Conference Preview: SEISC North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus (6-16 last season, 71.5% of scoring returning): </strong>The Wildcats bring back three of their top four scorers, led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2754662' first='Ellis' last='Hills-Carrier'] (15.6), a long, versatile scoring wing who can also defend multiple positions. Drake Marin (7.9), Fritz Figaro (6.9), and Gabriel Zuniga (4.3) give them some more scoring options alongside Hills-Carrier. The 'Cats will need to improve their ball security (20.0 turnovers per game) and 3-point shooting (25.8%) if they're going to make any real improvements this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Highland (2-21, 48.2%): </strong>The good news for the Huskies is that they bring back their leading scorer, Bryce Hazelett (14.0). He led the team in scoring and steals last season and should be even better in his senior year. Juniors Landon Roling (5.0) and Jacob Schneider (2.8) are the only other returnees with any relevant experience. Hazelett is one of the better scorers in the league, but will the Huskies have the talent alongside him to win more than a few games this season? That remains to be seen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hillcrest Academy (21-4, 37.7%): </strong>The Ravens have some serious production to replace, having lost their top three scorers to graduation. That's obviously a significant blow, but they do bring back a pair of key contributors in junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (9.5, 61.2 FG%) and senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (8.3, 6.5 assists), giving them a pair of skilled players to build around. Miller is one of the best lead guards in the area, a talented passer and playmaker who does a great job protecting the ball, and he'll set the tone for this group on both ends of the floor. Look for sophomore Isaac Birky (1.9) and seniors Lincoln Miller (1.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2204881' first='Kayden' last='Estell'] (1.7) to step into bigger roles this winter. Hillcrest, formerly IMS, hasn't won fewer than 11 games in the Bound era, and despite losing a lot from last year's team, this a program that just wins and wins and wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lone Tree (7-14, 61.4%):</strong> The Lions were set to bring back nearly everything from last year's team, but leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2103624' first='Emmett' last='Burke'] transferred to Regina, taking 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game with him. That leaves Reece Holbrook (12.1, 7.0 rebounds) and Domonic Garcia (8.9) as the leading returnees, a solid tandem to start with. Holbrook is a force on the glass, while Garcia likely plays with the ball in his hands much more this season following Burke's departure. Cade Willoz (7.3) is a good tertiary scorer, and several other players with experience returning, giving them some real depth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Louisa-Muscatine (11-12, 24.2%):</strong> A lot of production needs to be replaced for the Falcons, losing four of their top five scorers to graduation, including All-State forward Finnegan Cline, who averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds last season. Oscar Cline (11.3, 7.5 rebounds) is the top returnee, shooting 62% from the floor last season and he should be one of the best players in the Superconference this winter. He's the only player to average more than 1.4 points per game last season that is back, so he's going to be asked to do a ton for this group, but as one of the bigger schools in the SEISC, they'll have more options than most to find some replacements. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pekin (15-8, 71.7%): </strong>A pair of big-time scorers return for the Panthers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2887859' first='Cole' last='Millikin'] (14.3, 3.1 assists) and Nolan Glick (13.1, 56.9 FG%), giving them arguably the best one-two punch in the division. Millikin shot nearly 40% from the 3-point line last season and is a versatile three-level scorer who can play with or without the ball in his hands. Junior point guard Henry Adam (6.7, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals) stuffs the stat sheets on both ends of the floor and is the straw that stirs the drink for one of the most efficient offenses in the SEISC. Several role players from last year's team also return, giving the Panthers some real depth to go alongside their Big Three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WACO (18-6, 77.1%): </strong>The top two scorers return for the Warriors in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (19.3, 6.7 rebounds) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2822660' first='Holden' last='Hughes'] (8.9), as do key contributors Isaac Egli (6.3, 3.5 assists) and Hayden Shelman (5.6), giving them a really strong quartet of players to build around. This is a group that is always strong defensively, giving up just 48.8 points per game last season, and they also protect the basketball, averaging just over 12 turnovers. Stacy is the top returning scorer in the division, a versatile three-level threat who can play with or without the ball in his hands, and he'll carry this group offensively again this winter. If they can get a bit more shooting out of their role players, they're the team to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wapello (4-19, 96.6%): </strong>Wapello won just four games last season, but they got better as the season progressed, becoming much more competitive later in the year. They bring back the top seven scorers from that group, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886826' first='Justyn' last='Faulkner'] (16.5, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists), a skilled and athletic guard who sets the table and can score from anywhere. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2906554' first='Kinnick' last='Richenberger'] (13.4) is another big scorer alongside Faulkner, while Treyton Schulz (7.2, 41.7 3P%) is the team's top shooting threat. With so much continuity, and a pair of big-time scorers returning, they should be improved and could approach .500.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winfield-Mt. Union (14-10, 35.8%): </strong>The Wolves lost their top two, and three of their top four, scorers to graduation, leaving senior Nicholas Sparrow (6.5) as the top returnee. Sparrow and classmate Max Edwards (5.5, 3.7 assists) are both reliable ball-handlers and playmakers who can set the table for their teammates offensively, and both will probably need to step into bigger roles as scorers following those aforementioned departures. Junior forward Cody Milks (5.9) will be the man in the middle, giving them some athleticism and toughness on the glass. Klay Edwards has done a really good job with this program, turning them into a consistent winner, and despite losing so much production over the last few years, they should still be a formidable team in the division.</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. Pekin<br>2. WACO<br>3. Hillcrest Academy<br>4. Winfield-Mt Union<br>5. Louisa-Muscatine<br>6. Wapello<br>7. Lone Tree<br>8. Columbus<br>9. Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>This is probably a three-horse race between Pekin, WACO, and Hillcrest Academy, and it's likely going to come down to the head-to-head meetings between those three teams. We'll give the slight nod to Pekin to open the year, but this should be a really fun race to watch unfold throughout the year.</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='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (WACO): </strong>The leading returning scorer in the division, Stacy can score 25+ on you on any given night, scoring in a variety of different ways. The North Division looks pretty open this season, and Stacy is as good a bet as any.</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='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (WACO)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2822660' first='Holden' last='Hughes'] (WACO)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886826' first='Justyn' last='Faulkner'] (Wapello)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906554' first='Kinnick' last='Richenberger'] (Wapello)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754662' first='Ellis' last='Hills-Carrier'] (Columbus)<br>2027 Drake Marin (Columbus)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887859' first='Cole' last='Millikin'] (Pekin)<br>2026 Nolan Glick (Pekin)<br>2027 Henry Adam (Pekin)<br>2026 Bryce Hazelett (Highland)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (Hillcrest Academy)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (Hillcrest Academy)<br>2026 Reece Holbrook (Lone Tree)<br>2026 Domonic Garcia (Lone Tree)<br>2026 Cade Willoz (Lone Tree)<br>2027 Oscar Cline (Louisa-Muscatine)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->