Conference Preview: Raccoon River

The Teams   ADM (11-12, 65.6% of scoring returning): Despite finishing below .500 last season, the Tigers finished #10 in 3A in BC Moore's rankings, an indication of just how good this team may actually have been. They were really close to having a great year, with eight losses by single digits, and five of those by a single possession. They'll be led by a pair of seniors - wing [player_tooltip player_id='1222528' first='Adam' last='Bryte'] (14.3, 44.3 3P%) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325258' first='Rhylan' last='Stine-Smith'] (9.3, 4.5 assists). Bryte is a 6-3 wing with a quick release and he's one of the best pure shooters in the state. He has also improved off the dribble, which will be a huge boost for his all-around offensive game. Stine-Smith is a smart lead guard who limits turnovers, can get to the rim, and loves to create for his teammates. Role players [player_tooltip player_id='1376723' first='Brevin' last='Doll'] (7.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325263' first='Grant' last='Rychnovsky'] (5.6) also return and should be strong contributors on both ends of the floor again. The Tigers will also get more production out of sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] (1.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] (1.0), a pair of skilled young wings who can do a bit of everything on the floor. Both are capable of playing with or without the ball in their hands and acting as either scorers or facilitators. Both are strong defenders and they rebound well. Look for both sophomores to make a major leap and provide some more scoring and depth for this group. With four of their top five returning, and a pair of skilled sophomores ready to step into bigger roles, ADM may be the team to beat within the RRC.   Ballard (10-13, 62.8%): The Bombers were pretty young last season, bringing back eight of their top 10 scorers from last year's team. They lost leading scorer Mason Gorsh to graduation, but bring back a star sophomore guard in [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (15.2, 4.3 assists) as well as a number of talented rotation pieces who are ready to step into bigger roles. Gibson is a lightning-quick guard who makes a major impact on the game on both ends of the floor, scoring from all three levels, creating for his teammates, and creating chaos on the defensive end. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759945' first='Miles' last='Mudd'] (7.2, 39.2 3P%) provides them with some shooting, and [player_tooltip player_id='1256298' first='Nolan' last='Cogdill'] (5.1, 4.5 rebounds) provides some size, length, and interior defense and rebounding. [player_tooltip player_id='2397342' first='Jackson' last='Brown'] (3.2), Owen Greco (2.7), and Eli Rouse (1.9) each appeared in every game last season and will provide some additional experience and depth. Another name to keep an eye out for is freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id='2124070' first='Parker' last='Miller'], an athletic and skilled 6-3/6-4 forward who rebounds really well on both ends of the floor and could provide some solid minutes off the bench. With Gibson leading the way, this group could contend for the RRC title.   Bondurant-Farrar (26-0, 30.4%): We had the defending 3A champion Bluejays at #2 in our "Way Too Early" 3A rankings back in August, but then they lost star returnee [player_tooltip player_id='1587752' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'] to a knee injury during the football season, which is a major, major blow. An athletic guard with great size and a tremendous command of the offense, Pfaltzgraff would have been a contender for 3A Player of the Year honors this season. The cupboard isn't completely bare, with junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (4.9, 3.5 assists) and senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1288861' first='Tanner' last='Berggren'] (4.0, 37.3 3P%) returns. Miller started every game last season and was outstanding at the state tournament all week, showing that he can score in bunches as well as control the game as a lead guard. Berggren had one of the best summers of any player in the state, routinely dropping 20+ with his [program_tooltip program_id='2198461' first='Iowa' last='Hoop Dreams'] squad and showing the ability to score from all three levels. He could easily become a 15-18 point scorer this season, and they'll need him to do so. The Jays would have been the favorite to repeat in the league with a healthy Pfaltzgraff, but with him sidelined, that will open things up a bit.   Boone (7-15, 30.1%): The Toreadors were near the bottom of the league last season, and after losing three of their top four to graduation, that's likely where they end up again. Junior wing Wes Van Pelt (7.3), sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2520033' first='Jude' last='Baumgardner'] (4.8), and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2511498' first='Tyson' last='Shivers'] (3.5) are the only returnees with notable experience. Ball-handling and turnovers could be an issue this season after giving it away nearly 16 times a game and losing their most reliable facilitator.   Carroll (12-10, 29.3%): The Tigers lost a lot of production from last year's team, losing over 70% of their scoring, but they do bring back leading scorer and rebounder [player_tooltip player_id='1476977' first='Evan' last='Hammer'] (13.5, 8.3 rebounds), so they have a solid piece to start building around. Hammer is an undersized but physical and relentless forward who pounds the glass on both ends of the floor, and he's also a good passer out of the block. He's an efficient finisher who will be the focal point of the offense. Payton Wardell (3.6) is the only other returnee who saw time in more than a handful of games, appearing in 19 games last season and scoring 69 points and grabbing 51 rebounds. Carroll has only had one losing season during the QuikStats/Bound era (10-14 in the 2015-16 season), so this isn't a program that is going to bottom out, but it's hard to see this perennial power competing for a conference title this season.   Carlisle (0-22, 61.7%): The Wildcats were winless last season and lost two of their top three scorers from that group. That's the glass half-empty look. The glass half-full look would be that four of the top six return, giving them some experienced pieces to continue to build around. Senior Tate Osterhaus (8.7) was second on the team in scoring last season and is the top returnee. Tate Heidemann (8.0) led the team in assists and also returns, giving them an experienced lead guard, while Charlie Peterson (6.