Conference Preview: River Valley North
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The Teams Anamosa (0-21, 59.6% of scoring returning): The Blue Raiders were winless last season and only had four games decided by single digits. With a majority of the division returning a significant amount of production, it’s hard to see…
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Anamosa (0-21, 59.6% of scoring returning): The Blue Raiders were winless last season and only had four games decided by single digits. With a majority of the division returning a significant amount of production, it’s hard to see them competing with most of the teams again this year. They lost their leading scorer from last year’s group, but bring back the next six, including three juniors and a sophomore, so this could be a year where they’re building towards 2024-25. Juniors Vince Diers (9.0), Jacob King (4.0), and Nate Fischer (3.8), and sophomore Tristan Faille Tristan Faille 6'4" | SF Anamosa | 2026 State IA (6.3) will be the headliners, while senior Ike Classen-Tubbs (5.4, 6.3 rebounds) is a solid forward who pounds the glass.
Beckman Catholic (16-7, 26.3%): Beckman is always talented, with no losing seasons during the QuikStats/Bound era, but this could be a down year for the Trail Blazers, losing three of their top four scorers, including one of the program’s all-time greats in Padraig Gallagher. Senior forwards Eli Kluesner Eli Kluesner 6'1" | SF Beckman Catholic | 2024 State IA (9.9) and Max Oberbroeckling (4.5) return, but they’re the only returnees who scored more than 17 total points last season. Coach Michael Molony is excited about some of the young talent in the program, and they won’t completely bottom out because that’s not what happens at Beckman, but they probably won’t compete for a division title this season.
Bellevue (17-6, 43.2%): The Comets lost two of their top three scorers in Jensen Wedeking and Robert Paulsen, who combined to average 36 points and 16.6 rebounds a game, but they bring back three significant players as well as a number of sophomores who appear ready to step into bigger roles. Hunter Putman Hunter Putman 5'10" | SG Bellevue | 2024 State IA (14.5) was the team’s second leading scorer last season, providing them with a lot of perimeter shooting and some ability to create off the dribble, while sophomore guard Cameron Casel Cameron Casel 5'10" | PG Bellevue | 2026 State IA (7.2, 3.1 assists) is a talented lead guard who paces the offense, can score from all three levels, and play solid defense. Look for sophomores Owen Putman Owen Putman 6'0" | PF Bellevue | 2026 IA , Spencer Abbott Spencer Abbott 6'2" | SF Bellevue | 2026 IA , KeShawn DeShaw KeShawn DeShaw 6'5" | PF Bellevue | 2026 IA , and Kinnick Paulsen, all of whom saw some varsity minutes as freshmen, to become contributors as well. With Putman and Casel leading the way, Bellevue has enough talent to contend for a top-3 finish in the league, and they have a chance to be pretty special in the next two years.
Camanche (13-10, 55.6%): Former Mount Pleasant standout Trey Magnani takes over as the Storm’s new head coach, and he’ll step into a program that Josh Davis did a great job building into a consistent contender. He gets senior forward Demarion Honaker Demarion Honaker 6'6" | PF Camanche | 2024 State IA (16.8, 8.0 rebounds) back to lead the way, a great place to start building your own program. Honaker is a bouncy 6-7/6-8 forward who can protect the rim, pound the glass, and finish around the rim at an extremely high level. Senior guard Josh Wiersema (10.0, 3.3 assists) will serve as the team’s primary ball-handler, while junior wing Tyson Seeser Tyson Seeser 6'5" | SG Camanche | 2025 State IA (6.0) is an athletic wing who can provide some additional perimeter scoring. We’ll be curious to see what type of style Magnani plays with Camanche, but they’ll have plenty of athletes and should be a factor in the division.
