Conference Preview: Missouri River

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Council Bluffs Jefferson (3-19 last season, 78.2% of scoring returning): </strong>The Yellow Jackets bring back their top three scorers from last year's group, led by junior wing Junior Gatkuoth (14.0). He's an athletic, slashing wing who likes to play downhill and get to the rim, but he's also a capable perimeter shooting threat, knocking down 34.4% of his 3-point attempts last season. Demari Robinson (9.9) and Jaden HIll (6.6), both seniors, provide some additional scoring punch. Look for sophomores Braxton Parks (3.0), Demarko Grant, and Dominique Grant to step into bigger roles this season after seeing some time as freshmen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Council Bluffs Lincoln (19-3, 48.5%): </strong>The Lynx lost three of their top four scorers from last season, leaving junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (10.8, 43.8 3P%) as the lone returnee among that top four. Slaughter is a lightning-quick guard who can play downhill and put pressure on opposing defenses with his speed and ball-handling, as well as his ability to shoot it from the 3-point line at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id='2617477' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'] (5.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='1978104' first='Easton' last='Klement'] (4.8, 4.4 assists) give the Lynx some more playmaking in the backcourt, while [player_tooltip player_id='2886791' first='Jake' last='Babbitt'] (7.0) is a good combo forward who can do a little bit of everything. The Lynx picked up a big addition with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='2523932' first='Kalan' last='Steinbeck'], one of the top players in the state's 2028 class, who transferred across the river from Blair (NE). A long 6-4 wing who can score from anywhere, he'll step into a starring role immediately for CBAL. Despite losing a ton of production, Jason Isaacson has built CBAL into a perennial contender, and that will remain the case this winter. It's CBAL and Sioux City East at the top of the league again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Heelan (11-13, 73.9%): </strong>Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765514' first='Noah' last='Conley'] (15.2, 37.2 3P%) led the Crusaders in scoring and assists last season and returns for one final go-around. He'll be joined by forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731823' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] (9.1, 6.8 rebounds), an athletic forward who can control the glass on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2420797' first='Grant' last='Whitcomb'] (6.2) was a solid contributor as a sophomore, as was [player_tooltip player_id='2979490' first='Abe' last='Scott'] (3.2), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2523757' first='Carson' last='Nichols'] may step into a more significant role after seeing a bit of time as a freshman. East transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2967587' first='Asser' last='Mutombo'] will give them some size and athleticism, and could step into a pretty significant role quickly. Heelan will have one of the league's top player leading the charge, and should finish above .500 this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Le Mars (7-15, 43.6%): </strong>The Bulldogs lost their top two scorers from last year's team but bring back the next three, giving them a solid trio of pieces to build around this year. Senior guard Tycen Augustine (8.2) is the top returning scorer, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2114193' first='Jackson' last='Wells'] (7.8, 3.6 assists) is the team's top playmaker. Andrew Grant (5.5), another junior, gives them some more wing scoring. Outside of those three, not much else returns, so there will be several new faces in the rotation this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sergeant Bluff-Luton (13-10, 87.2%):</strong> If you're looking for a team to jump up and challenge CBAL or Sioux City East at the top of the league this season, look at the Warriors. They bring back the top four scorers, and all but one player, from last year's roster. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2754687' first='Ajay' last='Vander Schaaf'] (16.3, 46.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2754699' first='Gavin' last='Ahrendt'] (10.0, 6.2 rebounds) are the top returning scorers, while [player_tooltip player_id='1978139' first='Isaiah' last='Jervik'] (8.4, 4.4 assists), [player_tooltip player_id='2772340' first='Kylen' last='Vander Schaaf'] (8.1, 36.5 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2731883' first='Dylan' last='Janzen'] (7.1) are all capable scoring threats as well. The elder Vander Schaaf is one of the state's elite shooting threats, capable of burying shots off both the dribble and the catch, while Ahrendt and Jervik combined to average 7.5 assists per game. This is a group that did a pretty good job protecting the ball last season, averaging just 12 turnovers a game, and they'll be deep, athletic, and loaded with shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City East (19-4, 72.0%):</strong> New head coach Brian Drent takes over for the legendary Ras Vanderloo, and he'll have a full stable of options