Conference Preview: North Central

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Algona (14-8 last season, 85.8% of scoring returning): </strong>The top two, and six of the top seven, scorers return for the Bulldogs, making them one of the favorites in the NCC this season. They're led by the senior tandem of guard [player_tooltip player_id='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (20.7, 2.7 steals) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1484419' first='Alex' last='Manske'] (16.4, 37.3 3P%), a pair with a ton of big-game experience, including a trip to the state tournament as sophomores. Helmers is a quick-twitch, athletic guard who thrives with his ability to take defenders off the dribble, and following the graduation of point guard Landon Welp, he'll be asked to be the primary playmaker as well this season. Manske, a future Iowa State quarterback, is a big stretch-forward who can step out and knock down 3s at a high clip as well as allow the offense to run through him with his vision and passing. [player_tooltip player_id='2886785' first='Evan' last='Allie'] (6.0), [player_tooltip player_id='2530671' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh'] (5.9), Jaxon Eischen (1.7), and Tate Gorman (1.6) all saw significant playing time last season and return as well to give them depth and experience. They'll be one of the top teams in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (6-15, 55.9%): </strong>The Cowboys lost their leading scorer, but should be encouraged with a trio of sophomores they have coming back to lead the program for the next three years. [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (10.5, 7.1 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2754709' first='JD' last='Morrical'] (7.4, 3.4 assists), and Huxley Lingenfelder (4.4) all saw a lot of playing time last season as freshmen and will be the focal point of the program moving forward. Lane is really productive as a rebounder on both ends of the floor, and Lingenfelter does a majority of his damage around the rim as well, while Morrical is the floor general who will run the show. A few seniors - Bryce Lindaman (3.6) and Ethan Russell (2.8) - return to provide some leadership, but it will be the youngsters who determine how good this team can be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Lake (22-2, 55.3%): </strong>The Lions are the team to beat in the NCC until further notice. They've been one of the most consistent teams in Class 3A over the last handful of a years, averaging over 21 wins a season over the last six. They ranked #1 in 3A in scoring defense last season, giving up just 47 points a game, and that will be the focal point of the team again this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] (12.4, 7.8 rebounds), a future Iowa tight end, is the standout on both ends. He's a high-level athlete with great hands, soft touch, and he provides versatility on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] (10.2, 4.0 assists, 43.7 3P%) is a high-level shooter who helps space the floor, and he's also a good passer with great vision. [player_tooltip player_id='2413529' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] (6.5, 5.5 assists) was a standout as a sophomore, shining with his ball security and playmaking, and there are high expectations for a pair of sophomores - [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (6.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413530' first='Max' last='Larson'] (5.9, 4.1 rebounds) - who played well as freshmen. This group is going to be deep, balanced, athletic, and physical again, and is the best team in the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hampton-Dumont-CAL (13-10, 14.4%): </strong>Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731814' first='Brady' last='Harr'] (7.8, 7.1 rebounds) will be one of the best players in the league this season, but the Bulldogs have a ton of production to replace around him following the graduations of their top two, and six of their top seven scorers. In all, only Harr and Connor Miller (0.8) return from last year's roster, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor in Hampton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Humboldt (15-8, 51.0%): </strong>The Wildcats have embraced modern basketball in a big way, averaging over 28 3-point attempts last season, and with the players they have coming back, that isn't going to change anytime soon. They have to replace their leading scorer but bring back two double-figure scorers - [player_tooltip player_id='2474854' first='Elliot' last='Carlson'] (18.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2511501' first='Coen' last='Matson'] (12.0, 44.2 3P%). Carlson can play with or without the ball in his hands and is a talented three-level scorer, while Matson is a bomber who led the team in assists and 3-point shooting. The only other returnee who saw much time last season is Mason Van Pelt (5.7), another perimeter-oriented player who can create plays off the dribble. This group will fire 3s with regularity and look to push the tempo as often as they can. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Falls-Alden (6-17, 55.8%): </strong>Two of the top three scorers return for the Cadets in Carter Weaver (11.4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721465' first='Kale' last='Kalous'] (9.7), giving them a solid tandem to build around heading into this season. Weaver is a good shooter (38.6 3P%) who should be the focal point of the offensive attack this season, while Kalous can do a little bit of everything offensively. Look for Calvin Hutchinson (4.0), Carter DeBates (3.2), and [player_tooltip player_id='2906465' first='Karsen' last='Kalous'] (2.7) to step into bigger roles this winter for IFA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Edmond (12-12, 68.1%): </strong>Eight of the Gaels' 12 losses last season came by single digits, so a young team was close to having a really, really good year, and they could be a factor in Class 1A this season as a result. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (20.3, 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks) was a dominant two-way player as a sophomore and will be one of the best individual players in the conference. Junior guard Jack McElroy (7.1, 3.4 assists) will be the team's go-to playmaker, while [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (4.9, 6.5 rebounds), Grant Galles (4.8), and Andrew Clavey (3.4) all saw a good amount of time last season and return to give them a strong quintet of players to build around this season. As the smallest school in the conference, St. Edmond will always be at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of players to pick from, but playing in the primarily 3A league helps prepare them for postseason play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Webster City (7-15, 13.1%):</strong> There will be a lot of new faces taking the floor for the Lynx this season following the graduations of the top five, and six of the top seven, scorers. Those departures leave Carter Mickelson (3.9), a junior guard, as the top returnee. [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (2.6) is the only other returnee who saw significant time last season. With so many new faces taking the floor this year, it will be difficult for Webster City to compete with the top-tier teams in the league.</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 Lake<br>2. Algona<br>3. Humboldt<br>4. St. Edmond<br>5. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br>6. Iowa Falls-Alden<br>7. Hampton-Dumont-CAL<br>8. Webster City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The super-consistent and tough Lions from Clear Lake are the team to beat, but Algona, Humboldt, and St. Edmond are all going to be pretty darn good as well. Any game involving two of those four teams will be a great one this winter.</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='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (Algona):</strong> There are several directions this one could go, but we'll side with Helmers, the quick-twitch scoring guard for the Bulldogs. He can dominate games as a scorer and playmaker, and if Algona is going to contend in the league, it will be on his back.</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='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (Algona)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484419' first='Alex' last='Manske'] (Algona)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530671' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh'] (Algona)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (St. Edmond)<br>2026 Jack McElroy (St. Edmond)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2474854' first='Elliot' last='Carlson'] (Humboldt)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511501' first='Coen' last='Matson'] (Humboldt)<br>2025 Mason Van Pelt (Humboldt)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] (Clear Lake)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] (Clear Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413529' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2413530' first='Max' last='Larson'] (Clear Lake)<br>2025 Carter Weaver (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721465' first='Kale' last='Kalous'] (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2027 JD Morical (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731814' first='Brady' last='Harr'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->