Conference Preview: Bluegrass

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny Christian (16-7, 86.5% of scoring returning): </strong>ACA got off to a great 12-2 start last season before stumbling down the stretch a bit, but with their top three, and nine of their top 10, scorers returning to a 16-win team, this is without a doubt the team to beat in the Bluegrass this season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'] (13.5, 8.1 rebounds) is the headliner, a skilled 6-6 combo forward who can stretch the floor and protect the paint defensively. He'll be the focal point of opposing game plans on both ends of the floor, but he's far from alone. The senior backcourt tandem of Eli Christensen (9.4, 3.1 assists) and Brody Hoefle (7.6, 4.0 assists) give the Eagles a pair of talented playmakers who can create shots for themselves and others and limit turnovers. With eight rotation pieces returning and the best trio of players in the conference, it would be a significant upset if the Eagles don't pretty much roll through the league this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Diagonal (9-10, 49.4%): </strong>The Maroons lost their top three scorers to graduation, but everyone else from last year's roster returns, so they'll have some experience taking the floor this season. Senior Garrett Stephens (5.3) is the top returnee, but if this group is going to approach a .500 record again, it will be because sophomores Owen Whittington (3.5) and EJ Allee (1.3) took another step forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lamoni (6-14, 22.7%): </strong>Only two players who scored double-digit total points last season return in junior Ambrose Savage (5.5) and senior Cal Martin (3.3), so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor for the Demons. They will struggle to compete against the top-level teams in the league, but may be able to find a few wins against the bottom of the conference and start building towards the 2024-25 season with Savage and sophomore Tate McDole.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Melcher-Dallas (11-11, 18.4%): </strong>The Saints improved by seven games last season, but will be hard-pressed to replicate that success following the graduations of their top three scorers. Johnny Milburn (5.2) and Joe Kalvig (3.2), a pair of juniors who were good role players last season, are the top returnees and will be asked to step into much larger roles this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moravia (21-2, 36.7%):</strong> The Mohawks just put together the best three-year stretch in school history, rattling off 60 wins over the last three seasons. They lose a significant chunk of production off of last year's 21-win team, but senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2325457' first='Shane' last='Helmick'] (12.3, 8.8 rebounds) is back, as are senior wings Jackson McDaniel (7.4) and Wyatt Throckmorton (5.7), giving them a solid trio of weapons to continue to build this program around and maintain the great momentum they have. Helmick is one of the best players in the league, a nightly double-double threat who can also pass it and protect the rim, while McDaniel and Throckmorton are more perimeter-oriented players who can shoot it a bit. They probably won't be winning 20+ games again this year, but the foundation has been laid for the Mohawks to build a strong program, and they'll push ACA at the top of the conference if they can find some new role players to step up alongside their experienced trio. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mormon Trail (17-5, 35.9%): </strong>The Saints have built up a pretty consistent program, winning double-figure games every year since 2013-14 except for one season. They lost a pair of big-time scorers to graduation in Gavin Dixson and Fulton Flesher, who combined to average over 30 points a game, but bring back senior forward Triton Gwinn (11.9, 7.1 rebounds), who will be one of the best players in the conference. Look for Degin Dixson (5.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721729' first='Owen' last='Anderson'] (3.8) to provide some perimeter scoring punch for this group, and if they can get some production out of sophomores Levi Evans (1.5) and Lane Flesher (1.2), they can maintain their spot near the top of the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moulton-Udell (0-21, 78.5%): </strong>The Eagles were winless last season, with only two games decided by single digits, so any wins on the docket this year would be a marked improvement. With their top three scorers returning, and four of the top five, that could be a possibility. [player_tooltip player_id='2520036' first='Cameron' last='Swarts'] (9.8) led the team in scoring as a freshman and is back to lead the charge on