Conference Preview: Rolling Valley

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ar-We-Va (16-7 last season, 59.1% of scoring returning): </strong>The Rockets lost two of their top three scorers from last year's team, but do bring back one of the better players in the league in senior guard Wyatt Ragaller (15.2). A three-level scorer who can fill it up from anywhere as well as create quality looks for his teammates, he'll be asked to step into an even bigger scoring role this winter. Tyson VonGlan (4.3, 7.3 rebounds) was solid on the glass on both ends of the floor last season and will give them some size and physicality, while role players Hayden Studer (4.0), Derek Thomsen (3.7), Devon Ehlers (3.2), and Grant Wilken (2.7) all return, giving Ar-We-Va plenty of experience. With Ragaller returning, they'll win plenty of games, but probably don't have the firepower to contend with Coon Rapids-Bayard or Woodbine at the top of the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Boyer Valley (6-17, 96.7%):</strong> Junior forward Tristen Burkhart (1.0, 5.7 rebounds) headlines a Bulldogs team that brings back the top six, and 10 of the top 11, scorers. Burkhart and senior Michael Davis (10.0) each average double-figures, while Brody Koski (9.3) and Levi Reineke (7.8) give them some additional scoring punch. Look for Reineke, Jace Bromert (3.0), and Jericho Ingram (2.2), each coming off productive freshmen seasons, to take a step forward for this group, which will be a big boost. They need to clean up the turnovers (18.6) and find some shooting (21.7 3P%) if they want to make a major improvement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CAM (12-11, 55.3%): </strong>The Cougars came on really strong down the stretch last season, winning eight of their last 10 games. They lost their leading scorer, and three of the top five, from that group, but bring back standout forward [player_tooltip player_id='2799203' first='Collin' last='Bower'] (15.8, 13.0 rebounds), a dominant force in the paint on both ends of the floor. A physical, athletic big man who can control the paint, he'll put up massive numbers as a senior. Gunnar Hoguelson (8.4) gives them a secondary scorer, but they'll need to find someone to rely upon with the ball in their hands following the graduations of Chase Jahde and Makade Paulsen. Bower will be a force, and if they can find some guard play, they can push for a top-3 finish in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coon Rapids-Bayard (22-3, 88.3%): </strong>The Crusaders lost three games last season by a combined 14 points, with two of those losses coming to league rival Woodbine, including in the substate final. They bring back the top four scorers, and all but one player overall, from last year's roster, so expectations are sky high in Coon Rapids. They'll be led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (22.2, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists), a versatile 6-4 combo forward who can score inside and out, control the glass, and create looks for his teammates. Younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (10.9, 11.1 rebounds) is dominant on the glass on both ends of the floor and is an efficient finisher around the bucket, and classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2906452' first='Caden' last='Oswald'] (10.6, 4.1 assists) is a skilled playmaker. This group protects the ball extremely well (9.0 turnovers) and was elite defensively (39.9 points per game allowed), and they should be even better this year. This team is not only the group to beat in the Rolling Valley, they're one of the favorites to win it all in Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Exira-EHK (5-18, 52.8%):</strong> The Spartans have to replace their leading scorer, having lost two of their top three from last year's team. Senior guard Austin Rasmussen (11.7, 3.4 assists) led the team in assists last season and was the second leading scorer. He'll be asked to step into an even bigger role this season. Owen Juhl (6.6, 3.3 assists) gives them another playmaker with the ball in his hands, while Bryce Brabham (5.3, 4.7 rebounds) will become the focal point in the painted area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glidden-Ralston (10-12, 30.4%):</strong> The Wildcats lost their top three scorers from last year's team, leaving junior Dawson Majerus (6.2) and senior Alex Daniel (4.2) as the top returnees. Majerus was solid in a complementary role last season and will need to be the go-to option this year in the paint, while Daniel should have the ball in his hands a lot this winter. The 'Cats probably take a bit of a step back this year after finishing in the middle of the league last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paton-Churdan (6-15, 89.9%):</strong> The top three scorers, and all but one player, return for the Rockets, so there should be some reason for optimism that they can be improved this year. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2754681' first='Trevon' last='Keely'] (18.8, 7.4 rebounds) stuffs the stat sheet in a variety of ways and will be one of the most productive players in the conference. He's a good athlete, bouncy and versatile on both ends of the floor. Phoenix Hartman (9.6) and Cayden Stream (9.0) give them some additional scoring on the wings. This group really needs to improve from the free-throw line (45.4%) if they want to win some close games this year and improve their record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Harrison (1-22, 52.3%): </strong>After losing a ton of production off of back-to-back state tournament teams, a step back last year was expected. The Hawkeyes now must replace the leading scorer from last year's team, but have a pair of sophomores in Noah Cox (6.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2523887' first='Blake' last='Lawrenson'] (5.3, 6.8 rebounds) returning who saw good time as freshmen and will be the focal points for the program moving forward. It will probably be another long year in Mondamin, but they have a few pieces to be excited about in the coming years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Woodbine (23-3, 52.0%): </strong>The Tigers have reached back-to-back state tournaments and will once again be a threat to do so this year. They lost their leading scorer but bring back one of the most impressive athletes in the state in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (14.3, 6.8 rebounds) who will step into a starring role this season. He's a long, bouncy wing who can score from all three levels, create off the dribble, and defend multiple positions. [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] (11.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413639' first='Brody' last='Pryor'] (8.0) both return after having been quality role players on those state tournament teams, giving the Tigers some senior leadership. If they can find some role players to step up alongside Blum and the Pryor boys, they can win the league again and make a push to Des Moines.</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. Coon Rapids-Bayard<br>2. Woodbine<br>3. Ar-We-Va<br>4. CAM<br>5. Boyer Valley<br>6. Glidden-Ralston<br>7. Paton-Churdan<br>8. Exira-EHK<br>9. West Harrison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>The league likely once again comes down to Coon Rapids-Bayard and Woodbine, both threats to make some real noise in 1A. The Crusaders went 1-2 against the Tigers last season, but bring back much more from those rosters and are the favorite this year. Ar-We-Va should be formidable, and CAM has a dominant interior player that can make them a threat on any given night.</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='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard): </strong>This race likely comes down to Heydon or [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'], but we'll give the edge to Heydon, the best player on a Crusaders team that we have winning the league. His ability to stuff the stat sheet is rivaled by few in small-school basketball.</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='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906452' first='Caden' last='Oswald'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2853857' first='Bryce' last='Lewis'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754681' first='Trevon' last='Keely'] (Paton-Churdan)<br>2026 Phoenix Hartman (Paton-Churdan)<br>2026 Cayden Stream (Paton-Churdan)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (Woodbine)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] (Woodbine)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413639' first='Brody' last='Pryor'] (Woodbine)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2799203' first='Collin' last='Bower'] (CAM)<br>2026 Gunnar Hoguelson (CAM)<br>2026 Wyatt Ragaller (Ar-We-Va)<br>2026 Austin Rasmussen (Exira-EHK)<br>2026 Michael Davis (Boyer Valley)<br>2027 Tristen Burkhart (Boyer Valley)<br>2027 Brody Koski (Boyer Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->