Conference Preview: Mississippi Athletic Conference
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The Teams [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] Assumption (19-5): Assumption’s season ended after a thirteen point loss to Clear Creek Amana in the Substate final game. The Knights graduated the MAC’s leading scorer last year, Sean Peeters Sean Peeters 6'5" | PF…
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Assumption (19-5): Assumption’s season ended after a thirteen point loss to Clear Creek Amana in the Substate final game. The Knights graduated the MAC’s leading scorer last year, Sean Peeters Sean Peeters 6'5" | PF Assumption | 2020 State IA , who averaged 23.6 points a game last year. However, Texas commit and third ranked player in the class of 2021, Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA will join the Knights this season. The 6’4″ small forward did it all last season for Davenport Central, averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Averaging 10.6 points last year, Dayne Hodge Dayne Hodge 5'11" | PG Assumption | 2021 State IA will help Ellis carry the load for the Knights this season. Assumption also brings back Noah Mack Noah Mack 6'0" | SG Assumption | 2022 State IA (6.6), Logan Ehrecke (2.1), and Tyler Maro (2.3), who all earned some solid minutes last season. With the addition of Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , the Knights will be primed for another solid season.
Bettendorf (8-14): The Bulldogs didn’t pick up a win outside of the conference last season, losing all of their non-conference battles. Unfortunately, Bettendorf graduates three seniors who all started twenty plus games. The Bulldogs do have some solid pieces returning though. Top returnees for the Bulldogs this season will be Carter Furness Carter Furness 5'11" | SG Bettendorf | 2021 State IA (7.4), Tynan Numkena Tynan Numkena 6'2" | SF Bettendorf | 2022 IA (4.4), and Oliver Bakeris Oliver Bakeris 6'6" | PF Bettendorf | 2021 State IA (3.3). These three returners will need some help from their role players if Bettendorf looks to improve from their 8-14 record from last year.
Central DeWitt (18-6): Coming over from the WaMac, Central DeWitt will look to compete in a tough MAC conference. The Sabers return one starter from last year’s lineup. Henry Bloom Henry Bloom 6'1" | PG Central DeWitt | 2021 State IA (8.7) is the lone returnee. He will be accompanied by Ben Mason (1.8), Kaiden Muhl (2.6), and John McCohony (2.1), who all saw some decent playing time last season. Losing a lot to graduation, the Sabers may have a tough first season in the tough Mississippi Athletic Conference.
Clinton River Kings (3-19): The River Kings bring back four players that all started games last season, which sheds a little hope for the upcoming season. The top returners will be Treveon Bailey (6.7) and Taylon Hayes (6.5). Even with everyone returning, they will need to improve tremendously on both sides of the ball.
Davenport Central (15-7): The transfer of Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA is a huge loss for the Blue Devils. The lone returnee will be John Miller John Miller 5'10" | PG Davenport Central | 2021 State IA , who started all twenty-two games and was the teams second leading scorer. Kaden Johnson (1.3) and Donovan Wakefield (2.7), who both saw decent playing last season, will also return for Davenport Central. They will have to find replacement for Ellis if they want to be competitive in the league this season.
Davenport North (16-9): After losing four of their last five games, the Wildcats got hot in the postseason and made a trip to Wells Fargo. They bring back four starters, and five of their top six scorers. The duo of Jaydon Houston (17.5) and Quincy Wiseman Quincy Wiseman 6'3" | SF Davernport North | 2021 State IA (14.0) will bring back 55% of the Wildcats scoring. Cade Guinn (3.1), Makhi Jacobs Makhi Jacobs 6'0" | CG Davenport North | 2021 State IA (7.8), and Alec Brown Alec Brown 5'10" | PG Davenport North | 2021 State IA (3.5) also return for the Wildcats coming off of solid season last year. Look for Davenport North to have another solid season and make another run in the postseason.
Davenport West (3-19): After a lone win in the league last season against Clinton, the Falcons bring back some solid pieces. Jermaine Gardner Jermaine Gardner 5'11" | PG Davenport West | 2022 State IA (8.0) and NaZion Caruthers NaZion Caruthers 6'0" | CG Davenport West | 2022 State IA (8.1) will be the top returners. Aldane Barrett Aldane Barrett 6'7" | C Davenport West | 2021 State IA (9.9), John Michael Thornton (4.5), and Diontray Whitney (3.5) also bring back some experience for Davenport West. Only averaging fifty points per game, they will have to improve offensively to be more competitive in the conference.
