Conference Preview: Hawkeye Ten
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…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
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 Heart of Iowa conference preview.
2018-19 Standings
Denison-Schleswig (8-0)
Glenwood (9-1)
Lewis Central (7-2)
Red Oak (8-3)
Creston (6-6)
Kuemper Catholic (5-5)
St. Albert (4-7)
Shenandoah (3-6)
Harlan (2-8)
Clarinda (0-8)
Atlantic (0-6)
Projected 2019-20 Standings
Lewis Central
Red Oak
Glenwood
Denison-Schleswig
Harlan
Creston
St. Albert
Atlantic
Kuemper Catholic
Shenandoah
Clarinda
There is going to be a ton of competition for that top spot in the conference this year. There is a clear tier at the top with the top four teams being very solid. I think Creston could even sneak in there. I wouldn’t be surprised with any order of finish between those four teams at the top and then the bottom seven teams. There is a ton of parity this year between them and it will be realized early on. I don’t foresee a team separating itself from the pack and going undefeated this year.
Team Breakdowns
Lewis Central: Lewis Central has a strong core coming back this upcoming year as they don’t lose any seniors from a season ago. Seniors Megan Witte, Delaney Esterling, Hadley Hill, and McKenna Paulsen will look to lead the team this year with a flurry of other players right behind them as contributors. Look for this group to be as deep as any in the state. Their starting five this season will be very solid no matter who they put out there.
Red Oak: Much like Lewis Central, the bulk of this team returns. The three-headed monster of seniors Sophie Walker, Chloe Johnson, and Ellie Rengstorf are going to be tough to stop this season. They have six players this year returning who scored over 4.0 points a game last year. Red Oak is going to be a tough out and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them named champions at the end of the season.
Glenwood: A year ago two underclassmen led this group in scoring. Junior Elle Scarborough put up 14.5 points per game to lead the team while sophomore Madison Camden pitched in 12.6 points a game. This is going to be a team that is really solid for the next few years as they have a ton of youth and at least one very good freshman incoming. If they mesh well early on, they could get off to the races for the championship.
Denison-Schleswig: Denison-Schleswig won the conference last year after running through undefeated. They lose four of their top six scorers but still return enough talent that I think they can make a run. Paige Andersen, a junior, led the team in scoring last year at a13.2 point a game clip while junior Hannah Neemann scored 12.0 points a game. With those two having two more years to play, I think they’ll make another push for the title.
Harlan: Harlan is neck and neck with Creston for this fifth spot just outside the four above. I think they have a little more talent, on the whole, coming back this year which will prove to help them out. They had four sophomores score between 7.5 and 4.8 points a game last season. Still a young team, Harlan should really look to contend next year. They will be led by junior Jocelyn Cheek once again in the scoring column.
Creston: Creston lost a very good senior from a year ago, but I think they still have more than enough to make a push to the top of the conference. Junior Kelsey Fields still has two more years to go and Sam Dunphy will be beside her those next two years. These two averaged 24.6 points combined last season and as others step up they will improve. Look for Creston to find their identity by the end of the year.
St. Albert: St. Albert will really be looking for their identity this upcoming year. They lose their top three scorers from last season and so that means that Allie Petry will be forced to step up in a big way. Petry is the leading returning scorer as the junior poured in 6.3 points a game last season. With a host of seniors now on this team look for them to be solid this year, but just not in the top half of teams.
Atlantic: After winning a total of zero conference games last year, Atlantic is going to be an improved team this year. They likely won’t contend for the top half of the conference but they’ll certainly be better than last year. Haley Rasmussen returns for her junior campaign and Mckenzie Waters, a senior, are both going to be paramount to the success of this team. If someone else steps up this year they could be really solid.
Kuemper Catholic: After losing some seniors from last year, this group could be a little down. Senior Kara Peter is the top returning scorer from a year ago and she scored 9.4 points a game, most of which came on the inside. Mallory Badding, a senior, scored 9.2 points a game last year and she will be back as well. They are really going to need others to step up this year if they want to trend toward the top of the conference.
