Conference Preview: Pride of Iowa

<h4>The Teams</h4> <p><strong>Bedford (6-15):</strong> The Bulldogs won just two conference games last season, but bring back every player from that roster, so expect to see them not only become more competitive on a nightly basis, but add several more "Ws" to that column. Five players averaged between 4.8 and 8.5 points a game, giving them a balanced group with a number of players who can lead the team in scoring on a given night. Sophomore forward Silas Walston (7.4, 7.0 rebounds) is the team’s top player, a solid scorer around the rim and great rebounder. Senior guard Owen Lucas (8.5) is the top perimeter scoring threat, while the backcourt of Tristen Cummings (4.8) and Conner Nally (3.3) combined to dish out 4.7 assists a game last season. With everyone returning, expect to see improvement from the ’Dogs this season.</p> <p><strong>Central Decatur (13-8):</strong> If a team is going to jump up and knock Martensdale-St. Marys or Mount Ayr off their perch at the top of the league, look no further than the Cardinals, who bring back everyone from a 13-win team, including a pair of double-figure scorers in seniors Trey Hullinger (13.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="962695" first="Matthew" last="Boothe"] (13.5). Hullinger is a strong, attacking wing who gets to the bucket, and Boothe is the team’s top ball-handler and decision-maker, leading the team with 3.5 assists a game last season. His brother Sam Boothe (2.9) is a solid 3-point shooter who should see an increased role after a productive freshman season, and Cauy Masters (9.5), [player_tooltip player_id="1240108" first="Jack" last="Scrivner"] (8.8), Gunnar Smith (4.0), and Kyle Linhart (3.5) all return with plenty of experience as well. Scrivner, who blocked 2.6 shots a game last season, could be the key for this group if they are going to make a leap. If he can provide double-double numbers with his rim protection, this team could be really good.</p> <p><strong>East Union (4-17):</strong> In senior guard Cale Eklund (14.6), the Eagles have one of the league’s most potent scoring threats on their side. Eklund is at his best when he’s attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line, and he’s also a capable passer and ball-handler. Wyatt Carlson (7.7) is the only other returnee with significant experience, and this group is going to need to find someone who can control the glass after losing three of their top four rebounders. Eklund will win some games for this group, but they’ll still find themselves near the bottom of the conference.</p> <p><strong>Lenox (12-10):</strong> A pair of talented juniors return to lead the Tigers in guard Keaton England (14.6) and forward Samson Adams (9.2, 7.5 rebounds). England led the team in scoring and assists, while Adams was second in scoring and led in rebounding. Fellow juniors Isaac Grundman (5.8) and Walon Cook (5.4) also return with plenty of experience, giving Lenox a solid quartet of players to build around. This team struggled with turnovers (16.1 a game) and perimeter shooting (25.9 3P%) last season, and those numbers will need to improve if they want to be considered a serious threat at the top of the league.</p> <p><strong>Martensdale-St. Marys (25-1):</strong> After back-to-back state tournament appearances, expect to see a bit of a step back this year from the Blue Devils, who graduated a huge chunk of production from the school’s first two state tournament teams. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962666" first="Hogan" last="Franey"] (11.2, 40.1 3P%) is the lone returnee among the top eight rotation pieces, and he’s a strong piece to build around. He’s a knockdown shooter with a good feel for the game on both ends of the floor. The good news about how dominant the Devils have been over the last few years is that players like Gavin Stott (3.3), Chase Boelling (1.5), and Kasey Carter (1.1) have had an opportunity to get into plenty of games and gain experience. They’ll need to adjust to bigger roles, but they’ve done a solid job building this program up. They won’t be as good as they have been, but there are a number of talented athletes in this school, and they should remain competitive in the POI.</p> <p><strong>Mount Ayr (19-5):</strong> The Raiders have the league’s best player in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167690" first="Jaixen" last="Frost"] (21.5), a dominant two-way player who controls the game on both ends of the floor. He led the league in scoring last season, and can also get others involved, dishing out 3.7 assists a game. Following some key graduations, he should have the ball in his hands even more this season. Role players Cody Larson (6.2), Braydon Pierson (3.3), and Ryce Reynolds (2.6) return to flank Frost. They’ll need one of them to step up as a secondary scoring option after losing a pair of double-figure scorers to graduation. Frost is the league’s best player, but ultimately success for the Raiders will come down to how everyone else develops.