Conference Preview: West Central

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ACGC (10-13 last season, 39.5% of scoring returning):</strong> Both double-figure scorers from last year's team graduated, taking 30.8 points per game with them, and one other rotation piece also graduated, so three big contributors will need to be replaced. Seniors Preston Kent (7.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381212' first='Jonny' last='Kading'] (6.4, 7.4 rebounds) are the top returnees. Kading is a solid two-way player who averaged 1.5 blocks per game, and he'll probably be the Chargers' best all-around player this winter. Look for a slew of sophomores who saw time as freshmen to step into much larger roles this winter in William Skram (4.3), [player_tooltip player_id='3696721' first='Reece' last='Emgarten'] (2.2), Joe Fagan (2.0), and Andrew Baumert. Lance Kading has built ACGC into a pretty solid program and they should avoid bottoming out with the depth that he has helped build, but they also lack the high-end talent to be a real contender in the WCAC this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Earlham (13-11, 43.2%): </strong>In their first year under former Iowa sharpshooter Austin Ash, Earlham embraces a 3-point heavy attack, firing up over 27 3-point attempts a night. What do they have in store in year two? They have to replace their top shooting threat and leading scorer in Griffin Messer, who averaged 17.1 points and shot 38% from 3. They'll be led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3343988' first='Brady' last='Reynolds'] (10.2, 4.7 assists) and forward Carter Frank (8.2, 8.4 rebounds), a pair of very experienced players. Reynolds will be one of the top guards in the conference, capable of getting downhill and putting pressure on opposing teams with his speed and vision, while Frank dominates the glass on both ends of the floor. Three other rotation pieces - juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2523903' first='Hayden' last='Ealy'] (3.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='3784554' first='Brody' last='Coates'] (2.1) and sophomore Austen Rodgers (2.3) - also return with some experience. The Cardinals will look to push the pace and introduce as much variance as possible by launching 3s early and often.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Interstate 35 (6-16, 17.0%):</strong> No team in the league was hit as hard by graduation as I-35, losing their top three scorers and six of the top seven from last year's team. Seniors Lucas Baudler (7.5) and Kale Murphy (2.4) are the only two returnees with notable experience, so they'll be joined on this year's roster by a lot of new faces. After winning just six games last season and losing so much production, it's hard to imagine much more success this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madrid (20-5, 100%): </strong>With Des Moines Christian leaving the league and the Tigers returning everyone from a 20-win team, Madrid is a pretty clear favorite in the WCAC this winter, and is one of the top teams in Class 1A. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (24.5, 10.0 rebounds) is one of the best players in small-school basketball and will be absolutely dominant in his third varsity season. An athletic, physical forward who can do it all, no team in the league has an answer for him. He's far from alone, however, with senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (11.3) and junior guard Logan Bogardus (10.4) both averaging in double digits last season. Max Fowler (7.2), Zach Newell (4.9), and Kolbie Owens (4.3), all juniors as well, were productive in their roles last season and will provide additional scoring punch. Madrid is going to be really, really good, and they may be even better in 2027-28, a scary thought for teams in the WCAC and in 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Martensdale-St Marys (18-7, 39.2%): </strong>The Blue Devils join the West Central this winter, coming over from the Pride of Iowa. This will be a pretty significant step up in nightly competition for them, so the transition may not be the smoothest, especially considering they need to replace their leading scorer and four of their top six. Senior guard Jack Rezac (10.8) and forward Slade White (4.8, 6.6 rebounds) are the top two returnees, the only two to average more than 1.9 points per game last season. Rezac looks like he's capable of stepping into a primary scoring role this winter and will be the go-to option, but how successful this transition will be comes down to all the new faces that will take the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ogden (6-18, 48.1%): </strong>Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2906489' first='Brayden' last='Miller'] (13.7) should be one of the better players in the league this winter, but he's the only returnee among the top four scorers last season. He'll be tasked with carrying a heavy scoring load, especially early on as some of the newbies adjust to larger roles. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3653837' first='Nate' last='Swisher'] (6.5, 4.7 rebounds) was a solid contributor last season and look for sophomores Ben Snedden (4.5, 3.5 assists) and Carson Lloyd to step into much bigger roles. The 'Dogs struggled to shoot it from deep (29.4%) last season, a number that will need to improve if they want to add some more wins to their record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Panorama (2-20, 72.7%): </strong>The Panthers won just two games last season but bring back four of their top five scorers, so there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2026-27 season. