Conference Preview: NICL Central

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aplington-Parkersburg (21-3, 45.7% of scoring returning):</strong> The Falcons' three losses last season came by a combined 15 points, so this is a group that was really close to having a special season. They lost two of the top three scorers from that group, but bring back a standout guard in [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (15.9, 46.2 3P%), who will lead an offensive unit that figures to be dynamic yet again under coach Aaron Thomas. Gavin is a three-level scorer who can get scorching hot and carry this group offensively for stretches as both a scorer and facilitator. [player_tooltip player_id='1171663' first='Willie' last='Hodges'] (8.4, 3.7 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325268' first='Nick' last='Neuroth'] (5.8, 4.0 assists) also return in the backcourt, giving A-P a pair of skilled lead guards who love to get their teammates involved, and putting those two with Thomas gives the Falcons three talented guards who will look to push the pace again this year. This is a group that loves to play up-tempo and they can score in bunches. They've averaged 20 wins a year over the last decade and should approach that number again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus Catholic (0-21, 95.7%): </strong>The Sailors were rarely competitive last season, with only five of their losses coming by single digits. The good news is that they'll be very experienced, with the top seven scorers returning and nine of the top 10 back. They're led by senior forward Leo Christensen (11.9, 8.0 rebounds), a player who could average a double-double this season. Nick Merrifield (8.8), Myles Gardner (8.0), and Andrew Robinson (7.0) are the other notable scoring returnees. Improvement will need to come on the defensive end, where they allowed nearly 73 points a game, if they want to win a few games this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denver (10-14, 50.6%): </strong>The Cyclones lost their leading scorer, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476937' first='Eli' last='Ricketts'] (12.7) and junior wing Talan Lafrentz (10.1), giving them a solid tandem to build with. Ricketts is really talented off the dribble, creating looks for himself and his teammates, while Lafrentz led the team in assists last season. The other key returnee is senior guard Keaton Rothmeyer (8.7), who was second on the team in assists last season and can provide some additional playmaking in the backcourt. They should be able to score again this season, but will need to improve defensively if they want to hang with A-P or Hudson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dike-New Hartford (10-13, 49.8%): </strong>The top two scorers from last year's team graduated, but the Wolverines bring back a skilled guard in junior [player_tooltip player_id='1951834' first='Colin' last='Meester'] (13.3, 5.6 assists), who led the team in assists and is a capable scorer as well. He can create off the dribble and did a great job protecting the ball (2.58 assist-to-turnover ratio) last season. Devon Lotts (7.3, 40.3 3P%) gives them some shooting and complements Meester well in the backcourt, while Jayce Jensen (6.0) gives them additional secondary playmaking. Five rotation pieces return for the Wolves, who usually have a pretty balanced roster of scorers. Coming off back-to-back sub .500 seasons for the first time in a long time, D-NH is looking to get back to their winning ways, but the 2024-25 season may be what they're looking towards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson (18-7, 85.7%):</strong> The Pirates were great offensively last season, scoring 70+ games in 16 games and eclipsing the 80-point mark five different times. They lost in the substate championship to Roland-Story by four points and will be looking to reach the state tournament this season for the first time since 1994. They bring back their top three scorers, nine of their top 10 overall, and add a talented transfer, so expect the Pirates to be excellent again this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (19.7, 10.6 rebounds) is the headliner for this group. He's a tough 6-5 wing who can create off the dribble, rebound on both ends, and he's a better shooter than his numbers last year would indicate. [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (11.8, 39.8 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (10.3, 5.7 assists) are the top returnees in the backcourt. Ugrin is a really good shooter with quick release, while Olsen limits turnovers and gets his teammates involved. They added [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'] via transfer from Independence as well. Michael averaged 14 points and 4 assists a game last season for the Mustangs, and is a quick guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. The Michael-Ugrin-Olsen trio in the backcourt gives Hudson a trio of skilled playmakers who can knock down shots, spacing the floor for Davis. Kiean Crile (8.3), Oliver Thompson (6.0), Kaeden Wiersma (3.0), and Nathan Rueber (2.4) all saw significant time last season as well and return. This team is going to be deep, talented, and explosive. </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. Hudson<br>2. Aplington-Parkersburg<br>3. Denver<br>4. Dike-New Hartford<br>5. Columbus Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Could this be the year that Hudson takes over A-P at the top of the league? We're going to give the Pirates a slight nod here, but it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if the Falcons sweep the season series again and reign supreme.</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='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (Hudson):</strong> Strong arguments could be made for either Davis or Thomas here, but we'll give the edge to Davis, a walking double-double who stuffs the stat sheet for the Pirates.</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='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (Hudson)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (Hudson)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'] (Hudson)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (Hudson)<br>2025 Kiean Crile (Hudson)<br>2024 Oliver Thompson (Hudson)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171663' first='Willie' last='Hodges'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325268' first='Nick' last='Neuroth'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2024 Kael Schoneman (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476974' first='Cooper' last='Hoff'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476937' first='Eli' last='Ricketts'] (Denver)<br>2025 Talan Lafrentz (Denver)<br>2024 Keaton Rothmeyer (Denver)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951834' first='Colin' last='Meester'] (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2025 Devon Lotts (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2024 Jayce Jensen (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2024 Leo Christensen (Columbus Catholic)<br>2024 Nick Merrifield (Columbus Catholic)<br>2025 Myles Gardner (Columbus Catholic)<br>2024 Andrew Robinson (Columbus Catholic)<br>2026 Amani Robinson (Columbus Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->