Conference Preview: Little Hawkeye

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes (14-10, 74.0% of scoring returning):</strong> The Mustangs lost their leading scorer to graduation, but bring back five of their top six from last year's 14-win team, and they should be a factor both in the LHC and in 4A in general this year. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (11.6, 44.7 3P%) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (11.6, 8.2 rebounds) are the top returning scorers, both seniors with loads of experience. Howard is an electric shooting threat who can fill it up in a hurry. He used to be much better as a shooter off the catch, but has improved off the dribble as well, making him extremely dangerous. Cahill is a bouncy, athletic rim-running big man who can dominate the painted area on both ends of the floor. He was excellent this summer and should have a huge senior season. [player_tooltip player_id='1476975' first='Jackson' last='Green'] (6.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='1178729' first='Jaden' last='Jones'] (6.0), another pair of seniors, also return on the perimeter. Green is another talented shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands, while Jones is a do-it-all player who can defend multiple positions, knock down open shots, and keep the ball moving. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (7.1, 3.3 assists) is the team's top ball-handler and playmaker, and he knows his role. He was extremely efficient as a passer last season, posting a 3.08 assist-to-turnover ratio as a sophomore. The 'Stangs are going to be experienced, and they have a nice blend of shooting, playmaking, and athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianola (19-3, 0.8%): </strong>Only 11 points return from last year's roster, which could lead to a long year in Indianola. Having no experience coming back in a league as loaded as the Little Hawkeye is every year is never a good thing. Some names to keep an eye on here are senior guard Jack Bingaman, junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2511461' first='Derek' last='Willmott'], sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413545' first='Asher' last='Brueck'], and freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2124050' first='Hayden' last='Schulte'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newton (17-7, 7.1%): </strong>Newton is another team that was hit hard by graduation, with just 99 points returning from last year's 17-win team. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1256300' first='Caleb' last='Mattes'] (3.1) is the top returnee, while Nate Lampe (1.2) is the only other returnee with significant experience. Look for senior wing Christian Lawson to step up and become a player for the Cardinals this season after a strong showing at the Winterset team camp in June. At 6-2/6-3, he has good size and is able to score from all three levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norwalk (20-4, 57.9%): </strong>In senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (18.6, 4.9 assists), the Warriors have the best player in the conference. A remarkably efficient three-level scorer, Born posted 51-40-84 shooting splits last season, and he has the ability to dominate games as either a scorer or a playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (9.8), [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (4.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='2721768' first='Grady' last='Sigrist'] (2.2) are the other key returnees for this group. Harder is a good shooter who complements Born's game well, moving off the ball and finding open spaces to get his shot off, while Thomas and Sigrist are both complementary pieces who can do a little bit of everything. The Warriors will need to find quite a few new pieces to plug into some role playing roles, and some names to monitor could be Timothy Koerselman, [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2124064' first='Logan' last='Atherton'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2124076' first='Tillman' last='Papcun']. Born is the clear headliner, and there are some nice complementary pieces around him, making the Warriors the team to beat in the LHC again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oskaloosa (3-19, 66.7%):</strong> The Indians were overmatched in the LHC last season, posting just one conference win against Grinnell, who has since left for the WaMaC. But with a pair of double-figure scorers returning, and some significant losses from other teams, there should be some hope that they can compete more consistently this year. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (10.6, 3.5 assists) led the team in assists and is a talented shooter off the dribble who can create for himself and his teammates, while [player_tooltip player_id='1261860' first='Aidan' last='Scholes'] (10.1, 35.0 3P%) is another good shooting threat who will pair with Roach to give Osky a pair of skilled guards. The other key returnee is senior Gus Bunnell (5.8), an experienced wing who can get to the bucket and contribute on the glass. There are a slew of juniors who could be ready to take a step up and become solid role players as well in Xavier Edwards, Alexander Perla, Jaden DeRonde, and Maddux Ashman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pella (13-10, 58.9%): </strong>The 2022-23 Dutch were an interesting group in that, in atypical Pella fashion, they struggled at times to score, averaging