Conference Preview: SEISC South

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Lee (13-10 last season, 70.7% of scoring returning): </strong>The Hawks lost their leading scorer but bring back the next six scorers, including a pair of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1978138' first='Will' last='Hayes'] (11.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='1710386' first='Owen' last='Swan'] (10.9). Hayes is a 6-6 athletic big man who could emerge as one of the top players in the league this winter, while Swan, a 5-11 guard, can set the table for his teammates well. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2429227' first='Carson' last='Morrison'] (7.3, 37.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2429233' first='Kaden' last='Swan'] (4.9, 40.6 3P%), and seniors Brody Moeller (2.4) and Ward Fraise (2.0), round out the rotation for the Hawks. This is a group that really came alive after the holiday break, going 10-6 after the hiatus, and they'll be looking to carry that momentum into this year, where they could be a real contender for a South Division crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danville (9-14, 62.9%): </strong>The Bears lost their leading scorer but bring back the next three, led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2906549' first='Connor' last='Hulett'] (12.0) and senior guard Leighton Rice (10.7, 4.5 assists). Hulett is a lengthy wing who can score from all three levels, while Rice is the team's playmaker in the backcourt. Senior Dillan Mason (7.8) gives them a reliable third scoring threat, and Trevor Yaley (4.7) and Graylon Walker (2.6) each saw a good amount of playing time last season as well. After a very rare year in which they finished under .500, look for the Bears to have a bit of a bounceback this year, get back up above .500, and they could push for a top-3 finish in the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Trinity Catholic (19-5, 34.7%):</strong> Three of the four top scorers graduated for the Crusaders, but they do bring back lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (12.6, 4.5 assists), who will step into the primary ball-handling and playmaking role this winter following the graduations of Luke Hellige (26.6 points) and Adam Sobczak (8.8 assists). Rung is a skilled player who can fill whatever role they need of him, and he'll have a pair of forwards in Corbin Van Niewaal (4.8, 5.2 rebounds) and Nathan Box (4.3, 4.9 rebounds) who can control the glass alongside him. The Crusaders will undoubtedly take a step back from the last few years, but they should remain competitive within the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mediapolis (13-11, 81.9%): </strong>The Bulldogs bring back their top two, and seven of their top eight, scorers from a 13-win team that posted a handful of quality wins last season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1596452' first='Max' last='Griffin'] (16.7) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2731857' first='Will' last='Luttenegger'] (14.2, 4.0 assists) give them a pair of high-level guards who will give the 'Dogs one of the best backcourts in the league. [player_tooltip player_id='2828822' first='William' last='Worrall'] (7.7), Gannon Gunn (4.4), Braylon DeLang (4.0, 4.8 rebounds), Henry Luttenegger (2.8), and Parker Holsteen (2.7) all return with experience as well, giving them plenty of depth. With Griffin and Luttenegger leading the charge, Mepo should win plenty of games and if a few things bounce their way, they could challenge for the division crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New London (1-22, 88.9%):</strong> All but one player returns for the Tigers, led by senior wing London Franklin (14.4). He shot over 50% from the floor last season and will once again be the focal point of the attack. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765537' first='Brigham' last='Porter'] (9.6) gives them another solid scoring threat on the perimeter, while juniors Riley Rains (3.9), Israel Lemley (3.7), and sophomores Gavin Strawhacker (2.9) and Dylan Burden (1.9), should step into bigger roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame (19-5, 66.9%):</strong> In Western Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (20.9), the Nikes not only have the best player in the league, they have one of the best players in small-school basketball. A 6-5 lead guard who stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 7.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game on 51-37-77 shooting splits last season, he's going to dominate games on both ends of the floor throughout his senior year. Forward Jack Drew is going to be a big piece to replace, having averaged 16.5 points per game last season, but juniors Eli Oleson (7.4) and Griffin Kies (5.5) were both key contributors last season and will step into secondary and tertiary roles alongside Stephens nicely. Stephens will carry this group, but there is some solid talent alongside him. Notre Dame is the team to beat in the division, and a real contender in 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Van Buren County (6-16, 54.2%): </strong>Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906532' first='Will' last='Cocherell'] (14.5, 4.0 assists) returns to lead the Warriors after finishing second in scoring and leading the team in assists last season. Kinnick Millard (7.0, 4.9 rebounds) led the team in rebounding last season and returns to anchor the painted area, and role players Lincoln Bainbridge (4.4) and Landry Loeffler (3.6) each saw a good amount of playing time last season. This group really struggled defensively last season, giving up 71.4 points per game, and that will need to be a huge area of focus if they're going to improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Burlington (21-3, 14.6%): </strong>The Falcons lost the best player in school history to graduation in Mason Watkins, now playing Division I ball at North Florida. He averaged over 30 points a game last season to go with 5.5 assists. That loss in itself would be difficult enough to deal with, but they also lost the next two scorers in Quincy Collins and Kobe Davis, who combined to put up 27.9 points per game on their own. So who is back? Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731885' first='Ayden' last='Figuereo'] (9.4, 9.3 rebounds) is a hyper-athletic, physical forward who can dominate the glass, finish at the rim, and he's a pretty good passer out of the high-post area. Outside of Figuereo, not much else returns, but this is the biggest school in the SEISC, so they should be able to find some pieces to fill in the gaps and remain competitive.</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. Notre Dame<br>2. Mediapolis<br>3. West Burlington<br>4. Central Lee<br>5. Holy Trinity Catholic<br>6. Danville<br>7. Van Buren County<br>8. New London</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Led by [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'], Notre Dame is the team to beat in the division, but Mediapolis should be improved, West Burlington will always have athleticism and talent, and Central Lee has some interesting pieces.</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='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (Notre Dame):</strong> A skilled lead guard with great size at 6-4/6-5, Stephens stuffs the stat sheet on both ends of the floor and is the focal point for a Notre Dame team that is the team to beat in the division. </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='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (Notre Dame)<br>2027 Eli Oleson (Notre Dame)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1596452' first='Max' last='Griffin'] (Mediapolis)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731857' first='Will' last='Luttenegger'] (Mediapolis)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2828822' first='William' last='Worrall'] (Mediapolis)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906532' first='Will' last='Cocherell'] (Van Buren County)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731885' first='Ayden' last='Figuereo'] (West Burlington)<br>2026 London Franklin (New London)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765537' first='Brigham' last='Porter'] (New London)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (Holy Trinity Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906549' first='Connor' last='Hulett'] (Danville)<br>2026 Leighton Rice (Danville)<br>2026 Dillan Mason (Danville)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978138' first='Will' last='Hayes'] (Central Lee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1710386' first='Owen' last='Swan'] (Central Lee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->