Conference Preview: Little Hawkeye

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes (19-6 last season, 30.2% of scoring returning): </strong>The Mustangs lost their top three scorers from last year's team but bring back the next seven players from the rotation, giving Joel Rankin plenty of experience to build this year's roster around. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2772348' first='Chase' last='Perrin'] (6.0, 42.9 3P%) showcased his high-level shooting ability last year as a freshman and could have the ball in his hands a bit more this season following the graduations of their two assists leaders. [player_tooltip player_id='2479872' first='Hudson' last='Heidgerken'] (4.1), [player_tooltip player_id='2754666' first='Brody' last='Burke'] (3.5), Luke Lorenzen (3.1), Wyatt Valenta (2.2), and [player_tooltip player_id='2478691' first='Brody' last='Logan'] (1.2) all saw significant time last season and should step into bigger roles. The tandem of Burke, who is 6-7, and Lorenzen, who is 6-10, gives the 'Stangs a ton of size, the type of size that will be unrivaled in the LHC. Despite losing a lot of production, the Mustangs should still be one of the top teams in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianola (7-15, 65.0%): </strong>The Indians lost eight games by single digits last season and bring back the top two scorers from that group in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (16.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (12.5, 6.9 rebounds), which will give them one of the top one-two punches in the conference to build around. Guard play will be a question following the graduation of Andrew DeWall and the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='2419752' first='Hayden' last='Schulte'], who were the team's top two in assists per game last season. Look for junior [player_tooltip player_id='2419814' first='Thomas' last='DeWall'] to step into a bigger playmaking role this winter. With a pair of reliable scoring threats returning, Indianola should be improved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newton (12-11, 44.0%):</strong> Fresh off a 4A semifinal run on the football field, Newton is riding high and will be looking to carry some of that momentum onto the hardwood. The Cardinals have to replace their top two, and three of the top five, scorers from last year's team but bring back senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413557' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (9.2, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists), who led the team in assists last season and was third in scoring. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2979803' first='Isaiah' last='Slaughter'] (5.4) is a good athlete on the wing who likes to play downhill and attack the rim, he'll give them an added dimension on the perimeter in a bigger role, as will senior guard Dawson Maki (4.7) and junior forward Grant Osby (4.4). Look for senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2519969' first='Micah' last='Mattes'] (0.9) to step into a bigger role this season. The Cardinals should have some depth, be pretty athletic, and if they can improve at the free-throw line (52.2%) they could be a sleeper in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norwalk (11-12, 10.3%): </strong>The Warriors lost their top six scorers to graduation, but juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2419755' first='Tillman' last='Papcun'] (3.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'] (2.6) each have quite a bit of varsity experience and will be the pieces to build around this winter. The rest of the rotation will be largely new, but look out for freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='2919953' first='Lane' last='Livingston'], senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1874786' first='Jameson' last='Demaray'], and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2898192' first='Andrew' last='Abbott'] to become contributors this season. Livingston, in particular, is a high upside player who is one of the best 2029 players in the state at this point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oskaloosa (7-15, 69.8%): </strong>Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2757890' first='Tommy' last='North'] (12.8, 2.7 assists) is a skilled guard who can create plays off the dribble for himself and his teammates at a high level. He'll be one of the best guards in the conference, leading a team looking to turn some of their seven single-digit losses into some wins this winter. Heavon Knox (9.4) is a reliable running mate alongside North in the backcourt, dishing out 2.5 assists per game, and returnees Ethan Stek (4.9, 5.1 rebounds), Landon Romas (4.8), and Tyler Edgar (3.8) provide some more experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pella (18-7, 70.4%): </strong>Both of the Dutch's double-figure scorers from last year's team return, led by our preseason player of the year pick in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (14.7, 64.1 FG%). McGuire is one of the most efficient scorers in the state, able to fill it up from the mid-range as well as anyone, and with his size, he's able to see over defenders and get his teammates involved. [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] (10.9, 35.0 3P%) and Harrison Mullens (5.0, 44.8 3P%) provide some needed shooting for this group, allowing more room for McGuire to operate, and [player_tooltip player_id='2439145' first='Griffin' last='Simpson'] (5.6) could emerge as another reliable scoring threat on the perimeter. The Dutch always have good depth, and that should remain the case this season with nine players who saw significant playing time last season returning. This is the team to beat in the LHC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pella Christian (10-14, 40.0%): </strong>Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2724147' first='Gilbert' last='Flagel'] (11.2) is back to lead the Eagles, coming off a fantastic summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2626519' first='Drive' last='Pro Select'] in which he showed the ability to score from all three levels, create plays for his teammates, and defend multiple positions. The next four scorers graduated, so the starting lineup around him will be almost entirely new. Expect sophomore Trey Steinkamp (2.9) and seniors Devan Runner (2.5) and Ben Van Wyngarden (2.4) to step into bigger roles this winter alongside Flagel. Having lost so many key contributors from last year, and playing in a league only with schools bigger than them, their record probably won't be great, but they'll be a bear to beat come 2A postseason play.</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. Pella<br>2. Dallas Center-Grimes<br>3. Indianola<br>4. Oskaloosa<br>5. Newton<br>6. Norwalk<br>7. Pella Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The Dutch should be the team to beat in the league this year with 70% of their scoring back to a 18-win team, but DCG will be really good again despite losing a ton of production. From 3-7 in the league, I think you could pretty much throw them in any order.</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='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (Pella): </strong>The best player on the team that we think will win the league this winter, McGuire was a pretty easy selection here. He's a highly efficient scorer who can stuff the stat sheet and control the game on both ends of the floor.</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='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] (Pella)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] (Pella)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2439145' first='Griffin' last='Simpson'] (Pella)<br>2026 Harrison Mullens (Pella)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (Indianola)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (Indianola)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2724147' first='Gilbert' last='Flagel'] (Pella Christian)<br>2028 Trey Steinkamp (Pella Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2757890' first='Tommy' last='North'] (Oskaloosa)<br>2026 Heavon Knox (Oskaloosa)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772348' first='Chase' last='Perrin'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754666' first='Brody' last='Burke'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2479872' first='Hudson' last='Heidgerken'] (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2026 Luke Lorenzen (Dallas Center-Grimes)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'] (Norwalk)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419755' first='Tillman' last='Papcun'] (Norwalk)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413557' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (Newton)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2979803' first='Isaiah' last='Slaughter'] (Newton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->