Conference Preview: Iowa Alliance North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ames (21-3 last season, 32.0% of scoring returning): </strong>The Little Cyclones used the top-ranked scoring defense in 4A (39.3 points per game allowed) to reach the state tournament, where they nearly upset Valley. They lost the top three, and four of the top five, scorers from that group, but this is a program that consistently defends at a high level, and thus, wins at a high level. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (8.6, 1.9 blocks) is the focal point of the defense, a human eraser at the rim who allows the Ames guards to play even more aggressively on the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (6.2) is the leading returnee on the perimeter and figures to have the ball in his hands quite a bit as the team's top guard scorer. Look for players like [player_tooltip player_id='2868557' first='Kuach' last='Kuach'], Brandon Johnson, and DJ Bijiek to step into bigger roles on both ends of the floor. This is a team that suffocates teams defensively, and that will remain the case this year, and the defense will spark the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dodge (5-17, 54.0%): </strong>The good news for the Dodgers is that they lost just two players from last year's roster. The bad news is that those two players were their top two scorers last season. Sophomore guard Reggie Pederson (7.2) is the top returning scorer, coming off a productive freshman year in which he showed some ability to score from all three levels. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2618810' first='Hayden' last='Zuspann'] (6.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381217' first='Taevon' last='Feeley'] (4.5, 4.9 rebounds) were both big contributors last season and should become bigger players in their final year. Ball security (17.2 turnovers) and 3-point shooting (27.2 3P%) are the biggest areas that need to be addressed if they are to improve this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marshalltown (7-15, 77.7%):</strong> The Bobcats lost six games by single digits last season and bring back the top two, and four of the top five scorers, from that group, so there is some reason for optimism heading into this winter. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413554' first='Kyle' last='Smith'] (17.7, 7.6 rebounds) is the top returning scorer in the division and will be the headliner of the group. He can play with or without the ball in his hands, shooting it well from the 3-point line or getting to the bucket. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381208' first='Drake' last='Gersema'] (9.3, 4.0 assists) sets the table for the group, leading the team in helpers last season, and he'll be joined by [player_tooltip player_id='2381209' first='Jamison' last='Niehouse'] (2.9), another solid playmaker, in the backcourt. The 'Cats need to find some depth after losing a number of rotation pieces to graduation, but with Smith, Gersema, Niehouse, and Jacob Hayes (6.6) returning, they have a nice group to build around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason City (9-13, 84.1%): </strong>The Riverhawks are another team that lost a bunch of games by single digits last season, dropping seven such games, and they bring back their top two scorers and seven of their top eight. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2204885' first='Marcele' last='Whitner'] (13.4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731853' first='Ty' last='Sanchez-Evans'] (11.1, 7.7 rebounds) are the top returnees, a really strong one-two punch. [player_tooltip player_id='2906539' first='Jameer' last='Falls'] (6.5, 3.5 assists) gives them athleticism in the backcourt, and Owen Rickers (6.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2673006' first='Drayden' last='Witt'] (6.0) provide some additional scoring. This group shot just 61.1% from the free-throw line last season, a contributor to losing so many close games. If they can get that up into the high-60s or low-70s, they could turn several of those losses into wins and be a thorn in Ames' side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo East (8-13, 31.0%): </strong>The Trojans lost their top three scorers from last year's team, leaving senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887857' first='Jeremy' last='Waters-Wright'] (5.5) as the top returnee. He had a really nice spring and summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2626519' first='Drive' last='Pro Select'] and looks like he's primed to step into a much bigger role during his senior year, and they'll need him to with so much production lost. Look for sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='2523898' first='Gianni' last='Gary'] (4.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2523904' first='Isaiah' last='Thomas'] (3.5), who were both productive in their playing time as freshmen, to step up and become key players for East as well this winter. Classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2596493' first='Jadyn' last='Perkins'] (1.7) should also be a big contributor. The Trojans are going to be pretty young outside of Waters-Wright, but they'll be fast, athletic, and talented. This is a building year for what could be a nice two-year stretch coming up.</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. Ames<br>2. Mason City<br>3. Marshalltown<br>4. Waterloo East<br>5. Fort Dodge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Despite losing a ton of production from last year's team, Ames should continue to be the class of the division here. They're just so good defensively, so well-coached, and have more talent than the other schools in the league. Mason City and Marshalltown should both be improved.</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>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (Ames):</strong> Dau is the ultimate eraser at the back end of the Little Cyclones' defense, which is always among the best in the state. He'll be the focal point on both ends of the floor as a senior for Ames, the best team in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413554' first='Kyle' last='Smith'] (Marshalltown)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2381208' first='Drake' last='Gersema'] (Marshalltown)<br>2026 Jacob Hayes (Marshalltown)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2204885' first='Marcele' last='Whitner'] (Mason City)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731853' first='Ty' last='Sanchez-Evans'] (Mason City)<br>2027 Owen Rickers (Mason City)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906539' first='Jameer' last='Falls'] (Mason City)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2673006' first='Drayden' last='Witt'] (Mason City)<br>2028 Reggie Pederson (Fort Dodge)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2618810' first='Hayden' last='Zuspann'] (Fort Dodge)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2381217' first='Taevon' last='Feeley'] (Fort Dodge)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523898' first='Gianni' last='Gary'] (Waterloo East)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887857' first='Jeremy' last='Waters-Wright'] (Waterloo East)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523904' first='Isaiah' last='Thomas'] (Waterloo East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->