Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Derek Roberts (2nd season)

Last season: 4-18

Returning starters: Keshawn Christian, 6-1, Soph., G; Ry Threlkeld-Weigand, 6-4, Jr., F; Antonio Turner, 5-9, Jr., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Jeremy Kambomba, 6-8, Sr., F; Luke Young, 6-0, Jr., G; Carter Westlake, 6-4, Jr., F.

Newcomers to watch: DeAngelo McNeil, 6-1, Jr., G; Wyatt Streeby, 6-5, Jr., F; Malik Kimber, 6-0, Jr., G; Quincy Wells, 6-2, Jr., G; Jason Allen, 6-2, Jr., F.

Headliner: Keshawn Christian had an impressive debut season a year ago averaging 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman.

Keep an eye on: Junior point guard Antonio Turner was a bright spot for the Little Hawks last season averaging a team-high 11.7 points and ranking second the team in assists and first in steals.

Circle the date: December 12 vs. West High. Little Hawks get a tough pre-holiday test in the form of their defending champion cross-town rival Trojans.

What to watch: City High returns a trio of starters as it looks for a breakthrough in year two under head coach Derek Roberts.

All three returning starters ranked in the top four in scoring for City High last season as the Little Hawks finished 4-18.

Turner (11.7 ppg), Ry Threlkeld-Weigand (8.3 ppg) and Christian (8.3 ppg) return to give City High an experienced back court.

Jeremy Kambomba, a 6-8 senior, and Carter Westlake, a 6-foot-5, junior are expected to provide a presence in the front court.

West High

Coach: Steve Bergman (28th season)

Last season: 23-3 (4A State Champions)

Returning starters: Patrick McCaffery, 6-9, Jr., F; Seybian Sims, 6-6, Sr., F.

Other returning letterwinners: Hakeem Odunsi, 6-5, Sr., F; Evan Flitz, 6-0, Sr., G; Jake Anderson, 6-0, Sr., G; Dante Eldridge, 5-9, Jr., G.

Newcomers to watch: Brayden Adcock, 6-0, Jr., G; Paul McGee, 6-4, Sr., F; Dadian Hoambrekker, 6-7, Sr., F; Jalen Gaudet, 6-3, Jr., F.

Headliner: Iowa recruit Patrick McCaffery is the top returning scorer for the Trojans at 13.8 and is poised for a major breakthrough this season.

Keep an eye on: Senior forward Seybian Sims was solid last season and should improve on the 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game he put up a year ago. 

Circle the date: February 17 vs. Cretin-Derham Hall. West High closes the regular season against the Minnesota power that defeated the Trojans 85-72 last year. 

What to watch: West High brings back a pair of starters from last year’s Class 4A state championship team that finished 23-3. McCaffery and Sims give the West High front court duo a top-notch duo that will be bolstered by senior Burlington transfer Dadian Hoambrekker and senior Hakeem Odunsi.

The Trojans bring back experience in the back court in senior Evan Flitz and junior Dante Eldridge while Jake Anderson is expected to step into a larger role. Flitz averaged 4.1 points and shot 50 percent (27-54) from 3-point range last season.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Brandon Clubb (2nd season)

Last season: 2-20

Returning starters: Tyler Schrepfer, 5-10, Soph., G; Cam Armstrong, 6-2, Sr., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Nolan Schwarting, 6-4, Jr., F.

Newcomers to watch: Darius Moore, 6-2, Sr., PG; TJ Bollers, 6-4, Fr., F.  

Headliner: Tyler Schrepfer will look to become an offensive leader for the Clippers after averaging five points per game last season as a freshman.

Keep an eye on: Senior Darius Moore will provide a boost to the Clippers backcourt after averaging 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season at Sioux City West.

Circle the date: December 8 vs. Center Point-Urbana. The new-look Clippers host the defending West Division champion Stormin Pointers in an early season WAMAC matchup.

What to watch: The Clippers won just two games last season and the top four scorers from that team graduated but there is still plenty of optimism for year two under head coach Brandon Clubb.

Schrepfer and Cam Armstrong return with starting experience and the Clippers expect Moore, a Sioux City West transfer, to be a playmaker and point guard.

