Conference Preview: River Valley North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anamosa (13-10, 21.6% of scoring returning):</strong> Going 11-8 against conference opponent last season, the Raiders finished fourth in the North division. Four of the top five scorers from last year's team graduated, leaving senior guard Devin Brophy (7.0) as the leading returner. Sophomores Nate Fischer and Vincent Diers saw some action last season, but will likely step into bigger roles. Junior forward Ike Claussen-Tubbs started one game last season, and will also step into a bigger role this season. Coach Barnes will have a brand new starting lineup, as the Raiders look to build off last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bellevue (13-13, 42.6%):</strong> The Comets got hot at the right time last season, and made a run all the way to the state quarterfinal. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1469587' first='Jensen' last='Wedeking'] (12.4), junior guard Hunter Putnam (6.4), and senior big man Robert Paulsen (4.9 &amp; 5.9 rpg) are all key returners this season. Wedeking, a 6'3" G/F, does a lot of things well on the court. He's athletic, physical on both ends, and can score from all three levels. Putnam will most likely step into a huge ball-handling role for the Comets, while Paulsen will give the Comets some size down low, being able to hold his own on defense, and the ability to haul in rebounds. With some experience coming back, the Comets will be a tough opponent all year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camanche (18-5, 49.1%):</strong> Leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='1167714' first='Zane' last='Witt'] (15.5), returns this season for the Storm, as does fellow senior Garrett Schultz (3.8), junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476991' first='Damarion' last='Honaker'] (4.5), and sophomore Tyson Seeser (3.0). Witt is a very skilled big man on both ends of the floor. His footwork and touch in the paint have improved to where the Storm can flow their offense through him. He can run the floor and has great awareness to effectively defend the paint. Sophomore Tyson Seeser will likely crack the starting lineup this year, after getting some experience last season. Seeser is a very quick, athletic wing who will be a very fun player to watch for the Storm. Despite losing three starters, Coach Davis' team should be atop the RVC North again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cascade (9-14, 62.9%):</strong> Although the Cougars graduated three starters from last season, they return leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1367395' first='Cole' last='McDermott'] (16.0), and have some solid underclassmen ready to step in. McDermott is a traditional big man; he's got a great post-game, with great footwork and touch around the hoop. After averaging 16.0 points a game and 7.3 rebounds as a junior, he will be a focal point in Coach McMullen's offense. Another key returner will be junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476983' first='Cass' last='Hoffman'] (8.1), who is a solid passer and can shoot from deep. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (3.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='1405102' first='Nathan' last='Schockemoehl'] (1.2) will likely enter the starting lineup this season as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1290530,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/123-Padraig-Gallagher.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/123-Padraig-Gallagher-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1290530" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dyersville Beckman (13-11, 54.5%):</strong> After finishing third in the WaMaC East, Beckman brings back two starters, and a couple of others that saw varsity minutes last season. One of the returners is the 12th-ranked player in the class of 2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'] (20.4 points a game last season). He is a very fun player to watch, as he shoots well from three, and can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Joining him will be Cayden Gassmann, who started 18 games for the Blazers last season, and averaged 3.4 points a game. Aiden Wessels (2.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1256303' first='Eli' last='Kluesner'] (1.6), and Trent Arens (1.5) will also be significant pieces for Coach Molony's team this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maquoketa (8-14, 74.7%):</strong> The Cardinals bring back five of their top six scorers from last year's team. [player_tooltip player_id='1376691' first='Tye' last='Hardin'] led the team in scoring and assists, averaging 10.4 and 2.8. Hardin is solid on both ends of the floor; he scores efficiently from inside and out and is good at getting in the mix and getting steals on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1376709' first='Carter' last='Meyer'] was right behind Hardin last season in scoring, averaging 10.3, to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Meyer is another efficient scorer on offense for the Cardinals. Ty Hinz (6.9), [player_tooltip player_id='1469834' first='Kasey' last='Coakley'] (8.9 pts &amp; 6.4 rebs), and Lucas Ihrig (9.4) will also be key returners for the Cardinals, as they play their first season in the RVC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1403314,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Tate-Petersen-crop-2850x1871-1646763722.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Tate-Petersen-crop-2850x1871-1646763722-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1403314" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monticello (22-4, 78.0%):</strong> The Panthers will be the favorite this season, as they bring back three starters from a team that won the RVC North last season. Making the state semi-final last season, the Panthers bring back [player_tooltip player_id='956879' first='Tate' last='Petersen'], one of the state's smoothest guards. Petersen can fill up the stat sheet, averaging 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game last season. He is a very talented ball-handler, a knockdown shooter, and he works hard on both sides of the ball. Alongside Petersen is Iowa football commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1171677' first='Preston' last='Ries']. Ries' size and strength make him a huge matchup problem for anybody. [player_tooltip player_id='1476965' first='Peyton' last='Schilling'] (6.2) and Ian Temple (2.5) will be solid contributors this season as well. Sophomore Carson Lambert had a great summer with the Iowa Mavs and will look to use his length in the lineup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northeast (16-9, 23.5%):</strong> After a third-place finish in the RVC North last season, and a solid season overall, the Rebels graduate four of their top six scorers. Junior Clayton Meyermann started 24 games last season and will be a huge part of a Rebels team that looks to be pretty young this year. At 6'4", Meyermann will be a huge part in controlling the boards and locking down the paint. Sophomore Gavin Kramer, whos at the helm of the Rebels offense as the QB, will be the lead guard for the basketball team as well. Kramer is an exciting player to watch, always playing with a high motor. He's quick, can score off the dribble and from three, and is physical on the defensive end. The Rebels will look for some new faces to step in this season.</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. Monticello <br>2. Camanche<br>3. Dyersville Beckman<br>4. Bellevue<br>5. Cascade<br>6. Maquoketa<br>7. Northeast<br>8. Anamosa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Monticello brings back one of the best duos in Class 2A in Petersen and Ries, so they are a heavy favorite. Camanche is well-coached, and playing through [player_tooltip player_id='1167714' first='Zane' last='Witt'] will be toward the front of the pack. It's Beckman's first year in the conference, and with [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'], look to make some noise. Bellevue, Cascade, and Maquoketa all bring back a solid nucleus. Northeast and Anamosa will see some new faces in their lineups this season.</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='956879' first='Tate' last='Petersen'], Monticello:</strong> Soon to be a four-year varsity starter, Petersen is our pick for player of the year. He is a very talented lead guard, who has a well-polished game all around. </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, Devin Brophy, Anamosa<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1469587' first='Jensen' last='Wedeking'], Bellevue<br>2023, Robert Paulsen, Bellevue<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1167714' first='Zane' last='Witt'], Camanche<br>2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1476991' first='Damarion' last='Honaker'], Camanche<br>2025, Tyson Seeser, Camanche<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1367395' first='Cole' last='McDermott'], Cascade<br>2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1476983' first='Cass' last='Hoffman'], Cascade<br>2025, [player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'], Cascade<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'], Beckman<br>2023, Cayden Gassmann, Beckman<br>2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1376691' first='Tye' last='Hardin'], Maquoketa<br>2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1376709' first='Carter' last='Meyer'], Maquoketa<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1469834' first='Kasey' last='Coakley'], Maquoketa<br>2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1171677' first='Preston' last='Ries'], Monticello<br>2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1476965' first='Peyton' last='Schilling'], Monticello<br>2025, Carson Lambert, Monticello<br>2024, Clayton Meyermann, Northeast<br>2025, Gavin Kramer, Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->