Conference Preview: Southeast

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Burlington (12-10 last season, 61.2% of scoring returning): </strong>The Grayhounds lost three times against league foes last season - twice to Keokuk in the regular-season, and a 3-point postseason loss to Washington. They bring back their top two scorers from a team that otherwise ran through league competition in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3536327' first='Jettrell' last='Morris'] (16.7), who may be the best player in the conference this winter, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3426031' first='Kobe' last='Edmunds'] (10.6), a solid complement to Morris in the backcourt. Senior Zech Hart (4.4) and juniors Liam Enger (2.6) and Detayvion Pearson 91.9) return with experience, and look for a significant leap from sophomore Kevin Brown (1.8), who was a solid contributor in limited minutes as a freshman. With the best backcourt in the conference and a few nice complementary pieces returning to a team that only lost to a dominant Keokuk team in league play last winter, Burlington may be the team to beat this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fairfield (2-19, 42.3%): </strong>The Trojans won just two games last season and lost six of their top eight scorers to graduation. The good news is that leading scorer Ethan Bisgard (11.9) returns in the backcourt, giving them an experienced scorer to headline the group. He'll be asked to do a ton for them as they'll have a lot of new faces to break in. Without much experience returning to a team that didn't have much success last season, it's hard to see Fairfield being much more competitive this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Madison (5-17, 63.5%): </strong>The Bloodhounds have a huge piece in the backcourt to replace with the graduation of Nolan Guzman, who averaged 20 points a game last season. That's the bad news. The good news is that every other player who was a part of the rotation last year is back, led by senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2770487' first='Darius' last='Foy'] (9.5, 9.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks). A mobile 6-9/6-10 big man who can protect the rim, dominate the glass, and finish around the bucket, he'll need to be the focal point of the attack this winter. Sophomore wing Jonah Tackett (6.5), junior Aurelio Jaciunde (6.1), and senior Lucas Helmick (4.8) have all shown flashes of scoring ability as well. The Bloodhounds are going to be a much more balanced team this winter, which could be beneficial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keokuk (19-5, 41.2%): </strong>The Chiefs have to replace an all-time great with the graduation of Jaxon Clark, now playing his college ball at Colorado State. The 6-11 big man put up 28 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game last season, leaving a massive hole in the paint. They also have to replace another double-figure scorer in Chayce Smith. The good news it that three juniors with a lot of experience return in [player_tooltip player_id='3650795' first='Jalen' last='Clark'] (10.8), Kyler Beelman (5.5), and Antonio Crockett (5.0), giving them a solid trio to build around this winter. Clark, the younger brother of Jaxon, is an athletic wing who can play downhill and create looks for himself and his teammates. He'll need to step into a starring role this season, and he looks capable of doing so. There isn't much shooting on the roster, having shot just 25.7% from the arc last season as a team (and Jaxon Clark led the team at 30.6%, now departed), so they'll rely on athleticism and their ability to create turnovers to spark the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mount Pleasant (10-12, 70.4%):</strong> In what figures to be a pretty open league this winter, the Panthers should be a contender on the strength of junior returnees [player_tooltip player_id='3650664' first='Isaiah' last='Lange'] (14.0, 7.9 rebounds, 59.2 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2772334' first='Ryan' last='Helling'] (11.2, 38.5 3P%). That inside-out tandem is probably the best inside-out duo in the league, with Lange providing a real interior presence at 6-7 and mobile, and Helling may be the best perimeter shooter in the conference. Several role players with experience return as well in seniors Grayson Lowery (5.0, 4.2 rebounds), Keegan Heaton (3.1, 3.9 rebounds), and Brody Clark (2.8), and junior Carter Gehling (3.8), giving Mount Pleasant some real depth. It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if this is the group that finds themselves at the top of the conference come February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washington (13-11, 36.4%):</strong> Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2419825' first='Nic' last='Stone'] (14.8, 37.3 3P%) returns to lead the Demons, who will need to replace three other double-figure scorers from last year's team. Stone is one of the best players in the league, a solid three-level scorer who can play with or without the ball in his hands. Junior Tate Greiner (4.6) is the only other player who averaged more than 1.7 points per game last season who returns, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor alongside Stone this year. Stone should have some explosive scoring nights as the big option this winter, but it's hard to imagine Washington truly competing at the top of the league unless someone steps up in a major way.</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. Burlington<br>2. Mount Pleasant<br>3. Keokuk<br>4. Washington<br>5. Fort Madison<br>6. Fairfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> This looks like a two-horse race between Burlington and Mount Pleasant this winter, the two teams who return the most among the top teams in the league last season. Keokuk is always strong and while they have a lot to replace, they'll have a first team all-conference player leading the way and will be a factor.</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>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3536327' first='Jettrell' last='Morris'] (Burlington): </strong>A lightning-quick guard who can score from anywhere, Morris' speed and ball-handling are his biggest attributes, allowing him to play downhill and put constant pressure on the rim against opposing teams. The Grayhounds may be the best team in the league this winter and he's their best player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3536327' first='Jettrell' last='Morris'] (Burlington)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3426031' first='Kobe' last='Edmunds'] (Burlington)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419825' first='Nic' last='Stone'] (Washington)<br>2028 Tate Greiner (Washington)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3650664' first='Isaiah' last='Lange'] (Mount Pleasant)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772334' first='Ryan' last='Helling'] (Mount Pleasant)<br>2027 Grayson Lowery (Mount Pleasant)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3650795' first='Jalen' last='Clark'] (Keokuk)<br>2028 Kyler Beelman (Keokuk)<br>2028 Antonio Crockett (Keokuk)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2770487' first='Darius' last='Foy'] (Fort Madison)<br>2029 Jonah Tackett (Fort Madison)<br>2028 Aurelio Jaciunde (Fort Madison)<br>2027 Lucas Helmick (Fort Madison)<br>2027 Ethan Bisgard (Fairfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->