Boys Basketball Capsules: Taking a Quick Look at Area Boys Basketball Teams
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Class 5A
West High
Co-head coaches: Steve Bergman (30th season) and Paul Rundquist (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Gordon Runquist
Last season: 21-3 (Class 5A Quarterfinal)
Returning starters: None
Other returning letterwinners: Christian Barnes, 5-10, Jr.; Mikey Brown, 6-0, Sr.; Andrew Tauchen, 6-1, Sr.; Grahm Goering, 6-2, Sr.; Zach Anderson, 5-11, Sr.; Aidan Terrill, 6-1, Sr.
Top returning scorers: Christian Barnes 2.8; Mikey Brown 1.8; Andrew Tauchen 1.3
Top returning rebounders: Christian Barnes 1.2; Mikey Brown .6; Andrew Tauchen 1.5
Headliner: Junior Christian Barnes saw action off the bench last season on the Trojan’s state tournament team but will now become of the leaders on a West High team breaking in a large group of first-year players.
Keep an eye on: Much like Barnes senior Andrew Tauchen will need to take his game to another level this season after seeing spot action off the bench the past two seasons.
Circle the date: February 11 vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy. West High hosts the Cougars in a late MVC Valley Division matchup that could have divisional title implications.
Breakdown: No team in the state has consistently reloaded better over the past decade than perennial 4A title contender West High.
Under veteran coach Steve Bergman the Trojans have made 10 consecutive state tournament trips and you have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last time West High lost more than four games in a single season.
Bergman and the Trojans will face one of the bigger reloading years during that span this season as West High must replace its entire starting lineup from a team that went 21-3 and fell in the Class 4A state quarterfinals last season.
As always there is talent on the West High roster led by Barnes and Tauchen and there is more coming up the pipeline.
Having a healthy Grahm Goering will help after the senior missed last season with an injury as will the addition of sophomore Liberty High transfer Savion Taylor who averaged 3.4 points per game last season.
Liberty High
Co-head coaches: Stu Ordman (4th season) and Ryan Kelly (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Mark Lowe, Loren Hammerand, Dylan Detweiler
Last season: 10-13
Returning starters: Ethan O’Donnell, 6-4, Sr.; Ira Hazeltine, 6-0, Sr.; Kelby Telander, 6-3, Sr.; Basil Aldoss, 6-2, Sr.;
Other returning letterwinners: Grayson Tyler, 6-0, Sr.; Cody Schroeder, 5-10, Sr.; Griffin Kraft, 6-1, Jr.; Ja’Quez Hall 6-0, Jr.; Max Beckman, 6-4, Jr.; Kalhan Handoo, 5-10, Jr.
Top returning scorers: Kelby Telander 12.5; Basil Aldoss 7.7; Ira Hazeltine 7.1
Top returning rebounders: Kelby Telander 4.3; Basil Aldoss; Ethan O’Donnell 3
Headliner: Senior Kelby Telander will look to build on a breakthrough junior season in which he came on late to averaging 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while earning MVC honorable mention all-division honors.
Keep an eye on: Senior sharpshooter Ira Hazeltine emerged as one of the top shooters in the MVC last season averaging 7.1 points per game while leading the Lightning with 46 made 3-pointers on 37 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Circle the date: February 5 vs. West High. Liberty High hosts perennial power West High seeking its first win against its newly former rival.
Breakdown: Liberty High posted a program-high 10 wins last season in its second season in the always challenging Mississippi Valley Conference and the Lightning return a roster capable of increasing that win total again this season.
For the first time Ryan Kelly and veteran coach Stu Ordman will share head coaching duties as Liberty High seeks its first winning season in year four.
Gone is last year’s top scorer and rebounder in versatile forward Andre Brandon but the Lightning return four other players with starting experienced that all averaged 6.9 points or more last season.
Telander and Ethan O’Donnell give Liberty High a solid nucleus in the front court. A multi-year contributor, O’Donnell averaged 6.9 points, 3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game last season.
