Conference Preview: Upper Iowa (Big)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crestwood (18-6 last season, 47.5% of scoring returning): </strong>The Cadets were hit pretty hard by graduation, losing their leading scorer and four of the top six from last year's rotation. That said, they bring back arguably the two best players in the league in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2386373' first='Drake' last='Sir'] (13.8, 40.5 3P%) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3590858' first='Cody' last='Sobolik'] (10.4, 7.2 rebounds, 60.0 FG%). Sir is a fantastic shooter who can play with or without the ball in his hands, and he'll be tasked with initiating more of the offense this season following those graduation losses. And Sobolik is a highly skilled 6-7/6-8 combo forward who can score inside and out, defend every spot on the floor, and create plays for his teammates. His all-around skill set is the best in the league, and he looks primed to break out as a junior. Classmates [player_tooltip player_id='3684357' first='Tate' last='Cummings'] (4.7, 43.2 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2873937' first='Zander' last='Mehmert'] (4.5, 4.1 rebounds) give them some more experience and versatility on both ends of the floor. Crestwood, coming off a solid 18-win year, will be right back in the hunt for the league crown this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MFL MarMac (12-10, 25.0%): </strong>The Bulldogs have a lot of talent to replace, with four of the top five scorers from last year's team having exhausted their eligibility. That leaves senior guard Tristan Bacon (10.9) as the lone returnee to average more than 3 points a game last season, so he'll be asked to do a ton for this group, especially early in the year. This is a program that has thrived on their ability to create turnovers, and that took a step back last season, averaging just 8.3 steals per game, a much lower number than they're accustomed to. Look for them to try and get things sped back up a bit this year in an effort to create some more offensive opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Hampton (9-14, 68.0%): </strong>Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2828851' first='Chayton' last='Smith'] (10.8, 7.2 rebounds, 57.2 FG%) could emerge as one of the best players in the league this winter. He'll be tasked with taking over the starring role, joined by fellow juniors Ethan Carter (9.8), Cayson Laures (9.4, 8.0 rebounds), and Kye Rausch (6.0). In all, the Chickasaws bring back six of their top eight scorers from a team that showed some really good things last season in stretches. Can they put it together consistently this season? The pieces are in place, and they should be a pretty balanced team capable of beating you in a number of different ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Fayette Valley (6-17, 65.7%): </strong>The TigerHawks have to replace their leading scorer from last year's team, but bring back the next three from that group in seniors Kendrick White (11.1, 7.1 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='3219063' first='Hayden' last='Thompson'] (8.8, 8.4 rebounds), and Drew Stolka (5.0), giving them a solid trio to build around. Turnovers (16.0 a game) and 3-point shooting (25.6%) were big issues last season and will need to improve if they are going to make any marked improvement. This is a group that is going to be fantastic on the glass with their size, toughness, and athleticism, and they'll be a tough team to play against physically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Winneshiek (21-4, 24.9%): </strong>The Warriors were hit the hardest by graduation, losing four of their top five scorers from a 21-win team. The trio of Matson Winings, Carson Streeter, and Braiden Todd won a ton of games throughout their high school careers and are going to be extremely tough to replace. The cupboard isn't completely bare, with junior Jordan Einck (10.4) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3535287' first='Evan' last='Taylor'] (4.0, 3.9 rebounds) giving them a pair of experienced players to build this year's roster around. Einck is a quality shooting threat (38.0 3P%) who will be the focal point of the attack and will be asked to carry a very heavy load, especially early in the season. How the new faces around him acclimate to heavy varsity run will determine how successful South Winn will be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukon (18-6, 67.8%): </strong>With their top three scorers returning to an 18-win team, Waukon looks like one of the top two teams in the league again this winter. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906515' first='Vaughn' last='Stegen'] (15.0) headlines what figures to be a potent offensive attack, joined by [player_tooltip player_id='2772324' first='Talin' last='Hemann'] (13.0, 6.1 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='3344412' first='Issiah' last='Moudy'] (9.6). Stegen is the team's best perimeter shooting threat, shooting just under 37% from behind the arc last season, and all three of the top returnees are capable of playing with the ball and creating plays for themselves and their teammates. </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. Crestwood<br>2. Waukon<br>3. New Hampton<br>4. South Winneshiek<br>5. MFL MarMac<br>6. North Fayette Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>This looks like it should be a battle between Crestwood and Waukon again this year. Waukon brings more production back, but Crestwood may just have the two best players in the league on their side. Advantage Cadets. Look for New Hampton to be better than expected.</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>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3590858' first='Cody' last='Sobolik'] (Crestwood): </strong>Sobolik could be one of the biggest breakout players in the state this winter. A 6-7 forward who can do everything on both ends of the floor, he looks primed to have a huge junior year for a Cadets team that should win 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>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3590858' first='Cody' last='Sobolik'] (Crestwood)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2386373' first='Drake' last='Sir'] (Crestwood)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3684357' first='Tate' last='Cummings'] (Crestwood)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2873937' first='Zander' last='Mehmert'] (Crestwood)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906515' first='Vaughn' last='Stegen'] (Waukon)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772324' first='Talin' last='Hemann'] (Waukon)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344412' first='Issiah' last='Moudy'] (Waukon)<br>2027 Kendrick White (North Fayette Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3219063' first='Hayden' last='Thompson'] (North Fayette Valley)<br>2027 Drew Stolka (North Fayette Valley)<br>2027 Tristan Bacon (MFL MarMac)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2828851' first='Chayton' last='Smith'] (New Hampton)<br>2028 Ethan Carter (New Hampton)<br>2028 Carson Laures (New Hampton)<br>2028 Kye Rausch (New Hampton)<br>2028 Jordan Einck (South Winneshiek)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->