Conference Preview: Iowa Star North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarksville (9-13, 55.5% of scoring returning): </strong>The Indians pretty much did was what expected of them last season, beating the teams they were clearly better than, and struggling to compete with the teams that were clearly better. They bring back their leading scorer from last year's team, and two of the top three in total are back. They'll be led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476993' first='Eli' last='Schmidt'] (17.7). He's at his best when he's playing downhill and attacking the rim, and he's also a solid defensive option who comes away with a lot of steals. [player_tooltip player_id='2721652' first='Sam' last='Hoodjer'] (7.0) is a solid secondary ball-handler who can create looks for his teammates as well. Unfortunately for Clarksville, Schmidt and Hoodjer are the only returnees with any relevant experience, so it will probably be much of the same this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Don Bosco (7-15, 59.4%): </strong>The Dons were pretty inexperienced last season, and it showed, as they struggled to a 7-win season. But they showed marked improvement down the stretch, winning three of their last five games. They lose their leading scorer, Ty Purdy, who averaged over 22 points a game, but bring back their next five from last year's team, so if you're looking for a team to make a leap, this could be it. Junior guard Ben Belew (13.6) is the top returnee. He's a quick guard who can get to the rim or knock down shots off the dribble, and he's also a solid secondary playmaker. His twin brother Zach Belew (6.5) and younger brother Alex Belew (2.2, 2.9 assists) figure to join him in the backcourt. Forward Landon Frost (5.9, 11.7 rebounds, 1.8 blocks) isn't much of a scorer, but he's a dominant rebounder and strong rim protector who will anchor this team defensively. There are also a slew of other sophomores - Cael Kuecker, Cahne Weber, Parker Lutgen - who could step into bigger roles this season. If the Dons can protect the ball a little better (18.9 turnovers) and find someone to step up and become a reliable shooter (24.6 3P%), they could make a major jump up in the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dunkerton (24-2, 39.5%):</strong> It will be an interesting transition for the Raiders, as they lost a pair of all-time program greats to graduation as well as losing their head coach, Todd Kuntz, who took the head job at Cedar Rapids Prairie. New coach Dan Knebel does inherit a program with lots of tradition, however, averaging 18.8 wins a year over the last dozen seasons. And the cupboard isn't bare either, with a trio of juniors who saw significant time last season as sophomores returning to lead the charge. Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (13.5) is the headliner here. He's a sharpshooter who can really torch teams from the arc both off the dribble and the catch, and he has played with the ball in his hands a ton this summer, preparing to assume a role as the primary playmaker this season as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1759946' first='Noah' last='Fuelling'] (5.5) is a do-it-all wing who makes winning plays, and [player_tooltip player_id='1834827' first='Dalton' last='Weepie'] (4.0) is an efficient forward who can control the paint on both ends of the floor. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2325334' first='Jacob' last='Snyder'] (5.0) also played meaningful minutes last season and will be asked to step into a bigger role this year. Dunkerton lost a ton of talent, but they are still probably going to have the most talented roster in the division, and they'll have the most dynamic player in Marquart. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Janesville (11-11, 46.4%): </strong>Both of last year's double-figure scorers graduated, but the next five return for the Wildcats, including two sophomores and two juniors, so they'll be able to build some momentum leading into next season. The sophomores, [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (6.2) and Isaac Jones (5.3), were both productive as freshmen. Pletz is an interior option, while Jones, despite being listed at just 5-1 last year, is a knockdown shooter who buried nearly 44% of his 3-point attempts last season. Gabe Meaney (5.4, 7.3 rebounds) is a force in the paint, blocking 1.4 shots a game in addition to controlling the glass. He and fellow junior Dane Appleby (2.3) give the 'Cats some additional experience, while senior Joe Kiene (3.6) figures to play a significant role as well. With the youth on the roster, there may be a few rough nights throughout the year for Janesville, but there is some talent here, and they'll win plenty of games and then be a real threat in the division in the 2024-25 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riceville (4-20, 66.2%):</strong> Riceville won just four games last season, but four of their losses came by one possession, so they were close to doubling that total. They lost leading scorer Trenten Swenson to graduation, but bring back their next five from last season, including junior guard Johnny Adams (14.0), who led the team in assists and is their best perimeter shooting threat. Fellow juniors Aidan Ebert (5.3) and Jack Adams (3.7, 6.4 rebounds) gained valuable experience last season, and seniors Kaden Kobliska (5.8) and Ryder Fair (5.6) are both experienced pieces who contribute on the glass. The Wildcats averaged nearly 41 rebounds a game last season, and their work on the offensive glass (15.4 a game) helps offset some of the poor perimeter shooting (24.8%) and turnover issues (18.8). They're probably still at the bottom of the division, but they should win more games this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tripoli (13-9, 14.0%):</strong> The Panthers lost five of their top six scorers to graduation, leaving junior Hayden Loftsgard (7.7) as the top returnee and only player who averaged more than 2.8 points a game last season who is back. He'll be asked to do a ton for this group, especially early in the year as they break in a bunch of new faces. Expect to see Tripoli making a pretty big drop down the league standings here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo Christian (14-8, 73.0%): </strong>In senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'] (23.5, 9.3 rebounds), the Regents have a dominant interior scorer who can control the game on both ends of the floor. He's an extremely efficient scorer (60.2 FG%) and he converts his free throws (72.9%), making him a really difficult player to defend. Sophomore Eli Evans (9.7, 6.7 rebounds) had a really productive freshman season and returns, as does senior guard Jared Aronson (5.7). That trio are all willing passers who share the ball well. In all, 10 of the top 11 scorers from last year's 14-win team are back, making Waterloo Christian the most likely team to jump up and pick off Dunkerton.</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. Dunkerton<br>2. Waterloo Christian<br>3. Don Bosco<br>4. Janesville<br>5. Clarksville<br>6. Tripoli<br>7. Riceville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Despite losing two of the best players in program history, as well as their coach, Dunkerton remains our favorite in the North Division. Marquart is the best player in the division and should lead the Raiders back to the top of the standings, but Waterloo Christian will have something to say about it. </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>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (Dunkerton): </strong>The Raiders lost a lot of production to graduation, but Marquart is ready to take the next step in his development and step into a starring role. He's a lights out shooter and quality playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (Dunkerton)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325334' first='Jacob' last='Snyder'] (Dunkerton)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759946' first='Noah' last='Fuelling'] (Dunkerton)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1834827' first='Dalton' last='Weepie'] (Dunkerton)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'] (Waterloo Christian)<br>2026 Eli Evans (Waterloo Christian)<br>2024 Jared Aronson (Waterloo Christian)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476993' first='Eli' last='Schmidt'] (Clarksville)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721652' first='Sam' last='Hoodjer'] (Clarksville)<br>2025 Ben Belew (Don Bosco)<br>2026 Zach Belew (Don Bosco)<br>2024 Landon Frost (Don Bosco)<br>2025 Johnny Adams (Riceville)<br>2024 Kaden Kobliska (Riceville)<br>2024 Ryder Fair (Riceville)<br>2025 Hayden Loftsgard (Tripoli)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville)<br>2025 Gabe Meaney (Janesville)<br>2026 Isaac Jones (Janesville)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->