Conference Preview: Pride of Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bedford (12-11, 73.0% of scoring returning): </strong>The Bulldogs lost leading scorer Owen Lucas to graduation, but bring back the next eight rotation pieces from last year's team, giving them a bevy of experienced players taking the floor this season. Senior forward Asher Weed (9.5) led the team in rebounding last season and is a capable passer out of the post. Conner Nally (4.7), a junior guard, led the team in assists and steals last year and will headline the backcourt, while Silas Walston (8.1), Tristen Cummings (5.3), and Quentin King (2.9) are all viable scorers on the wing. Bedford doesn't have the top-end talent that some of the other teams in the conference possess, but they'll be deep and experienced and should contend in the league's upper half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Decatur (20-3, 52.0%): </strong>Both double-figure scorers from last year's team graduated, but the next four are back, led by stat-sheet-stuffing forward [player_tooltip player_id='1240108' first='Jack' last='Scrivner'] (9.9). Scrivner led the team in rebounding (8.4), steals (2.1), and blocks (2.0), and was second in assists (2.6), last season and his ability to impact the game at a high level on both ends of the floor should be on full display this year. Gunnar Smith (7.7) is a guard who can get to the rim, while Sam Boothe (4.7) is the team's top returning perimeter shooting threat. Kyle Linhart (6.7) will chip in some additional scoring punch on the perimeter as well. Scrivner should be one of the most impactful players in the conference, and there is enough alongside him for the Cardinals to be competitive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Union (5-17, 50.7%):</strong> Leading scorer Seth Hudson (12.9) returns, one of four juniors who gained valuable starting experience last year for the Eagles. Hudson (22) and Austin Lack (4.6, 21 starts) combined to start 43 of a possible 44 games, while Rason Grail (5.8) and Josh Lopez (1.7) combined to start 16 games as well. Hudson is a solid three-level scoring threat who can also create some chaos on the defensive end, while Lack led the team in rebounding and steals last season. This was a pretty young team last year that should be improved with the experience they gained last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lenox (10-12, 100.0%):</strong> Everyone returns for a Tigers team that improved as the season progressed last year. This was a balanced team that had three players averaging in double-figures last season in sophomore Gabe Funk (13.2) and seniors Samson Adams (12.2) and Keaton England (11.1). Funk led the team in scoring as a freshman and is a talented scoring guard who can get others involved and he contributes on the glass in a major way. Adams led the team in rebounding, and England in assists and steals. This is a team that pounds the offensive glass hard (11.9 offensive boards a game last season), and if they can cut down on the turnovers this year (16.8), they should be much improved and a real threat for a top-3 finish in the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Martensdale-St. Marys (20-4, 3.5%): </strong>The Blue Devils have had a tremendous run of success over the last six years, posting win totals of 18, 20, 18, 23, 25, and 20, but that run of success will likely come to an end this year. The top five scorers from last year's team graduated, and junior forward Jack Osborn (1.4) is the only returnee who appeared in every game last season. There will be entirely new faces taking the court for MStM this year, and while they probably won't fall all the way to the bottom of the conference - there is simply too much athletic talent in the school for that to happen - they won't be competing for the league crown this year either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Ayr (18-4, 90.6%): </strong>The Raiders will have the best all-around player in the conference in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167690' first='Jaixen' last='Frost'] (22.4, 7.5 rebounds). Frost is a big-time three-level scorer who can get scorching hot and carry the team, but he's also a willing and gifted passer who will get others involved at a high clip. Fellow senior guard Braydon Pierson (11.7) is another strong scoring threat on the perimeter alongside Frost, and three other returnees - Ryce Reynolds (7.8), Riley Stark (6.0), and Tyler Martin (5.2) - saw significant time last season. Martin was solid as a freshman and should continue to develop into a quality tertiary scoring option for the Raiders this season. They lost just twice to league opponents last year, back-to-back losses in late January, early February to Central Decatur and Nodaway Valley. Don't be surprised if they run the table this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nodaway Valley (8-14, 61.5%): </strong>Last season was just the second in the QuikStats/Bound era, dating back to 2006-07, in which the Wolverines finished below .500, and the first in which they won fewer than 11 games. With a pair of double-figure scorers returning, they should get back closer to the winning ways the community has become accustomed to. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1367457' first='Boston' last='Devault'] (16.0) and Avery Phillippi (12.5) have played in a ton of games for the Wolverines over the last three years, and they're ready to help take this group back towards the top of the POI. Junior Dawson Nelson (4.0) will be asked to step into a tertiary scoring role for this group, and they'll be reliant on some new faces to step into bigger roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Warren (7-15, 75.3%): </strong>The top three scorers return for the Warhawks, including sophomore guard Cam Seuferer (9.7, 44.2 3P%) who had a very promising freshman season as a shooting threat. His ability to shoot it both off the dribble and the catch, as well as some improved playmaking, could turn the Warhawks into a viable contender within the league in the next few years. Senior forward Jack Williams (12.8) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season, and Landon Harvey (7.8) provides some additional physicality and work on the glass. The Warhawks should be much more competitive on a nightly basis this season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwest Valley (7-15, 25.3%): </strong>The top four scorers from last year's team graduated, leaving senior guard Sawyer Hensley (5.0) as the top returnee. Hensley led the team in assists last season and figures to have the ball in his hands a ton as a senior. Juniors Isaac Currin (3.8) and Roman Keefe (3.6) are the only other returnees with experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wayne (5-17, 64.6%): </strong>Junior forward Rayce Snyder (14.0) led the team in scoring and pulled down 7.4 rebounds a game last season and will be the headliner for the Falcons. Senior guard Strait Jacobsen (8.6) is someone who is at his best playing downhill and getting to the rim. The Falcons struggled with turnovers last year, and that will need to improve if they want to be more competitive on a nightly basis in league play. </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. Mount Ayr <br>2. Central Decatur<br>3. Lenox<br>4. Nodaway Valley<br>5. Bedford<br>6. Southeast Warren<br>7. Martensdale-St Marys<br>8. Wayne<br>9. East Union<br>10. Southwest Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Mount Ayr is a pretty clear-cut favorite here, bringing back a ton of production from an 18-win team. Central Decatur will be solid, and Lenox, Nodaway Valley, and Bedford should be improved. The wildcard team here will be Martensdale-St. Marys, who lost everything but have built a strong program. </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='1167690' first='Jaixen' last='Frost'], Mount Ayr:</strong> Frost is one of the state's most potent offensive threats, averaging over 22 points a game while dishing out four assists last season with incredible efficiency. He's a big guard who can score from anywhere and dominate games on both ends of the floor for the Raiders. </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='1167690' first='Jaixen' last='Frost'], Mount Ayr<br>2023 Braydon Pierson, Mount Ayr<br>2024 Ryce Reynolds, Mount Ayr<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367457' first='Boston' last='Devault'], Nodaway Valley<br>2023 Avery Phillippi, Nodaway Valley<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240108' first='Jack' last='Scrivner'], Central Decatur<br>2023 Gunnar Smith, Central Decatur<br>2025 Gabe Funk, Lenox<br>2023 Samson Adams, Lenox<br>2024 Carter Reed, Lenox<br>2023 Keaton England, Lenox<br>2024 Rayce Snyder, Wayne<br>2023 Strait Jacobsen, Wayne<br>2024 Seth Hudson, East Union<br>2023 Jack Williams, Southeast Warren<br>2025 Sam Seuferer, Southeast Warren<br>2023 Landon Harvey, Southeast Warren<br>2023 Asher Weed, Bedford<br>2024 Silas Walston, Bedford<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->