Scouting Reports: West Branch-Regina

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa - </strong>An upstart Regina outfit surprised some onlookers by winning at rival West Branch earlier this season. The Bears had captured seven of the previous eight meetings in the series and returned a lot of firepower from last season. The Regals had a new coach after winning only nine games a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regina built on that December victory down Herbert Hoover Highway, rising to No. 10 in most recent Class 2A state rankings. That certainly served as motivation for the visitors here Friday night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Branch jumped out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter and then rallied late in taking a 55-49 decision. The Bears improved to 7-1 in the River Valley Conference South Division, while the Regals fell to 8-1. Regina saw its 13-game winning streak snapped as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Here's a look at some players that stood out in the contest: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1171662"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1681564,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Arnaman, per usual, was the best player on the floor Friday night, u003ca href=u0022https://yourprepsports.com/2024/01/27/trepaniers-late-triple-helps-west-branch-fend-off-no-10-regina-in-rvc-thriller/u0022u003enetting a game-high 27 pointsu003c/au003e. I've been impressed with the Bear standout since seeing him excel as a sophomore two years ago. In my first live look at him this season, the gains made in his game were obvious. An already nice handle has become more firm. I also like that he attacks the basket more often with added strength and an ability to finish at the rim. Minnesota State did well in securing a commitment from this under-valued combo guard. I'll be watching and expecting big things from Arnaman on the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1476994"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":2333222,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Arnaman carried a lot of the load Friday night in Iowa City but the Bears wouldn't have been able to spring the upset without the key contributions from his trusty sidekick, Trepanier. The senior forward tossed in 14 points, none bigger than a three-pointer that sparked a decisive 9-0 run down the stretch. Trepanier maximizes his natural gifts on the court because he owns a high basketball IQ. He understands when he has an advantage and cashes in during those instances. He can bang inside with strength that makes him a college football prospect, but shows the agility and skills to do damage on the perimeter. He's a matchup nightmare.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2333211,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Brennen Dale","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"West Branch ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Dale caught my eye this fall during his first year starting as the Bears' quarterback. He displayed excellent athleticism and play-making ability. While he's more of a role player on a hoops squad guided by veterans, he understands what that is and carries out his assignments. He handles the ball well and has a knack for finding the open teammate. The ball doesn't get stuck with him because he knows he needs to survey and move it on quickly if there's nothing there. I'm intrigued to see how his game grows on the hardwood because there's a lot of potential here.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":2333220,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2731645' first='Jayden' last='Harris']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"West Branch ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Harris is a nice complement to Arnaman in the Bear backcourt as a strong ball handler that can take pressure off of the team's star. The sophomore plays with poise beyond his years and works well within the system on both ends of the floor. His shot looks smooth with good form even though his opportunities are limited. He attempted just two field goals in this contest. He's a pesky on-ball defender with quick hands.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":2333216,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Michael Montgomery","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"West Branch ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Montgomery is another talented Bear sophomore providing hope that the program marches on even after the strong senior class leaves after this season. He provides muscle in the middle for West Branch. He sets solid screens and crashes the boards hard on both ends of the floor. He made 1 of 2 shots from the field and both of his free throws in this game. He does the dirty work now but definitely appears capable of taking on a bigger role in the future. He's quick and agile for a big kid with a nice skill set.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":2296204,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Regina ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"While Wallace's future likely has him lining up on the gridiron at the next level, he's going to cause opponents plenty of heartache on the hardwood as a prep. I was impressed watching him earlier this season and he followed that up with a sound performance Friday, leading the Regals with 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor. His best trait might be his motor. Wallace plays all out all of the time. He's an explosive athlete with strength beyond his years. That helps him finish at the rim. He does a really nice job sealing defenders on the low block and creating a big target for entry passes. If he can expand his game away from the paint going forward, he will be an even tougher matchup than he already is.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":2333221,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Connor Nicpon","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Regina","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"I wanted to slide Nicpon into my last Regina report but ran out of room. The junior is a glue guy that plays with toughness and under control. The Regals are deliberate in their half-court offense, and Nicpon helps keep the ball moving and usually makes the correct pass leading to buckets even when he might not get the assist. He handles the ball well and plays hard-nosed, on-ball defense. He only took two shots in this game, both from behind the arc. He knocked one down, showing that he can be dangerous if you leave him alone to focus on his teammates higher up on the scouting report.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b5240f39d1f"} /--> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: I scouted Regina earlier this season when it played Tipton at Xtreme Arena. You can read <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/12/scouting-reports-regina-tipton/">that writeup </a>for more reports on the Regals.</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->