Conference Preview: Little Hawkeye

The Teams   Dallas Center-Grimes (20-4 last season, 11.1% of scoring returning): The Mustangs lost a ton of production off of last year's team, losing the top four, and six of the top seven, scorers to graduation. [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (6.0, 4.1 assists) is the lone returnee among that top seven, and is a good place to start building. He's a really good playmaker who does a great job protecting the ball (3.54 assist-to-turnover ratio last season), and his ability to create offense while limiting turnovers helps this group be as efficient as they have been for years now. There isn't much else coming back from last year's varsity roster, but the 'Stangs did gain the services of a pair of talented transfers in [player_tooltip player_id='1759897' first='Kyle' last='Cason'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2204886' first='Mateo' last='Dzolota']. Cason was a starter and key contributor for a pair of state championship teams at Valley and will be the headliner for DCG as a senior. He averaged 8.5 points a game at Valley and is a really good shooter who should shine in his extended role. Dzolota didn't play much at Waukee Northwest, but he's another talented guard who can create plays off the dribble. This group is probably going to be pretty small, but under Joel Rankin they'll be tough, physical, strong defensively, and a factor in the LHC.   Indianola (2-20, 90.4%): The Indians bring back their top five scorers from last year's team, and all but one player who saw time is back. Three freshmen were among the top four scorers on last year's team in [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (10.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (8.2, 38.8 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2419752' first='Hayden' last='Schulte'] (7.1), and they'll be the focal points for the team for the next three years. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2511461' first='Derek' last='Willmott'] (7.2, 6.6 rebounds, 62.3 FG%) will be the senior leader and a solid interior option who can score inside and out as well as control the glass on both ends of the floor. Andrew DeWall (6.9), [player_tooltip player_id='2413545' first='Asher' last='Brueck'] (3.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='2419814' first='Thomas' last='DeWall'] (2.6) also return after seeing a good amount of playing time last season, giving them some more depth. This group should be much improved and while they're probably a year away from really contending for a league title, they could be a factor in the race.   Newton (11-12, 30.7%): The Cardinals lost their top two scorers, and three of the top four, from last year's team, leaving a pretty significant hole in the backcourt. That said, guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413557' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (9.8, 42.1 3P%) could emerge as one of the best players in the conference this season. He's a skilled guard who can shoot it well off both the dribble and the catch, as well as create plays off the bounce for his teammates. Cade Bauer (4.8) is the only other returnee who saw a lot of time, but there are some talented players who are ready to step into bigger roles in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2511456' first='Landon' last='Bozarth'] (1.7) and junior guards Dawson Maki and [player_tooltip player_id='2519969' first='Micah' last='Mattes'].   Norwalk (18-6, 48.2%): For the first time since the 2015-16 season, there won't be a Born donning a Warriors jersey. Guard Redek Born, who averaged 23 points and 4 assists last season, has graduated and taken his talents to Northern Iowa, leaving a big gap in the backcourt. The top two scorers graduated, but everyone else from last year's roster returns. So while they may not have the high-end star power that they've had for the last several years, they should be a pretty balanced team that will contend in the LHC again. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (8.0) is the top returnee, while Timothy Koerselman (7.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721768' first='Grady' last='Sigrist'] (6.4) are both solid scoring threats as well. Look for increased production out of sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'] (2.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2617546' first='Tillman' last='Papcun'] (1.4), and Luke Brewer (1.0), who each saw time as freshmen and will be much bigger parts of the team this season. There is still a good amount of talent here, and they'll be a contender.   Oskaloosa (4-18, 19.3%): The Indians lost their top four scorers either to graduation or transfer ([player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach']), leaving senior forward Xavier Edwards (3.3) and junior guard Landon Romas (3.3) as the top returnees. Only five of their losses last season were by single digits, and with a ton of personnel losses, this is probably the team that finishes at the bottom of this always loaded league.   Pella (15-10, 57.7%): Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2617508' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (14.4, 7.6 rebounds) returns to lead a Dutch team that may have been a year ahead of schedule in reaching the 3A state tournament last season. McGuire is a long, athletic 6-5 wing who can score from all three levels and create quality looks for his teammates off the bounce. He's a highly efficient scorer who does a majority of his damage by getting to the rim, but he has worked hard to add some more consistent range to his game, and if that carries into the high school season, he'll be nearly impossible for teams to slow down. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484417' first='Brayden' last='Traetow'] (9.5, 3.4 assists) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] (7.7, 38.3 3P%) are both capable 3-point shooting threats who can take advantage of the open looks McGuire gets them, and the Dutch are always able to go pretty deep into their bench. This should be the team to beat in the conference this season.   Pella Christian (18-6, 12.0%): After spending 32 years as an assistant, Marv Van Wyk takes over the PC program and will have a big job ahead of him, needing to replace all five starters and seven of the top nine scorers. The only returnees who saw any relevant playing time last season are Deacon Branderhorst (2.7), Landon Fransman (2.3), Cooper Spronk (1.9), and Gilbert Flagel (1.2), who were rotation pieces in a deep rotation. The Eagles will be heavily reliant on that quartet, especially early in the season as new faces get accustomed to always rugged life in the LHC. Pella Christian is always going to be competitive, and despite the significant changes on the sidelines and on the court, they should still be a team that will compete and make life difficult for opposing teams.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Pella 2. Dallas Center-Grimes 3. Norwalk 4. Indianola 5. Newton 6. Pella Christian 7. Oskaloosa   Analysis: This is a league that was hit pretty hard by graduation and transfers, leaving Pella as the team to beat. The Dutch bring the most back of the top-tier teams in the league, but DCG and Norwalk will always be good and should be a factor again.   Preseason Player of the Year   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2617508' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (Pella): McGuire is the leading returning scorer and rebounder in the league, and will be the focal point of the Dutch attack again this season. Pella is the team to beat, and McGuire is their best player, making this a pretty easy selection.   Players to Watch   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2617508' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (Pella) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484417' first='Brayden' last='Traetow'] (Pella) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] (Pella) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759897' first='Kyle' last='Cason'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2204886' first='Mateo' last='Dzolota'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413557' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (Newton) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511456' first='Landon' last='Bozarth'] (Newton) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (Indianola) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (Indianola) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511461' first='Derek' last='Willmott'] (Indianola) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419752' first='Hayden' last='Schulte'] (Indianola) 2025 Andrew DeWall (Indianola) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'] (Norwalk) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (Norwalk) 2025 Timothy Koerselman (Norwalk) 2025 Landon Fransman (Pella Christian)

The Teams