Conference Preview: Upper Iowa – Large School

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crestwood (7-14 last season, 95.0% of scoring returning): </strong>The Cadets really improved down the stretch last season, going 5-2 in their last seven games of the season. They bring back the top eight scorers from that group, so expectations should be pretty high heading into the 2025-26 season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2824349' first='Alex' last='Berg'] (13.0, 6.6 rebounds) leads a trio of double-figure returning scorers. He's an efficient scorer who can also step out and stretch the floor. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2386373' first='Drake' last='Sir'] (11.7, 41.4 3P%) is a really good shooter, and senior guards Richie McKusker (11.2, 3.2 assists) and Ben Issacson (7.9, 3.3 assists) give them a pair of reliable ball-handlers and playmakers in the backcourt. Luke Drtina (8.2, 5.1 rebounds) and Dane Curtin (3.0, 6.0 rebounds) pair with Berg to give them a presence in the paint and on the glass. This will be one of the deepest teams in the conference, and they should be considered one of the favorites in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MFL MarMac (18-5, 38.5%): </strong>The Bulldogs lost three of their top four scorers, but bring back one of the best lead guards in small school basketball in [player_tooltip player_id='2617484' first='Carter' last='Lightfoot'] (12.6, 6.4 assists, 3.6 steals), which is a great place to start building a roster. His ability to create quality looks off the dribble for himself and his teammates makes this group go, and he's a pest on the defensive end as well. Look for him to have a dominant senior year. Eli Hanson (6.0), Wesley Corlett (4.9), and Kyler Nuehring (1.6) all saw a good amount of time last season and will step into bigger roles as seniors. Outside of a few down years in 2017-18 and 2020-21, this is a program that consistently wins 16-19 games, and with a guard as good as Lightfoot returning, that certainly seems like a possibility this year again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Hampton (4-17, 61.3%): </strong>The Chickasaws won just four games last season but do bring back their leading scorer and four of the top six. Senior Caden Rochford (10.9) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season and will once again be the focal point of the attack. Braxton Bundy (6.8, 37.9 3P%) was the team's top shooting threat and should be so again, and sophomores Ethan Carter (4.6) and Carson Laures (4.5) were both productive as freshmen and should be ready to take another step forward. In a division filled with schools returning a lot of talent, it's hard to see New Hampton competing with the top teams in the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Fayette Valley (23-1, 12.3%): </strong>Not only did the TigerHawks lose the top five scorers from last year's team, they lost an all-time great with the graduation of Cael Reichter, who averaged 29.4 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game last season. That is, obviously, a huge statistical hole to fill. Seniors Cole Moser (4.0) and Jordan O'Kones (3.6) are the lone returnees who saw much playing time last season and will be asked to carry the load this season. After a devastating loss to end arguably the best season in school history last year, and the huge personnel losses, NFV is going to take a big step backwards this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Winneshiek (18-6, 75.1%): </strong>The Warriors should be considered the favorite in the division heading into the season, bringing back three big-time scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (17.7), [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (16.4, 4.2 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (13.3, 5.1 assists), giving them the best trio in the conference. All three are capable of playing with or without the ball in their hands, each is a strong rebounder, and they can each score from all three levels. With their three-headed monster leading the charge, they're going to be really tough to beat. Sophomore guard Jordan Einck (6.6, 47.7 3P%) had a really nice freshman year and can provide some shooting and floor spacing, and fellow seniors Carver Wenthold (3.8), Cale Kleppe (2.8), Logan Tieskoetter (2.1) provide some depth and toughness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukon (10-13, 70.0%): </strong>The Indians were young last season, led in scoring by a freshman ([player_tooltip player_id='2772324' first='Talin' last='Hemann'], 14.7), sophomore ([player_tooltip player_id='2906515' first='Vaughn' last='Stegen'], 13.7), and junior (Colton O'Neill, 7.5). Obviously all three are back, giving Waukon a great trio to build around this winter. Hemann had a really productive freshman season and will be even better as a sophomore, while Stegen is the team's top shooting threat and O'Neill led the team in assists. Size and rebounding could be an issue, graduating the top two in rebounding last season, but this is a group that should be pretty athletic and physical. If they can solve that issue, they could be a real contender in the division. </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. South Winneshiek<br>2. MFL MarMac<br>3. Crestwood<br>4. Waukon<br>5. North Fayette Valley<br>6. New Hampton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The Warriors bring back three double-figure scorers to a team that had a ton of success last season, making them a pretty clear choice here. MFL brings back a fantastic lead guard, and both Crestwood and Waukon should be improved and competitive with the top teams.</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='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (South Winneshiek):</strong> Take your pick of any of the top three returnees for South Winneshiek here, but we'll give the nod to Winings, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season.</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='2824349' first='Alex' last='Berg'] (Crestwood)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2386373' first='Drake' last='Sir'] (Crestwood)<br>2026 Richie McKusker (Crestwood)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906515' first='Vaughn' last='Stegen'] (Waukon)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772324' first='Talin' last='Hemann'] (Waukon)<br>2026 Colton O'Neill (Waukon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (South Winneshiek)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (South Winneshiek)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (South Winneshiek)<br>2026 Caden Rochford (New Hampton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2617484' first='Carter' last='Lightfoot'] (MFL MarMac)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->