One Month to Tourney: 1A Div I Teams, Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're working our way through all the classes, looking at teams who are rising to the top as the playoffs draw near.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are teams and players from the 1A Div. I class to watch this final month:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frontrunner – South Gray:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams who faced off in the third-place game a year ago are back with their sights set on first this season. South Gray, which slipped by Olpe in the consolation game, appears to be the favorite this year. They've got two studs back in <strong>Dominick Martin</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1953933' first='Joey' last='Dyck'] (see below). They also can look to junior guards <strong>Sam Moore</strong> and <strong>Cameron Wahl </strong>to make plays. Despite some graduation losses, the Rebels return a lot of experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Challenger – Olpe:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olpe graduated a bunch of studs, but they are right back at it, which is what you expect from a basketball powerhouse. Big <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2387789' first='Blake' last='Skalsky']</strong> is leading the way, but freshman <strong>Brecken McGuire</strong> is a developing story. He can light it up, giving the team a new dimension. <strong>Dexton Hoelting </strong>and <strong>Ethan Redeker</strong> are stepping up as leaders at the guard spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Work to Do – Clifton-Clyde:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're putting the Eagles in this spot not because they've failed in any way this season, but because they are currently ranked sixth. We love their experienced guards and think they will be a contender. The trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1953948' first='Trent' last='Long'], <strong>Coy Steinbrock</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='2169850' first='Jack' last='Skocny'] (pictured) can attack from all angles. <strong>Drayden Reed</strong> provides length and rim protection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Main Man – [player_tooltip player_id='1953933' first='Joey' last='Dyck']</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the show Dyck put on at the tournament a year ago, there's no question who all eyes will be on this time around. Dyck is a long guard who can make plays at all three levels. He stuffs the stat sheet without eclipsing the talented players around him. South Gray will be a handful despite lacking much size because Dyck can defend in the paint. It will be hard to outperform what he did in last year's tournament, but Dyck will be front and center again this March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player to Watch – [player_tooltip player_id='1461343' first='Jonathan' last='Hamel']:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Osborne missed the tournament a year ago, but they are in the hunt this time around with Hamel their experienced leader. He scores and distributes the ball as one of the most experienced stars in the small school ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->