Conference Preview: Heart of Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greene County (9-13, 56.7% of scoring returning): </strong>The Rams stumbled down the stretch last season, dropping their final four regular season games and their first round playoff game to end the year on a five-game skid. They bring back a pair of double-figure scorers from that group in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1469823' first='Richard' last='Daugherty'] (16.0) and Jesse Miller (11.8), giving them a pair of big-time scoring threats to build around. Daugherty is a high-volume scorer who can get to the rim and the free-throw line, while Miller is the team's best returning shooting threat. Daugherty figures to have the ball in his hands a lot this season following the graduation of point guard Bryce Stalder. Brayden Roberts (2.1) is the only other returnee who averaged over 2 points a game, so they will lean heavily on Daugherty and Miller, especially early in the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nevada (17-6, 32.8%): </strong>The Cubs were the only team to play Roland-Story within single digits (losses by two and nine points in their meetings) during league play last season. They lose a significant chunk of that roster, but bring back a pair of major contributors in junior Jacob Khounsourath (10.0, 37.4 3P%) and senior forward Carson Rhodes (9.5, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 blocks). That inside-out tandem will be the most dynamic in the league not wearing Norsemen colors and should keep this group fighting for a top-2 finish in the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PCM (14-10, 20.5%): </strong>PCM hasn't finished below .500 in the QuikStats/Bound era, so despite the heavy personnel losses from last year's team, expect the Mustangs to remain competitive. Junior forward Jacob Wendt (5.8, 7.0 rebounds) is the top returnee, and he looks primed to have a breakout season. He's a good enough passer that the offense can flow through him, and he has the ability to occasionally step out and knock down shots as well. They'll rely on sophomores Gavin VanGorp (2.8) and Kaleb DeVries (1.2) to step into much larger roles this season. No matter what PCM has coming back, it seems like a pretty safe bet that the 'Stangs will finish above .500 and be in the running for a top-3 finish in the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Perry (2-20, 85.9%): </strong>The Bluejays were often overmatched last season, posting a -28.2 point differential, but there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2022-23 season as the top six scorers return from that group, having gained valuable experience. Of the nine players who averaged at least 2.0 points a game last season, three were sophomores and three more were freshmen, so this was a really young group that should be more competitive this season. Juniors Drake Levan (8.5) and Brandon Mahler (8.0, 5.0 rebounds) are the team's top returnees, while sophomores Geren Kennedy (6.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721707' first='Owen' last='Myers'] (3.9), and senior Holden Smith (6.5), should be relied upon heavily. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1637986,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/25-Isaiah-Naylor-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1666646574.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/25-Isaiah-Naylor-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1666646574-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1637986" /></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1367392' first='Isaiah' last='Naylor']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roland-Story (22-3, 86.9%): </strong>The Norsemen dominated league competition last season, going 14-0 against conference foes and winning those games by an average of 24.5 points. Four starters return to that group, making this team a very clear favorite in the conference and one of the best teams in 2A. Seven of the top eight scorers are back, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1367392' first='Isaiah' last='Naylor'] (17.1, 39.8 3P%), junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'] (14.2), and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1239871' first='Luke' last='Patton'] (10.7, 10.9 rebounds), giving them the best trio in the conference and one of the best in small-school basketball. Naylor had a great junior season, emerging as a big-time shot-creator and scorer. Wilkinson is an athletic wing who can defend multiple positions, score inside and out, and create for others, while Patton is a dominant force in the paint as a rebounder and an efficient scorer. Role players Beau Greenfield (5.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1288880' first='Boaz' last='Clark'] (3.9), Dillon Lettow (3.0), and Kale Lande (2.8) each saw significant time last season as well and should be quality pieces. The Norse are going to be deep, versatile, and talented, and they shouldn't have many issues in the conference again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saydel (10-12, 40.6%): </strong>The Eagles' 10 wins last season were more than they had in the previous three seasons combined (eight), and their first ten-win season since 2013-14. They'll need to replace a pair of double-figure scorers but bring back two key contributors from last year's team in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1240103' first='Mason' last='Hicks'] (9.7, 9.1 rebounds) and junior forward Shyne Lo (8.7). As a sophomore, Hicks led the team in assists, but the ball was taken out of his hands last year by Lo's older brother Camden, who dished out 7.0 assists a game. Look for him to resume the playmaking role as a senior. The Eagles lost a good chunk of production from last year's team, but may have some positive momentum heading into the year for the first time in a while.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Hamilton (3-19, 83.4%): </strong>A program that has had a lot of success over the last decade, South Hamilton's three wins last season was the worst season for the school in the QuikStats/Bound era (dating back to 2006-07). They bring back the top three scorers from that group in seniors Teagan Trask (8.4) and Landen Skartvedt (7.3) and junior Ryland Ubben (6.1). Five other players who averaged at least 2.1 points last season also return, giving them eight players who have seen a decent amount of varsity playing time and an expectation for improvement heading into this season. And while it won't help them during league play, the Hawks drop down to 1A for postseason play this year, which will be a bonus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Marshall (8-16, 39.0%):</strong> Both double-figure scorers from last year's team graduated, leaving senior forward Anthony Schuler (7.9, 5.1 rebounds) as the top returnee. He led the team in rebounding and showed himself to be an efficient scorer as a junior, shooting nearly 56% from the floor. He's an undersized 6-1 forward who plays hard on both ends of the floor and will be a solid piece to start building a team around. Junior guards Owen Siegert (4.5) and Andrew Tollefson (3.0), and seniors Grahm Nason (3.9) and Jackson Porter (2.7) are the other key returnees for the Trojans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Roland-Story<br>2. Nevada<br>3. Greene County<br>4. PCM<br>5. Saydel<br>6. South Hamilton<br>7. West Marshall<br>8. Perry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The Norsemen rolled through the conference last season and bring back more production than anyone, so it would be a fairly monumental upset if anyone other than Roland-Story won the league. Nevada and Greene County have some quality pieces and their two games against each other should be very entertaining. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1637948,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/88-Jonovan-Wilkinson-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1666644898.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/88-Jonovan-Wilkinson-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1666644898-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1637948" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'], Roland-Story:</strong> A do-it-all wing who impacts the game at a high level on both ends of the floor, Wilkinson is a stat-sheet stuffer with a ton of versatility. He's the most impactful player on what figures to be far and away the best team in the conference, which makes him an easy pick for POY.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'], Roland-Story<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367392' first='Isaiah' last='Naylor'], Roland-Story<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1239871' first='Luke' last='Patton'], Roland-Story<br>2023 Ben Greenfield, Roland-Story<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288880' first='Boaz' last='Clark'], Roland-Story<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469823' first='Richard' last='Daugherty'], Greene County<br>2023 Jesse Miller, Greene County<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240103' first='Mason' last='Hicks'], Saydel<br>2024 Shyne Lo, Saydel<br>2024 Jacob Khounsourath, Nevada<br>2023 Carson Rhodes, Nevada<br>2024 Teagan Trask, South Hamilton<br>2023 Landen Skartvedt, South Hamilton<br>2024 Ryland Ubben, South Hamilton<br>2024 Drake Levan, Perry<br>2025 Geren Kennedy, Perry<br>2023 Anthony Schuler, West Marshall<br>2024 Jacob Wendt, PCM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->