Conference Preview: River Valley North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anamosa (9-11 last season, 87.4% of scoring returning): </strong>The Blue Raiders could be one of the most dynamic offensive teams in Class 2A this season behind the tandem of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398131' first='Vince' last='Diers'] (18.6, 4.0 assists) and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765552' first='Tristan' last='Faille'] (14.5). Diers is a quick guard who can score from all three levels, and he puts constant pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to attack off the bounce, while Faille is a skilled sharpshooter on the wing with great size and the ability to get his shot off whenever he wants to. Jacob King (8.0) and Nate Fischer (5.6) provide some secondary ball-handling and playmaking alongside Diers in the backcourt. They'll need to find a replacement for Ike Claussen-Tubbs, who averaged nearly 10 rebounds a game last season, and this could be a pretty small group, but they'll look to combat that by playing up-tempo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beckman Catholic (7-17, 36.4%): </strong>Beckman delivered one of the shockers of the year last season when they upset Monticello in postseason play, avenging a pair of 15-point losses to the Panthers. The bad news for the Blazers is that they lost three of the top four from that group. The good news is that they bring back sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2419787' first='Jake' last='Wegmann'] (8.9), who showed some flashes of real star potential as a freshman. He'll be the focal point of opposing game plans for the next three years. Luke Oltmanns (5.8, 5.5 rebounds) provides some senior leadership, and junior Andrew Schlarmann (3.3) saw some time last season. Outside of those three, it will be a lot of new faces taking the floor for the Blazers this season, but this is a program with a lot of tradition and they shouldn't be taken lightly, as Monticello found out the hard way last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bellevue (12-11, 62.9%):</strong> The Comets lost their leading scorer from last year's 12-win team, but bring back a really talented group of 2026 talent that should be ready to take the next step and will be looking to elevate Bellevue towards the top of the division. A trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (11.8, 52.7 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='2413527' first='Spencer' last='Abbott'] (10.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (10.8, 4.1 assists) lead the charge, each complementing each other well. DeShaw is the mobile, rangy forward who can control the glass, run the floor, and protect the paint defensively. Abbott is a versatile wing scorer who can score inside and out, and Casel is a talented playmaker off the dribble with good handles and vision. [player_tooltip player_id='2413528' first='Owen' last='Putman'] (4.6) is another junior who saw a lot of time last season, and classmates Cal Bonifas (2.4) and Keenan Kilburg (1.1) figure to be key rotation players as well. This group has the talent to contend in the division this year, and they should probably be the favorite in 2025-26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camanache (6-16, 63.1%):</strong> The Storm had a down year compared to what they had been over the past decade or so, but there were a few bright moments, notably a win over 17-win West Branch in January. They lost their leading scorer from that group, but bring back the next three in [player_tooltip player_id='1759947' first='Tyson' last='Seeser'] (13.6), [player_tooltip player_id='1951792' first='Ian' last='Witt'] (8.4, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 blocks), and Cameron Dorsey (7.2), giving them a solid trio to build around. Seeser is an athletic guard who can score from all three levels, while Witt is an at times dominant rim protector. The X-factor for this group may be [player_tooltip player_id='2397994' first='Pierson' last='White'] (5.3, 5.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists), a wing with good size and great passing skills and instincts. They'll need to improve on the defensive end if they want to add more wins to their record in this loaded division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cascade (18-5, 93.2%): </strong>In senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2617509' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (22.3, 53.4 FG%, 39.4 3P%), the Cougars not only have the best player in the division, they have one of the most explosive scorers in the state leading the way. Lieurance had multiple huge scoring nights as a junior, including a 47-point outburst against Wilton at the RVC Shootout. He's a silky smooth all-around offensive weapon with unlimited range. [player_tooltip player_id='1978108' first='Mick' last='Hoffman'] (14.1, 43.7 3P%) gives the Cougs another dynamic shooting threat on the wing, and athletic forward [player_tooltip player_id='1405102' first='Nathan' last='Schockemoehl'] (9.4, 8.7 rebounds) is a bouncy, physical presence on the glass. The top five scorer, and all but one player, from last year's roster return for Cascade, so expectations are pretty high. The obstacle for this group in recent years has been Monticello. Can they climb that mountain and clip the Panthers this winter? This team is good enough to win the Class 2A championship, but getting to the top of the division will be the first step for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maquoketa (14-9, 34.0%): </strong>The Cardinals lost three double-figure scorers from an explosive offensive team, but they bring back nearly every other rotation piece, so they'll have plenty of experience returning, even if they didn't put up big numbers last season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2820184' first='Eli' last='Lemke'] (7.0, 2.2 