Conference Preview: Siouxland

The Teams   Boyden-Hull (18-9 last season, 71.6% of scoring returning): The Comets bring back their top three scorers from a group that reached the 1A state tournament last season, all of whom are double-figure scorers. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (17.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (12.9, 8.0 rebounds) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (10.3) are the headliners of the group. Kleinwolterink is a tough, athletic guard who can play downhill and get to the rim, while Van Es is an undersized but athletic forward who does a great job pounding the glass. The Comets need to replace a lot of rotation pieces, with the next four scorers graduating, but they should be able to find pieces to fill in alongside their big three, keeping them near the top of the league.   Central Lyon (4-18, 28.5%): The Lions lost their top three scorers from a team that won just four games last season, so it could be a long winter in Rock Rapids. Leo Groen (4.0), William Vander Zee (3.6), [player_tooltip player_id='2786701' first='Aric' last='Austin'] (3.6), and Logan Koob (3.3) each saw a fair amount of playing time last season and return. Look for Austin to emerge as the go-to option in his sophomore year after playing a solid role during his freshman year.   MOC-Floyd Valley (23-4, 37.6%): The defending champions in Class 3A have to replace legendary coach Loren De Jong, now at Siouxland Christian, as well as their top three scorers from that group. The good news for new coach Parker Mulder is that the next six scorers from last year's team are back, headlined by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1978131' first='Draeden' last='Punt'] (10.0) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887838' first='Carter' last='Van Gelder'] (8.3). Punt is a big, physical, and athletic forward who is one of the most versatile defenders in the state, while Van Gelder is a really good shooter and talented playmaker who can get his teammates involved. The Dutchmen will get more shooting from Carter Brightwell (3.7, 39.3 3P%), Thatcher Doughan (2.0, 36.4 3P%), and the addition of St. Albert transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1765504' first='Nicolas' last='Ballenger'], who averaged 14 points a game last season. This group has a lot of experience, and that continuity, and a lot of shooting, will keep them near the top of the league and a contender in 3A.   Okoboji (8-16, 62.7%): Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2833521' first='Miles' last='Wasson'] (13.4, 37.3 3P%) returns to lead the Pioneers. He's a three-level scorer who can create looks for himself and his teammates off the dribble. Senior guard Avery Simington (9.2) will be the team's primary ball-handler after finishing second on the team in assists per game last season, while returnees Elijah Graves (5.8) and Asa Jacobsen (5.7) each saw a good amount of time last season and will provide some additional scoring. They won't have the horses to beat the top-tier teams in the conference, but they should still find their way to 8-12 wins and be a formidable foe come postseason play.   Rock Valley (10-12, 87.6%): The Rockets were coming on pretty strong late last season, going 6-3 in their last nine games and they bring back the top four scorers from that group, so they could be a team that finds themselves shooting towards the top of the league standings this winter. They'll be led by the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (14.6, 38.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (12.3), a pair of talented scorers who can score from anywhere. Colby Den Hartog (7.3, 3.8 assists) leads the backcourt, and Bodee Weber (5.0, 2.6 assists) gives them another ball-handler and playmaker. Size and rebounding could be a concern for this group, but this will be one of the most experienced teams in the league.   Sheldon (9-14, 59.7%): Senior forward Drew Sauer (11.3, 8.7 rebounds, 59.9 FG%) returns to lead the Orabs, a talented forward who can score inside and out as well as control the glass on both ends of the floor. Dirk Brink (9.9) provides some perimeter scoring, while Jonathan Cannoy (4.6) provides a bit more scoring on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue for this group last season, giving it away over 18 times a game, a number that will need to improve if they want to be more competitive in this loaded league.   Sioux Center (11-12, 70.2%): Seven of the Warriors' 12 losses came by single digits last season, and with their top two, and six of their top eight scorers returning, they should be able to turn some of those narrow losses into wins this year. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2906403' first='Braedon' last='Perez-Hietbrink'] (14.3) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2731903' first='Cody' last='Sandbulte'] (11.2) will give them one of the better one-two punches in the conference, and Ezra Hibma (4.8), Austin Fink (3.3), Parker Boone (3.0), and Tyler Moeller (2.5) all saw plenty of playing time last season, giving them some depth. They probably don't have the firepower to contend with the top few teams in the league, but they could battle it out for a top-3 finish with a few breaks.   Unity Christian (21-5, 63.1%): After reaching the 2A semifinals last season, the Knights bring back their top two scorers and the top player off the bench. [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (16.2) is one of the best two-way guards in the state, a high-level defender and versatile scorer and playmaker. He'll be the headliner of the attack, joined in the backcourt by [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'], who returns from an injury to give them another really skilled guard who can defend at a high level. He and Bosma were the top two players on the team two years ago when they led the Knights to the semifinals as sophomores. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (12.1, 8.5 rebounds) is a really efficient scorer inside the arc with great footwork, touch, and the length to protect the rim defensively. The other key returnee for this group is [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (9.0), who may be one of the best pure shooters in the state, knocking down 50% of his 3-point attempts last season. This group lost five games last season - two against state champions (MOC-Floyd Valley and Western Christian), and the other three came against West Lyon.   West Lyon (23-4, 51.5%): Coming off a 2A runner-up finish, the Wildcats bring back three of their top five scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2731892' first='Jorden' last='Meyer'] (15.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2731896' first='Jared' last='Ciesielski'] (8.6, 68.2 FG%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2887823' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] (7.0). [player_tooltip player_id='2731892' first='Jorden' last='Meyer'] is one of the most explosive athletes in the state, a bouncy combo forward who can score inside and out as well as set his teammates up. He'll have the ball in his hands even more this winter following the massive loss of Carson Hoogeveen to graduation. Guard play could be a question mark for this group, especially early on, but they're going to be tough, physical, and highly athletic once again.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Unity Christian 2. MOC-Floyd Valley 3. West Lyon 4. Boyden-Hull 5. Rock Valley 6. Sioux Center 7. Sheldon 8. Okoboji 9. Central Lyon   Analysis: The Siouxland is always loaded with talent, and this year is no exception. Unity, MOC, West Lyon, and Boyden-Hull are all legitimate state championship-level teams in their respective classes, and the race between those four this winter will be a ton of fun to watch.   Preseason Player of the Year   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian): The conference is loaded with talent every year, and this is no exception. Bosma, one of the top two-way guards in small-school basketball, is our pick here, but this could go in a number of directions.   Players to Watch   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (Unity Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (Unity Christian) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (Unity Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731892' first='Jorden' last='Meyer'] (West Lyon) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731896' first='Jared' last='Ciesielski'] (West Lyon) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887823' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] (West Lyon) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (Rock Valley) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (Rock Valley) 2027 Bradedon Perez-Hietbrink (Sioux Center) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731903' first='Cody' last='Sandbulte'] (Sioux Center) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (Boyden-Hull) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (Boyden-Hull) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (Boyden-Hull) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2833521' first='Miles' last='Wasson'] (Okoboji) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765504' first='Nicolas' last='Ballenger'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978131' first='Draeden' last='Punt'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887838' first='Carter' last='Van Gelder'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) 2026 Drew Sauer (Sheldon)

The Teams