Conference Preview: WaMaC East

<h4>The Teams</h4> [caption id="attachment_1289735" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Padraig-Gallagher-crop-4852x3186-1632360992.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1289735 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Padraig-Gallagher-crop-4852x3186-1632360992-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Gallagher[/caption] Beckman Catholic (16-8): Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"] (13.6) could emerge as one of the state’s best scoring threats this season for the Blazers, who will be playing in their final year in the WaMaC. The 6-5 wing can score from all three levels at an efficient clip (51-43-75 shooting splits last season), and he has a smooth all-around offensive game that can get others involved. He’ll be joined by a veteran backcourt in seniors [player_tooltip player_id="1158470" first="Logan" last="Goedken"] (8.5) and Logan Burchard (3.2). Goedken is a solid perimeter shooter in his own right, burying 38% of his 3-point attempts last season, and he also led the team with 4.0 assists. Burchard is a slasher who gets to the rim and is a solid secondary ball-handling option. The Blazers will need to find some size and rebounding following the graduations of their top two interior pieces, but with Gallagher leading the way, Beckman should be competitive again. This program always finds new pieces to step into big roles. Maquoketa (8-14): The top three, and four of the top five, scorers graduated for the Cardinals, leaving senior guard Max Keller (5.3) as the top returnee. Keller can really shoot it from deep, knocking down 59.3% of his 3-point attempts last season (albeit on just 27 attempts). He also dished out 2.5 assists a game last season, which trailed only senior guard Mitchell Roeder (3.9, 2.9 assists), who also returns. That tandem will give the Cardinals an experienced backcourt to build around. Senior big man [player_tooltip player_id="1235013" first="Ethan" last="Combs"] (3.7, 1.8 blocks) is an intriguing forward with size and length, and a skill set that is starting to catch up to his body. Throw in guys like junior Kasey Coakley (3.4) and sophomore Tye Hardin (1.7), and Maquoketa has some good enough pieces to build around and be competitive. [caption id="attachment_1254546" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Brayson-Laube.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1254546 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Brayson-Laube-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></a> Laube[/caption] Marion (14-8): The Wolves bring back nearly 60% of their scoring from last season, and that starts with junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"] (15.5), who has established himself as one of the state’s elite shooting threats, and he’s worked hard to add dribble penetration and explosive athleticism to his game. He’s a player that mid-majors across the Midwest are keeping an eye on, and he could be one of the top scorers in 3A this season. Fellow junior guard Alex Mota (7.7) joins him in the backcourt, giving the Wolves an extremely athletic tandem. Mota is a fantastic athlete who is garnering Division I football interest, and he can create some chaos on the defensive end with his speed and athletic ability. [player_tooltip player_id="1158501" first="Cael" last="Hodges"] (8.7), a senior scoring wing, also returns on the perimeter. Boede Rahe (3.0) pulled down 3.5 rebounds a game last season off the bench last season and will be relied upon to provide some toughness in the paint this year. With Laube, Mota, and Hodges on the perimeter, Marion has to be considered the team to beat in the division, and they’ll be a real threat to make it to the state tournament for the third time in the last five years. Mount Vernon (17-6): The Mustangs have a lot of production to replace following the graduations of their top three scorers from last year’s team, who took over 85% of last year’s scoring production with them. Senior forward Owen Brase (3.4) is the top returnee, but expect a pair of sophomores to be the focal points of the program this season and for the next three years - Joe Rhomberg (2.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="1171688" first="Jackson" last="Kutcher"]. Rhomberg is a solid wing who can score from all three levels, and Kutcher is a good shooter who can impact the game in a number of ways. With the number of new pieces that Mount Vernon will be breaking in, it’s tough to see this team competing at the top of the division this year, but it can be a good building year for them. Solon (21-3): The Spartans’ best season in a decade ended just short of the state tournament, as they fell 45-39 against Monticello in the substate championship game. They were a team that was heavily reliant on their physicality, athleticism, and defense, and they will need to lean on those aspects of the game even more this season following the graduations of five of their top six scorers. The lone returnee among the top six is senior forward Kinnick Pusteoska (8.8), who embodied those three elements in a big way last season. An undersized forward, Pusteoska is efficient and tough in the paint. He won’t be moved off his spot, and he’ll battle on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Jake Quillin (3.9) will take over primary ball-handling responsibilities for the Spartans, but those are the only two returnees who averaged more than 1.0 points a game last year. Solon is always going to have athletes, and they’ll compete hard on both ends of the floor under coach Jared Galpin. But with the heavy personnel losses on the offensive end, they may have some nights where they’ll struggle to score consistently, and that will prevent them from another division championship. West Delaware (10-12): The Hawks lose four of their top five scorers from last year’s team, leaving senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="784988" first="Blake" last="DeMoss"] (9.1, 3.2 assists) as the top returnee. DeMoss is a high IQ lead guard who can score or facilitate, and he should have a big senior season as the focal point of the Hawks’ attack on both ends of the floor. Seniors Luke Kehrli (4.8) and Raub Loecke (2.6) provide some additional experience, but those are the only three who saw much playing time last season. They should compete on a nightly basis, but it may not translate to many wins this year.   <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> 1. Marion 2. Beckman Catholic 3. Solon 4. Mount Vernon 5. Maquoketa 6. West Delaware Analysis: Marion's backcourt makes them the favorite in the division, but Beckman could put up a fight against the Wolves if they can find some more rotation pieces. Solon and Mount Vernon will both take a step back following heavy personnel losses but should remain competitive.   <h4>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"], Marion: The race between Laube and Gallagher should be a good one, but the edge goes to Laube, an athletic guard and elite shooter who should put up some huge numbers for the Wolves as a junior.   <h4>Players to Watch</h4> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"], Marion 2023 Alex Mota, Marion 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158501" first="Cael" last="Hodges"], Marion 2023 Jackson Kirsch, Marion 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"], Beckman Catholic 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158470" first="Logan" last="Goedken"], Beckman Catholic 2022 Logan Burchard, Beckman Catholic 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784988" first="Blake" last="DeMoss"], West Delaware 2022 Luke Kehrli, West Delaware 2022 Kinnick Pusteoska, Solon 2022 Jake Quillin, Solon 2022 Max Keller, Maquoketa 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235013" first="Ethan" last="Combs"], Maquoketa 2023 Kasey Coakley, Maquoketa 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171688" first="Jackson" last="Kutcher"], Mount Vernon 2024 Joe Rhomberg, Mount Vernon