</p> <p><strong>Nodaway Valley (14-9):</strong> The Wolverines have a big piece to replace in Toby Bower, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season, but bring back a pair of talented perimeter options in juniors Avery Phillippi (13.3) and Boston Devault (9.7). Devault was second on the team in assists last season and does a great job limiting turnovers, while Phillippi is an efficient scoring wing who does a great job getting to the bucket. This has been a strong program for decades now, averaging 18.7 wins a year over the last 15 seasons, and with Phillippi and Devault back to lead the way, they should be competitive again. </p> <p><strong>Southeast Warren (3-17):</strong> The Warhawks won just one league game last season, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in junior Jack Williams (10.8, 8.0 rebounds) and senior Cade Nelson (10.0). That gives them a solid tandem of players to build around. Williams does a great job attacking the offensive glass, pulling down nearly four offensive rebounds a game, and he's the most efficient threat that they have. This is a team that struggled defensively last season, giving up an average of 62.9 points a game, which ranked 130th in 1A.</p> <p><strong>Southwest Valley (7-14):</strong> The Timberwolves lose their top two, and three of their top four, scorers to graduation, leaving Gabe Fuller (8.0) as the top returnee. Owen Wilkinson (4.3), Blake Thomas (4.1), and Joey Oathoudt (2.0) each saw significant playing time last season as well. With the experienced returnees that they have, they should stay out of the cellar in the conference.</p> <p><strong>Wayne (9-13):</strong> It was an up-and-down year for the Falcons, sandwiching a four-game winning streak inside of a pair of five-game losing streaks following the holiday break. It may be a bit of struggle, especially early on, this year in Corydon, as they lose the top three scorers from last year’s team. Junior Strait Jacobsen (5.6) and seniors Justin McConahay (5.3) and Dayton Jacobsen (4.5) are the top returnees, with sophomore Rayce Snyder (3.4) also returning after playing quite a bit as a freshman. This team struggled with turnovers last year (16.5 a game), and that number will need to improve, although they could be difficult with a number of new faces in big roles this year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> <p>1. Central Decatur<br /> 2. Mount Ayr<br /> 3. Martensdale-St. Marys<br /> 4. Nodaway Valley<br /> 5. Lenox<br /> 6. Bedford<br /> 7. Southwest Valley<br /> 8. East Union<br /> 9. Wayne<br /> 10. Southeast Warren</p> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The top teams in the league last season suffered some heavy personnel losses, but should remain competitive. However, that opens the door for a Central Decatur team that brings back everything. Mount Ayr, Martensdale-St. Marys and Nodaway Valley should all remain competitive, and Lenox and Bedford could be interesting teams as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167690" first="Jaixen" last="Frost"], Mount Ayr:</strong> Frost is the most dominant individual player in the conference with his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His 21.5 points a game are nearly seven points more than the next returnee, and his 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals a game are tops among returnees as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Players to Watch</h4> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167690" first="Jaixen" last="Frost"], Mount Ayr<br /> 2023 Keaton England, Lenox<br /> 2023 Samson Adams, Lenox<br /> 2022 Trey Hullinger, Central Decatur<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962695" first="Matthew" last="Boothe"], Central Decatur<br /> 2022 Cauy Masters, Central Decatur<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240108" first="Jack" last="Scrivner"], Central Decatur<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962666" first="Hogan" last="Franey"], Martensdale-St. Marys<br /> 2022 Cale Eklund, East Union<br /> 2023 Avery Phillippi, Nodaway Valley<br /> 2023 Boston Devault, Nodaway Valley<br /> 2022 Cade Nelson, Southeast Warren<br /> 2023 Jack Williams, Southeast Warren<br /> 2022 Owen Lucas, Bedford<br /> 2024 Silas Walston, Bedford<br /> 2022 Gabe Fuller, Southwest Valley</p>