Conference Preview: SICL East

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Belle Plaine (5-17 last season, 8.1% of scoring returning): </strong>Last year was the first season since 2012-13 in which the Plainsmen won just single digits game, and with hardly anyone back, that lack of success may repeat this season. They lost the top four, and five of the top six, scorers to graduation, with only junior guard Mason Walter (2.6 points per game) returning among the key contributors from last year. This has traditionally been a very successful program, but they've fallen on hard times in recent years and this could be another long winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>English Valleys (4-20, 98.8%): </strong>A strong 2027 class returns to lead the Bears this season, led by Everett Bender (12.9, 3.0 assists) and Kane Axmear (11.4, 7.2 rebounds). Sophomore guard Christian Tripses (10.5, 3.6 assists) is a third returnee who averaged in double digits last season, and in all, the top seven scorers return, giving this group a great core to build around. Only three of their 20 losses last season came by single digits, so while they may not win a ton more games this season, they should be much more competitive, and the good news for them is that everyone of note will return in 2026-27 as well. This can be seen as a building year for a potential run next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Valley (12-11, 65.9%):</strong> The Tigers lost arguably the best player in school history to graduation in Caleb Haack, but bring back the next eight scorers from last year's team, which should keep them competitive this winter. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (14.7) will be asked to step into the primary scoring role this season. He's a quick guard who can play downhill and get to the rim or knock down shots off the catch. Classmate Layne Peska (4.8, 4.7 assists) is the team's top playmaker in the backcourt, while Owen Ary (6.5), [player_tooltip player_id='2843729' first='Noah' last='Etzel'] (4.5), and Zavier Pedersen (4.3) give them some more scoring punch. This should be a more balanced attack this season and they should finish in the top 3 of the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keota (19-4, 42.7%): </strong>The Eagles lost two of their top three scorers to graduation, including Billie Kindred who put up ridiculous numbers last season (24.6 points, 14.2 rebounds). And while those two losses are massive departures, they bring back the division's best player in senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (16.0, 7.8 assists, 3.1 steals). A quick, high IQ guard who handles it well, he's really talented as a scorer and playmaker who does a great job setting his teammates up. While he's really good as a playmaker and passer, look for him to take on a bit more of a scoring role as a senior while fellow senior guard Jackson Vittetoe (7.2, 4.1 assists) steps into more of a playmaking role. Vittetoe was really impressive last season, posting a 3.06 assist-to-turnover ratio, and opening up Haifley's scoring a bit more could be a big boost for the Eagles. Three juniors - Ayden Galindo (2.6), Brennan McGuire (2.5), and Porter Cave (2.5) - are expected to step into bigger complementary roles alongside the dynamic backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sigourney (16-7, 73.5%): </strong>After splitting with Keota last season, the Savages will be looking to take control of the division this winter. They lost leading scorer Isaac Bruns, but bring back the rest of the roster from last year's 16-win team, headlined by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (14.9, 12.4 rebounds), a walking double-double. A big, physical and athletic forward who can control the glass on both ends of the floor and score from all three levels, he will be one of the favorites for Player of the Year honors in the division. Senior guard Solon Yates (11.8) gives them another reliable scorer, and junior guard Ike Molyneux (8.6, 5.2 assists) has been really good as a playmaker. This team does a pretty good job controlling the ball and limiting turnovers, and if they can find a little more shooting (29.4 3P%), they could be a team that makes some postseason noise as well.</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. Sigourney<br>2. Keota<br>3. Iowa Valley<br>4. English Valleys<br>5. Belle Plaine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Sigourney brings the most back of the true contenders in the division, but Keota has the tradition and the best player in the division. The division will come down to their two head-to-head meetings, and after splitting them last year, we'll give the edge to the team bringing more back.</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>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (Keota):</strong> Haifley is one of the best passers in small-school basketball, dishing out nearly eight assists a game last year, and he's also a skilled scoring threat. Keota looks like the co-favorite in the division, and Haifley is the primary reason why.</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='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (Keota)<br>2026 Jackson Vittetoe (Keota)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (Sigourney)<br>2026 Solon Yates (Sigourney)<br>2027 Ike Molyneux (Sigourney)<br>2026 Brayden Wood (Sigourney)<br>2028 Jordan Tremmel (Sigourney)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (Iowa Valley)<br>2026 Owen Ary (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 Layne Peska (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2843729' first='Noah' last='Etzel'] (Iowa Valley)<br>2028 Zavier Pedersen (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 Everett Bender (English Valleys)<br>2027 Kane Axmear (English Valleys)<br>2028 Christian Tripses (English Valleys)<br>2027 Ben Axmear (English Valleys)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->