Conference Preview: Tri-Rivers West

<h4>The Teams</h4> Alburnett (13-11): All three double-figure scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving senior wing Andrew Ossman (5.9, 5.1 rebounds) as the top returnee. He’s a solid shooting threat, knocking down 39.2% of his 3-point attempts last year, and he rebounds at a solid clip as well. Fellow senior wing Gavin Soukup (3.3) gives them some more perimeter shooting, as does Mason Neighbor (4.7). Look for increased production out of sophomore guard Braydon Osborn (2.1) who contributed as a freshman. The Pirates will take a step back after graduating three major contributors. Central City (1-20): The Wildcats lost their leading scorer from last year’s team, but bring back a quintet of sophomores, three of whom started a majority of their games last season. Aiden Klostermann (8.1) is the top returning scorer, while Mekhi Benton (4.8) trailed only junior Marcus Schellhorn (1.4) in rebounding last season. Jayden Hansen (1.4) was the team’s most efficient scoring option, while Castor Abernathey (1.4) saw plenty of time last year as well. A young ’Cats team struggled to score efficiently and with turnovers last season, but with the number of sophomores returning, there is some reason for optimism within the program for the next few years. [caption id="attachment_1254946" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kaiden-Gage.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1254946 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kaiden-Gage-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Gage[/caption] East Buchanan (6-16): The Pirates haven’t posted a double-digit win season since they won 20 games back in 2008-09, but with five of their top seven scorers back, they’ll have a chance to do so this season. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962679" first="Kaiden" last="Gage"] (17.4) is a good athlete who can score from all three levels, and he uses his length well defensively. Senior guard Adam Hackett (5.7) and junior Dalton Kortenkamp (3.6) give them some experience on the perimeter, and junior Chance Beeh (3.1) was solid on the glass in a limited role last season. Look for sophomore forward Hunter Bowers (3.5) to take another step after a productive freshman campaign as well. With Gage returning, they’ll have one of the league’s better players on their side, and while they won’t be able to compete with the Ed-Cos, North Linns or Springvilles, they can compete with the rest of the teams in the league. Edgewood-Colesburg (17-6): The Vikings lost leading scorer Parker Rochford to graduation, but bring back two double-figure scorers and seven seniors who played key roles last season, giving them a ton of experience and talent coming back. Jack Wiskus (11.4) and Mason Ashline (10.4) are the headliners, but Lance Voss (10.0, in one game), Korey Putz (7.4), Nathan Carter (7.0), Ike Jones (6.0), and Konner Putz (5.3) give them a lot of depth and versatility on both ends of the floor. Wiskus is a solid 3-point shooter, and this team pounds the offensive glass hard, pulling down 13.0 offensive boards a game last season. That type of physicality and aggression will make them a dangerous team all season long, and if they can find one more shooting threat to step up alongside Wiskus, this team could be a real threat to make it to the state tournament. Their two losses to North Linn came by a combined 13 points last season, so this team knows that they can play with the Lynx. Expect them to battle with Springville for second in the division. Maquoketa Valley (12-12): Two key contributors return for the Wildcats in junior Avery Holtz (9.1) and senior AJ Ambundo (9.0). Holtz led the team in assists and steals last season, while Ambundo led them in rebounding. That gives them a strong one-two tandem to start building around, but this was a senior-heavy team last year, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor alongside Holtz and Ambundo. Expect to see this group take a step back this year. [caption id="attachment_1147212" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Cade-Haughenbury-crop-2786x1829-1615314288-crop-520x341-1615314304.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147212 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Cade-Haughenbury-crop-2786x1829-1615314288-crop-520x341-1615314304-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Haughenbury[/caption] North Linn (27-1): The Lynx rolled to a 27-0 record before getting tripped up by a red-hot Montezuma team in the 1A championship game. They bring back all five starters from that runner-up team and should be considered the favorites in 1A this year. They’re led by senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] (17.3), the catalyst on both ends of the floor who also had 7.7 assists and 3.6 steals a game. He has signed to play his college ball at Upper Iowa, and he’s one of the fastest players in the state with the ball in his hands. