Conference Preview: Missouri River
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The Teams Noll Bishop Heelan (6-16): It was a rough year last season for the Crusaders, winning just four league games, sweeping both North and Council Bluffs Jefferson, but there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2021-22 campaign.…
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Bishop Heelan (6-16): It was a rough year last season for the Crusaders, winning just four league games, sweeping both North and Council Bluffs Jefferson, but there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2021-22 campaign. That was a very young team, and they bring back the top seven scorers from it. They’ll be led by senior forward Nick Miller (10.8), who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season. The backcourt should be improved with more experience, headlined by junior Carter Kuehl Carter Kuehl 5'11" | PG Bishop Heelan | 2023 State IA (8.5), senior Levi Meis (7.6), and sophomore Beau Chamberlain Beau Chamberlain 6'2" | SG Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA (4.9). Kuehl is coming off a strong summer and fall, particularly as a shooter, and he should be ready to make a big impact on the perimeter. The Crusaders also add Matthew Noll Matthew Noll 6'7" | PF Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA , one of the top players in Iowa’s 2024 class, to their rotation this year. Noll is a long 6-5/6-6 wing who can really shoot it. He was arguably the best player on a very good Martin Brothers 15U team this summer, and should be a big-time contributor. Expect to see a much more competitive Heelan squad this year.
Council Bluffs Jefferson (1-21): The Yellow Jackets won just one game last year, a 3-point win over Sioux City North. The good news is that leading scorer and rebounder Austin Schubert Austin Schubert 6'1" | PF Council Bluffs Jefferson | 2022 State IA (11.9) returns to give them a veteran presence to build around. Seniors Reese Schlofeld (6.3), Lane Toman (3.7), and Jaiden Adams (2.8) all saw significant time last season and return as well.
Council Bluffs Lincoln (19-5): The Lynx rolled through conference play last year, going 15-0 against league foes and winning games by an average score of 68-41. Knowing that the MRAC isn’t going to prepare them very well for postseason play, they’ve scheduled very aggressively this season. Their schedule features games against out-of-state powers like Bellevue West, Millard North, and Grand Island, all of Nebraska; Sunrise Christian Academy of Kansas; and Minneapolis North. There are also games against Dowling Catholic and Valley, and scrimmages against Ames and Waukee Northwest. Simply put, they are trying to test themselves as much as possible. Senior wing Josh Dix Josh Dix 6'5" | SG Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2022 State #149 Nation IA (19.4) is one of the best wings in the Midwest, and he has signed to play his college ball at Iowa. At 6-5, Dix is a stat-sheet stuffing wing who dominates the game on both ends of the floor. He can really shoot it, gets to the bucket at will, and dished out 4.3 assists a game last season. He’s also a fantastic defender who uses his length really well on that end to jump passing lanes or contest shots. Fellow senior guard Jamison Gruber Jamison Gruber 6'1" | PG Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2022 State IA (11.9, 4.3 assists) is coming off a really strong summer, showcasing an improved jumper. In Gruber and Dix, the Lynx have a pair of very talented guards who take care of the ball and can fill it up. JR Knauss (3.3) was a solid role player last year, and senior big Jake Duffey (2.7) has some potential in the paint. There is also some young talent in the system that could contribute. The Lynx are the class of western Iowa, and the non-conference schedule should pay some dividends this year.
Le Mars (17-6): The Bulldogs were extremely successful in their second year in the MRAC, compiling 13 wins against league competitions, with their lone conference losses coming to 4A power CBAL. The ’Dogs lose a pair of double-figure scorers, but bring back senior guard Caleb Dreckman Caleb Dreckman 6'2" | SG LeMars | 2022 State IA (10.0, 43.1 3P%), an elite shooting threat to lead the charge. Fellow senior shooter Brady Williams (7.9, 39.8 3P%) gives them a pair of high-powered shooting threats, which will be key in keeping this group competitive as they find more depth. Cal Eckstaine (4.4) and Konnor Calhoun Konnor Calhoun 6'6" | C LeMars | 2022 State IA (4.0) also saw significant playing time last year, but outside of those four, there isn’t much coming back. There may be some growing pains early on for the ’Dogs, but they should be a highly competitive group with the type of shooting that will make them a viable threat to upset anyone.
Sergeant Bluff-Luton (17-8): The Warriors got off to a really slow 1-4 start last year and were hovering around .500 before February. Then they got hot, running off 11 straight wins before losing to eventual champion Pella in the state semifinals. This school has become a fixture in Des Moines, making their fifth consecutive state tournament appearance last year, and while they’ll have a difficult time getting back following the graduations of the top four scorers, coach Adam Vander Schaaf is one of the best in the state and this program is operating at a high level. Senior forward Jacob Imming Jacob Imming 6'2" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2022 IA (7.6) is the top returning scorer, while junior guard Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 5'10" | SG Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2023 State IA (7.1) also saw significant time last year. This group is always strong defensively, and that should continue this season. They’ll certainly have some rough stretches during the season with their inexperience, but expect to see Vander Schaaf getting this group rolling in February and a real threat in 3A again.
