Conference Preview: WaMaC East

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Point-Urbana (7-15 last season, 78.0% of scoring): </strong>CPU returns the most production of any team in the division, and they should be much improved as a result. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (11.2, 3.5 assists) will be one of the best players in the division. He's a long, athletic player who can impact the game on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1518926' first='Jackson' last='Brincks'] (7.3), [player_tooltip player_id='2413508' first='Kinnick' last='Covington'] (6.3), Carter Andrews (4.6), [player_tooltip player_id='2511473' first='Nathan' last='Miller'] (4.3), and [player_tooltip player_id='1437003' first='Ryan' last='Sivola'] (3.0) all saw significant time last season as well. This figures to be one of the deepest teams in the division, and they'll probably be looking to use that depth to their advantage, pushing the tempo when they can and playing pressure defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Independence (10-12, 21.3%): </strong>The Mustangs lost their top three, and five of their top seven, scorers to graduation, leaving Aidan Bernard (6.7) and Crayton Iversen (4.3) as the top two returnees. Bernard will be asked to be the team's top ball-handler, while Iversen holds down the paint. The only other returnee who saw much time last season is Brayden Ridder (3.8), who could be their best perimeter shooting threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion (18-6, 51.5%): </strong>The Wolves have become one of the most consistent programs in 3A over the last decade, posting just one losing season during that stretch and routinely winning between 16 and 19 games. And despite losing one of the best players in school history, Brayson Laube, from the 2022-23 team, last year's team found a way to win 18 again and compete at a high level. All that to say, despite losing two of their top three, don't expect Marion to go anywhere. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1402185' first='Austin' last='Goodrich'] (12.2, 38.0 3P%) is a talented shooter, while Grayson Kirsch (6.8) will give them some size and toughness in the paint. Tyler Farber (4.0, 43.4 3P%) is another good shooting threat, and a trio of sophomores - [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'] (2.9), [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'] - should be ready to step into much bigger roles this season. With their history, and returning the most of the top teams in the league, Marion is probably the team to beat in the East Division this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Vernon (15-9, 47.1%): </strong>The Mustangs lost a pair of double-figure scorers but bring back two all-conference level players in Josef Briesemeister (10.7, 6.8 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413532' first='Kellen' last='Haverback'] (10.2), giving them a strong foundation to build upon heading into this season. Briesemeister is a strong forward who can control the glass, while Haverback is a three-level wing scorer with good size. [player_tooltip player_id='2906497' first='Seth' last='Rushford'] (2.5) and Cole Thurn (1.8) are the only others who saw much time last season and will give them some additional experience. Like Marion, Mount Vernon has pretty good tradition and should find players to step into new roles and perform. They'll be a factor in the division again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solon (21-2, 13.3%): </strong>Speaking of schools with a lot of tradition, Solon won 21 games last season but needs to replace the top four scorers and all but three of their rotation members. [player_tooltip player_id='2721815' first='Caleb' last='Bock'] (6.1) is the top returning scorer, but it may be senior forward Jackson Link (2.9) who ends up emerging as the go-to weapon for the Spartans this season. He can score inside and out and should become the focal point. They'll almost certainly find new players to fill in the gaps, but they'll probably be closer to .500 than the 18-20 win threshold. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Delaware (2-20, 82.3%): </strong>The Hawks lost seven games by single digits last season, and with their top four scorers returning, they should be able to turn at least a few of those narrow losses into wins. [player_tooltip player_id='1874777' first='Griffin' last='Lott'] (11.1) leads a quartet of senior returnees. He's at his best when he's attacking the rim and putting pressure on opposing defenses. The Jackson boys, Seth (7.1) and Keagan (7.1), give them some additional perimeter scoring punch, and Levi Wilson-Bries, (6.4) could end up being the team's top playmaker in the backcourt. This team is still a step or two behind the top teams in the division, but they should be much improved. </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. Marion<br>2. Mount Vernon<br>3. Solon<br>4. Center Point-Urbana<br>5. Independence<br>6. West Delaware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The Wolves are the team to beat again this season, bringing back over 50% of their production while Solon was decimated by graduation. CPU should be improved and could be a factor here as well. </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>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (Center Point-Urbana):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1518926' first='Jackson' last='Brincks'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413508' first='Kinnick' last='Covington'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1402185' first='Austin' last='Goodrich'] (Marion)<br>2025 Grayson Kirsch (Marion)<br>2026 Tyler Farber (Marion)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'] (Marion)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874777' first='Griffin' last='Lott'] (West Delaware)<br>2025 Keagan Jackson (West Delaware)<br>2025 Seth Jackson (West Delaware)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413532' first='Kellen' last='Haverback'] (Mount Vernon)<br>2025 Josef Briesemeister (Mount Vernon)<br>2026 Aidan Bernard (Independence)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721815' first='Caleb' last='Bock'] (Solon)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->