Muscatine (4-18): After a couple of down seasons, the Muskies look to bounce back this season with another year of experience. With their top five scorers coming back this season, the Muskies look to tally a few more wins. Top two scorers Noah Yahn Noah Yahn 6'2" | SF Muscatine | 2021 State IA (12.5) and Josh Dieckman Josh Dieckman 6'6" | PF Muscatine | 2021 State IA (11.8) will lead the charge. To help carry the load, Braden Hufford (3.9), Reed Ulses (4.0), and Walker Cler (4.2) will get solid minutes. There’s some hope for the Muskies in this odd 2020-21 campaign.
North Scott (22-2): The Lancers rode a twelve game win streak all the way to Des Moines, before facing a very talented Waukee team. One of the top teams in 4A last season, they lose three starters to graduation, including UNI commit Tytan Anderson (18.2). Carter Markham (2.5) and Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA (8.1) will return to lead the Lancers this season. Underclassmen Cole Kilburg Cole Kilburg 5'11" | PG North Scott | 2023 State IA (3.0) along with other role players will step into bigger roles this year for North Scott, as they look to repeat last season.
Pleasant Valley (13-11): Pleasant Valley won their last two regular-season games and rode the hot streak into the postseason, making it all the way to the substate championship. The Spartans will look to take it a step further this season as four of their starters return. Top returners will be Jacob Townsend Jacob Townsend 6'4" | SF Pleasant Valley | 2021 State IA (12.0) and Ryan Dolphin Ryan Dolphin 5'8" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA (7.5). CJ Ragins CJ Ragins 6'4" | PF Pleasant Valley | 2021 State IA (4.9) and Joey Borbeck (2.3) will also return to help carry the load. Averaging only 39.6 points per game as a team, they will have to improve offensively if they want to make another run in the postseason.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Assumption Knights
2. Davenport North Wildcats
3. Pleasant Valley Spartans
4. North Scott Lancers
5. Muscatine Muskies
6. Davenport Central Blue Devils
7. Bettendorf Bulldogs
8. Davenport West Falcons
9. Clinton River Kings
Analysis: The addition of Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA solidifies Assumption’s spot at the top of the league. After making a run to the substate final last year, look for Pleasant Valley to make a jump to the top of the league this year. Davenport Central will battle with Muscatine and North Scott for the middle spots in the conference, and Daveport West and Clinton will both just look to improve from last season.
Preseason Player of the Year: Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA (2021): 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, 48.2% from the field, and 62.5% from the free throw line. Playing his last high school season, the Texas commit will look to build off his already pretty stellar junior season stats.
Players to Watch:
Dayne Hodge Dayne Hodge 5'11" | PG Assumption | 2021 State IA , Assumption (2021)
Carter Furness Carter Furness 5'11" | SG Bettendorf | 2021 State IA , Bettendorf (2021)
Tynan Numkena Tynan Numkena 6'2" | SF Bettendorf | 2022 IA , Bettendorf (2022)
Henry Bloom Henry Bloom 6'1" | PG Central DeWitt | 2021 State IA , Central DeWitt (2021)
Treveon Bailey, Clinton (2021)
John Miller John Miller 5'10" | PG Davenport Central | 2021 State IA , Davenport Central (2021)
Jayden Houston Jayden Houston 6'3" | SF Davenport North | 2021 State IA , Davenport North (2021)
Quincy Wiseman Quincy Wiseman 6'3" | SF Davernport North | 2021 State IA , Davenport North (2021)
Makhi Jacobs Makhi Jacobs 6'0" | CG Davenport North | 2021 State IA , Davenport North (2021)
Jermaine Gardner Jermaine Gardner 5'11" | PG Davenport West | 2022 State IA , Davenport West (2022)
NaZion Caruthers NaZion Caruthers 6'0" | CG Davenport West | 2022 State IA , Davenport West (2022)
Aldane Barrett Aldane Barrett 6'7" | C Davenport West | 2021 State IA , Davenport West (2021)
Noah Yahn Noah Yahn 6'2" | SF Muscatine | 2021 State IA , Muscatine (2021)
Josh Dieckman Josh Dieckman 6'6" | PF Muscatine | 2021 State IA , Muscatine (2021)
Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA , North Scott (2021)
Cole Kilburg Cole Kilburg 5'11" | PG North Scott | 2023 State IA , North Scott (2023)
Jacob Townsend Jacob Townsend 6'4" | SF Pleasant Valley | 2021 State IA , Pleasant Valley (2021)
Ryan Dolphin Ryan Dolphin 5'8" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA , Pleasant Valley (2022)