Conference Preview: Tri-Rivers West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central City (7-15 last season, 27.6% of scoring returning): </strong>With the graduations of their top two scorers, the Wildcats lost 35.4 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. Dashny Munyakazi (5.3, 5.1 rebounds) is the top returning scorer and rebounder and will need to step into a much bigger role this season as a senior. Junior forward Chris Hanson (4.2, 4.1 rebounds) was pretty good last season as a role player and will step into a more significant role as well. This is a group that has to replace a ton of production, and if they want to improve, they'll need to find someone who can help space the floor after shooting just over 25% from the 3-point line last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Buchanan (5-18, 47.5%): </strong>The Buccaneers lost a pair of double-figure scorers from last year's team, but bring back two players in Brady Van Scoyoc (10.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2828865' first='Kyle' last='Peck'] (9.1) who can fill it up, giving them a strong one-two punch to build around. Van Scoyoc, a junior, is a 5-10 guard who can play off the ball, while Peck, coming off a good freshman year, is a 5-8/5-9 combo guard who can create or knock down shots. They may not win many more games than they did last season, but they should be more competitive on a nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edgewood-Colesburg (7-15, 54.4%): </strong>The Vikings have to replace their top two scorers, who combined to average 24.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. Senior guard Bryce Stannard (7.6) is the top returnee, joined by a pretty good group of 2028 players. Jax Steger (6.4, 2.9 assists) leads that group of 2028s, while Jaden Miller (3.2) and Karter Knipper (1.4) each saw a fair amount of varsity time last season as freshmen also. Ed-Co is going to be pretty young again this season, and they probably aren't going to truly compete at the top of the league, but their youngsters will continue to gain valuable experience and could be poised to make some noise over the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maquoketa Valley (16-7, 93.8%):</strong> There could be a new team at the top of the Tri-Rivers West this year, and that team is Maquoketa Valley. The Wildcats bring back their top seven scorers, all seniors, to a 16-win team. [player_tooltip player_id='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (21.5) is a big-time scorer, one of the top returnees in the state, and he'll be the focal point of the attack again this year. Anderson Holtz (8.6, 4.1 assists) is a quality lead guard who can set the table for his teammates, and the tandem of Ty Hoeger (7.0, 54.6 FG%) and Dylan Knipper (4.5, 8.2 rebounds) give them some size and toughness on the glass. This group was strong defensively last season, allowing just 47.4 points per game, and they should be stout again. With so much returning from a team that won a lot last season, this group is not only the team to beat in the Tri-Rivers West this season, but is a team that could make noise in 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Linn (23-3, 7.4%): </strong>For the first time in a long, long time, North Linn isn't the team to beat in the Tri-Rivers, and is probably not a real contender in Class 1A. The Lynx lost their top five scorers from last year's team, and there is some turmoil in the program right now. Tim Schuring takes over the reigns at head coach, armed with plenty of head coaching experience at the collegiate level, but he inherits a roster with just two players returning with experience in Nolan Woods (2.6) and Waylon Raue (2.0), both juniors. Woods made some big plays on both ends of the floor at times last season, but he'll need to take over as a leader on both ends this winter. This is a community that loves their athletics, and there is going to be some talent here still, but they're going to fall off quite a bit from what we've become accustomed to seeing in Troy Mills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springville (15-8, 28.5%): </strong>The Orioles lost their top three, and five of their top seven, scorers from last year's team, but they do bring back a pair of key contributors in Mason Hoy (9.6) and Conlin Rouse (7.7, 8.7 rebounds), giving them a solid one-two punch to build around. Hoy is the team's playmaker in the backcourt, while Rouse will control the paint and the glass on both ends of the floor. Those are the only two returnees with any relevant experience, so they'll be asked to carry a very heavy load early in the year with the newcomers get accustomed to varsity play. They probably don't have the horses to contend for the division crown with Maquoketa Valley, but they'll have a real chance at a top-2 finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Starmont (6-16, 83.4%): </strong>The Stars bring back eight of their top nine scorers from last year's group, so there is some reason for optimism heading into this winter's season. [player_tooltip player_id='2771928' first='Kaiel' last='Scott'] (9.2) led the team in scoring last season, while Dylan Popham (8.1), Wyatt Opitz (6.0), Noah Gelner (5.7), Elliott Francois (5.5), and Jack Thole (5.0) all average five points per game or more last year. This group doesn't have a star, and they need to take better care of the ball (19.7 turnovers per game), but they should be deep and pretty balanced, which will make them tough to defend. </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. Maquoketa Valley<br>2. Springville<br>3. North Linn<br>4. Edgewood-Colesburg<br>5. East Buchanan<br>6. Starmont<br>7. Central City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>For the first time in seemingly forever, North Linn isn't the team to beat here. Maquoketa Valley should win this division, and should probably win it pretty comfortably. </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='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (Maquoketa Valley):</strong> Wall is not only the leading returning scorer in the division, he's one of the top returnees state-wide. A three-level scoring threat who can control games as a scorer or facilitator, he'll be the focal point for the Wildcats once again this winter.</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='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (Maquoketa Valley)<br>2026 Anderson Holtz (Maquoketa Valley)<br>2026 Ty Hoeger (Maquoketa Valley)<br>2026 Dylan Knipper (Maquoketa Valley)<br>2027 Brady Van Scoyoc (East Buchanan)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2828865' first='Kyle' last='Peck'] (East Buchanan)<br>2026 Mason Hoy (Springville)<br>2026 Conlin Rouse (Springville)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2771928' first='Kaiel' last='Scott'] (Starmont)<br>2027 Wyatt Opitz (Starmont)<br>2027 Nolan Woods (North Linn)<br>2027 Waylon Raue (North Linn)<br>2026 Bryce Stannard (Edgewood-Colesburg)<br>2028 Jax Steger (Edgewood-Colesburg)<br>2026 Dashny Munyakazi (Central City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->