Conference Preview: Top of Iowa West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Belmond-Klemme (12-12 last season, 82.7% of scoring returning): </strong>Seven of the Broncos' 12 losses last season came by single digits, and with the top two scorers, and all but one player who scored points in a game last season returning, they should be able to turn several of those close losses into wins this year. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2754716' first='Brody' last='Heifner'] (15.2, 9.0 rebounds) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='2754720' first='Kysen' last='Lamb'] (14.0) are the headliners of the offensive attack. Heifner is a bouncy, physical forward who controls the glass on both ends of the floor, while Lamb is a quick guard who can play downhill and get to the rim. Coewhan Kelley (6.7, 6.1 rebounds), Juan Ulises Medina (6.4), and [player_tooltip player_id='2389940' first='Cash' last='Young'] (4.6) are all capable scoring threats alongside those two. If they can find a little more production from the 3-point line (29.4 3P%), it would go a long way in helping them win a few more of those close games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Garrigan (21-4, 77.3%):</strong> The Golden Bears bring back their top three, and four of the top five, scorers from a team that lost just four games last season - two to St. Edmond, and two to Forest City. Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (14.6, 3.9 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (14.1, 4.8 assists) are the headliners of the offensive attack. Both are capable of scoring inside and out, creating quality looks for their teammates, and playing on or off the ball. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (13.4, 9.5 rebounds) is a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor and a highly efficient finisher at the bucket. Tate Foertsch (6.7, 4.0 assists) gives them another reliable playmaker on the perimeter. With three double-figure scorers returning, and three reliable playmakers in the backcourt, Garrigan is going to be really, really good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eagle Grove (10-13, 27.7%): </strong>All three double-figure scorers from last year's team graduated, leaving junior [player_tooltip player_id='2865242' first='Adrian' last='Whipple'] (9.6, 3.8 assists) as the top returnee. He led the team in assists last season and can put pressure on opposing teams with his ability to create off the dribble. Junior forward Gavin Pedersen (3.6, 8.1 rebounds) wasn't a big scorer last season but was fantastic on the glass and should step into a bigger role this winter. Issiac Williams (2.6) and Trenton Robinson (1.2) each saw some time last season and return to provide minutes into the rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Forest City (16-6, 45.8%): </strong>The Indians were once again fantastic on the defensive end last season, allowing just 48.2 points per game. They lost four key contributors from that group, but bring back two of their top three scorers in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2388492' first='Holden' last='Reynolds'] (11.5, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 61.5 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2387213' first='Cooper' last='Blaser'] (10.5, 40.6 3P%). Reynolds is the anchor of the team's defense, protecting the rim at a high level, while Blaser is the team's top shooting threat and will have the ball in his hands a lot as a junior after finishing second in assists per game last season. This is a program that consistently wins games, using great defense and balanced offense to do so. That'll be the same this winter, and they'll be a true contender in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (10-15, 19.4%): </strong>The Cardinals lost their top three, and five of the top six, scorers from last year's team leaving sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2523918' first='Preston' last='Davison'] (7.6) as the lone returnee to average more than 1.3 points per game last season. With a number of new faces taking the floor this year, it's hard to see G-H-V competing at the top of the division, but there are a lot of young players who will gain lots of valuable experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Mills (17-6, 26.2%): </strong>The Bulldogs have been a consistent winner over the last decade, so despite losing their top three scorers, they should remain a factor in this division. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731844' first='Nash' last='Delger'] (10.6, 4.5 assists) will pace the offensive attack after finishing second in assists per game last season. Junior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2845971' first='Lucas' last='Helgeland'] (7.1, 5.8 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2406102' first='Asher' last='Stensrud'] will anchor the painted area, and Kyle Menke will undoubtedly find some pieces to fill in the rest of the rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Iowa (6-16, 35.2%): </strong>The Bison lost their leading scorer and four of the top five from last year's team, which is obviously a significant blow. But they bring back sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2274770' first='Rockwell' last='Hughes'] (9.7, 4.4 rebounds), a promising young wing who can score from all three levels, create plays, and defend multiple positions. He'll be asked to step into a starring role this season while several new pieces get acclimated to more minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Union (10-13, 79.7%):</strong> The top four scorers return for the Warriors, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886896' first='Khael' last='Jones'] (16.1, 5.2 assists), a skilled scorer, playmaker, and defender on the perimeter. He can control the game on both ends of the floor and will be the focal point of the attack again this season. Greyson Colegrove (8.7), Drew Henderson (7.8), and Lane Bruhn (7.4) return as well to give them some scoring punch alongside Jones. This is a group that got off to a 1-7 start before figuring things out after the holiday break, and with so much coming back, they'll be looking to carry that momentum into this season, where they could be a sleeper team within the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Hancock (4-18, 56.6%): </strong>The Eagles bring back the top two scorers from last year's team in juniors Coen Witte (8.8) and Nathan Bixel (8.1, 3.3 assists). Paxton Johnson (4.4), Ty Harms (2.5), and Carson Bruns (2.2) also return, giving them some experienced pieces. This group struggled with turnovers (18.2) last season and will need to clean that up if they want to be more competitive this winter. </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. Bishop Garrigan<br>2. Forest City<br>3. Lake Mills<br>4. Belmond-Klemme<br>5. North Union<br>6. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura<br>7. North Iowa<br>8. Eagle Grove<br>9. West Hancock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Bishop Garrigan looks like a pretty clear favorite in the division with everything they have coming back, but Forest City and Lake Mills will be formidable, while Belmond-Klemme and North Union could both be sleeper teams who are capable of upsetting teams on a nightly basis. </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>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (Bishop Garrigan): </strong>Take your pick of any of the three Golden Bears standouts for the honor here, but we'll side with Schwab, who led the team in assists and steals last season and ranked second in scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (Bishop Garrigan)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (Bishop Garrigan)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (Bishop Garrigan)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886896' first='Khael' last='Jones'] (North Union)<br>2027 Greyson Colegrove (North Union)<br>2026 Drew Henderson (North Union)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754716' first='Brody' last='Heifner'] (Belmond-Klemme)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754720' first='Kysen' last='Lamb'] (Belmond-Klemme)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731844' first='Nash' last='Delger'] (Lake Mills)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2845971' first='Lucas' last='Helgeland'] (Lake Mills)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2388492' first='Holden' last='Reynolds'] (Forest City)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2387213' first='Cooper' last='Blaser'] (Forest City)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2274770' first='Rockwell' last='Hughes'] (North Iowa)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2865242' first='Adrian' last='Whipple'] (Eagle Grove)<br>2027 Coen Witte (West Hancock)<br>2027 Nathan Bixwel (West Hancock)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->