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3620626' first='Cruz' last='Crandall'] (15.8), [player_tooltip player_id='2529620' first='Jaxson' last='Stauffer'] (8.2), Reed Draper (8.0), and Brayden Prescott (4.2) all saw a lot of playing time last season and will be the core that this year's team is built around. Crandall is one of the best scorers in the conference and looks primed for a big senior season. Improvement in the win column will need to come with a concentration on the defensive end after allowing over 70 points a game last season. if they can get that number down into the low-to-mid 60s, they'll add some more wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasantville (14-9, 96.4%):</strong> If star wing [player_tooltip player_id='2419699' first='Braylon' last='Bingham'] (21.8) plays this winter, the Trojans are probably the second best team in the league. Bingham, an Iowa football commit, is a versatile, athletic do-it-all wing who can score in bunches, dominate the glass, and defend multiple spots. I'm not sure if he is planning to enroll early at Iowa for spring training camp, or if he'll stay in school and play basketball. If he does, the Trojans have a chance to make some noise. They're able to surround him with a lot of shooting, with [player_tooltip player_id='2934540' first='Drake' last='Elliott'] (12.7, 42.9 3P%), Trindon Phipps (10.4, 41.2 3P%), Cash Klootwyk (8.4, 39.7 3P%), and Levi Willoughby (6.4, 39.2 3P%) all capable of torching teams from the arc. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2521847' first='Nolan' last='Fichter'] (4.5, 5.9 assists) isn't a big scorer, but he's the straw that stirs the drink, posting a really impressive 3.82 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. This team should be pretty explosive offensively and will have a chance to make noise in postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Van Meter (14-9, 32.6%): One of the most consistent athletic programs in small school sports, Van Meter is always a contender no matter who they lose to graduation, and that should remain the case this winter. The Bulldogs lost both double-figure scorers and four of their top six from last year's team, but bring back two solid young players to build around in junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2780740' first='Garrison' last='Thummel'] (9.0, 7.5 rebounds) and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2921223' first='Keenan' last='Lundy'] (8.5), who will give them one of the better one-two punches in the league this winter. Lundy in particular looks like he's ready to take another leap. He's a long, athletic wing who can play downhill and put constant rim pressure on teams. This is a program that always has good athletes to fill out the rest of the rotation and they'll once again be a top 3-4 team in the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Central Valley (13-11, 43.0%):</strong> A pair of double-figure scorers return for the Wildcats in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2906470' first='Colton' last='Lindsay'] (11.8, 4.4 assists) and Garret Wolfe (10.0, 7.3 rebounds), giving them a solid tandem to build around. That's the good news. The bad news is that every other part of the rotation last year has to be replaced. Lindsay and Wolfe will be one of the better inside-out tandems in the conference, but with so many new faces around them, it'll be interesting to see just how far that duo can take WCV.</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. Madrid<br>2. Pleasantville<br>3. Van Meter<br>4. Earlham<br>5. West Central Valley<br>6. ACGC<br>7. Martensdale-St Marys<br>8. Ogden<br>9. Interstate 35<br>10. Panorama</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Madrid looks like a pretty heavy favorite here, bringing everyone back to a team that went 12-3 in league play last season. They have the most depth and the best player in the league. Pleasantville will be a factor, if Bingham plays, and Van Meter is always solid.</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='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (Madrid): </strong>The Tigers look like a pretty heavy favorite to win the WCAC this season, and Severson is without a doubt the best player in the league, making this a pretty easy pick. </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='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (Madrid)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (Madrid)<br>2028 Logan Bogardus (Madrid)<br>2028 Max Fowler (Madrid)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419699' first='Braylon' last='Bingham'] (Pleasantville)<br>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2934540' first='Drake' last='Elliott'] (Pleasantville)<br>2028 Trindon Phipps (Pleasantville)<br>2027 Cash Klootwyk (Pleasantville)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3620626' first='Cruz' last='Crandall'] (Panorama)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2529620' first='Jaxson' last='Stauffer'] (Panorama)<br>2027 Reed Draper (Panorama)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906489' first='Brayden' last='Miller'] (Ogden)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906470' first='Colton' last='Lindsay'] (West Central Valley)<br>2027 Garret Wolfe (West Central Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343988' first='Brady' last='Reynolds'] (Earlham)<br>2027 Carter Frank (Earlham)<br>2027 Jack Rezac (Martensdale-St Marys)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2780740' first='Garrison' last='Thummel'] (Van Meter)<br>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2921223' first='Keenan' last='Lundy'] (Van Meter)<br>2027 Preston Kent (ACGC)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2381212' first='Jonny' last='Kading'] (ACGC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->