Cascade (15-7, 76.8%): After losing big man Cole McDermott to graduation, the Cougars have a pretty big hole to fill in the paint on both ends of the floor. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he’s the only player from last year’s roster who saw time that isn’t back. Junior guard Jackson Lieurance Jackson Lieurance 6'2" | SG Cascade | 2025 State IA (18.1) is a dynamic three-level scorer who can dominate games as an offensive weapon. He shoots it extremely well off the catch and has worked to improve as a ball-handler and shot creator. He has a chance to lead 2A in scoring this season. Cass Hoffman Cass Hoffman 5'11" | SG Cascade | 2024 State IA (8.7, 4.4 assists) is a reliable ball-handler and playmaker with great command of the offense, while Nathan Schockemoehl Nathan Schockemoehl 6'1" | SF Cascade | 2025 State IA (5.9) and Cooper Hummel (5.9) provide some additional experience and scoring. This group will contend for the division crown and have a chance at the 2A state tournament.
Maquoketa (13-9, 73.5%): It was a tale of two seasons for the Cardinals in their maiden voyage in the RVC. They got off to an excellent 12-2 start before going 1-7 down the stretch. The major issue was the defensive end of the floor, as during those first 14 games, they allowed 64 points a game, but that number ballooned up to 75 a night during the final eight. This is a group that had no issues putting the ball in the bucket, averaging 72.5 points a game, and that shouldn’t be an issue this year either with three big-time scorers returning in Tye Hardin Tye Hardin 6'0" | PG Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (17.6), Carter Meyer Carter Meyer 5'11" | SF Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (15.7), and Tyler Hinz Tyler Hinz 5'10" | PG Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (14.3). Hardin and Hinz are both good ball-handlers and decision-makers who can get their teammates involved at a high level, and either are capable of playing with or without the ball in their hands. Meyer is a long, athletic wing who can score from all three levels. All three of them are good shooters who can space the floor and provide a lot of versatility. Other notable returnees who will provide some depth are sophomore Nolan Ehgliner (5.1, 38.2 3P%), junior Eli Lemke (2.5), and seniors Dawson Hepner (2.3), Dylan Mangler (1.1), and Nathaniel Ehlinger (1.1). This group will be dynamic offensively, but how their season ultimately turns out will come down to their work on the defensive end.
Monticello (17-7, 69.1%): The Panthers lost star guard Tate Petersen to graduation, but bring back five of their top six scorers, including star forward Preston Ries Preston Ries 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2024 State IA (23.1, 10.2 rebounds). Ries is a dominant athlete who will play football at Iowa, but he’s an unstoppable physical force on the hardwood at this level, posting 49-36-75 shooting splits and controlling the glass on both ends of the floor. He can stretch the floor, create off the dribble, and provide some defensive versatility. Carson Lambert Carson Lambert 6'3" | SF Monticello | 2025 State IA (10.9, 5.7 rebounds, 38.2 3P%) is a long lefty who shoots it really well from deep and is a strong defender, as is junior guard Jack Lambert Jack Lambert 5'10" | PG Monticello | 2025 State IA (4.2, 45.0 3P%). Jack drew a lot of tough defensive assignments down the stretch last season and stepped up in each of them. Peyton Schilling Peyton Schilling 6'0" | PG Monticello | 2024 IA (5.8) has played a ton of minutes for the Panthers over the last few years and will provide a veteran presence in the backcourt, while Conley Schauf Conley Schauf 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2026 State IA (5.1) started 19 games as a freshman and provides some additional size, length, and shooting on the wing. Tim Lambert has turned Monticello into an annual power, and they should be considered the favorite in the division.
