Conference Preview: WaMaC West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton (6-16 last season, 42.0% of scoring returning): </strong>The Bobcats got off to a solid 3-1 start but went just 3-15 the rest of the way last season. They did get more competitive as the season progressed, playing several close games against solid teams, and despite losing their top two scorers, they should use that to carry some momentum into this season. Senior guard Gavin Brooks (7.8) is the top returning scorer, a good shooter who can knock down shots off the dribble and the catch. Junior forward Carson Nolan (6.0, 5.9 rebounds) will hold down the paint and control the glass, and role players Ryan Spina (4.5), Brayden Sonka (2.4), and Parker Mitchell (1.3) return to provide some depth. This team doesn't have the talent to compete with the top teams in the league, but they'll be capable of throwing a wrench into things on any given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek Amana (16-7, 78.7%): </strong>The Clippers were one of the best offensive teams in 3A last season, averaging over 67 points a game behind guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (16.5, 42.8 3P%), who returns to lead the team as a senior. He's a high-level shooter who can knock down shots in bunches off the catch, and he'll once again be the focal point of the offense. The Clippers will need to find a reliable playmaker in the backcourt following the graduation of Haiden Hardy, a shifty guard who could create off the bounce. That may be Brock Hilsman (6.6), who was second on the team in helpers last season. [player_tooltip player_id='2413535' first='Ethan' last='Vice'] (5.6) could also see more time with the ball in his hands. Robert Meade (8.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (7.7) give them some size in the paint, and [player_tooltip player_id='1759931' first='Cale' last='Berry'] (8.5) is another talented wing scorer. Look for sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2530475' first='Avery' last='Sorensen'] to emerge as a key rotation piece this year as well, providing size, toughness, and rebounding in the paint. With all but one player returning to a team that battled it out with Williamsburg in the division last year, CCA is the team to beat this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grinnell (16-8, 48.8%):</strong> In seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (15.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721799' first='Derek' last='Doty'] (9.8), the Tigers may bring back the top tandem in the conference. McIlrath is a talented inside-out scorer who can also defend multiple positions, while Doty is a quality playmaker with the ball in his hands. The bad news for Grinnell is that the rest of the roster will be filled with new faces after losing four of their top six scorers to graduation. The WaMaC has proven to be a better competitive fit for Grinnell, and with McIlrath and Doty leading the charge, they should go toe-to-toe with CCA at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Tama (8-14, 4.9%): </strong>Only 43 total points return for the Trojans, so the roster will be almost entirely new. They were slated to return [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'], but he transferred to Madrid, leaving a huge hole in the paint. This is a program that won a combined five games in the five seasons before last year's eight wins, and with almost nobody back, it's hard to see them winning very many this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vinton-Shellsburg (1-21, 87.9%): </strong>The Vikings won their season opener against Don Bosco and then went winless the rest of the way last season. They bring back more production than any other team in the division and should be improved and more competitive as a result. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886875' first='Jacoby' last='Johnson'] (11.6) led the team in scoring, assists, and steals as a sophomore and will be the focal point of the attack, while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2906502' first='Kade' last='Sutton'] (6.8) and senior Keyten Grimm (5.6) provide some additional scoring and experience. One of the primary areas of focus for V-S heading into the season should be ball security, after turning it over nearly 19 times per game last season. If they can clean that up a bit, they could add several more wins to their record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williamsburg (16-9, 26.0%): </strong>The Raiders won the division last year, but Derek Weisskopf is now at Iowa playing linebacker, and four other key pieces graduated. That leaves senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2397303' first='Grant' last='Hocker'] (10.4) as the lone returnee to average more than 2.4 points per game last year. Hocker is a talented wing with good size and length, and he can score from all three levels. Brad Knoop has done a nice job building this program, and they should remain competitive, but they probably don't have the talent to compete with CCA or Grinnell at the top this year.</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. Clear Creek Amana<br>2. Grinnell<br>3. Williamsburg<br>4. Benton<br>5. Vinton-Shellsburg<br>6. South Tama</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Returning as much talent as they do, and our projected POY in the division, CCA has to be considered the favorite here. Williamsburg and Grinnell both lost too much production, but will still be factors in the race.</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='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (Clear Creek Amana): </strong>The Clippers are a pretty heavy favorite in the division this season, and Rotzoll is their top player, making this a pretty easy selection.</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='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 Robert Meade (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759931' first='Cale' last='Berry'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413535' first='Ethan' last='Vice'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530475' first='Avery' last='Sorensen'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (Grinnell)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721799' first='Derek' last='Doty'] (Grinnell)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2397303' first='Grant' last='Hocker'] (Williamsburg)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886875' first='Jacoby' last='Johnson'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906502' first='Kade' last='Sutton'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2025 Keyten Grimm (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2027 Gavin Brooks (Benton)<br>2026 Carson Nolan (Benton)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->