Conference Preview: Western Valley

The Teams   Kingsley-Pierson (14-7, 67.3% of scoring returning): The Panthers have to replace last year's leading scorer and rebounder in Beau Goodwin, who averaged 17 and 8 last season, but bring back every other contributor from a 14-win team, which should make them one of the top contenders in the conference. Juniors Landon Howe (13.0) and Easton Nissen (9.9) are the top returnees, having ranked second and third in scoring last season, and they were the top two in assists. Having them in the backcourt gives K-P a steady presence at guard that should give them a leg up against many teams in the league. They'll be experienced, strong defensively, and have a group of players who know how to win.   Lawton-Bronson (14-6, 64.9%): The Eagles were solid defensively last season, allowing just 47.6 points per game which helped them rack up 14 wins. They'll lean on the defense again this season after losing two of their top three scorers. Leading scorer Gage Semple (11.3) returns, and rotation players [player_tooltip player_id='1978135' first='Cole' last='Wagner'] (6.3), Caler Garnand (5.8), Connor Clausen (4.5), Brady March (4.5), and Eli Stadsvold (3.2) are all back as well, giving them plenty of depth and experience. If they can improve a little bit from 3-point range (28.2% as a team), they could be the team to beat.   MVAOCOU (4-18, 89.0%): All but one player returns for the Rams, with the top four scorers back. Junior forward Tanner Dixon (12.0) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season and should be the focal point of the attack, joined by Joey Koithan (8.9), Harry Spicer (8.7), and Peyton Gress (8.0). This group should be improved and could double their wins.   OABCIG (11-10, 66.6%): The top two scorers return for the Falcons in [player_tooltip player_id='2381205' first='Brysen' last='Kolar'] (14.3) and Kade Spotts (9.4), who will be one of the best one-two punches in the conference. Kolar led the team in scoring, assists, and steals last season and should be the team's top scorer again. However, the emergence of sophomore guard Jaxx Dejean (7.9, 9.1 rebounds) should be the story for OABCIG this season. The younger brother of former Iowa and current Philadelphia Eagles great Cooper Dejean, Jaxx is a bouncy, tough athlete who can do a little bit of everything. Classmate Evan Hoffman (4.6) was also a solid contributor as a freshman. If Dejean takes a leap, the Falcons could be the best team in the conference.   Ridge View (12-10, 81.0%): One of the most balanced teams in the state, the Raptors didn't have a single player average more than 9.2 points per game, and they bring back five who put up between 7.0 and 9.2 last season. Kellen Jensen (9.2), Carter Todd (9.0), Zach Kolpin (8.9), Carson Harriman (7.2), and Kinnick Jensen (7.0) will give them the best starting five in the conference, and their balance makes them difficult to defend as anyone is capable of being the go-to scorer on a given night. They're a strong, physical team that prides itself on the defensive end, and should be considered the team to beat.   Siouxland Christian (3-13): There are no stats in Bound for the Eagles, but this was a three-win team whose three wins came against St. Mary's Storm Lake (0-22, twice) and Whiting (1-18). They'll probably be the team at the bottom of the league again this season.   West Monona (8-12, 32.7%): The Spartans lost their top three scorers from last year's team, leaving Brayden Komarek (5.8), [player_tooltip player_id='2886847' first='Ben' last='Holverson'] (5.4), and Chase Lander (5.1) as the top returnees. Those three all saw plenty of time last season and will provide some experience and leadership, while sophomore Blake Pekarek (2.3) could step into a more prominent role after playing some as a freshman.   Westwood (12-10, 77.3%): Half of the Rebels losses came by single digits last season, and with four of their top five scorers returning, maybe they can turn some of those narrow losses into wins this season. They'll be headlined by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1874770' first='Brody' last='Muenchrath'] (25.1), a big-time scorer who can get scorching hot and carry the team for long stretches offensively. He's not just a scorer, however, having led the team in assists as well. Joe Dewald (5.3), Hayden Versch (5.3), and Tyler Johnson (4.2) will all be options to step into the secondary scoring role alongside Muenchrath, and if one of them can do so effectively, the Rebels could be a team vying for a conference title.   Woodbury Central (5-15, 78.9%): The Wildcats are probably a year away from being a contender in the league, with five of their top six scorers returning, and four of those five will be back in 2025-26 as well. Junior guard Joe DeStigter (12.4) led the team in scoring last season and returns to lead the backcourt, but it's sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2754701' first='Jayden' last='Lloyd'] (11.3, 3.9 assists) who could emerge as the team's top player this season. He and classmate Logan Phipps (2.6) gained some starting experience last year and could become the focal points of the program, while DeStigter's classmates Brody Bremer (7.0, 8.2 rebounds) and Carsen Coulter (5.7) provide some more depth and experience. If the 'Cats are able to add a few more wins to their record this season, they'll grab some positive momentum heading into 25-26, where they could be one of the league's top teams.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Ridge View 2. OABCIG 3. Kingsley-Pierson 4. Lawton-Bronson 5. Westwood 6. Woodbury Central 7. MVAOCOU 8. West Monona 9. Siouxland Christian   Analysis: Ridge View is probably the team to beat, but you could make a pretty convincing argument for any of the top five in the league to win it. This should be a fun race to watch, and the winner of the league figures to have a handful of conference losses.   Preseason Player of the Year   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874770' first='Brody' last='Muenchrath'] (Westwood): Far-and-away the leading returning scorer in the league, Muenchrath put up over 25 points a game as a junior and will be among the top contenders to lead the state in scoring this season.   Players to Watch   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874770' first='Brody' last='Muenchrath'] (Westwood) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2381205' first='Brysen' last='Kolar'] (OABCIG) 2027 Jaxx Dejean (OABCIG) 2026 Kade Spotts (OABCIG) 2026 Landon Howe (Kingsley-Pierson) 2026 Easton Nissen (Kingsley-Pierson) 2026 Joe DeStigter (Woodbury Central) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754701' first='Jayden' last='Lloyd'] (Woodbury Central) 2026 Tanner Dixon (MVAOCOU) 2026 Joey Koithan (MVAOCOU) 2025 Harry Spicer (MVAOCOU) 2025 Gage Semple (Lawton-Bronson) 2026 Carter Todd (Ridge View) 2025 Kellen Jensen (Ridge View) 2026 Zach Kolpin (Ridge View) 2025 Carson Harriman (Ridge View) 2026 Kinnick Jensen (Ridge View)

The Teams