Conference Preview: Lakes

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cherokee (8-15, 68.8% of scoring returning):</strong> The bad news for the Braves is that leading scorer Aiden Comstock graduated, taking 17.2 points and 7.7 rebounds a game with him. The good news, however, is that every other player from the rotation returns, giving them a lot of experience. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731759' first='Coy' last='Lewis'] (9.4) is the top returnee, one of three players who averaged around 9 points a game. Juniors Jacob Hurd (9.2) and Henry Lugar (9.1), and seniors Alex Kohn (5.3) and Lance Pingel (4.0) each averaged a little over two assists a game, giving them a quartet of ball-handlers that they can rely on. Expect this to be a balanced group with a different leading scorer most nights, which could be a benefit for them. They'll need to cut down on the turnovers (18.7) if they want to make a jump up the league standings, but with the massive amount of youth they had playing last year, a trim down there should be expected. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Estherville Lincoln Central (13-9, 81.7%):</strong> In senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171659' first='Owen' last='Larson'] (27.2), the Midgets have one of the best players in the state. Larson is a dynamic three-level scorer and playmaker who impacts the game on both ends of the floor on nearly every possession. In addition to his scoring, he averaged 8.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.6 steals a game. He's the type of player who can take over any game at any point in time. The next two scorers from last year's team also return in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2325337' first='Cael' last='Miller'] (8.7) and Jordan Jensen (8.5), giving them a solid trio to build around. Jensen is a physical presence in the paint who rebounds well on both ends of the floor, while Miller will be tasked with taking a little scoring pressure off of Larson on the perimeter. Larson, a future South Dakota State guard, is far and away the best player in the conference and will make ELC the favorite in the league. Just how deep a postseason run they can make will come down to how the role players perform, and whether or not they can get enough stops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spencer (8-14, 20.7%): </strong>The Tigers lost a ton of production to graduation, with their top three scorers all gone, as well as four other rotation pieces. That leaves junior forward Jack Berends (4.0) as the top returnee. Berends was a standout at the Winterset team camp in June, showing good footwork and touch on his post touches, and he should be the team's go-to offensive threat. Ross Carlson (3.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721680' first='Cael' last='Bruning'] (3.4) are the only other returnees with any significant experience. With a lot of new faces joining the rotation this season, it's hard to see Spencer competing with the top teams in the area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spirit Lake (12-9, 53.0%): </strong>The Indians lost two of their top three scorers but there should still be some optimism in Spirit Lake this season with the returnee of junior [player_tooltip player_id='1759904' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'] (16.8), a versatile and, at times, dominant three-level scorer and playmaker. He has good size on the wing, and while he isn't a great shooter, his jumper is enough of a threat that it needs to at least be respected, which opens up the rest of his game. Two other young pieces also return in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2398038' first='Ethan' last='Stecker'] (6.8) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1765548' first='Wesley' last='Walz'] (5.3), a pair of talented perimeter-oriented players. Spirit Lake <em>may</em> take a little bit of a step back this season, but this group is going to be really young, pretty talented, and will be competitive this season with eyes on the 2024-25 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storm Lake (4-18, 74.8%): </strong>The top three scorers return for the Tornadoes, led by a pair of talented sophomores coming off great freshman seasons in [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] (13.6, 7.3 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765508' first='Cameron' last='Boyd'] (11.6, 37.1 3P%). Coon is a fantastic athlete at 6-5 who can score inside and out, defend multiple positions, create off the bounce, and control the glass. He had a really good spring and summer and looks like he's ready to take another leap in his development. Boyd is a skilled shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands and and really shoot it off the catch. The other key returnee is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1945657' first='Justin' last='Guynn'] (12.0), a veteran presence. This team struggled with shooting it from deep (27.6%) and turnovers (16.5 a game), which helped contribute to the 72 points a game they allowed, a number that will need to improve in a major way if they want to make a jump this season. There is talent here, but the defense really needs to improve if they want to compete with ELC and Spirit Lake at the top.</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. Estherville Lincoln Central<br>2. Spirit Lake<br>3. Cherokee<br>4. Storm Lake<br>5. Spencer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> With the best player in the league on their side, ELC is our pick to take home the Lakes crown this season. Spirit Lake lost a lot of production but still has some good young talent, while Cherokee brings back a ton of experience and could be a factor as well. If Storm Lake can tighten up the defense a bit, they could make some noise because there is a lot of offensive talent on that roster.</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>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171659' first='Owen' last='Larson'] (Estherville Lincoln Central): </strong>An explosive scorer and skilled playmaker, Larson is a clear choice for POY honors here, coming off a season in which he averaged over 27 points, 8 rebounds, and nearly 5 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171659' first='Owen' last='Larson'] (Estherville Lincoln Central)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325337' first='Cael' last='Miller'] (Estherville Lincoln Central)<br>2024 Jordan Jensen (Estherville Lincoln Central)<br>2024 Aaron Armstrong (Estherville Lincoln Central)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759904' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398038' first='Ethan' last='Stecker'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765548' first='Wesley' last='Walz'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] (Storm Lake)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1945657' first='Justin' last='Guynn'] (Storm Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765508' first='Cameron' last='Boyd'] (Storm Lake)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2811931' first='Charlie' last='Dvergsten'] (Storm Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731759' first='Coy' last='Lewis'] (Cherokee)<br>2025 Jacob Hurd (Cherokee)<br>2025 Henry Lugar (Cherokee)<br>2024 Alex Kohn (Cherokee)<br>2025 Daenon Loucks (Cherokee)<br>2025 Jack Berends (Spencer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->