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"] (15.6) was fantastic last year, shooting 63% from the floor and showing the ability to stretch the floor on occasion. He’s a lanky and athletic big who runs the floor and is the beneficiary of a lot of easy buckets from the Lynx pressure defense and Hilmer’s penetration. [player_tooltip player_id="962641" first="Dylan" last="Kurt"] (14.1) is a versatile 6-2 wing who can score inside and out, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167744" first="Ben" last="Wheatley"] (10.2) is another double-digit returning scorer. [player_tooltip player_id="962658" first="Cade" last="Haughenbury"] (9.1) is the other returning starter, while [player_tooltip player_id="962649" first="Gunner" last="Vanourney"] (4.2) started two years ago and will step into the starting lineup early in the year while Kurt recovers from knee surgery. They also expect to get some contributions from a strong freshman class, so there is no end in sight for the North Linn destruction of the Tri-Rivers. They have compiled a 155-5 (.969) record since the start of the 2015-16 season. [caption id="attachment_1161576" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3332-rotated-e1631561334243.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1161576 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3332-rotated-e1631561334243-300x207.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="207" /></a> Menster[/caption] Springville (22-3): The Orioles lost just three games last season, twice against North Linn, and a substate semifinal setback against New London. They lose leading scorer Alex Koppes to graduation, as well as a slew of key rotation pieces, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962618" first="Rhenden" last="Wagaman"] (15.9) and guard [player_tooltip player_id="962643" first="Luke" last="Menster"] (15.1). Wagaman is a long, lanky wing who can score from all three levels, and he does a great job utilizing his length to his advantage on the defensive end of the floor. Menster is a quick lefty guard who flies all over the place on the defensive end, gets to the rim, gets others involved, and can really shoot it. Those two will be asked to do a ton for this group, as no other returnee averaged more than 1.8 points a game last season, but that tandem is about as good as it gets in 1A and should keep them competitive. Starmont (2-18): The Stars averaged just 29.9 points a game last season, but bring back a few key contributors from last year's team in Garrett Waterhouse (6.7) and Draven Kramer (6.7). Sophomores Logan Gates and Isaiah Maker each appeared in one game last season but were productive in those games and should be expected to become bigger contributors this season.   <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> 1. North Linn 2. Springville 3. Edgewood-Colesburg 4. Alburnett 5. East Buchanan 6. Maquoketa Valley 7. Central City 8. Starmont Analysis: North Linn has dominated this league for years now, and don't expect that to change with all five starters returning. Springville with Menster and Wagaman will still be dangerous, as will Ed-Co with their vast amount of experience returning. All three will be viable state tournament teams this year.   <h4><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147251" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"], North Linn: The Lynx have dominated this league for the last handful of seasons, and that domination won’t end this year. Hilmer impacts the game on both ends of the floor, among the state leaders in assists and steals last season, and he paces North Linn’s attack on both ends of the floor.   <h4>Players to Watch</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"], North Linn 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"], North Linn 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962641" first="Dylan" last="Kurt"], North Linn 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167744" first="Ben" last="Wheatley"], North Linn 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962658" first="Cade" last="Haughenbury"], North Linn 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962679" first="Kaiden" last="Gage"], East Buchanan 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962618" first="Rhenden" last="Wagaman"], Springville 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962643" first="Luke" last="Menster"], Springville 2022 Jack Wiskus, Edgewood-Colesburg 2022 Mason Ashline, Edgewood-Colesburg 2022 Lance Voss, Edgewood-Colesburg 2022 Korey Putz, Edgewood-Colesburg 2022 Nathan Carter, Edgewood-Colesburg 2023 Avery Holtz, Maquoketa Valley 2022 AJ Ambundo, Maquoketa Valley 2024 Aiden Klostermann, Central City 2024 Logan Gates, Starmont 2022 Andrew Ossman, Alburnett