Conference Preview: SICL East
The Teams Belle Plaine (15-8, 46.9%): The Plainsmen lost their top two scorers to graduation, but bring back the next seven from last year’s team, so they should remain competitive within the division. Senior Brooks DeMeulenaere (6.8) and junior Wyatt…
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Belle Plaine (15-8, 46.9%): The Plainsmen lost their top two scorers to graduation, but bring back the next seven from last year’s team, so they should remain competitive within the division. Senior Brooks DeMeulenaere (6.8) and junior Wyatt Kuch (6.3) are the top returning scorers. Kuch led the team in assists last year, dishing out 4.8 helpers a game, and will man the backcourt. Following the graduation of Ben DeMeulenaere and Eli Ehlen, the Plainsmen will be a much smaller team, and they’ll need to find some players to come in and compete on the glass after that tandem combined to pull down 20.5 rebounds a game. This should be one of the deeper teams in the division and their experience will help keep them near the top.
English Valleys (12-11, 30.1%): The Bears posted back-to-back 12-win seasons but will be hard-pressed to replicate that success following the graduation of Kaden Hall, arguably the best player in school history. Junior forward Myles Grove (6.3) and senior Reese Bender (5.9) are the top returnees.
Iowa Valley (18-5, 40.8%): Like English Valleys, Iowa Valley will likely have difficulty replicating one of the best seasons in school history following the graduations of Brody Ward and Peyton Loffer, who combined to average 35 points a game last season. The good news is that sophomore forward Caleb Haack (11.3) is back. A 6-4 forward, Haack was second on the team in rebounding at 7.0 a game and he also turned away 2.0 shots a night. He could emerge as the best player in the division as early as this season. Senior guard Evan Kearney (9.0) dished out over three assists a game last year and also returns. In Haack and Kearney, Iowa Valley may have the best one-two punch outside of Keota, which will keep them competitive in the division.
Keota (11-12, 86.9%): The top three scorers from last year’s team return for the Eagles, each of whom averaged in double figures last season. Sawyer Stout Sawyer Stout 5'10" | SG Keota | 2024 State IA (13.9) and Cole Kindred (10.5) will man the backcourt, while Evan Vittetoe (12.8, 10.0 rebounds) is the man in the paint. Keota has had a tradition of having strong perimeter shooting threats, but they didn’t shoot it well from the arc at all last season (22.0 3P%). They should be improved in that regard this season, and with seven of their top eight from the rotation back, they should be considered the team to beat in the division.
Sigourney (13-9, 40.7%): The Savages lost three of their top four scorers to graduation, leaving senior guard Karson Weber (8.7) as the top returnee. Weber’s 33 made 3-pointers were second on the team last year, and he should step into the primary scoring role. Sophomore Isaac Bruns (6.1) was very productive as a freshman, pulling down five rebounds a game as well and should continue to improve, while Max Phillips (2.1) and Cole Clarahan (1.5) each saw significant time last season.
Tri-County (1-20, 71.1%): The Trojans won just one game last year, but bring back leading scorer Eli Molyneux (7.6) as well as eight players who appeared in at least 10 games last season. They’ll likely still struggle to compete against the top-tier teams in the conference, but they should become more competitive against the mid-tier teams.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Keota
2. Iowa Valley
3. Belle Plaine
4. Sigourney
5. English Valleys
6. Tri-County
Analysis: The Eagles bring a ton back from last year’s team that was extremely young and should be considered the favorite in the division. Iowa Valley has a dynamic duo, and Belle Plaine should be solid.
Preseason Player of the Year
2024 Evan Vittetoe, Keota: A 6-2 power forward, Vittetoe averaged a double-double as a sophomore and is a dominant interior presence for an Eagles team that should be the best in the division.
Players to Watch
2024 Evan Vittetoe, Keota
2024
Sawyer Stout
Sawyer
Stout
5'10" | SG
Keota | 2024
State
IA
, Keota
2024 Cole Kindred, Keota
2025 Caleb Haack, Iowa Valley
2023 Evan Kearney, Iowa Valley
2023 Karson Weber, Sigourney
2025 Isaac Bruns, Sigourney
2023 Eli Molyneux, Tri-County
2023 Cayle Kitzman, Tri-County
2023 Payton Beason, Tri-County
2023 Brooks DeMeulenaere, Belle Plaine
2024 Wyatt Kuch, Belle Plaine
2024 Myles Grove, English Valleys
2023 Reese Bender, English Valleys