just 57 points a game. This is generally a really athletic group that gets up and down, creates a ton of turnovers, and capitalizes on those chances. But those 57 points ranked just 41st (out of 64) in 3A scoring. They were good on the defensive end, allowing 52.8 a night (11th), so if they are able to get back up to more typical Pella offensive output, this could be a team that makes some real noise. The top two, and three of the top five, scorers return, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1171672' first='Luke' last='Hardman'] (13.5, 42.2 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1171673' first='Romon' last='Hugan'] (9.4). Hardman is a strong wing who can score from all three levels, and, as evidenced by his 3-point shooting numbers, is a deadly threat from deep. Hugan is a good complement, a strong, quick guard who likes to play downhill and attack. [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Brayden' last='Traetow'] (6.7, 44.3 3P%) provides more perimeter shooting and is a good off-ball threat who moves well without the ball in his hands. Look for sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (2.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] (3.5) to make a big step up in their games as well this season. McGuire is a big, athletic wing who can handle it and create for his teammates, while Schulte provides even more shooting. Look for the Dutch to once again be really good on the defensive end, and if they can get some more consistent scoring, they could push Norwalk, PC, and DCG at the top of the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pella Christian (16-10, 66.1%): </strong>The Eagles will open the year as our #1 team in Class 2A. They bring back three of their top four scorers from a 2A semifinalist team that gave champion Central Lyon a real test in the semifinals, falling by just one point. They'll be led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='Devries'] (12.5, 4.1 assists), a tough lead guard who can create plays off the bounce as well as anyone. He's a fearless guard who loves to attack the bucket, and he's a really good on-ball defender who makes life miserable for opposing ball-handlers. [player_tooltip player_id='1872424' first='Dane' last='Geetings'] (10.5) is a versatile defensive threat on the perimeter and has steadily improved as an offensive weapon, and [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (6.7) provides additional size, length, athleticism, and versatility on the defensive end. His impact on that end of the floor is invaluable. Benny Schirz (2.6), [player_tooltip player_id='2377407' first='Isaiah' last='Breems'] (5.1), and Caleb Van Arendonk (2.3) each saw significant time last season and also return. The X-factor for this group could be 6-9 forward Kaden Kruid, who didn't play last season but is back and figures to be an impact player in this rotation. He's a mobile, rim-running big who can protect the paint and finish above the rim. If he's back and healthy, his presence in the paint will make dangerous perimeter defenders even more deadly, allowing them to play more aggressively. </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. Norwalk<br>2. Pella Christian<br>3. Dallas Center-Grimes<br>4. Pella<br>5. Oskaloosa<br>6. Newton<br>7. Indianola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The top four in this league will be as hotly contested a league race as there is in the state. All four teams are capable of making serious noise in their respective classes (Norwalk, DCG in 4A; Pella in 3A; Pella Christian in 2A). We'll give the edge to Born and the Warriors, but any of the top four finishing at the top wouldn't surprise us.</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='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (Norwalk):</strong> A versatile, efficient three-level scorer, Born led the Warriors to the league title last season and is back for more. The future Northern Iowa guard is in complete control of the game on both ends of the floor and, despite a league loaded with talent, is a pretty easy selection here. </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='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (Norwalk)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (Norwalk)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (Norwalk)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='Devries'] (Pella Christian)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1872424' first='Dane' last='Geetings'] (Pella Christian)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (Pella Christian)<br>2024 Kaden Kruid (Pella Christian)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377407' first='Isaiah' last='Breems'] (Pella Christian)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476975' first='Jackson' last='Green'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1178729' first='Jaden' last='Jones'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171672' first='Luke' last='Hardman'] (Pella)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171673' first='Romon' last='Hugan'] (Pella)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Brayden' last='Traetow'] (Pella)<br>2026 Austin Schlute (Pella)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (Pella)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (Oskaloosa)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1261860' first='Aidan' last='Scholes'] (Oskaloosa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->