Sioux City East (13-10): The longtime MRAC stalwarts finished with double-figure losses for the first time in the QuikStats/VarsityBound era (dating back to 2006-07) last season, and lost big-time scorer DaVares Whitaker DaVares Whitaker 6'0" | PG Sioux City East | 2022 IA , who moved back to Arkansas after spending a year in Sioux City. Whitaker averaged nearly 25 points a game and will be a big piece to replace. Senior wing Bie Ruei Bie Ruei 6'4" | SF Sioux City East | 2022 State IA (11.9) is the top returning scorer, and junior combo forward Brandt Van Dyke Brandt Van Dyke 6'8" | PF Sioux City East | 2023 State IA (6.6) could be in line for a major breakout year for the Black Raiders. Van Dyke is a versatile scoring threat with great size and length, and he may be the biggest beneficiary of Whitaker’s departure. Expect to see East continue to put up points in bunches, and they may even get back to their big winning ways with a more balanced attack this season.
Sioux City North (4-18): The Stars lose leading scorer Evan Helvig to graduation, but bring back the next six scorers from last year’s team that pulled off a late-season upset over West. North struggled to put the ball in the bucket consistently last season, averaging just 42.2 points a game, which is a bit unusual in the high-tempo, free-flowing MRAC. Senior Carter Pinney (7.5) is the top returnee, while fellow senior Jake Beargeon (4.1) gives them an experienced backcourt to build around.
Sioux City West (11-11): The Wolverines were dealt a blow when Keeon Hutton Keeon Hutton 6'3" | SG Sioux City West | 2022 KS , a nearly 17-point-a-game scorer, moved to Wichita. Junior guard Keavian Hayes Keavian Hayes 6'2" | SG Sioux City West | 2023 State IA (17.4) returns, however, giving them their leading scorer and a dynamic ball-handler to lead the way. The problems for West have come on the defensive end of the floor. In their 11 wins last year, they allowed 52.3 points a game, but in the 11 losses, that number ballooned up to 74.4 points. Of course, those losses came against much better teams, but they have to find a way to either slow the game down, or play better defense if they want to be considered a serious contender. Lamarion Mothershead (7.9), Master Brooks (3.1), and Mabior Akuien (3.0) return with experience, and Mothershead should step into a secondary scoring role effectively. Hayes is a star, but defense and the role players will determine just how good this team can be.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
2. East
3. Le Mars
4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton
5. West
6. Heelan
7. North
8. Council Bluffs Jefferson
Analysis: It’s all CBAL in this league this year. The Lynx dominated league opponents last year, and bring back a significant chunk from that team. East may actually be better this year with a more balanced attack, while Le Mars, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and West will all be dangerous teams as well.
Preseason Player of the Year
2022 Josh Dix Josh Dix 6'5" | SG Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2022 State #149 Nation IA , Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln: This was perhaps the easiest selection of any conference in the state. The Iowa signee is a dynamic two-way player who stuffs the stat sheet and scores at a highly efficient clip. He has an outstanding feel for the game, knowing when he needs to take over as a scorer, or getting others involved. The do-it-all wing is also one of the top two contenders for Mr. Basketball this season.
Players to Watch
2022
Josh Dix
Josh
Dix
6'5" | SG
Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2022
State
#149
Nation
IA
, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
2022
Jamison Gruber
Jamison
Gruber
6'1" | PG
Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2022
State
IA
, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
2023
Keavian Hayes
Keavian
Hayes
6'2" | SG
Sioux City West | 2023
State
IA
, Sioux City West
2022
Keeon Hutton
Keeon
Hutton
6'3" | SG
Sioux City West | 2022
KS
, Sioux City West
2023 Lamarion Mothershead, Sioux City West
2022
Bie Ruei
Bie
Ruei
6'4" | SF
Sioux City East | 2022
State
IA
, Sioux City East
2023
Brandt Van Dyke
Brandt
Van Dyke
6'8" | PF
Sioux City East | 2023
State
IA
, Sioux City East
2022
Austin Schubert
Austin
Schubert
6'1" | PF
Council Bluffs Jefferson | 2022
State
IA
, Council Bluffs Jefferson
2022 Nick Miller, Heelan
2023
Carter Kuehl
Carter
Kuehl
5'11" | PG
Bishop Heelan | 2023
State
IA
, Heelan
2022 Levi Meis, Heelan
2024
Beau Chamberlain
Beau
Chamberlain
6'2" | SG
Bishop Heelan | 2024
State
IA
, Heelan
2022
Caleb Dreckman
Caleb
Dreckman
6'2" | SG
LeMars | 2022
State
IA
, Le Mars
2022 Brady Williams, Le Mars
2022
Jacob Imming
Jacob
Imming
6'2" | SF
Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2022
IA
, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
2023
Tyler Smith
Tyler
Smith
5'10" | SG
Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2023
State
IA
, Sergeant Bluff-Luton