Preseason All-Conference Teams: SICL East

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (Iowa Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It figures to be a battle between the Tigers and Keota at the top of the East Division this winter, and Long is the best returning player on either of those teams, making him a pretty easy choice here. He can stuff the stat sheet on both ends of the floor on a nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (Iowa Valley): 16.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.5 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leading returning scorer in either SICL division, Long is a versatile three-level scorer who can also create plays for his teammates and impact the game defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344408' first='Everett' last='Bender'] (English Valleys): 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic 6-0 do-it-all guard, Bender is among the best two-way players in the conference. He's capable of defending one through five at this level, can score inside and out, and is a good playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3620674' first='Mason' last='Walter'] (Belle Plaine): 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.7 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not much went right for the Plainsmen last season, but Walter had a nice season, leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals, while ranking third in rebounding. With the whole roster back, Belle Plaine should be improved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 Porter Cave (Keota): 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.1 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cave had a nice junior year for the Eagles, ranking third in scoring and he'll be the go-to scoring threat for them in his senior year. He can score from anywhere on the floor and is a solid on-ball defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 Ayden Galindo (Keota): 8.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 55.9 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Galindo is a force on the glass on both ends of the floor, pulling down an impressive 8.5 rebounds per game last season, including 2.4 a night on the offensive end. He's only listed at 6-2, but he has a non-stop motor, great hands, and is really active on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Kane Axmear (English Valleys)<br>2028 Christian Tripses (English Valleys)<br>2028 Zavier Pedersen (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 Peyton Dostal (Belle Plaine)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2843729' first='Noah' last='Etzel'] (Iowa Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828838' first='Chandler' last='McKibben'] (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 Layne Peska (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 Benjamin Axmear (English Valleys)<br>2027 Ike Molyneux (Sigourney)<br>2027 Brennan McGuire (Keota)<br>2028 Carter Mueller (Belle Plaine)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->