Conference Preview: Upper Iowa (Small)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Elkader (15-8, 61.4% of scoring returning): </strong>The Warriors largely cruised through league play last season, losing to only two conference foes - Turkey Valley in the third game of the season, and to large school division winner South Winneshiek. No other league game was decided by fewer than 16 points, and no other divisional game was decided by less than 19. They bring back three double-figure scorers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2906437' first='Owen' last='Hammersland'] (13.1) and juniors Griffen Hammersland (11.3) and Mason Loan (10.3, 4.5 assists), giving them a really strong trio to build around. They'll have a few solid rotation pieces they'll need to replace, but that trio of players will be the best in the division, and pretty comfortably so. The older Hammersland should be the division's best player, and they probably have three of the top five or six players in the division, making them a pretty heavy favorite to repeat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clayton Ridge (6-16, 29.9%): </strong>The Eagles were hit hard by graduation, losing their top three, and six of their top eight scorers from last year's team. That leaves juniors Kasten Oberbreckling (6.5) and Tate Hoeger (4.2) as the top returnees. Oberbreckling was solid last season, dishing out 2.6 assists per game to go with his scoring, and he figures to step into a starring role this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kee (8-14, 79.4%):</strong> Kee started last season with back-to-back wins, then lost nine straight. They finished the year stronger, going 6-5 in their last 11 games, and while that record doesn't blow you away, it is reason for optimism heading into 2026-27, looking to carry some of that momentum into the new year. The Hawks bring back their top three, and four of the top five, scorers from that group and could be a team that makes a significant leap to challenge for the #2 spot in the division. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3343976' first='Trey' last='Cota'] (16.6) is the top returning scorer, and he'll pair with classmate Tanner Troendle (7.2, 5.1 assists) to give them a solid one-two punch in the backcourt. Sophomore Conner Winters (10.7, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks) was really good as a freshman, shooting better than 61% from the floor, and if he takes another leap, Kee could be a team that challenges Central Elkader, as his two-way interior presence is a really tough matchup within this division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Postville (2-20, 62.1%): </strong>The bad news for the Pirates is that they lost the lone double-figure scorer from a 2-win team. The good news is two-fold: the next three scorers return, giving them an experienced core to build around; and there is nowhere to go but up. Seniors Cedric Navarro (7.2, 6.8 rebounds) and Micah Minikwu (6.2), and junior Zade Brock (7.1), are the key returnees for this group. Navarro is really solid on the glass on both ends of the floor and will be asked to take on an even more significant role in his final year. This isn't a team that is going to challenge for the division title, but I think they'll be more competitive this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Turkey Valley (14-9, 41.9%): </strong>Senior forward Jordan Kriener (10.7) returns, giving the Trojans one of the better players in the division. That's the good news. The bad news is that they lost their top two scorers, who took a combined 32.4 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists a game with them. That means a lot of opportunity has opened up for Kriener, and classmates Cale Langreck (6.0) and Treyton Franzen (5.2). This is a strong program that has only had one losing season in the last 10 years, so they're going to remain competitive, but they probably don't have the high-end firepower to truly challenge Central Elkader at the top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Central (5-17, 90.3%): </strong>The Blue Devils got off to a strong 3-1 start last season and then were rarely competitive over the last 18 games of the year. There should be some reason for optimism heading into the 2026-27 season with their top four scorers returning, including three who averaged between 8.2 and 12.5 points per game - seniors Brody Wolff (12.5) and Milton Cushion (8.2), and junior Ashton Squires (11.0). Wolff should be one of the better players in the division this winter and Squires gives them another solid playmaker alongside him, as does senior Cale Baker (5.0), who led the team in assists last season. This is a group that struggled from the 3-point line (24.8%) last year, and if they can get that number even up to just 28-29%, they should stack a few more wins.</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. Central Elkader<br>2. Kee<br>3. Turkey Valley<br>4. West Central<br>5. Clayton Ridge<br>6. Postville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>After rolling through division play last year, and bringing back their top three scorers, Central Elkader is a clear favorite here. Kee should be improved, and Turkey Valley is always strong. </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='2906437' first='Owen' last='Hammersland'] (Central Elkader): </strong>The Warriors won the small school division last year and look like a pretty significant favorite to repeat this winter on the strength of Hammersland, a senior guard who can stuff the stat sheet on both ends of the floor.</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='2906437' first='Owen' last='Hammersland'] (Central Elkader)<br>2028 Griffen Hammersland (Central Elkader)<br>2028 Mason Loan (Central Elkader)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343976' first='Trey' last='Cota'] (Kee)<br>2029 Conner Winters (Kee)<br>2027 Tanner Troendle (Kee)<br>2029 Oden Welsh (Kee)<br>2027 Brody Wolff (West Central)<br>2027 Milton Cushion (West Central)<br>2028 Ashton Squires (West Central)<br>2027 Cale Baker (West Central)<br>2027 Jordan Kriener (Turkey Valley)<br>2027 Cale Langreck (Turkey Valley)<br>2027 Treyton Franzen (Turkey Valley)<br>2028 Kasten Oberbreckling (Clayton Ridge)<br>2028 Zade Brock (Postville)<br>2027 Cedric Navarro (Postville)<br>2027 Micah Minikwu (Postville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->