The backcourt is experienced with Hazeltine and senior Basil Aldoss who was third on the team with 7.7 points per game last season while adding 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
Class 3A
Clear Creek Amana
Coach: Brandon Clubb (4th season 43-48)
Assistant coaches: Mark Stern
Last season: 21-6 (Class 3A third place)
Returning starters: Christian Withrow, 6-3, Sr.; Mike Potter, 6-2, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Kyle Schrepfer, 6-0, Jr.; Ryan Navara, 6-3, Sr., Brock Reade, 6-2, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Ben Swails, 6-3, Jr.
Top returning scorers: Christian Withrow 15.9; Mike Potter 8.3; Brock Reade 5.3
Top returning rebounders: Christian Withrow 6; Mike Potter 5.6; Brock Reade 2.5
Headliner: Senior Christian Withrow was a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC West Division and second-team all-state selection last season after averaging 15.9 points, 6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Keep an eye on: The more Mike Potter played last season the better he seemed to get averaging 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. This season the 6-foot-2 Potter will look to take his production to another level in an expanded role.
Circle the date: December 11 vs. Mount Vernon. The WAMAC cross-division rivals meet in a rematch of last season’s Class 3A quarterfinal won by the Clippers 59-45.
Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana was one of the best stories in the state last season finishing third at the Class 3A state tournament in its first appearance at state since 1993.
The Clippers must replace three of their top five scorers from last year’s team that won 21 games but there is enough experienced talent returning and up and coming athleticism for Clear Creek Amana to push for a second consecutive trip to state.
Withrow and Potter return as full-time starters and will be expected to take on a brunt of the offensive load early as Clear Creek Amana works to replace double-digit scorers Tyler Schrepfer and Nick O’Connor in the back court.
Senior Brock Reade is capable of picking up the offensive slack after averaging 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season while fellow senior Ryan Navara will see extended playing time after averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Juniors Kyle Schrepfer and Ben Swails will also be expected to produce in expanded minutes.
Solon
Coach: Jared Galpin (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Matt Messenger, Chris Knight, Marc Foster, Lee Cusick, Matt Morrison, Jason Abuhl
Last season: 7-15
Returning starters: David Bluder, 6-4, Sr.; Will Noonan, 6-0, Sr.; Carson Shive, 6-0, Sr.; Ben Cusick, 6-3, Sr.; Bo Janssen, 6-1, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Jake Quillin, 5-10, Jr.; Kinnick Pusteoska, 6-5, Jr.; Drew Turner, 6-2, Sr.
Top returning scorers: David Bluder 13.4; Ben Cusick 9.9 Carson Shive 9.2
Top returning rebounders: Carson Shive 4.1; Ben Cusick 4; Bo Janssen 3.2
Headliner: Senior David Bluder was a second-team all-WAMAC East Division pick last season after averaging a career-high 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Keep an eye on: Senior forward Ben Cusick was an honorable mention WAMAC East Division selection last season when he averaged 9.9 points and 4 rebounds per game and should see those numbers rise this season.
Circle the date: January 23 vs. Regina. Solon will attempt to win its second straight over Regina in the first meeting for Jared Galpin with his former team.
Breakdown: Coming off back-to-back sub .500 seasons the pieces appear in place for Solon to make a big jump in year one under new head coach Jared Galpin.
Galpin comes to Solon after a successful stint at Regina to take over for Matt Lesan who directed the Spartans to a 7-15 record last season.
The roster returns largely intact from a season ago as the top five scorers from last year all return.
Bluder and Cusick lead the way in what will be an experienced Solon lineup.
Senior Carson Shive (9.2 ppg) is a three-year varsity performer while junior Jake Quillin impressed as a sophomore averaging 6.6 points per game.
Seniors Bo Janssen (6.2 ppg) and Will Noonan (3.6) return in the back court while junior Kinnick Pusteoska (4.3 ppg) will be a presence in the paint.
