Conference Preview: Siouxland

The Teams   Boyden-Hull (9-14, 71.9%): The Comets struggled early last season with a largely new roster, going 1-5 before the holiday break. After the break, a young team rebounded well, going 8-9 and improving throughout the season. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (13.2) led the team in nearly every major category as a freshman and is the headliner of the group. The top four scorers return, giving them a strong quartet to build around this season. Seniors Blake Moser (8.5), Nathan Van Otterloo (8.3), and Eric Niles (5.9) provide some additional experience and scoring. This group should be improved, and while they probably won't be in the hunt for the conference title, they'll be a factor come postseason play in Class 1A.   Central Lyon (24-1, 38.2%): The Lions were absolutely dominant last season, winning their first state basketball title, with only two of their 24 wins decided by single digits. They lost a ton of production off of that team, but the cupboard isn't bare, with two starters back. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1751110' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'] (17.8) is the best player in the conference, a versatile, athletic 6-7 forward who can score in bunches from anywhere on the floor. He was the "third" option last season, but still averaged nearly 18 points on 62-48-60 shooting splits. [player_tooltip player_id='1426697' first='Ephraim' last='Hoefert'] (6.0, 37.2 3P%) is a 6-7/6-8 sharpshooter who moves really well without the ball in his hands and is armed with a quick release off the catch, length to impact the game defensively, and a high IQ. Look for junior guards Matt Elbert and [player_tooltip player_id='1573093' first='Koury' last='Serck'] to make major leaps this season to provide some backcourt play, while Matthew Dieren (3.4) is another sniper from deep who buried nearly 50% of his 3-point attempts last year off the bench. Central Lyon has been a bit of an athletic powerhouse in recent years, and with Vander Zee and Hoefert returning, plus a slew of talented athletes waiting their turn, the Lions remain the team to beat in the Siouxland.   MOC-Floyd Valley (21-3, 51.6%): The Dutchmen were electric offensively last season, putting up 75 points a game behind the strength of guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376686' first='Jesse' last='Van Kalsbeek'] (20.4, 7.2 rebounds, 59.5 FG%). A skilled senior who scores in bunches in a remarkably efficient manner, Van Kalsbeek posted 60-42-73 shooting splits and will be the go-to player on the offensive end again. He's a tremendous shooter off both the dribble and the catch, but he prefers to play downhill and attack the rim. Three juniors return alongside Van Kalsbeek in [player_tooltip player_id='2398061' first='Blake' last='Aalbers'] (9.4, 46.4 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1523401' first='Ahman' last='Langton'] (3.3, 1.7 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='1951793' first='Owen' last='Vander Pol'] (2.9, 3.4 rebounds), giving them three additional experienced options. Aalbers is another really good shooter, Vander Pol is a throwback, back-to-the-basket big, and Langton is a quick guard who can get to the rim and get his teammates involved. This group is going to score a ton of points again, but their ultimate success will come down to how they play defensively.   Okoboji (7-17, 58.4%): The Pioneers bring back three starters from last year's team in Caleb Simington (9.1), Jase Jostand (7.6), and Landon Duvall (5.0), giving them a solid trio to build around this season. This is a group that beat the teams they were supposed to beat last season, and they were rarely competitive against the better teams on the schedule. Without a major jump from one of those three, expect much of the same this season.   Rock Valley (9-13, 40.1%): The Rockets lost both double-figure scorers from last year's team, leaving senior guard Alic Salazar (7.5) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (5.9) as the top returnees. Salazar is a pretty reliable playmaker who does a good job protecting the ball, while Van Schepen was productive as a freshman and figures to make another jump this season. This will be a young team again, a group that will be lacking experience, which is never a good thing in the always loaded Siouxland.   Sheldon (4-19, 50.0%): The Orabs lost their top two scorers from last year's team, but bring back every other important piece, so there is some reason to think that there could be some improvement coming their way. Senior Ryan Vollink (10.6) led the team in rebounding last season and is also a good passer out of his post position. Andreu Kolbeck (5.3), Noah Robinson (4.4), Cooper Jansma (3.1), and Parker Thomas (2.8) are the other notable returnees with experience.   Sibley-Ocheyedan (1-21, 54.7%): The Generals were simply overmatched in the Siouxland last season, with none of their 21 losses coming by single digits. They bring back leading scorer Sam Schnepf (13.1), but lose the next two scorers, so this will be a fairly inexperienced team again this season. Sophomores Gavin Stanton (4.6), Ben Byers (3.0), Dougla Macias, and Dawson Kreykes gained some experience as freshmen and will be the building blocks for the future of the program.   Sioux Center (15-8, 44.1%): The Warriors lost their leading scorer, and two of their top three, to graduation, but bring back three important pieces from last year's team. