Conference Preview: Pride of Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Decatur (10-12 last season, 64.4% of scoring returning):</strong> The Cardinals lost leading scorer Nash Dykes to graduation but bring back their next three scorers in seniors Paxon Applegate (11.0, 9.9 rebounds), Blake Boyd (10.8), and Asher Norman (9.2), giving them one of the best trios in the conference. This was a team that didn't go very deep into their bench last season, with only six players averaging more than 0.7 points per game, so they'll need to find some players to fill into the roles of Dykes and Gavin Smith, who also graduated. But with three quality scorers returning, and an always stout defense, they should be a contender in the league this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Union (2-21, 100.0%): </strong>The Eagles posted a -24.0 point differential last season, but bring back everyone from that team, so they should be more competitive this season. Senior forward Jase Petitt (14.8, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) is the top returnee, a walking double-double who can also protect the paint. Jensen Waigand (8.2) and Pheolan Kelley (8.0) are both solid scorers as well. Defense was an issue last season, giving up 65 points a game, and that number will need to improve if they're going to be more competitive this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lenox (8-14, 48.9%):</strong> With the graduation of Gabe Funk, who averaged 21.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, the Tigers have a ton of production to replace. They bring back the next three, and five of the next six, scorers, so there is certainly some talent and experience here to build around. Sophomore wing Jack Reed (8.0) had a productive freshman season and will be the leader of the group, while senior Laramie Stoaks (7.7) and junior Dayton Tull (5.4) should step into bigger scoring roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Martensdale-St Marys (20-5, 58.8%): </strong>The Blue Devils were fantastic defensively last season, allowing just 41.5 points a game. That stout defense carried them to 20 wins, and it should be strong again this season. They lost leading scorer Trey Wright, who led the team with 10.9 points a game last season, but they bring back their next two scorers and four of the next five. Colton Wright (10.1, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks) and Jack Gavin (8.7, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks) give them a very formidable interior defense, while Jack Rezac (6.8) is a strong on-ball defender. With their size, length, athleticism, and ability to defend, MStM will once again find themselves at the top of the league this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Ayr (20-4, 61.9%): </strong>Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886911' first='Jackson' last='Ruggles'] (19.9, 3.3 assists, 2.2 steals) is the best player in the conference, and that makes the Raiders a real threat to once again finish atop the league. He's a skilled, versatile three-level scorer who can set his teammates up, control the glass, and defend multiple positions. Tate Dugan (8.1, 7.5 rebounds) was really good in the paint last season and will be a nice second option alongside Ruggles, while Adler Reed (4.5) and Jaxson Greene (3.0) should give them some additional scoring alongside Ruggles and Dugan. This is a program that routinely wins 18-20 games, and this year should be no exception with Ruggles returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nodaway Valley (4-20, 62.9%): </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610941' first='Ty' last='Rardin'] (8.7) leads a solid group of 2028 players at Nodaway Valley that includes Titan Foster (4.5) and Jack Berg (3.0), who also saw a good amount of playing time last season. The Wolverines may have another long winter, but this should be considered a building year towards the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons with all the youth they have on this year's roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Warren (19-4, 50.1%): </strong>The Warhawks lost a pair of big-time contributors with the graduations of Cam Seuferer and Brogan Ewing, who combined to average 29.6 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season. Those are obviously big holes to fill, but a trio of seniors return in [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (13.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2496427' first='Jamison' last='Ewing'] (9.3), and Reece Youmans (6.2), giving them a good group to build around. Dirkx's athleticism and length in the backcourt will make him one of the best players in the league this winter, and the trio as a whole will win them plenty of games. If the role players step up, they could still challenge Mount Ayr and Martensdale-St Marys at the top of the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwest Valley (14-8, 54.5%):</strong> Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765523' first='Cael' last='Hogan'] (16.7, 4.0 assists) returns to give the Timberwolves one of the top guards in the conference. Hogan is not only a skilled three-level scorer, posting 46-40-70 shooting splits, but also a good playmaker and on-ball defender who can control the game on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Wyatt Mendenhall (10.8, 3.5 assists) gives them another good playmaker and defender in the backcourt, while junior Walker BIssell (4.4) coudl be ready to step into a bigger role as a tertiary scoring threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wayne (7-14, 79.9%): </strong>The top two, and five of the top six, scorers return, led by a pair of double-figure scorers in seniors Gage Swan (11.8) and Jaedyn Schoolcraft (11.1). Classmates Ruger Berndt (6.0, 3.2 assists) and Braden Werts (5.1, 2.9 assists) also return to give them an experience backcourt. If the Falcons are able to trim the turnovers (19.5) a bit this winter, they could be a much more competitive team that could battle for a top-4 finish in the league if a few things break their way.</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. Mount Ayr<br>2. Martensdale-St Marys<br>3. Southeast Warren<br>4. Southwest Valley<br>5. Central Decatur<br>6. Wayne<br>7. Lenox<br>8. Nodaway Valley<br>9. East Union</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>This league likely comes down to the head-to-head meetings between Mount Ayr and Martensdale-St Marys, a pair of teams that appear to be a clear cut above the rest of the league. Mount Ayr won both pretty handily last season, giving them the edge 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='2886911' first='Jackson' last='Ruggles'] (Mount Ayr): </strong>Ruggles is a highly efficient scorer who can control games as a scorer and a playmaker. The Raiders enter the season as one of the favorites to win the league, and he's the biggest 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='2886911' first='Jackson' last='Ruggles'] (Mount Ayr)<br>2026 Tate Dugan (Mount Ayr)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765523' first='Cael' last='Hogan'] (Southwest Valley)<br>2026 Jase Pettit (East Union)<br>2027 Jensen Waigand (East Union)<br>2026 Pheolan Kelley (East Union)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2496427' first='Jamison' last='Ewing'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2026 Paxon Applegate (Central Decatur)<br>2026 Blake Boyd (Central Decatur)<br>2026 Asher Norman (Central Decatur)<br>2026 Jadeyn Schoolcraft (Wayne)<br>2026 Gage Swan (Wayne)<br>2026 Wyatt Mendenhall (Southwest Valley)<br>2026 Colton Wright (Martensdale-St Marys)<br>2026 Jack Gavin (Martensdale-St Marys)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2610941' first='Ty' last='Rardin'] (Nodaway Valley)<br>2028 Jack Reed (Lenox)<br>2026 Laramie Stoaks (Lenox)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->