Class 2A
Regina
Coach: Gary Belger (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Barry Lehman, Jeremy Brooks, Dylan Sloan
Last season: 15-7
Returning starters: Ashton Cook, 6-5, Sr.; Coltrae Kerschen, 6-1, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Charlie Crigger, 6-2, Jr.
Top returning scorers: Ashton Cook 16.8; Coltrae Kerschen 3.6; Andrew Wiese 1.5
Top returning rebounders: Ashton Cook 8; Andrew Wiese 1.7; Coltrae Kerschen 1.6
Headliner: Senior Ashton Cook will look to close his high school hoops career with a big senior season after a leg injury derailed what was a promising junior year after eight games. Cook was averaging 16.8 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season before the injury.
Keep an eye on: Junior Coltrae Kerschen has the reputation as a deadeye 3-pointer shooter and should get plenty of open looks from deep if teams concentrate on stopping Cook.
Circle the date: December 11 vs. Camanche. Regals gets an early measuring stick as it hosts defending 2A semifinalist and RVC North Division champion Camanche.
Breakdown: Veteran coach Gary Belger takes over a Regina program looking to continue an impressive string of recent success.
The owner of 649 career coaching victories, Belger inherits a Regina program that has won 15 or more games in six of the past seven seasons after posting a 15-7 mark a year ago.
Regina must replace one of the state’s most prolific scorers in graduated senior Masen Miller but the return of a healthy Ashton Cook should help soften the blow.
A three-year starter the 6-foot-5 Cook is among the top players in all of Class 2A and perhaps the most difficult matchup in the RVC.
Regina will be looking for several players to step up alongside cook starting with Kerschen and junior post player Andrew Wiese.
Wiese averaged 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season in limited action.
Expect juniors Carson Jensen and Charlie Crigger and senior Jack Brandt to see increased roles as well.
West Branch
Coach: Jason Kern (3rd season, 36-10)
Assistant coaches: Kaleb Duwa, Luke Posivio, Brian Boelk, Matt Whaley
Last season: 18-5
Returning starters: Simon Palmer, 6-4, Sr.; Gavin Hierseman, 6-1, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Jeff Bowie, 6-5, Sr.; Thomas Gould, 6-1, Jr.; Peyton Miller, 5-9, Jr.; Brady Knoop, 6-1, Jr.; Kelby Burger, 5-11, Sr.; Bryce Pickett, 6-1, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Andy Henson, 6-1, Soph.; Holden Arnaman, 5-9, Fr.
Top returning scorers: Jeff Bowie 12.7; Simon Palmer 10.7; Gavin Hierseman 8.1
Top returning rebounders: Jeff Bowie 5.6; Simon Palmer 3; Thomas Gould 2.1
Headliner: An Iowa football recruit, senior Jeff Bowie was dominant on the hardwood last season averaging 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game before shoulder surgery shut down his season.
Keep an eye on: Senior Simon Palmer emerged as one of the top players in the River Valley Conference last season averaging 10.7 points and 3 rebounds per game in a breakthrough season.
Circle the date: February 9 vs. Regina. The RVC South Division could come down to the regular season finale between the two long-time rivals.
Breakdown: West Branch made huge strides in year two under head coach Jason Kern last season matching their highest win total since 2011 with 18 and winning the RVC South Division title.
Led by a trio of players with starting experience the Bears hope to take a couple more big steps forward this season.
Palmer and Bowie provide a front court duo that few teams in the RVC or Class 2A can match.
The versatile Palmer shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season and is a perfect complement to the physically imposing Bowie in the paint.
Senior guard Gavin Hierseman provides another threat after averaging 8.1 points last season while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range while leading the Bears with 31 made 3-pointers.
Junior guards Thomas Gould, Brady Knoop and Peyton Miller should all see increased playing time after getting a taste of varsity action last season.
Miller averaged 5.7 points per game a year ago while Gould averaged 3.4 and Knoop 2.1. That trio along with seniors Kelby Burger and Bryce Pickett will be expected to take on larger roles this season.
Keep an eye on freshman point guard Holden Arnaman and sophomore Andy Henson as potential rotational players as well.
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
