Conference Preview: South Iowa Cedar (West)
The Teams BGM, Brooklyn: One of the better programs in the conference over last decade, this team finished 13-10 last season behind an outstanding senior duo of Tanner Jansen and Kaiden Fiekelborn. Eric Weiss and Dylan Schafbuch will lead the…
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Continue ReadingThe Teams
BGM, Brooklyn: One of the better programs in the conference over last decade, this team finished 13-10 last season behind an outstanding senior duo of Tanner Jansen and Kaiden Fiekelborn. Eric Weiss and Dylan Schafbuch will lead the way this season for the Bears; this new senior duo will try top last season’s somewhat disappointing campaign.
Colfax-Mingo: It was nearly all seniors last season that lead the Tigerhawks to a respectable 13-10 mark. And now 2018 post Jared Nichols finds himself in a position where he’ll have to do a little bit of everything to help make this year’s squad successful.
HLV Victor: It was tough sledding last winter for the Warriors, and in a tough conference like this, that’s not a knock on this team. After a 6-17 campaign, they return plenty of experience this season. But again, it will have one of the tougher conference’s in the state to deal with.
Lynnville-Sully: The Hawks added a sharpshooter from Grinnell, Brevin Hansen, and were already bringing back a loaded roster to begin with. This team will be very dangerous this winter, per usual.
Montezuma: Like Lynnville-Sully, Montezuma will not only be one of the conference’s best teams, but one of the state’s best teams. The Braves — led by senior Dakota Strong — are ranked No.8 in our unofficial 1A preseason poll. The Hawks are No. 4. When those two link up, it will be must-watch hoops.
North Mahaska, New Sharon: In most conferences we’d consider the Warhawks to be among the favorites. But in this conference, and this division in particular, it’s a bit different. North Mahaska will be good — led by a dynamic senior duo of Brant Fleener and Milan DeJong — but it will be tough to compete with the Hawks and Braves.
Projected Order of Finish
- Lynnville-Sully
- Montezuma
- North Mahaska, New Sharon
- BGM, Brooklyn
- HLV, Victor
- Colfax-Mingo
Analysis
What a race this will be for the West Division title. Both Lynnville-Sullly and Montezuma are preseason top 10 picks in our “Way too Early” 1A poll, and they play twice this season; mark your calendars.
Preseason Player of the Year
Dakota Strong, 6’1, Montezuma
After a sensational junior season, Strong returns to a Braves squad which undoubtedly has a state tournament run on their minds. Strong led the Braves last season, scoring 15.9 points per game. He also hoisted 237 3s, only St. Albert’s Trevor Miller attempted more. Strong’s 83 3-point makes were sixth-best in the state last season.
Biggest Sleeper
Jarod Nichols, 6’3 C, Colfax-Mingo
He was the lone underclassman on a senior-laden starting five last season for the Tigerhawks. And though his team might not have the same degree of success it had last season, we feel Nichols could breakout and be a double-double (points, rebounds) machine this winter.
Players to Watch
Jesse Van Wyk, G, Lynnville-Sully
Brevin Hansen, 5’10, Lynnville-Sully
Tyler Van Zante, 6′, Lynnville-Sully
Dakota Strong, 6’1, Montezuma
Logan Price, 6’2, Montezuma
Brant Fleener, 6’2, North Mahaska
Milan DeJong, G, North Mahaska
Eric Weiss, 6, BGM, Brooklyn
Tucker Jones, 6’4, HLV, Victor
Jarod Nichols, 6’3, Colfax-Mingo