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1376708' first='Cael' last='Van Beek'] (9.5) is the top returnee, a skilled, long wing who does a little bit of everything on the floor for this group. At 6-4, he has the size to see over opposing defenders and find open teammates, and he's also a versatile defender. [player_tooltip player_id='1376697' first='Carson' last='Bruhn'] (7.7) and Briggs Friedmann (7.2) are the other notable returnees, a pair of experienced seniors who have been through the grind of the Siouxland. This is a group that will need to find some perimeter shooting, but with their athletes and the trio they have coming back, they could battle for a top-3 finish in the league.   Unity Christian (12-11, 67.9%): The Knights join the Siouxland this season, coming over from the War Eagle Conference. They'll be led by the Bosma brothers, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1874768' first='Braeden' last='Bosma'] (14.5) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (12.6). Both are capable of playing with or without the ball in his hands. Both are good playmakers and reliable shooting threats. [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (8.1) can score inside and out efficiently, while Jaxson Poppema (4.3), Stephen Schreuers (3.2), and Kyan Emmelkamp (1.3) all have some experience. Joining the Siouxland will be tough, but this is the type of team that could have success immediately with their strength in the backcourt.   West Lyon (18-5, 45.2%): Few teams in 2A were playing as well as West Lyon was down the stretch last season, blowing a sizeable lead in the substate final against Western Christian, who ended up finishing runner-up to Central Lyon. The Wildcats lost their top two scorers from last year's team, but bring back two really good guards - junior [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'] (12.3, 4.3 assists, 47.7 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2325556' first='Trevor' last='Ciesielski'] (7.5, 5.0 assists), giving them a pair of reliable ball-handlers who can play with or without the ball in their hands. Hoogeveen in particular is a high-level shooter either off the dribble or the catch, and he was really good this summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2076356' first='Arena' last='Basketball Club']. [player_tooltip player_id='2397298' first='Easton' last='Jacobson'] (3.4) appeared in every game last season, while Bryson Childress (4.4) and Barak Rinkenberger (2.9) should step into bigger roles this season as well. They'll need to find some size and rebounding, but this is a school that always has a deep crop of athletes who can fill in some roles who will buy into their roles. With Hoogeveen and Ciesielski leading the way, this will once again be a team to be reckoned with.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Central Lyon 2. MOC-Floyd Valley 3. West Lyon 4. Sioux Center 5. Boyden-Hull 6. Unity Christian 7. Rock Valley 8. Okoboji 9. Sheldon 10. Sibley-Ocheyedan   Analysis: At first glance, the Siouxland looks a bit down following lots of losses to graduation, but we know that's not going to be the case. This is a part of the state that just churns out talented basketball players left and right. Central Lyon is the favorite again, but MOC-FV and West Lyon will have something to say about it.   Preseason Player of the Year   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751110' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'] (Central Lyon): Vander Zee is the best player on a Central Lyon team that we expect to repeat as conference champions. He's a bouncy 6-6 forward who can score inside and out, contribute on the glass, and provide some versatility on the defensive end of the floor.   Players to Watch   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751110' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'] (Central Lyon) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1426697' first='Ephraim' last='Hoefert'] (Central Lyon) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376686' first='Jesse' last='Van Kalsbeek'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398061' first='Blake' last='Aalbers'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1523401' first='Ahman' last='Langton'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951793' first='Owen' last='Vander Pol'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (Boyden-Hull) 2024 Blake Moser (Boyden-Hull) 2024 Nathan Van Otterloo (Boyden-Hull) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'] (West Lyon) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325556' first='Trevor' last='Ciesielski'] (West Lyon) 2025 Bryson Childress (West Lyon) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874768' first='Braeden' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (Unity Christian) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376708' first='Cael' last='Van Beek'] (Sioux Center) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376697' first='Carson' last='Bruhn'] (Sioux Center) 2024 Briggs Friedmann (Sioux Center) 2024 Alic Salazar (Rock Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (Rock Valley) 2025 Caleb Simington (Okoboji) 2024 Jase Jostand (Okoboji) 2024 Ryan Volink (Sheldon) 2024 Andreu Kolbeck (Sheldon) 2024 Sam Schnepf (Sibley-Ocheyedan) 2026 Ben Byers (Sibley-Ocheyedan)

The Teams