Freshman TJ Bollers and junior Nolan Schwarting give Clear Creek Amana a pair of post options to go with its established back court.

Solon

Coach: Jason Pershing (4th season)

Last season: 13-9

Returning starters: Ben Krutzfeldt, 6-2, Sr., G; Luke Ira, 6-2, Sr., G.

Other returning letterwinners: Jack Stahle, 5-10, Sr., G; Luke Schaeckenbach, 6-0, Sr., F.

Newcomers to watch: AJ Coons, 6-4, Soph., G.

Headliner: Senior point guard Ben Krutzfeldt is the Spartans’ top returning scorer at 9.4 points per game and ranked second in the WAMAC East a year ago with 113 assists.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore AJ Coons averaged 7.9 points per game as a freshman and has the potential to be among the best in the conference.

Circle the date: Dec. 19 vs. West Delaware. The Spartans host defending WAMAC East division champion and 3A state qualifier West Delaware in an early season conference showdown.

What to watch: Solon posted its best record under head coach Jason Pershing a year ago finishing 13-9.

The Spartans return two starters from that team in senior guards Krutzfeldt and Luke Ira.

Krutzfeldt and Ira combined to average 18.5 points and 7.9 assists per game a year ago.

Coons is back after averaging 7.9 points per game a year ago as a freshman while Jack Stahle and Luke Schaeckenbach also return with varsity experience.

Regina

Coach: Jared Galpin (1st season)

Last season: 13-9

Returning starters: Jocoa Kerschen, 6-3, Sr., F; Ryne Schooley, 6-2, Sr., F; Jake Phillips, 6-0, Sr., G; Masen Miller, 5-11, Soph., G; Even Brauns, 6-9, Soph., C.

Other returning letterwinners: Zach Seaman, 6-2, Sr., G; Blake Berns, 6-2, Sr., C.

Headliner: Sophomore Even Brauns, a 6-foot-9 center is due for a breakthrough season after averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.

Keep an eye on: Senior Jocoa Kerschen returns after leading the Regals in scoring with 12.6 points per game last season.

Circle the date: January 6 at Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Regals go out of conference to face the two-time defending Class 3A champions.  

What to watch: Long-time assistant coach Jared Galpin takes over the reins at Regina as the Regals attempt to improve on a 13-9 record from last season.

Regina certainly has the firepower to made a big jump with its top five scorers from last season returning.

Kerschen and Brauns return after averaging double figures a year ago while sophomore point guard Masen Miller (8.4 ppg) and seniors Jake Phillips (8.5 ppg) and Ryne Schooley (9.1 ppg) are all back with starting experience.

West Branch

Coach: Tom Burger (3rd season)

Last season: 18-6

Returning starters: Ben Thompson, 6-2, Sr., F; Beau Cornwell, 6-2, Jr., G; Ted Bridges, 6-1, Jr., F; Tanner Lukavsky, 6-2, Soph., G/F.

Other returning letterwinners: Brett Schiele, 5-10, Jr., G; Brady Lukavsky, 5-10, Jr., G; Cade Aspelmeier, 5-10, Sr., G; Ben Kyllingstad, 6-0, Sr., F; Trey Eagle, 6-2, Soph., G/F; Jack Dragovich, 6-2, Jr., F; Zach Thompson, 5-10, Jr., G.

Headliner: Junior guard Beau Cornwell is the fourth highest returning scorer in Class 2A after averaging 19.2 points per game last season.

Keep an eye on: Senior Ben Thompson averaged nine points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53 percent from the floor a year ago.

Circle the date: December 15 vs. Regina. West Branch hosts RVC rival Regina in the first meeting since a 56-54 win over the Regals at West Branch last January.

What to watch: West Branch must replace its top scorer and rebounder from a year ago in graduated all-state Cooper Kabela but brings back four other starters from a squad that came up one win shy of a state tournament berth.

Cornwell and Thompson lead a group of four returning starters that includes junior Ted Bridges (3.5 ppg) and sophomore Tanner Lukavsky (4.7 ppg).

Juniors Brett Schuele and Brady Lukavsky also return with experience in the back court.