Conference Preview: WaMaC East

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Point-Urbana (14-8 last season, 69.5% of scoring returning):</strong> The Stormin' Pointers were really close to putting together a great year last season, with six of their eight losses coming by single digits. They bring back three double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (12.7, 3.9 assists), [player_tooltip player_id='2413508' first='Kinnick' last='Covington'] (10.9, 7.5 rebounds, 61.4 FG%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2886825' first='Cayle' last='Estling'] (10.0, 40.7 3P%). Grimm is a long, athletic wing who can stuff the stat sheet and control games as both a scorer and playmaker. Covington is a force on the glass and a really good finisher around the rim, and Estling can stretch the floor. Juniors Lucas Lopata (6.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381202' first='Boden' last='Kane'] (2.9) return with experience, and a slew of seniors who saw a bit of time last season are also back to round out the rotation. CPU will be good, a real threat to win the division and make noise in 3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Independence (9-14, 23.9%): </strong>The Mustangs lost the top two, five of the top six, and eight of the top 10 scorers from last years team, leaving seniors Dawson Fuelling (9.7) and Bryce Christian (3.3) as the lone returnees with significant experience. Fuelling was third on the team in scoring and second in assists per game last season, and should step into a bigger scoring role comfortably, while Christian was the team's leader in helpers last season and will give them a veteran presence in the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion (9-13, 46.6%):</strong> For just the second time in the Bound era, the Wolves didn't win at least 10 games, a down year for a strong program. Eight of those 13 losses came by single digits, and despite losing two of their top three scorers, the Wolves should be one of the top teams in the division this winter. They'll be headlined by a strong class of juniors whose skill sets complement each other well in [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'] (10.6, 42.0 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'] (9.4, 37.8 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'] (7.5, 2.2 blocks). All three were huge contributors last season and should take another leap this winter. Griffith and Rahe are both high-level shooters, and Coates is an athletic big man who can protect the paint and finish above the rim with authority. The Wolves will have a number of spots in the rotation to fill, but their "Big Three" will be really good and makes them a contender here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Vernon (17-6, 63.8%): </strong>The Mustangs lost their leading scorer but bring back the next four scorers, led by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413532' first='Kellen' last='Haverback'] (16.7). A long, skilled three-level scorer on the wing, he's also a talented playmaker who gets his teammates involved well. Three juniors - [player_tooltip player_id='2906497' first='Seth' last='Rushford'] (8.1, 35.2 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2906500' first='Luke' last='Rushford'] (5.8, 2.5 assists), and Stratton Ellyson (4.1) - who played big roles last season also return in the starting lineup. The 'Stangs were great on the defensive end of the floor last season, giving up just 49.3 points per game, 6th in 3A. With Haverback leading the way, and a number of good role players returning, the Mustangs should be considered the favorite to win the division this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solon (18-6, 36.3%): </strong>The Spartans lost a lot of production from last year's group, losing the top two, and four of the top six, scorers to graduation. That leaves junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906433' first='Maddox' last='Kelley'] (8.7) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2906429' first='Grant' last='Gordon'] (6.8) as the top returnees. They're both capable scorers and playmakers in the backcourt who should take another step forward this year. They'll get a boost with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='2530471' first='Tate' last='McCollum'], son of Iowa coach Ben McCollum, a talented junior guard who will give them some more scoring and playmaking in the backcourt. This is a program that always churns out long, athletic players who can fill in a variety of different roles, and they should be formidable again despite losing so much production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Delaware (5-17, 24.7%): </strong>The Hawks lost their top three scorers, and five of the top six, leaving sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2828827' first='Paul' last='Beswick'] (6.2) as the lone returnee among the top six. He had a nice freshman year, showing that he can play on or off the ball, and he'll need to step into a much bigger role this winter. With a number of new faces taking the floor alongside Beswick, it's hard to see the Hawks competing with the top teams in the WaMaC 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. Center Point-Urbana<br>2. Mount Vernon<br>3. Marion<br>4. Solon<br>5. Independence<br>6. West Delaware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Put the top four in any order and I'd believe it. CPU was <em>really</em> close to being <em>really</em> good last season and is the favorite to open the year, but Mount Vernon should be good, Marion should be improved, and Solon always has talent and athletes. </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='2413532' first='Kellen' last='Haverback'] (Mount Vernon):</strong> The division's leading returning scorer, Haverback can stuff the stat sheet in a variety of ways for a Mustangs team that will be among the top contenders within 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='2413532' first='Kellen' last='Haverback'] (Mount Vernon)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906497' first='Seth' last='Rushford'] (Mount Vernon)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906500' first='Luke' last='Rushford'] (Mount Vernon)<br>2027 Stratton Ellyson (Mount Vernon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413508' first='Kinnick' last='Covington'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886825' first='Cayle' last='Estling'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2027 Lucas Lopata (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'] (Marion)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'] (Marion)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'] (Marion)<br>2026 Dawson Fuelling (Independence)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530471' first='Tate' last='McCollum'] (Solon)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906433' first='Maddox' last='Kelley'] (Solon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2906429' first='Grant' last='Gordon'] (Solon)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2828827' first='Paul' last='Beswick'] (West Delaware)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->