Conference Preview: Iowa Star North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Ridge Christian (14-9, 43.2% of scoring returning):</strong> In their first year as Cedar Ridge Christian (formerly Waterloo Christian), the Regents will have to deal with the unexpected loss of [player_tooltip player_id='2425904' first='Eli' last='Evans'], who transferred to Columbus Catholic. Evans averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds last season and will obviously be a big piece to try and replace. The good news is that two other double-figure scorers return in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2724155' first='Dawson' last='Grady'] (11.1) and Matthew Krause (10.0), giving them a solid tandem to build around this season. Krause should have the ball in his hands quite a bit after dishing out 3 assists a game last season, and Grady will be the complementary wing scorer. There are a number of 2027s waiting to step into bigger roles this season and fill in the gaps, and how they perform will ultimately determine how successful this group will be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarksville (5-18, 30.0%): </strong>The Indians have to replace a ton of talent, with the top two scorers graduating and taking a combined 35.4 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game with them. Dawson Barnett (6.0) is the top returning scorer and rebounder, and he'll be asked to step into a much bigger role as a senior, as will Camden Behrends (2.6), who led the team in assists per game last season. There are a lot of pieces returning with experience, but they have to find a go-to player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Don Bosco (19-7, 21.3%):</strong> The top three scorers, and four of the top five, graduated, leaving senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (6.7, 7.5 rebounds) as the top returnee. His ability to pound the glass will be huge for the Dons, and his physicality, toughness, and athleticism will set the tone for this group. [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (4.9) and Parker Lutgen (3.6) each played plenty last season and will be asked to step into bigger roles as well. This is a school that generally produces plenty of athletic talent, and they shouldn't completely fall off the radar, but they probably don't have the horses to contend at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dunkerton (18-6, 21.7%):</strong> The Raiders lost their top two, and four of the top five scorers from last year's 18-win team. That leaves Aidan Hesse (11.1, 53.1 FG%) as the top returnee. He'll be asked to carry a heavy scoring and rebounding load for the Raiders this winter. Colin Snyder (3.0) is the only other returnee with much experience, but this is a program that is averaging nearly 19 wins per year over the last 14 seasons, so despite losing a ton of personnel, the bottom isn't going to fall out here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Janesville (16-7, 61.6%): </strong>After winning 16 games last season and bringing back their top two scorers, the Wildcats enter the year as the favorite in the division. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (18.1) is the division's best player, and junior Isaac Jones (12.4) is a really nice running mate alongside Pletz in the backcourt. That backcourt will win them plenty of games, while senior forward Trevor Santee (5.4, 4.3 rebounds) looks like he's ready to step into a much bigger role this season. This is a program that hasn't won fewer than 11 games since 2013-14, and they'll certainly have some pieces ready to step in alongside their top three returnees.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riceville (11-12, 44.3%):</strong> If you're looking for a potential surprise team in the division this year, it could be the Wildcats. They lost leading scorer Johnny Adams, who averaged 22.4 points and 4.7 assists last season, but they bring back the next two scorers in senior Gunnar Smith (13.8) and sophomore Owen Smith (11.3, 8.3 rebounds), giving them one of the better one-two punches in the division. The elder Smith figures to have the ball in his hands quite a bit this season, while the younger is a force on the glass and in the painted area. He looks like he's ready to emerge as one of the best players in the Iowa Star as a sophomore. The rest of the rotation is going to be pretty new, but the Smith boys will be really good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockford (4-17, 14.6%): </strong>There is only one returnee among the top nine scorers from last year's team for the Warriors, senior Ben Boehmer (4.8). That means that there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor this winter for Rockford, and it could be a long season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tripoli (3-20, 60.1%): </strong>The Panthers lost their leading scorer from last year's team, the lone player to average in double digits, but they bring back a pair of senior forwards in Ethan Schaufenbuel (8.3, 5.2 rebounds) and Jacob Woodson (7.2, 6.7 rebounds), which will give them a pair of strong rebounding big men. Juniors Drew Urbanek (6.5, 4.8 rebounds) and Braxston Bucknell (5.0, 3.8 rebounds), and senior McKoy Nuss (3.4, 4.4 rebounds) also return with experience. This group was rarely competitive last year, with only two of their losses coming by single digits, but they should play teams a bit tougher this year. </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. Janesville<br>2. Dunkerton<br>3. Riceville<br>4. Don Bosco<br>5. Cedar Ridge Christian<br>6. Tripoli <br>7. Clarksville<br>8. Rockford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Janesville brings the most production back from the contenders, while Dunkerton is annually a strong contender that won't go away quietly despite needing to replace a lot of production. Riceville could be a surprise team, and Don Bosco always has talent.</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='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville):</strong> The best player on the best team in the division, Pletz is a pretty easy selection here. He's the only returnee among the top eight scorers in the division 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='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville)<br>2026 Isaac Jones (Janesville)<br>2026 Trevor Santee (Janesville)<br>2026 Gunnar Smith (Riceville)<br>2028 Owen Smith (Riceville)<br>2026 Aidan Hesse (Dunkerton)<br>2026 Colin Snyder (Dunkerton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2724155' first='Dawson' last='Grady'] (Cedar Ridge Christian)<br>2026 Matthew Krause (Cedar Ridge Christian)<br>2026 Ethan Schaufenbuel (Tripoli)<br>2026 Jacob Woodson (Tripoli)<br>2027 Drew Urbanek (Tripoli)<br>2027 Braxston Bucknell (Tripoli)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (Don Bosco)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (Don Bosco)<br>2026 Dawson Barnett (Clarksville)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->