Northeast (8-15, 78.4%): Last season was a bit of a departure from the norm for the Rebels, who have been an excellent defensive team for the last decade, but they relied more on their scoring last season. They bring back a trio of double-figure scorers in junior Gavin Kramer Gavin Kramer 6'1" | PG Northeast | 2025 State IA (15.6) and seniors Clayton Meyermann Clayton Meyermann 6'3" | PF Northeast | 2024 State IA (13.7, 9.1 rebounds) and Jacob Tegeler (11.0, 8.9 rebounds), giving them three great options to build around. Kramer led the team in assists in addition to his scoring, while Meyermann and Tegeler are great on the glass. Sophomore Colby Gray (4.3), juniors Grant Gray (2.4) and Calvin Fowler (2.3), and senior Chase Lee (4.0) figure to round out the rotation. If this group can get back to their lockdown ways on the defensive end, with their offensive firepower coming back, they could be much improved.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Monticello
2. Cascade
3. Maquoketa
4. Camanche
5. Bellevue
6. Beckman Catholic
7. Northeast
8. Anamosa
Analysis: With five of their top six returning to a team that qualified for the state tournament for a fourth straight season, Monticello is the favorite here. But it won’t be easy, as Cascade and Maquoketa also bring back a ton of talent.
Preseason Player of the Year
2024 Preston Ries Preston Ries 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2024 State IA (Monticello): The future Iowa linebacker was dominant last season, averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds a game for the Panthers. He’s a walking double-double who is the best player on a Panthers team that we expect to win the division, making this a pretty easy selection.
Players to Watch
2024
Preston Ries
Preston
Ries
6'1" | SF
Monticello | 2024
State
IA
(Monticello)
2025
Carson Lambert
Carson
Lambert
6'3" | SF
Monticello | 2025
State
IA
(Monticello)
2025
Jack Lambert
Jack
Lambert
5'10" | PG
Monticello | 2025
State
IA
(Monticello)
2024
Peyton Schilling
Peyton
Schilling
6'0" | PG
Monticello | 2024
IA
(Monticello)
2026
Conley Schauf
Conley
Schauf
6'1" | SF
Monticello | 2026
State
IA
(Monticello)
2025
Jackson Lieurance
Jackson
Lieurance
6'2" | SG
Cascade | 2025
State
IA
(Cascade)
2025
Nathan Schockemoehl
Nathan
Schockemoehl
6'1" | SF
Cascade | 2025
State
IA
(Cascade)
2025 Cooper Hummel (Cascade)
2024
Cass Hoffman
Cass
Hoffman
5'11" | SG
Cascade | 2024
State
IA
(Cascade)
2024
Tye Hardin
Tye
Hardin
6'0" | PG
Maquoketa | 2024
State
IA
(Maquoketa)
2024
Tyler Hinz
Tyler
Hinz
5'10" | PG
Maquoketa | 2024
State
IA
(Maquoketa)
2024
Carter Meyer
Carter
Meyer
5'11" | SF
Maquoketa | 2024
State
IA
(Maquoketa)
2026
Nolan Ehlinger
Nolan
Ehlinger
5'10" | SG
Maquoketa | 2026
State
IA
(Maquoketa)
2024
Demarion Honaker
Demarion
Honaker
6'6" | PF
Camanche | 2024
State
IA
(Camanche)
2024 Josh Wiersema (Camanche)
2025
Tyson Seeser
Tyson
Seeser
6'5" | SG
Camanche | 2025
State
IA
(Camanche)
2025
Gavin Kramer
Gavin
Kramer
6'1" | PG
Northeast | 2025
State
IA
(Northeast)
2024
Clayton Meyermann
Clayton
Meyermann
6'3" | PF
Northeast | 2024
State
IA
(Northeast)
2024 Jacob Tegeler (Northeast)
2024
Hunter Putman
Hunter
Putman
5'10" | SG
Bellevue | 2024
State
IA
(Bellevue)
2026
Cameron Casel
Cameron
Casel
5'10" | PG
Bellevue | 2026
State
IA
(Bellevue)
2024
Eli Kluesner
Eli
Kluesner
6'1" | SF
Beckman Catholic | 2024
State
IA
(Beckman Catholic)
2025 Vince Diers (Anamosa)
2026
Tristan Faille
Tristan
Faille
6'4" | SF
Anamosa | 2026
State
IA
(Anamosa)