at his disposal. The Black Raiders lost their leading scorer from last year's roster, but back bring four players who averaged between 9.7 and 12.4 points per game. The Yusuf brothers - seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1765550' first='Bilal' last='Yusuf'] (12.4, 3.3 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765551' first='Naef' last='Yusuf'] (9.7), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2265812' first='Fami' last='Yusuf'] (11.3) - are all fantastic athletes on the wing who can score from all three levels. All three thrive in transition, but are capable of creating looks in the halfcourt as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2520031' first='Chris' last='Loggins'] (10.5, 52.5 FG%) is another talented perimeter scorer who can get to the bucket. [player_tooltip player_id='1978132' first='Jack' last='Ohman'] (6.0) stuffs the stat sheet and will provide some additional toughness and versatility. East has always been explosive offensively, and with so much returning, that will remain the same under a new coach. They'll be deep, hyper-athletic, balanced, and capable of beating anyone on any given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City North (9-13, 41.4%):</strong> Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2520040' first='Kai' last='Chamberlain'] (18.9, 2.2 assists) is one of the top returning scorers in the league, a talented three-level scorer who puts constant pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to get downhill and attack. Senior guard Josh Mogensen (2.6, 5.6 assists) wasn't much of a scoring threat last season, but was really good as a playmaker, posting a 2.25 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Sophomores Devin Worden and Trey Henry should step into bigger roles this season after playing a little bit as freshmen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City West (2-19, 73.5%): </strong>The Wolverines lost their leading scorer to graduation, but bring back eight of the top 10. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2204879' first='Kamren' last='Hegna'] (9.4) and Eduardo Frazier (8.7, 4.3 assists) will be the headliners, but this is going to be a balanced group, with six players who averaged at least 5.6 points per game last season returning, all seniors. Look for sophomore Max Weerheim (4.2) to step into a bigger role this season after a good freshman season. The Wolverines struggled on the defensive end last season, giving up 76 points per game, a number that will need to improve if they're going to win more games this season.</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. Sioux City East<br>2. Council Bluffs Lincoln<br>3. Sergeant Bluff-Luton<br>4. Heelan<br>5. Sioux City North<br>6. Le Mars<br>7. Council Bluffs Jefferson<br>8. Sioux City West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> This league likely comes down to East and CBAL yet again this season, but SB-L looks like they could be a real state title contender in 3A this winter. January 13 (at East) and February 6 (at CBAL) are the dates to circle.</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>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754687' first='Ajay' last='Vander Schaaf'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton):</strong> CBAL and East are the top contenders in the league, but we're going with Vander Schaaf as the POY. Both CBAL and East have such depth that it's hard to figure out which player rises to the top, while Vander Schaaf, a flamethrower who can create for his teammates as well, is clearly the Warriors' top option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754687' first='Ajay' last='Vander Schaaf'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754699' first='Gavin' last='Ahrendt'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978139' first='Isaiah' last='Jervik'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772340' first='Kylen' last='Vander Schaaf'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520040' first='Kai' last='Chamberlain'] (Sioux City North)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523932' first='Kalan' last='Steinbeck'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1978104' first='Easton' last='Klement'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765514' first='Noah' last='Conley'] (Heelan)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731823' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] (Heelan)<br>2027 Junior Gatkuoth (Council Bluffs Jefferson)<br>2026 Demari Robinson (Council Bluffs Jefferson)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765550' first='Bilal' last='Yusuf'] (Sioux City East)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2265812' first='Fami' last='Yusuf'] (Sioux City East)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520031' first='Chris' last='Loggins'] (Sioux City East)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1765551' first='Naef' last='Yusuf'] (Sioux City East)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2204879' first='Kamren' last='Hegna'] (Sioux City West)<br>2026 Eduardo Frazier (Sioux City West)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2114193' first='Jackson' last='Wells'] (Le Mars)<br>2026 Tycen Augustine (Le Mars)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->