Conference Preview: NICL West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AGWSR (6-16, 39.3% of scoring returning):</strong> The good news for the Cougars is that two of their top three scorers return in junior Gabe Nederhoff (10.8) and senior Bradly Roder (7.8). The bad news is that the other six who comprised the rotation last season graduated, leaving just Nederhoff and Roder as the returnees with any semblance of varsity experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Marshall (7-15, 90.9%): </strong>The Mustangs bring back their top four scorers from last year's team, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1367460' first='Junior' last='Brown'] (18.4, 44.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469830' first='Adrian' last='Arifi'] (10.4). Brown established himself as one of the best scoring guards in the conference last season, showing that he can really fill it up from the arc as well as put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='1188298' first='Bo' last='Lee'] (8.7) led teh team in assists, and Landen Neuroth (6.9) is a reliable secondary ball-handler and playmaker. The 'Stangs shouldn't have too many issues scoring, but improvements will need to be made on the defensive end if they want to turn that record around. They gave up an average of 70.7 points a game in their 15 losses last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1290446,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/54-William-Kiburis.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/54-William-Kiburis-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1290446" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gladbrook-Reinbeck (23-2, 78.4%): </strong>The Rebels figure to be hungry this season after being upset by Bellevue in the substate final last year, falling a game short of the state tournament. Four starters return, led by one of the best players in 1A basketball in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'] (21.7). Kiburis, a dynamic 6-4 point guard, averaged 8.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 3.5 steals a game last season to go with his scoring, and he's worked to improve his jumper, which will just make this team even more deadly. [player_tooltip player_id='1469783' first='Caleb' last='Egesdal'] (11.2, 42.3 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469822' first='Luke' last='Riffey'] (10.2) are strong complements to Kiburis, with Egesdal knocking down shots from the arc, and Riffey a strong cutter and good enough shooter that it needs to be respected. Look for junior Isaac Clark (4.6) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (3.4) to take on bigger roles this year for a team that should be deep and talented. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grundy Center (16-7, 46.5%):</strong> The Spartans lost their top two scorers but bring back one of the most talented 2025 prospects in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (10.0), a long and athletic wing who can defend multiple positions, rebound, and create shots for himself and others. He should have a huge sophomore season and become one of the best two-way players in the conference. Patrick Brown III (4.2) provides some rebounding and interior scoring, while Tiernan Vokes (4.0) was a solid contributor as a freshman last season as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2325346' first='Tate' last='Jirovsky'] (3.8) and Colin Gordon (3.6) are the other key returnees for Grundy, a team that is always competitive on the glass, strong defensively, and should remain very competitive within the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Hardin (11-12, 61.8%): </strong>Two double-figure scorers return for the Tigers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1167748' first='Ryan' last='Walters'] (14.1) and Jake Teske (11.2), giving them a dynamic duo to build around. Walters emerged as a major scoring threat last season and led the team in assists, dishing out nearly five helpers a game, while Teske is a knockdown shooter (41.8 3P%) who is a perfect complement alongside Walters in the Tigers' backcourt. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2377884' first='Lane' last='Luiken'] (4.8) and seniors Mckale McGonigal (4.3) and Josh Vander Wilt (4.0) should step into bigger roles this season after playing well off the bench last year. </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. Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>2. South Hardin<br>3. Grundy Center<br>4. East Marshall<br>5. AGWSR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The Rebels are a pretty easy pick in the division. They rolled through league play last year and bring back four starters from that group, including Kiburis. South Hardin should be improved, and Grundy Center will always be competitive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck: </strong>Kiburis was one of the easiest picks of any conference around the state for this honor. The stat-sheet-stuffing guard put together an extremely impressive 22-8-7-4-1 average stat line last season.</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>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469783' first='Caleb' last='Egesdal'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469822' first='Luke' last='Riffey'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>2024 Isaac Clark, Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367460' first='Junior' last='Brown'], East Marshall<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469830' first='Adrian' last='Arifi'], East Marshall<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1188298' first='Bo' last='Lee'], East Marshall<br>2024 Landen Neuroth, East Marshall<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167748' first='Ryan' last='Walters'], South Hardin<br>2023 Jake Teske, South Hardin<br>2024 Gabe Nederhoff, AGWSR<br>2023 Bradley Roder, AGWSR<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'], Grundy Center<br>2023 Cayden McLeland, BCLUW<br>2024 Cael Keller, BCLUW<br>2023 Parker Pike, BCLUW<br>2024 Hayden Schleisman, BCLUW</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->