murphy[/caption] Waukon (15-6): The loss of Creed Welch to graduation leaves a major hole in the Indians backcourt, but they add Decorah transfer [player_tooltip player_id="1067654" first="Sean" last="Murphy"] into the fold, which should help offset that a bit. Murphy is a talented lead guard who sees the floor well, can score from all three levels, and gets others involved. Also returning is leading scorer and rebounder [player_tooltip player_id="1158448" first="Braden" last="Hemann"] (14.4, 7.3 rebounds), a versatile 6-5 combo forward who can score around the bucket and also stretch out to the arc. Efficient senior forward Braxton Stewart (7.0) also returns, giving Waukon some additional size and scoring punch inside the arc, which allows Hemann to float out to the perimeter a bit more. While do-it-all Welch will be difficult to replace, Murphy should step into his vacated point guard spot and perform well. If Waukon can get some new role players to step into bigger roles and perform effectively, they could push W-SR and Decorah at the top of the league again this year. [caption id="attachment_1188314" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Keaton-Farmer-crop-2874x1887-1620497327.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1188314 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Keaton-Farmer-crop-2874x1887-1620497327-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Farmer[/caption] Waverly-Shell Rock (12-11): The Go-Hawks had an up-and-down 2020-21 season, getting off to a stellar 7-1 start that included strong wins over Marion and Xavier. They follow that up with a six-game losing streak, and in total, five of their losses last season came by four points or fewer. They lose leading scorer and rim protector extraordinaire Caleb Burks, but bring back the next four scorers from last year’s team. They should have a dynamic quartet of guards and wings to lead the charge in [player_tooltip player_id="962680" first="Keaton" last="Farmer"] (11.7, 40.0 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id="682272" first="Hogan" last="Hansen"] (9.8), Cole Marsh (9.2), and [player_tooltip player_id="1167694" first="Asa" last="Newsom"] (8.4), each of whom gives W-SR a little something different. Farmer is a high-level shooter, Hansen led the team with 4.7 assists a game, Marsh is a talented three-level scorer coming off a strong freshman year, and Newsom is an athletic, slashing wing who provides defensive versatility as well. The Go-Hawks were uncharacteristically loose with the ball last year, turning it over 15 times a game. Expect that to be an emphasis this year for Coach Nate Steege, and expect to see the Go-Hawks back near the top of the conference standings.   <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> 1. Waverly-Shell Rock 2. Decorah 3. Waukon 4. Charles City 5. New Hampton 6. Crestwood 7. Oelwein Analysis: Take your pick among the top three in this league. W-SR has the most coming back, Decorah has been the best the last few years, and Waukon is right there with some talented pieces returning and being added in. Charles City and New Hampton also each have pieces that will make them dangerous in [player_tooltip player_id="1167722" first="Chase" last="Low"] and [player_tooltip player_id="682293" first="Drake" last="Wemark"].   <h4>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158447" first="Joseph" last="Bockman"], Decorah: Good arguments can be made for a number of players in the league for this honor, but we’ll go with Bockman, who leads a Vikings team that has controlled the conference for the last few years and that should be among the top contenders again this season.   <h4>Players to Watch</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158447" first="Joseph" last="Bockman"], Decorah 2022 Jacob Pipho, Decorah 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171655" first="Treyton" last="McCain"], Decorah 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682293" first="Drake" last="Wemark"], New Hampton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167749" first="Carter" last="Steinlage"], New Hampton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167722" first="Chase" last="Low"], Charles City 2022 Ian Collins, Charles City 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158448" first="Braden" last="Hemann"], Waukon 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1067654" first="Sean" last="Murphy"], Waukon 2022 Braxton Stewart, Waukon 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962680" first="Keaton" last="Farmer"], Waverly-Shell Rock 2022 Hogan Hanse, Waverly-Shell Rock 2024 Cole Marsh, Waverly-Shell Rock 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167694" first="Asa" last="Newsom"], Waverly-Shell Rock 2022 Jeremy Andera, Crestwood 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235031" first="Cole" last="Hamilton"], Oelwein