Conference Preview: CIML-Central
For the next few weeks, we will be touching on each conference in the state. These will include last year’s standings, this year’s projected standings, team breakdown, preseason player of the year, and first and second teams. These articles will…
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Continue ReadingFor the next few weeks, we will be touching on each conference in the state. These will include last year’s standings, this year’s projected standings, team breakdown, preseason player of the year, and first and second teams. These articles will be the next 43 in the series of 70 season previews which will take us right into my preseason polls. Tomorrow, I will have the CIML-Iowa conference preview.
2018-19 Standings
Johnston (9-1)
Ankeny Centennial (7-4)
Dowling Catholic (5-5)
Ames (5-6)
Urbandale (4-6)
Ankeny (2-8)
Projected 2019-20 Standings
Johnston
Dowling Catholic
Ames
Urbandale
Ankeny
Ankeny Centennial
There are three tiers to this conference. You have the three teams at the top and then a clear gap to Urbandale and another gap right after them. Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will be solid teams this year but they lost too much from last year to contend. Urbandale lost two key pieces but also bring back two of the top players in the conference. The question mark for Urbandale is surrounding their guard play as I think it’ll be a process to figure out the point guard spot this season. Johnston, Dowling Catholic, and Ames are so closely grouped this year much like last season. I think that Johnston comes out on top once again this season.
Team Breakdowns
Johnston: Johnston is my pick to win the CIML-Central once again. They’ll have to replace the scoring of Regan Nesheim (SDSU), but with seniors Maya McDermott, Kendall Nead, and Maddie Mock manning the ship they’ll have no problem. Those three with sophomore Anna Gossling and juniors Natalie Kahre and Kinsey Jilek produce one of the deepest teams in the state. This is a group that will have college prospects sitting on the bench the entire game because they are so deep.
Dowling Catholic: Caitlin Clark is one of the top players in the state and the nation. Clark is going to once again lead the state in scoring and there isn’t much anyone can do to stop her. I have Dowling Catholic finishing second in the conference because of their wealth of solid players other than Clark. Seniors Grace Gaber, Nyajuok Toang, and Meg Simplot will lead the team but the play of junior Ella McVey and junior Lexi Boles will really dictate what this team is. Look for them to make a deep run.
Ames: Much like the two teams above them, Ames has some really good talent coming back. Caroline Waite, a junior, is back as the leading scorer from a year ago. Fellow junior Ashley Iiams will also be a key player for this group. Those two will really set the tone while senior Teagan Lipsey and junior Brooke Spraggins will provide solid defense and scoring. This is a team with some really solid options but I don’t think they have the firepower to contend with Johnston.
Urbandale: After going 4-6 last year in the conference and losing one of the top guards in the state, it is hard for me to see much of an improvement in record. With Maya Gyamfi and Jada Gyamfi, a senior and sophomore respectively, coming back I think they’ll be a touch better. Faith Putz, a senior, will also bolster some of the scoring load this season. Look for Urbandale to search for their identity early on and if they find it they might be dangerous.
Ankeny: Ankeny loses their best player from a year ago but junior Abigail Johnson will be back in a big way this season. She along with senior Kayla Pitz are looking to turn Ankeny into a contender this year. Seniors Ashley Harrington and Holly Trimble will be key players once again this season and will have an added leadership dynamic. Junior Ellie Maschoff will show that she can be relied on quite a bit this year and I think Ankeny will win a few more games than people think.
Ankeny Centennial: Last year this was a very solid team, and while they return the bulk of their team I don’t think they will be quite as good. They will be led by the senior trio of Meg Burns, Alexandria Keahna-Harris, and Taylor Runchey. Centennial will be much more guard-oriented this year and will play at a different pace. Sophomore Cleao Murray will also see an increase in time on the floor and will be heavily counted on. While they are a good team they just lose too much to contend this year.
