Conference Preview: Iowa Star South
In this article:
The Teams Baxter (18-5, 72.7% of scoring returning): The Bolts went undefeated against division foes last year, winning their 12 games by an average of 29.8 points a game and they bring back more production than any other team in…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Teams
Baxter (18-5, 72.7% of scoring returning): The Bolts went undefeated against division foes last year, winning their 12 games by an average of 29.8 points a game and they bring back more production than any other team in the division, so expect more of the same this season. They bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in senior forward Carson Scroggins Carson Scroggins 6'4" | PF Baxter | 2023 State IA (16.0, 2.3 blocks) and junior wing Treyton Travis Treyton Travis 6'0" | SG Baxter | 2024 State IA (11.2), as well as senior point guard Cody Damman (9.3, 5.0 assists), giving them far and away the best trio in the division. Scroggins, our pick for POY, is an athletic and physical interior presence who can protect the paint, while Travis is an athletic wing who can get to the bucket. Damman led the team in assists last season and is a reliable ball-handler and decision-maker who posted a nearly 4-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Cael Shepley (4.3) and Trice Clapper (4.3) were valuable role players and will be important pieces for them again this year.
Collins-Maxwell (9-11, 62.8%): Five players with starting experience return for the Spartans, headlined by the Huntrods twins – Jace (12.3) and Luke (12.2). Both are small guards who can get to the bucket, and Luke in particular is a really good rebounder (7.7 a game) despite being listed at just 5-9. Dane Beattie (8.4) is another solid scoring threat, giving the Spartans arguably the second best trio in the division. This is a team that should be in contention for a runner-up finish behind Baxter.
Colo-Nesco (15-8, 57.3%): After three straight seasons that saw the Royals win just a combined 14 games, the Royals got back to their usual winning ways last year, racking up 15 wins and finishing second in the division. Junior forward Lucas Frohwein Lucas Frohwein 6'3" | SF Colo-Nesco | 2024 State IA (17.1, 6.8 rebounds) is one of the most dominant players in the division, and senior forward Nolan Smith (8.1, 6.5 rebounds) will pair with him to give Colo a dominant pair on the glass. Senior guard Spencer Hansen (7.7) is the team’s top perimeter shooting threat. Expect to see the Royals and Collins-Maxwell battling it out for second in the division, and there is enough talent on this roster to beat Baxter if a few things go their way.
GMG (7-14, 41.0%): The Wolverines lose two of their top three scorers from last year’s team, but bring back a pair of talented juniors in Jabari Woodbury (11.2) and Kaleb Gill (7.9) to lead the charge this season. Woodbury led the team in assists and gets to the bucket, while Gill is the team’s top perimeter shooting threat. Look for increased production out of sophomore Colin Teske (3.3), who contributed in spurts as a freshman. With Woodbury and Gill returning, they have a solid pair of building blocks heading into the season and they should be competitive on most nights.
Meskwaki Settlement (3-18, 14.1%): Wyatt Kapayou (10.7) is the lone returnee for the Warriors who saw significant playing time last season, finishing second on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Kingston Davenport (2.3) saw a bit of time as a freshman and will need to step into a much larger role as a sophomore, and they’ll have entirely new faces around that duo this year.
North Tama (14-9, 14.9%): The Redhawks lost a ton of production from last year’s team, losing their top four scorers including a trio that combined to average over 47 points a game last season. Michael Schrier (4.4, 8.0 rebounds) is the top returnee. He’s a forward who can dominate on the glass on both ends of the floor. Jared Dvorak (2.9) and Josh Dostal (2.7) saw some time last year and will be asked to step into bigger roles. This group lost a ton from last year’s 14-win team and should drop down the standings as a result.
Note: Valley Lutheran is also in the Iowa Star South, but they have canceled their season due to a shortage in numbers.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Baxter
2. Colo-Nesco
3. Collins-Maxwell
4. GMG
5. North Tama
6. Meskwaki Settlement
Analysis: The Bolts were undefeated in division play last year and bring back more than any other team, making them an easy choice to win the division again. Colo-Nesco and Collins-Maxwell will battle for second.
Preseason Player of the Year
2023 Carson Scroggins Carson Scroggins 6'4" | PF Baxter | 2023 State IA , Baxter: The Bolts went undefeated against division foes last season and Scroggins, who led the team in scoring and blocks, and was second in rebounding, is the biggest reason for that. He’s a physical interior presence who controls the paint on both ends of the floor.
Players to Watch
2023
Carson Scroggins
Carson
Scroggins
6'4" | PF
Baxter | 2023
State
IA
, Baxter
2023 Cody Damman, Baxter
2024
Treyton Travis
Treyton
Travis
6'0" | SG
Baxter | 2024
State
IA
, Baxter
2024
Lucas Frohwein
Lucas
Frohwein
6'3" | SF
Colo-Nesco | 2024
State
IA
, Colo-Nesco
2023 Nolan Smith, Colo-Nesco
2023 Spencer Hansen, Colo-Nesco
2023 Jace Huntrods, Collins-Maxwell
2023 Luke Huntrods, Collins-Maxwell
2023 Dane Beattie, Collins-Maxwell
2024 Jabari Woodbury, GMG
2024 Kaleb Gill, GMG
2023 Wyatt Kapayou, Meskwaki Settlement
2023 Michael Schrier, North Tama