Conference Preview: West Central

The Teams   ACGC (16-9, 61.0% of scoring returning): The Chargers lost two of their top three scorers, but bring back three starters and three other players who appeared in at least 22 games last season, giving them a solid group of six to continue to build around. They're led by the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'] (12.6), [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (8.7), and [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (8.0). Bunde and Kading are two of the returning starters, with Anthony Solorzano (6.4) the other name to know among that group. Bunde is the team's top perimeter shooting threat, knocking down 37.2% of his 3s last season, and they'll rely on him to help space the floor for Policky, who operates in the paint, and Kading and Solorzano, who are better when they're attacking the rim. This is a team that protected the ball pretty well last season (11.5 turnovers a game), and despite losing their top two ball-handlers, that should be a strength again. They may not have quite enough to challenge DMC or Madrid at the top, but they'll be in the mix for a top-3 finish.   Des Moines Christian (18-7, 77.7%): The Lions have been one of the most consistent programs in the state over the last two decades, averaging 20.7 wins a season during the QuikStats/Bound era (17 years). They should eclipse that total this season with three double-figure scorers, and a slew of other important pieces, returning. They're led by the trio of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1171689' first='Landon' last='Craven'] (15.1, 4.3 steals) and [player_tooltip player_id='1751233' first='Tate' last='Platte'] (11.8, 7.1 rebounds), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (11.4). Craven is a menace on the defensive end who gets to the bucket frequently. Platte is a bit undersized as a power forward, but he's a good athlete with tremendous hands who loves to control the glass, and Ingram is an extremely athletic wing defender who can defend one through five and get to the rim offensively. Trey Currier (3.3), [player_tooltip player_id='2511537' first='Quinton' last='Bailey'] (2.4), and Joe Clement (1.7) all contributed in spurts last season, and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1978133' first='Max' last='Town'] (1.4) and Jameson Scharnberg (1.4) should step into bigger roles this season as well. They got a boost via transfer as well with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='2398006' first='Sean' last='Tunks'], who joins from Southeast Polk. Tunks was really good over the summer for the Lions, giving them a quick-twitch athlete on the perimeter who can attack the rim or shoot from deep. This group always plays strong defense, and with the massive amount of production coming back, they should be able to score in bunches as well.   Earlham (10-13, 83.4%): The Cardinals bring back all but one player from last year's 10-win roster, so if you're looking for a team that could potentially make a jump, check them out. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2397202' first='Blake' last='Reynolds'] (10.3, 2.8 assists) led the team in scoring and helpers last season and looks like he's primed to have a big year. Jeret Petersen (8.4) and Kallin Nicholson (8.2), a pair of senior forwards, hold down the painted area and are strong on the glass, as is Walker Hale (3.9, 5.0 rebounds). They're going to be experienced, and should be fairly balanced again this season. They're below the top-tier teams in the league, but will certainly be in the mix for a finish above .500.   Interstate 35 (4-18, 66.3%): After getting off to a promising 4-4 start, the Roadrunners dropped 14 straight games to close out last season. They bring back four of the top five scorers from that group and should be improved. They're led by junior wing Will Goering (9.4), who led a balance attack of scorers last year, with six averaging between 4.7 and 9.4 points a game. The other returnees of note here are Christian Williamson (6.7), Brendan Goering (6.3), and Ben McCuddin (5.2). McCuddin is coming off a solid freshman season and could emerge as a strong secondary scorer.   Madrid (22-3, 61.9%): Three starters return for a Tigers team that qualified for their first state tournament last season. Their three losses came by a combined 13 points, and they went 15-1 against league foes. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (20.6) leads a talented trio of juniors, each of whom averaged in double figures last season. Severson is one of the best small-school players in the state, a high IQ wing who can score inside and out, create for his teammates, defend multiple positions, and contribute on the glass. He has a great feel for the game, knowing when to take over or when to get his teammates involved, and he's the best player in the league. His classmates, [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (10.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (10.1), are also talented scorers who can really shoot it from deep or create plays off the dribble, giving them three reliable ball-handlers and playmakers. There is going to be a gapping hole in the paint following the graduation of Jackson Newell, who blocked more than six shots a game last season, as well as the loss of Kadyn Severson, who provided more perimeter scoring. That said, with Severson, Buck, and Ortiz-Alaniz back, this team is still going to be really good. If some players who saw limited time last season can step up and contribute, they'll push DMC at the top of the league.   Ogden (13-10, 75.3%): The Bulldogs got hot after the holiday break last season, rolling to eight straight wins from January 6 to January 26. They lost leading scorer Jack Christensen from that group, but every other player from that roster returns, led by senior forward Carson Van Sickle (11.5), who led the team in rebounding last season. He'll be the focal point of the offensive attack. Guards Quintin Hoskins (6.6) and Tanner Rohe (5.2) will have the ball in their hands quite a bit, setting up the offense, while Keaton Westberg (6.7), Colby Rohe (4.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1978140' first='Cayden' last='Dudley'] (3.5), and Brady Van Sickle (2.3) are all solid contributors as well. Half of their losses came by single digits last season, and with the experience they gained, they should be able to close some of those out.   Panorama (10-13, 68.1%): The Panthers bring back a pair of talented players in the backcourt in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1587394' first='Maddox' last='Hammerstrom'] (14.4, 8.