Conference Preview: Pride of Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Decatur (12-11 last season, 56.5% of scoring returning): </strong>Leading scorer Sam Boothe graduated, but the next two scorers return for the Cardinals in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2721736' first='Nash' last='Dykes'] (13.7) and junior forward Paxon Applegate (9.1, 8.3 rebounds), giving them a solid tandem to build around this season. Dykes is a solid defender and a quick guard who can play downhill and attack the rim, while Applegate is an efficient finisher and great rebounder who will be the focal point of the team's defensive gameplan. Blake Boyd, Tariq Miller, and Gavin Smith all saw some time last season and return to provide some experience. If a few things break their way, Central Decatur could push for a top-3 finish in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Union (3-18, 20.5%): </strong>The Eagles won just three games last season and lost their top three scorers from that group, leaving juniors Jase Pettit (5.6) and Pheolan Kelley (3.4) as the only returnees who saw significant playing time last season. Pettit was a solid contributor, averaging 6.6 rebounds a game (including 3.1 offensive) and will be asked to step into the leading role this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lenox (10-12, 83.1%): </strong>Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1951830' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] (22.4, 10.9 rebounds) is a dominant offensive weapon for the Tigers, leading the team in every major category as a junior. He can score from all three levels, control the glass, and is also a talented playmaker who dished out 3.9 assists a game last season. Also a standout defender, he averaged 5.0 stocks (3.4 steals, 1.6 blocks) per game last season, and he can defend one through five at this level. Junior guard Dawson Evans (10.5, 34.7 3P%) provides a little floor-stretching, and senior forward Brody Brokaw (5.0, 7.6 rebounds) can control the painted area on both ends. The Funk-Evans-Brokaw trio will be among the best in the league, and Lenox should be considered among the top contenders in the conference this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Martensdale-St Marys (6-16, 46.5%): </strong>The Blue Devils lost three of their top four scorers from last year's team, leaving senior Cale Morrow (10.1) as the top returnee. Morrow is an athletic, quick guard who can get to the rim, contribute on the glass, and create plays for his teammates. Travis White (3.9), Jason Fugate (3.6), and Jack Rezac (2.5) each saw time last season as well and will step into bigger roles this year. They'll likely finish with a similar record to what they had in the 2023-24 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Ayr (14-6, 86.2%): </strong>The Raiders have been a constant in the POI for the last seven years, averaging 18.7 wins during that time. With all but one contributor from last year's team returning, expect to see that strong run of play continue. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886911' first='Jackson' last='Ruggles'] (18.8) is one of the top scoring threats in Class 1A. He's a strong, athletic guard who can attack the rim, pull up off the dribble, create plays for his teammates, and cause issues on the defensive end of the floor. Tyler Martin (12.0) provides a solid secondary scoring and playmaking option, and the junior tandem of Jaize Frost (6.3) and Tate Dugan (5.5) looks like they're both ready to step into bigger roles as well this season. Expect the Raiders to battle it out with Southeast Warren at the top of the league, with the head-to-head winners probably determining the league winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nodaway Valley (3-19, 31.3%): </strong>After having just one sub-.500 season in the QuikStats/Bound era from 2006-2021, the Wolverines have had two in the last three years, including a low-point of just three wins last season. Dawson Nelson accounted for more than half the team's scoring last season and has graduated, as did second leading scorer Jacob Mangels. That's the bad news. The good news is that the rest of the roster returns, and they should become a bit more balanced as a team this season, which could make them a little tougher to defend. Paul Berg (6.0, 5.5 rebounds) is the top returnee and should be the focal point of the team, but there should be some reason for optimism with their 2027 class led by [player_tooltip player_id='2610941' first='Ty' last='Rardin'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Warren (13-9, 100.0%): </strong>With Bedford leaving for the Corner Conference, things really opened up for Southeast Warren, who brings back everyone from a 13-win team that suffered four single-digit losses last season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2397232' first='Cam' last='Seuferer'] (16.0, 14.7 rebounds) is the best player in the league, an athletic, dominant two-way player who uses his size, length, and athleticism to control the glass and protect the paint defensively. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (14.2, 38.3 3P%) provides some perimeter scoring and shooting, while Brogan Ewing (9.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2496427' first='Jamison' last='Ewing'] (9.4) provide playmaking and more perimeter scoring. The starters played a lot of minutes last season, and with everyone returning, they should be able to go a little deeper into the bench this year which will be a benefit. With Seuferer leading the way, this is the team to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwest Valley (11-10, 57.5%): </strong>The tandem of senior forward Alex Morgan (16.5, 9.4 rebounds, 56.6 FG%) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765523' first='Cael' last='Hogan'] (9.4, 3.5 assists) will be one of the better one-two punches in the league. The unfortunate news for the Timberwolves is that the next four scorers from last year's team graduated, leaving a significant hole in their rotation. If the newcomers adjust to their roles well alongside Morgan and Hogan, they could push for another above .500 finish and challenge for a top-3 spot in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wayne (12-10, 12.9%):</strong> No team in the league was hit harder by graduation than the Falcons, who lost all three double-figure scorers from last year's team. That leaves senior Hunter Taylor (2.5) and junior Karter Murphy (2.2) as the team's leading returnees. Unless some new names step in and become big-time contributors right away, it's hard to imagine Wayne competing on a nightly basis against the top-tier teams in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Southeast Warren<br>2. Mount Ayr<br>3. Lenox<br>4. Southwest Valley<br>5. Central Decatur<br>6. Martensale-St Marys<br>7. Wayne<br>8. Nodaway Valley<br>9. East Union</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Southeast Warren brings everyone back from a team that went 9-4 against conference foes last season and has the best two-way player in the league leading the charge. Mount Ayr will be formidable as always, and Lenox has the league's most explosive scorer leading them and can knock anyone off on a given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397232' first='Cam' last='Seuferer'] (Southeast Warren):</strong> Following the departure of Bedford to the Corner Conference, Southeast Warren is probably the team to beat in the league this season. Seuferer, a stat-sheet stuffing forward, can do everything on both ends of the floor and will put up massive numbers for the Warhawks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397232' first='Cam' last='Seuferer'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2025 Brogan Ewing (Southeast Warren)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2496427' first='Jamison' last='Ewing'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951830' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] (Lenox)<br>2026 Dawson Evans (Lenox)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886911' first='Jackson' last='Ruggles'] (Mount Ayr)<br>2025 Tyler Martin (Mount Ayr)<br>2025 Alex Morgan (Southwest Valley)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765523' first='Cael' last='Hogan'] (Southwest Valley)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721736' first='Nash' last='Dykes'] (Central Decatur)<br>2026 Paxon Applegate (Central Decatur)<br>2025 Cale Morrow (Martensdale-St Marys)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->