the perimeter, flanked by seniors Braydin Shaffer (9.7) and Nolyn Simkoff (5.4). This group struggled with turnovers last season, giving it away 20 times a game, and if they can improve that number a little bit, they could pick up a few wins this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Murray (10-11, 58.3%): </strong>Last year's 10-11 record was the first time that Murray has finished below .500 since the 2008-09 season, when they finished with an identical record. If anyone is going to jump up the league standings and challenge ACA or Moravia, it will be this group. Senior big man Titus Barber (12.9, 9.7 rebounds, 4.8 blocks) is arguably the top two-way player in the conference. His ability to shut down the paint defensively is invaluable for the Mustangs, allowing their guards to play more aggressively on the perimeter. Junior guard Caden Page (9.7, 3.9 assists) led the team in helpers last season and returns to lead the backcourt, pairing with Barber to give Murray one of the best tandems in the league. If they can get a few role players to step up and perform, they could push for a top-2 finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seymour (5-16, 15.8%): </strong>The Warriors bring back just 16% of their scoring output from a team that averaged just 38.8 points a game last season, so it could be a long winter in Seymour. But there may be some reason for optimism, as the returnees are young and this group could start building for the 2024-25 season and gain some valuable experience this year. Cailon Spurgeon (4.6, 4.8 rebounds) leads a trio of sophomores who will contribute, with Chase Power and Gavyn Jellison the other two names to know. Junior Mason Hackathorn (3.7) provides some leadership as the elder stateman on the team. A handful of wins this year would be a step in the right direction, and with the personnel losses that several other teams near the bottom of the league also suffered, that's a possibility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Twin Cedars (5-16, 57.9%): </strong>Four of the Sabers' five wins last year came against winless Moulton-Udell, so while they did win a handful of games, they'll struggle to stay out of the bottom few spots in the league this season. They're led by a trio of sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='1765540' first='Holden' last='Roberts'] (13.6), Gavin Clark (4.1), and Jace Laird (2.4), who each saw significant time as freshmen and should lead the team for the next three years. Another five-win season and more competitive games against the teams at the top of the league would be another step in the right direction for Twin Cedars. </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. Ankeny Christian<br>2. Moravia<br>3. Murray<br>4. Mormon Trail<br>5. Diagonal<br>6. Twin Cedars<br>7. Melcher-Dallas<br>8. Moulton-Udell<br>9. Lamoni<br>10. Seymour</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>With nine of their top 10 scorers returning to a team that won 16 games last season, Ankeny Christian enters the season as a prohibitive favorite to get back to the top of the Bluegrass Conference this season. Moravia brings back just enough from their great three-year run to continue being a threat, and Murray is poised to take a jump up the standings and challenge ACA and Moravia at the top. </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='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'] (Ankeny Christian): </strong>We're taking the Eagles to win the conference and Wierck is their best player, making this a pretty easy selection. He's coming off a good summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2198461' first='Iowa' last='Hoop Dreams'] and has the ability to score inside and out at a high clip as well as rebound and protect the rim.</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='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'], Ankeny Christian<br>2024 Eli Christensen, Ankeny Christian<br>2024 Brody Hoefle, Ankeny Christian<br>2024 Tyler Mahoney, Ankeny Christian<br>2024 Garrett Pearson, Ankeny Christian<br>2025 Hayden Davis, Ankeny Christian<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765540' first='Holden' last='Roberts'], Twin Cedars<br>2024 Titus Barber, Murray<br>2025 Caden Page, Murray<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325457' first='Shane' last='Helmick'], Moravia<br>2024 Jackson McDaniel, Moravia<br>2024 Wyatt Throckmorton, Moravia<br>2024 Triton Gwinn, Mormon Trail<br>2024 Degin Dixson, Mormon Trail<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520036' first='Cameron' last='Swarts'], Moulton-Udell<br>2024 Braydin Shaffer, Moulton-Udell<br>2025 Ambrose Savage, Lamoni<br>2024 Garrett Stephens, Diagonal</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->