Conference Preview: WaMaC West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton (5-17, 68.5% of scoring returning): </strong>The Bobcats lost leading scorer Aiden Harris to graduation, but bring back the next four, giving them an experienced group to build around. Senior twins Evan Daugherty (8.8, 43.5 3P%) and Blake Daugherty (8.1, 37.6 3P%) are good perimeter shooters who will be asked to carry the scoring load. Junior Owen Tjelmeland (4.1) led the team in assists, dishing out 3.1 assists a game, and will pair with the Daughertys to give them a strong backcourt. This team is going to be small, but they could be a team that benefits from the implementation of the shot clock, playing a bit faster and trying to use their quickness and shooting to their advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Point-Urbana (8-14, 59.4%): </strong>Three of the top four scorers return for the Stormin' Pointers, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1367434' first='Easton' last='Tupa'] (11.0) who should be one of the best players in the division. Tupa is a long, athletic guard who can impact the game on both ends of the floor with his size and talent. Brandon Miller (6.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='1240072' first='Tucker' last='Clark'] (6.5) are both strong on the glass and will provide some physicality and toughness in the paint. The Pointers struggled shooting it last year (28.1 3P%), and that number will need to improve if they want to make a real run for a top 2 finish in the division, but this is always a well-coached, strong defensive team that will compete hard on both ends. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek Amana (16-8, 11.7%): </strong>Brandon Clubb has built up a pretty strong program in Tiffin, winning 21, 17, and 16 games in the last three years, but the Clippers will struggle to replicate that success this year following the graduations of their top five scorers. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (4.8), a physical and athletic forward, is the top returnee. He was a solid contributor as a role player as a freshman, controlling the glass and finishing around the rim. Look for fellow 2025 prospects Brock Hilsman (3.0) and Cale Berry (1.7) to play significant roles on this year's team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Tama (2-21, 38.5%): </strong>Osceola Tyon, who accounted for nearly 50% of the team's scoring last year, graduated, leaving juniors Tommy Tyynismaa (5.5) and Daniel Wiese (5.4) as the top returnees. Tyynismaa, Wiese, and Cade Rosenberger (4.1) are the only players who saw much time last year who return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vinton-Shellsburg (3-19, 64.5%): </strong>The Vikings won just three games last season but bring back three of their top five scorers from that team, including leading scorer Cameron Dunbar (9.3), a solid shooter. Senior forward Benett Rickels (6.0, 5.3 rebounds) will hold down the paint and play with the ball in his hands quite a bit after leading the team in assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1290445,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/53-Derek-Weisskopf.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/53-Derek-Weisskopf-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1290445"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williamsburg (22-3, 74.8%): </strong>The Raiders cruised through conference play last year, going 18-0 against league competition and they bring their top two scorers back from that group, making them a prohibitive favorite to take home another West Division title. In total, six players who averaged at least 4.9 points a game are back so this group will be deep with scoring options. They're led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (15.3), an Iowa football commit who took a major leap last year as a three-level scorer, posting 56-42-73 shooting splits. He's a great athlete who can defend multiple positions, rebound on both ends of the floor, and create shots for himself and others. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1426814' first='Ethan' last='Harman'] (9.8, 37.3 3P%) provides some more shooting and is a long wing who can get into passing lanes. Senior twins, guard Madox Doehrmann (5.5) and forward Gavin Doehrmann (4.9) provided a major spark off the bench last season. Madox shot 50% from the arc and dished out 2.6 assists a game, while Gavin is a great interior finisher (59.3 FG%). Trey O'Neill (5.9) and Landon Jepson (5.4) also return with experience and provide scoring and defense. They'll move up to 3A for postseason play this year, which certainly hurts their chances at a state title, but this is without a doubt the team to beat in the division.</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. Williamsburg<br>2. Center Point-Urbana<br>3. Clear Creek Amana<br>4. Benton<br>5. Vinton-Shellsburg<br>6. South Tama</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Williamsburg is an overwhelming favorite in the division after going undefeated in league play last year. CPU and CCA have strong programs that should continue to compete.</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>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'], Williamsburg: </strong>An athletic, physical wing who scores at an efficient clip from all three levels, Weisskopf is the type of player who can also control games even when he isn't scoring with his defensive versatility, rebounding, and playmaking. </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>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'], Williamsburg<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1426814' first='Ethan' last='Harman'], Williamsburg<br>2023 Trey O'Neil, Williamsburg<br>2023 Madox Doehrmann, Williamsburg<br>2023 Landon Jepson, Williamsburg<br>2023 Gavin Doehrmann, Williamsburg<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367434' first='Easton' last='Tupa'], Center Point-Urbana<br>2023 Brandon Miller, Center Point-Urbana<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240072' first='Tucker' last='Clark'], Center Point-Urbana<br>2023 Evan Daugherty, Benton<br>2023 Blake Daugherty, Benton<br>2023 Noah Franck, Benton<br>2024 Cameron Dunbar, Vinton-Shellsburg<br>2023 Benett Rickels, Vinton-Shellsburg<br>2024 Tommy Tyynismaa, South Tama<br>2024 Daniel Wiese, South Tama<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'], Clear Creek Amana<br>2025 Brock Hilsman, Clear Creek Amana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->