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 (8-14 last season, 42.6% of scoring returning): </strong>Expect to see a much more balanced attack coming from Algona this season following the graduation of Ben Helmers, who averaged more than 26 points per game last season. They lost two of the top three scorers, including Helmers, but those are the only two players they lost off of last year's roster, so this is a group that should have plenty of experience. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2754704' first='Nathan' last='Manske'] (9.5, 6.1 rebounds) will be the headliner, while sophomore guard Jacob Burns (5.0, 40.7 3P%) looks like he could step into a much bigger role after a productive freshman campaign. They'll lack the star power they had last season, but with a more balanced group, maybe they can find a few more wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (8-15, 86.7%): </strong>Nine of the Cowboys' 15 losses last season came by single digits, so with the top five scorers returning, look for them to turn some of those narrow losses into wins this winter. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (18.0, 9.5 rebounds) was really good last season and should be even better with another year of experience. Huxley Lingenfelter (9.1, 6.3 rebounds) gives them more physicality int he paint, and Johnny Lomell (9.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2754709' first='JD' last='Morrical'] (8.5) provide some perimeter scoring. Turnovers (17.4 per game last season) will be a focal point this winter; clean that up and more wins should come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Lake (26-1, 61.4%):</strong> The Lions will open the year as our #1 ranked team in Class 3A, bringing back five rotation players from a team that lost a heartbreaker in the state championship game by just one point. They have a big piece to replace with the graduation of Thomas Meyer, an All-State forward, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (10.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2377642' first='Carson' last='Riser'] (10.1, 41.3 3P%), as well as senior role players [player_tooltip player_id='2413530' first='Max' last='Larson'] (5.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2389820' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] (5.1, 3.7 assists), and Gage Larson (2.5). Coach Jeremey Ainley has built Clear Lake into one of the best programs in the state, consistently winning at a high level, and they're going to be loaded with athletes who can beat you in a variety of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hampton-Dumont-CAL (4-19, 88.1%): </strong>Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731814' first='Brady' last='Harr'] (17.5, 13.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.4 blocks) is one of the most impactful two-way players in the conference. He led the team in every category last season and will once again put up big numbers. [player_tooltip player_id='2827952' first='Caden' last='Woods'] (9.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2116967' first='Tramaine' last='Horton'] (7.9) return to provide some perimeter scoring, and three other rotation pieces from last year's team return. They posted a -21.1 point differential last season, so any improvement there would be a step in the right direction. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Humboldt (15-8, 27.4%): </strong>Former West Burlington coach Ryan O'Hern returns to the sidelines this winter at Humboldt, with a team that lost their top three scorers. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886829' first='Jackson' last='Flaherty'] (8.8, 3.1 assists) will be the headliner of the group. He's a quick, tough, athletic guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams with his speed and toughness. Valley Davis (6.3, 72.0 FG%) was incredibly efficient last winter and will return in the paint, and Chase Flaherty (4.7) gives them a bit more perimeter scoring and playmaking. Outside of those three, not much else is back, so O'Hern will have to find some new pieces. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa Falls-Alden (8-13, 21.2%):</strong> The Cadets lost their top two scorers, and six of the top seven, leaving junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906465' first='Karsen' last='Kalous'] (10.0, 3.8 assists) as the lone returnee with significant experience. That's a good place to start, as he's someone capable of leading the team as a scorer or playmaker. He'll be tasked with a lot, especially early in the season while a bunch of new faces get acclimated to bigger minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Edmond (23-4, 91.6%): </strong>The Gaels bring back four starters and their top two bench players from last year's team, which reached the semifinals in Class 1A. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (23.7, 9.6 rebounds) is the headliner of the group, nearly averaging a double-double last season on 59-38-75 shooting splits. [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (11.0, 7.9 rebounds) is an athletic forward who is a force on the glass on both ends of the floor, and [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (10.2) is an athletic wing who can attack the bucket off the dribble. Grant Galles (6.6) and Ty Mericle (3.7) provide some more scoring and depth, and lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887821' first='Jack' last='McElroy'] (5.8, 5.7 assists) is a talented playmaker who sets his teammates up well. This group may not have the horses to contend with Clear Lake at the top of the league after losing to them twice last season, but they will open the year as our #1 team in Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Webster City (7-15, 56.6%): </strong>The Lynx lost two of their top three scorers but bring back four key contributors in Carter Mickelson (8.0), Matthew Tesdahl (7.5), Gavin Griffith (6.6), and Jaxon Griffith (4.3). This is a group that struggled to score last season, averaging just 48.8 points per game, a number that will need to improve if they want to be more competitive this winter. </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. St. Edmond<br>3. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows<br>4. Humboldt<br>5. Algona<br>6. Hampton-Dumont-CAL<br>7. Webster City<br>8. Iowa Falls-Alden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>A pair of teams that we have ranked #1 in their respective classes to open the year should battle it out at the top of the NCC this year. Clear Lake swept the Gaels last season and should be the team to beat here. </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='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (St. Edmond):</strong> After nearly averaging a double-double last season, we can't wait to see what Horn has in store as a senior for the Gaels, who will battle it out with Clear Lake atop the league all winter.</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='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (St. Edmond)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (St. Edmond)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (St. Edmond)<br>2026 Grant Galles (St. Edmond)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2027 Huxley Lingenfelter (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754709' first='JD' last='Morrical'] (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2026 Johnny Lomell (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731814' first='Brady' last='Harr'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2827952' first='Caden' last='Woods'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2116967' first='Tramaine' last='Horton'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2377642' first='Carson' last='Riser'] (Clear Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413530' first='Max' last='Larson'] (Clear Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2389820' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906465' first='Karsen' last='Kalous'] (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754704' first='Nathan' last='Manske'] (Algona)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886785' first='Evan' last='Allie'] (Algona)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886829' first='Jackson' last='Flaherty'] (Humboldt)<br>2026 Carter Mickelson (Webster City)<br>2026 Matthew Tesdahl (Webster City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->