BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Long road to state tournament set to tip off
By MARK PAWLAKArticle Photos
A scant distance on Highway 30 separates a boys' basketball team that has fresh in its mind the knowledge of what it takes to get to the state tournament - West Marshall - and another that is loading up for a potential magical run - Colo-NESCO.
The Trojans of West Marshall are coming off a 24-2 season in 2008-09 and have advanced to Wells Fargo Arena and the state tournament in back-to-back years. West Marshall returns three of its top eight players in an attempt to carry on the tradition.
"We graduated seven seniors off last year's state tournament team, so lack of varsity experience may be a factor early," said West Marshall head coach David Shipley, the Times-Republican All-Area Coach of the Year. "Our younger kids will have to adjust to a faster pace of play at the varsity level. The key will be how fast they adjust."
Senior Taylor Keislar is the top returning scorer for the Trojans at 8.5 points per game. Senior Drake Ferch scored 7.9 points per game a year ago and led the team in steals with 74. Dalton Ferch broke into the lineup as a freshman for the reigning NICL West champions.
Colo-NESCO also was a conference champion in 2008-09 as the Royals won the Heart of Iowa Small.
Several key contributors return from a team that went 17-8 last winter and lost in the substate final. The program also was in the substate final in 2007-08.
"The kids are really focused on winning the conference again," said Colo-NESCO head coach Pat Wynja. "Their main goal is to get Colo-NESCO back to state for the first time in 20 years. I really feel we have a great shot to do that if some of the younger guys step in and do what they are capable of."
Six-foot-three junior guard Brandon Eley was unanimous first team all-conference and earned all-substate honors after averaging 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game.
Travis Guy averaged 13 points and five rebounds last season and hit 63 3-pointers. Center Mike Warren contributed six points and four rebounds to go with standing second in Class 1A in blocked shots (126).
The Royals play nearly all their games against larger schools - only one 1A school is on their schedule - so they will be battle tested when districts come around.
West Marshall went undefeated in its first season in the NICL West last winter. Who will take the crown this season will be determined by who steps into the spotlight as six of the seven players on the all-NICL West first team were seniors. Three of the seniors - Jory McDowell of AGWSR, Brett Bengen of Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Jake Shipley of West Marshall - were all-staters.
Grundy Center, which was last at state in 2003, is a team to watch as the Spartans bring back four starters from a squad that started rolling at the end of last season. Grundy Center finished 12-12 in 2008-09, but advanced to the substate final.
Trevor Hook is a returning all-stater as he averaged 17 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals per game as a junior to be named to the Class 2A second team.
Point guard Taylor Appel (10 points per game) as well as posts Nathan Lyman and Eric Frisch also return to go with the NICL West's top returning scorer in Hook and a strong bench.
"We're confident (coming into the year)," said Grundy Center head coach Rollie Ackerman. "We had an excellent summer of play and carry over from the run to the substate finals."
East Marshall has the No. 3 and 4 returning scorers in the NICL West in Taylor Johnson and Brandon Pals. Johnson averaged 11.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last year.
South Hardin's Taylor Heue is one of the top post players in the conference after turning in numbers of 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a junior.
Nine letterwinners return for AGWSR, including starters Tanner Heikens and Jordan Mills.
"We have some kids returning who got some valuable experience playing last year," said AGWSR head coach Russ Banzhaf, who is entering his 24th year as head coach. "Our wing play should be solid this year. We have kids who will be able to run the floor and are pretty athletic."
Gladbrook-Reinbeck and BCLUW were hit hard by graduation. The Rebels lost four starters including the school's all-time leading scorer Bengen. Sophomore Colby Luethje is the lone returning starter for G-R.
In the front pack of the Iowa Star Conference will be North Tama. The Redhawks have top juniors Brendon Boerm, Lucas Hefty and Cade Isenhower returning from a 13-9 campaign last winter. Boerm averaged 11.7 points per game, Hefty 11.4 ppg and Isenhower 5.5 ppg. Freshman Mitchell Boerm also looks to be in the mix as North Tama is joined by Don Bosco and Northeast Hamilton as early conference favorites.
"We have a good nucleus coming back," said North Tama head coach Brandon Clubb. "We should be very athletic and will look to push the tempo."