All-CIML-Central First Team
Maya McDermott (Johnston, 5’5 PG, 2020)
McDermott will see an uptick this year in scoring and her confidence will serve her well. She’s a quick lead guard who isn’t shy to score at the rim or drain a jumper in her defender’s face. A really good defender who plays with a chip on her shoulder as well. Look for McDermott to lead Johnston once again. Committed to Northern Iowa.
Caroline Waite (Ames, 5’3 PG, 2021)
Waite recently committed to Bradley University and this season she is going to show us all why. She is one of the top shooters in the state and spent all summer honing in her scoring ability. Waite is also a solid defender for her size and is unafraid to get the ball into the post. She’s going to have a great junior season. Committed to Bradley.
Maya Gyamfi (Urbandale, 6’1 PF, 2020)
Gyamfi is going to be a very key player for Urbandale this season. With the scoring that is departing from the team after last season, Gyamfi is going to step up. She got a lot better over the summer and expanded her range out even more this summer. She’s a match-up nightmare and she’s going to look to lead this team. Committed to Northern Iowa.
Kendall Nead (Johnston, 5’11 SF, 2020)
Nead is one of the more versatile players in the state and fits in really well with this Johnston group. She can play on the wing or in the post with ease and is going to be a key reason for their success this year. Nead is an athletic wing who can score, pass, and defend all at a high level. Look for her to be a key part of this team once again. Committed to UW-Milwaukee.
Ashley Iiams (Ames, 6′ SF, 2021)
Iiams was able to get leaner and quicker over the summer and that is going to help her game immensely. She can defend both in the post and on the wing as well as score at all three levels. With teams likely keying in on Waite this year look for Iiams to get a lot of really good looks at the basket. More often than not she is going to make you pay.
All-CIML-Central Second Team
Jada Gyamfi (Urbandale, 6’1 PF, 2022)
I almost put Gyamfi on the first team but as a sophomore I think she needs one more year. I think that she is going to have a stellar season and have a lot of success as she attempts to play on the wing more this season. She might have improved more this summer than anyone on this list, so I might look silly at the end of the year by putting her on the second team. Truthfully, I hope she does.
Abigail Johnson (Ankeny, 5’9 SF, 2021)
Johnson missed a lot of time last year but she’s back and ready to go this year. She’ll be a welcome addition to an Ankeny team that lost a lot of high-end talent. She’s one of the top scorers in the conference and I wouldn’t be surprised if she were to come out and be in the top five in scoring this season. She is so potent offensively.
Meg Burns (Ankeny Centennial, 5’10 SG, 2020)
Burns committed quite a while ago but that hasn’t stopped her from improving her game. She’s going to be one of the top players in the conference and is going to be a solid leader for a young group. Burns is a player who can change the game on both ends of the floor and in order to see success this year she is going to have to do just that. Committed to Nebraska-Kearney.
Maddie Mock (Johnston, 6′ PF, 2020)
With their other post from a year ago graduated, Mock is going to have to step up and replicate the production from a year ago. She won’t be able to replace the production from a year ago but she will certainly be able to cover what she did and more last year. Mock is going to have to have a good year for Johnston to reach their ceiling. Committed to Western Illinois.
Nyajuok Toang (Dowling Catholic, 6’1 PF, 2020)
Toang is a wildcard this year but I think she is going to have a great season. After only scoring 4.2 points a game last year she should be able to double that total this year. Rebounding for this Dowling Catholic team will be paramount and she is going to have to provide a lot of it. Watch for her to be a player that will sneak up on a lot of people. Committed to Saint Louis.
Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark (Dowling Catholic, 5’11 PG, 2020)
In my eyes, and hopefully everyone else’s, Clark is easily the Preseason Player of the Year. She’s going to lead her team to wins game after game this year and is one of the most important players in the entire state. There isn’t much else to say about Clark besides that you need to make sure you watch her this year because there won’t be another player like this come through Iowa for a long time, if ever.
Five Questions For The Year
Can Johnston stay cohesive throughout the entire year?
Will Caitlin Clark get others involved when she needs to?
Can Ames make a push for the top?
Will Urbandale be able to figure out their guard situation early?
Who do you think will win conference? Let me know on Twitter!