Conference Preview: SICL West

<h4>The Teams</h4> <p><strong>BGM (4-18):</strong> The Bears struggled to put the ball in the bucket last year, averaging just 37.8 points a game and turning it over more than 18 times a night. Those numbers need to improve if they want to compete at a higher level. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1235042" first="Jacob" last="Moel"] (12.6) led the team in scoring, assists, and steals last season and returns, but he’s the only returnee who averaged more than 3.6 points a game last year. They’ll need to find some role players to step up alongside him.</p> <p><strong>Colfax-Mingo (3-18):</strong> The Tigerhawks lost their leading scorer and rebounder from last season, but bring back senior wing Cole Bracewell (9.8) and sophomores Curtis Horras (7.3) and Joe Earles (3.6), giving them a solid trio to build around. They turned the ball over 20.6 times a game last season, and that number obviously needs to improve in a big way if they want to win more games. This team pounds the offensive glass hard (13.1 offensive rebounds a game last season), and that will be key if they want to score at a higher clip.</p> <p><strong>HLV (7-14):</strong> HLV closed last year strong, winning four of their last six, and despite losing leading scorer Grant Hall to graduation, they should be improved this season. They bring back the next six scorers from that group, headlined by senior forward Beau York (10.3). Senior guard Brayen Shaull (2.0) isn’t much of a scoring threat, but he led the team in assists last season and is also back to pace this offensive attack. With plenty of experience returning, the Warriors should be able to build on last year’s late-season success.</p> <p><strong>Lynnville-Sully (13-9):</strong> After an uncharacteristically poor 5-16 record in the 2019-20 season, the Hawks rebounded in a big way last year, rolling up 13 wins. They return 92% of their scoring from last season, as their top four scorers last season were two sophomores and two freshmen. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1167730" first="Preston" last="Rodibaugh"] (15.4) is the team’s top returning scorer, a talented three-level scorer who should see his efficiency numbers improve this season. Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id="1240095" first="Conner" last="Maston"] (7.9) is a knockdown 3-point shooter who buried 47.4% of his 3-point attempts last year. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="1171666" first="Corder" last="Noun Harder"] (11.1, 4.7 assists) is a strong all-around lead guard who can score and facilitate, and fellow sophomore forward Klayton Van Dyke (7.3, 8.8 rebounds) may average a double-double as a sophomore. He’s an efficient scorer and a great rebounder. Role players Ryan Annee (4.9) and Jacob Fogle (3.9) also return, giving this team six talented returnees. This is a program that won at a 83.2% clip from 2006-07 to 2018-19, and they should be back in that stratosphere this season, a real threat to make it to the state tournament.</p> [caption id="attachment_1147232" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Eddie-Burgess-new-crop-2786x1829-1615314807-crop-640x421-1615314816.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147232 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Eddie-Burgess-new-crop-2786x1829-1615314807-crop-640x421-1615314816-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Burgess[/caption] <p><strong>Montezuma (25-2):</strong> The Braves lost the best player in school history in Trey Shearer, as well as very talented secondary scorer Cole Watts, who take with them over 43 points a game. The defending 1A champions don’t have an empty cupboard to work with, though. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962629" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"] (13.2, 12.7 rebounds) returns after shooting 70% from the floor and dominating the painted area on both ends of the floor last season. A dominant rebounder and gifted passer, he’s the type of player that the offense can run through this year. Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id="956886" first="Masin" last="Shearer"] (7.2), Gavin Strong (4.4), and Owen Cook (2.7) have some big shoes to fill, but should be able to contribute at a high level. Montezuma is always going to be a strong defensive team, and while they probably won’t be as high-powered offensively this year, they still have enough talent to compete for the division crown this season. This program has averaged 20.7 wins over the last eight seasons, and despite losing a ton of production, they’ll still be good.</p> <p><strong>North Mahaska (16-5):</strong> Three of the top four scorers return to a Warhawks team that was one of just two to hand Montezuma a loss last season. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"] (13.5, 8.8 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"] (13.4, 7.6 rebounds), and Lane Harmon (7.8), are the key returnees for this program that is building towards next season when they’re all seniors. Steel and Smith dominate the glass, and Smith will also serve as the team’s facilitator this season after finishing second in helpers last year. With their talented trio of 2023s, North Mahaska will compete at a high level within the division again this season, and could be a threat to make it to Des Moines this season, and a real state championship threat next year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> <p>1. North Mahaska<br /> 2. Lynnville-Sully<br /> 3. Montezuma<br /> 4. HLV<br /> 5. BGM<br /> 6. Colfax-Mingo</p> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The top three in this division is one of the best top threes of any conference among the small school leagues. North Mahaska’s "Big Three" is probably the best in the division, Lynnville-Sully returns a ton from a team that was much improved, and Montezuma is Montezuma. It wouldn’t surprise us to see any of these top three at the top of the division come February.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"], North Mahaska:</strong> Steel led the Warhawks in scoring and rebounding last season, and is the best player on a team that we think will be the best in the division. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Players to Watch</h4> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"], North Mahaska<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"], North Mahaska<br /> 2023 Lane Harmon, North Mahaska<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962629" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"], Montezuma<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956886" first="Masin" last="Shearer"], Montezuma<br /> 2023 Gavin Strong, Montezuma<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235042" first="Jacob" last="Moel"], BGM<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167730" first="Preston" last="Rodibaugh"], Lynnville-Sully<br /> 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171666" first="Corder" last="Noun Harder"], Lynnville-Sully<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240095" first="Conner" last="Maston"], Lynnville-Sully<br /> 2024 Klayton Van Dyke, Lynnville-Sully<br /> 2022 Mason Rodibaugh, Lynnville-Sully<br /> 2022 Beau York, HLV<br /> 2023 Landon Hall, HLV<br /> 2022 Cole Bracewell, Colfax-Mingo<br /> 2024 Curtis Horras, Colfax-Mingo</p>