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1256305' first='Braylon' last='Dawes'] (11.3), giving them a pair of players who can play with or without the ball in their hands and initiate the offense. Hammerstrom stuffed the stat sheet last season, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, and will be one of the best players in the conference, while Dawes is a solid shooting threat who can also put the ball on the floor and attack. Klayton Bremer (8.6) was another strong contributor last season who returns, and AJ Draper (6.3, 5.1 rebounds) is an efficient interior scoring threat. With four of their top five scorers returning to a group that won 10 games last season, they have a real chance to add 5-6 wins to the "W" column this season.   Pleasantville (11-11, 81.6%): The Trojans pretty much did what was expected of them last season - beat the teams you're better than, and struggle to compete against the top teams on the schedule. With their top three scorers returning, including senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1725069' first='Dayson' last='Leerhoff'] (22.2, 11.7 rebounds), there is some hope that they can become a bit more competitive against the best teams and rattle off a few more wins this season. Leerhoff is a mobile forward who can protect the rim, score inside and out, and pound the glass on both ends of the floor. He's one of the best players in the conference and should have a massive senior season. Ryder Thill (7.6) and Trent Jolly (7.0) are the other key notable returnees. Thill figures to have the ball in his hands a ton as the team's top playmaker, while Jolly is a good perimeter scoring threat.   Van Meter (16-7, 21.2%): The Bulldogs don't have much coming back, but this has been one of the premier athletic programs among small schools over the last decade, and they'll be able to find more bodies to fill in the gaps. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2325542' first='Cael' last='Trudo'] (6.1) is the top returnee, a power wing who can get to the rim seemingly at will. He was great over the summer with the 'Dogs, and he'll be asked to step into the primary scoring role this season. [player_tooltip player_id='2325537' first='John' last='Braun'] (5.3) is a physical presence in the paint who rebounds well on both ends, and [player_tooltip player_id='2398079' first='Caleb' last='Moore'] (1.9), a junior point guard, is a reliable ball-handler and playmaker. They have a ton of production to replace, but this is a program that has averaged 19.8 wins over the last eight seasons, and despite the personnel losses, they'll be a factor again.   West Central Valley (5-18, 98.2%): The bad news is that the Wildcats won just five games last season and were rarely competitive in their losses, with only two of their 18 setbacks coming by single digits. The good news, however, is that all but 21 points return from that roster, so they'll be very experienced and should be improved as a result. They're led by a trio of double figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2221605' first='Landon' last='Osberg'] (16.5), Nate Gerling (11.3, 8.2 rebounds), and Braylen Taylor (10.2), while fellow senior Owen Weber (7.3) is another viable scoring threat. They shouldn't have too many issues scoring this season with that quartet, but improvement on the defensive end will be what dictates how successful this group can be.   Woodward-Granger (10-12, 34.4%): The Hawks lost a lot of production off of last year's team, but they do bring back one of the best players in the conference in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1874331' first='Austin' last='Taylor'] (14.4, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 blocks), a versatile weapon on both ends of the floor who can dominate games. Taylor is a long, 6-6 combo forward who can stretch the floor at a ridiculously efficient clip, burying just under 49% of his 3-point attempts as a junior, and he's also a fantastic rim protector. The next four scorers from last year's team graduated, which means Taylor will be asked to do even more this season, especially early on as newcomers adjust to bigger roles. Chandler Drake (3.0) and Bryan Jesse (1.5) are the only other players to appear in at least 20 games last season, playing limited minutes off the bench. Taylor will put up some huge numbers, but this group likely struggles to compete against the top teams in the league.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Des Moines Christian 2. Madrid 3. ACGC 4. Van Meter 5. Pleasantville 6. Panorama 7. Ogden 8. Earlham 9. Woodward-Granger 10. West Central Valley 11. Interstate 35   Analysis: Madrid won the league last season, but we think DMC regains control of the conference this year. The battle between those two should be a lot of fun, and the head-to-head meeting in Madrid on January 12 could decide the league. ACGC will be a factor, and Van Meter is always going to be good, despite losing a ton of production.   Preseason Player of the Year   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid): Severson has great size on the wing at 6-4, and he's an efficient three-level scorer who can take over games in a hurry with his ability to get scorching hot from deep. He's a versatile defender who can protect the rim and move on the perimeter as well.   Players to Watch   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (Madrid) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (Madrid) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1725069' first='Dayson' last='Leerhoff'] (Pleasantville) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171689' first='Landon' last='Craven'] (Des Moines Christian) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751233' first='Tate' last='Platte'] (Des Moines Christian) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (Des Moines Christian) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398006' first='Sean' last='Tunks'] (Des Moines Christian) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1874331' first='Austin' last='Taylor'] (Woodward-Granger) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587394' first='Maddox' last='Hammerstrom'] (Panorama) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256305' first='Braylon' last='Dawes'] (Panorama) 2024 Klayton Bremer (Panorama) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2221605' first='Landon' last='Osberg'] (West Central Valley) 2024 Nate Gerling (West Central Valley) 2024 Braylen Taylor (West Central Valley) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'] (ACGC) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (ACGC) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (ACGC) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325542' first='Cael' last='Trudo'] (Van Meter) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325537' first='John' last='Braun'] (Van Meter) 2024 Carson Van Sickle (Ogden) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397202' first='Blake' last='Reynolds'] (Earlham) 2024 Jeret Petersen (Earlham) 2024 Kallin Nicholson (Earlham) 2025 Will Goering (Interstate 35)

The Teams