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721719' first='Calvin' last='Frey'] (3.2) both saw plenty of time last season as well. They'll likely still struggle to compete against most of the teams on the schedule, but a few wins would be a step in the right direction.   Gilbert (5-17, 63.7%): The Tigers lost a pair of double-figure scorers to graduation but bring back a talented junior in Brody Hague (10.4), a skilled shooting threat who can also create a little bit off the dribble, as well as a pair of sophomores who contributed as freshmen in [player_tooltip player_id='1765542' first='Preston' last='Stensland'] (6.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765544' first='William' last='Terrones'] (5.3, 3.3 assists), giving them some experience and talent returning. Hauge, Stensland, and Terrones are all capable of playing with the ball in their hands, but expect it to be Terrones who is running the offense again after leading the team in assists as a freshman. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2325344' first='Truman' last='Kruckenberg'] (5.3) and Dylan Terry (4.9), and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2511628' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'] (4.6) and Connor Rash (3.6) also return after getting significant time last season. They had seven losses by single digits last season and had a few quality wins (Carroll, Nevada), so combine those facts with the fact that six of their top eight return, and Gilbert could be a candidate to make a significant jump this year.   North Polk (20-6, 36.8%): The Comets reached the 3A semifinals last season on the strength of a fantastic defensive performance, allowing just 47.9 points a game last season. They lost a ton of production off of that roster, but bring back leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1751215' first='Reggie' last='Postel'] (13.0), a dangerous three-level scorer who provides a ton of value on the defensive end as well with his length and quickness. Role players Graedan Sullivan (4.8) and Charlie Bunkers (2.0) are the only other returnees with significant experience, but players like Hudson Quinn, [player_tooltip player_id='1938209' first='Brady' last='Schulz'], and Jacob Eagan each gained experience in practice last year against one of the best teams in the state and should be prepared to step into some bigger roles. With one of the best players in the league in Postel, and a disciplined, smart defensive unit, the Comets will compete in the league again, and if you're competing in the Raccoon River, you're competing in 3A as a whole.   Winterset (15-8, 36.9%): Josh Henry has built a really strong program down in Winterset, so, despite losing their top three scorers from last year's team, the Huskies will once again be a factor in the RRC. They'll be headlined by the three Wilmes brothers - twin seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1945653' first='Hayden' last='Wilmes'] (8.5, 40.4 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325569' first='Hudson' last='Wilmes'] (2.1), and junior brother [player_tooltip player_id='2397315' first='Hank' last='Wilmes'] (0.5). The older brothers are both fantastic shooters who move really well without the ball, and both have quick releases off the catch. Hank is a tough, quick guard who loves to play downhill and attack the rim. All three are coming off really strong summers and should be ready to take over for this group. But the cupboard isn't bare beyond the Wilmes boys, either, with [player_tooltip player_id='1587753' first='Sam' last='Hensley'] (8.1, 6.6 rebounds), Kade White (7.0, 65.6 FG%), Grant Feuring (1.8), and Luke Linde (1.2) all returning with relevant experience. Hensley is really good on the glass and is a versatile two-way player, while White is a remarkably efficient finisher around the bucket. The Huskies may be small again, but they're going to be really fast, they're going to shoot the rock at a high clip, and they're going to create turnovers left and right.   Projected Order of Finish   1. ADM 2. Ballard 3. Bondurant-Farrar 4. Winterset 5. North Polk 6. Carroll 7. Gilbert 8. Boone 9. Carlisle   Analysis: The Pfaltzgraff injury really impacted things in the RRC, with Bondurant-Farrar falling from our team to beat to the #3 spot. Any of the top five teams in this projection could have an argument for the top spot, and this should be another really fun year in the Raccoon River.   Preseason Player of the Year   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (Ballard): [player_tooltip player_id='1587752' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'] would have been our pick for this honor, but he suffered a season-ending injury during the football season, opening the door for Gibson, a lightning-quick guard from Ballard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor.   Players to Watch   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (Ballard) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759945' first='Miles' last='Mudd'] (Ballard) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256298' first='Nolan' last='Cogdill'] (Ballard) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1222528' first='Adam' last='Bryte'] (ADM) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325258' first='Rhylan' last='Stine-Smith'] (ADM) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376723' first='Brevin' last='Doll'] (ADM) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325263' first='Grant' last='Rychnovsky'] (ADM) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] (ADM) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] (ADM) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1945653' first='Hayden' last='Wilmes'] (Winterset) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587753' first='Sam' last='Hensley'] (Winterset) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325569' first='Hudson' last='Wilmes'] (Winterset) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397315' first='Hank' last='Wilmes'] (Winterset) 2024 Kade White (Winterset) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476977' first='Evan' last='Hammer'] (Carroll) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751215' first='Reggie' last='Postel'] (North Polk) 2024 Graedan Sullivan (North Polk) 2025 Brody Hague (Gilbert) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765542' first='Preston' last='Stensland'] (Gilbert) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765544' first='William' last='Terrones'] (Gilbert) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288861' first='Tanner' last='Berggren'] (Bondurant-Farrar) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (Bondurant-Farrar) 2024 Tate Osterhaus (Carlisle) 2024 Tate Heidemann (Carlisle) 2025 Wes Van Pelt (Boone)

The Teams