assists) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2731850' first='Parker' last='Burmeister'] (3.0, 2.3 assists) figure to be the team's top playmakers in the backcourt, while [player_tooltip player_id='2413548' first='Nolan' last='Ehlinger'] (6.2) and Brant Bennis (5.1) both showed some scoring punch last season in their roles. Coach Matt Hartman always has this group playing great offensive ball, and that should remain the case again this season. The biggest school in the conference shouldn't have any issues finding the players, it'll just be a matter of how they adjust to their larger roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monticello (18-3, 59.1%): </strong>Tim Lambert has built Monticello into one of the most consistent programs in the state, so despite losing all-everything forward Preston Ries, who averaged over 26 points and 10 rebounds a game last season, there isn't much reason to think that the Panthers are going to take much of a step back. They bring back every other rotation piece from last year's team that was upset by Beckman in the postseason, falling short of yet another state tournament appearance. [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (13.2, 7.4 rebounds) figures to step into the "big dog" role for the Panthers this season after posting 52-44-67 shooting splits as a junior. A long wing who can score from all three levels, he also does a nice job utilizing his length on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='1951823' first='Jack' last='Lambert'] (6.4, 3.3 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765519' first='Brady' last='Gogel'] (6.6, 5.7 assists) give them an experienced backcourt that will protect the ball and create quality looks, and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765541' first='Conley' last='Schauf'] (12.5, 38.8 3P%) is a reliable secondary scoring threat. Their top four will be as good as anyone in the conference, but finding some depth alongside that group will be paramount. Monti should once again be a contender to make it to the state tournament and will battle it out with Cascade at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northeast (14-9, 63.3%): </strong>The Rebels are another program that has pretty consistently been a contender in the RVC, generally behind the strength of an athletic, physical defense. That figures to be the case again this season, bringing back four of their top six to a team that allowed 52.8 points per game last season. They'll be led offensively by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759938' first='Gavin' last='Kramer'] (16.6, 4.7 assists), a do-it-all guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands and score from all three levels. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420792' first='Emerson' last='Kreinbrink'] (8.5) was a strong contributor as a freshman on both ends of the floor and should take another step forward, while Chase Christensen (6.3, 5.0 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731868' first='Colby' last='Gray'] (3.6) provide some more experience. Christensen allows Kramer to play off the ball on occasion, leading the team in assists last season. Over the course of the season, they're probably a notch below Cascade and Monticello, but on any given night they are more than capable of knocking one of them off. </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. Cascade<br>2. Monticello<br>3. Northeast<br>4. Bellevue<br>5. Anamosa<br>6. Maquoketa<br>7. Beckman Catholic<br>8. Camanche</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Monticello has been the dominant team in the division for several years now, and a routine thorn in the side of Cascade. That said, I think this is the year that the Cougars take over the division behind the strength of [player_tooltip player_id='2617509' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1978108' first='Mick' last='Hoffman']. This top-4 is really good, and there won't be an easy out on any 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='2617509' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (Cascade):</strong> Lieurance is one of the most dynamic and explosive scorers in the state. A smooth, effortless wing who can really, really shoot it from 3-point range, he has greatly improved as a playmaker off the dribble as well, making him an even more deadly offensive weapon.</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='2617509' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (Cascade)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978108' first='Mick' last='Hoffman'] (Cascade)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1405102' first='Nathan' last='Schockemoehl'] (Cascade)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398131' first='Vince' last='Diers'] (Anamosa)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765552' first='Tristan' last='Faille'] (Anamosa)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759938' first='Gavin' last='Kramer'] (Northeast)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420792' first='Emerson' last='Kreinbrink'] (Northeast)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (Monticello)<br>2026 Conely Schauf (Monticello)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765519' first='Brady' last='Gogel'] (Monticello)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951823' first='Jack' last='Lambert'] (Monticello)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (Bellevue)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (Bellevue)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413527' first='Spencer' last='Abbott'] (Bellevue)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759947' first='Tyson' last='Seeser'] (Camanche)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951792' first='Ian' last='Witt'] (Camanche)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419787' first='Jake' last='Wegmann'] (Beckman Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->