Shenandoah: After winning just three conference games last year, Shenandoah loses their 24.6 points per game scorer to graduation. They also lose three other players who were in their top six last year scoring the ball. This means that Roxy Denton, a senior, will take on a huge role this year as she will likely be the one to do the bulk of the scoring. Senior Nichole Gilbert will also be relied on to shoulder some of the scoring load this year.
Clarinda: Clarinda didn’t win a game in the conference last season and this year they will be without their top three scorers from last year. Faith Espinosa, a junior, will be looking to lead this team a year after scoring 2.3 points a game. 16 players saw time at the varsity level last year so this is going to be a team with a lot of experience, it just isn’t experience that has won.
All-Hawkeye Ten First Team
Kelsey Fields (Creston, 6’2 C, 2021)
Fields is not only one of the best players in the conference but in the entire state. She is a double-double machine and last year she showed why grabbing 14.1 rebounds a game while adding in 15.9 points. Look for her to be a threat each time on the floor.
Elle Scarborough (Glenwood, 5’9 SF, 2021)
Scarborough was able to be one of the top players in the state last year and was very consistent from the floor. She shot the ball really well and will likely do the same this year with even better opportunities. She’s going to be one of the top scorers in the conference.
Paige Andersen (Denison-Schleswig, 5’10 PF, 2021)
Andersen was critical to Denison-Schleswig’s attack last season and was paramount in leading them to the Well. She is going to have to take an even greater step this year and I think she’ll easily be able to do so. She’s going to be the main reason for their success.
Roxy Denton (Shenendoah, 5’10 SF, 2020)
Shenandoah lost a ton of talent from last season and Denton is going to have to step in and provide more than her 12.9 points a game last year. She shot 44.4 percent from deep last year and I think she’ll get many more opportunities to shoot it this year as they lose over 66 percent of their scoring.
Sophie Walker (Red Oak, 5’11 PF, 2020)
In a conference that is full of post players, Walker is the top senior post. She is a versatile player who holds the ability to stretch the floor and score the ball as well as score on the inside. Her play will determine how high Red Oak finishes this season.
All-Hawkeye Ten Second Team
Hannah Neemann (Denison-Schleswig, 6′ PF, 2021)
Neemann had a solid year last season and is looking to build on that for this year. She is a good scorer on the inside but I think will look to stretch it out a little this year. She’s going to be an integral part of this group and will look to be one of the top players in the conference.
Ellie Rengstorf (Red Oak, 5’6 SG, 2020)
Rengstorf has a calmness to her game and that shows each time she takes the floor. Look for her to lead this team from the point guard spot and also be able to play off the ball really well. She’s easily one of the top 10 players in the conference.
Madison Camden (Glenwood, 5’8 SG, 2022)
Camden proved to be one of the top young guns in the Hawkeye Ten conference last year and it will be no different this year. There will be no sophomore slump for Camden as she looks to further her name as one of the top players in the area. I expect a big year from her.
Mckenzie Waters (Atlantic, 5’7 PF, 2022)
Waters is going to be a very key player for Atlantic this season. I fully expect her to have a breakout year as one of the two top returning players on the squad. She’s going to have another really good season and will be among the most important players in the conference.
Delaney Esterling (Lewis Central, 5’11 C, 2020)
Esterling has a mantra about her that not many other players have. She is a good leader and is going to lead her team to big things this upcoming year. Esterling is going to be a very important cog to the success of Lewis Central this season.
Preseason Player of the Year
Megan Witte (Lewis Central, 6’1 PF, 2020)
Witte returns as the leading scorer in the conference a year ago. She shot 47.8 percent from the floor and was able to pour in 17.2 points a game. She is going to be one of the top players in the conference once again this season and I think she can lead her team to a conference title. Look for her to be among the top post players in the 2020 class as well as the conference.
Five Questions For The Year
Will a 2023 lead the conference in scoring?
How will the top five shape up?
Can Denison-Schleswig stay near the top?
Who will take the reigns for Lewis Central?
Who do you think will win the conference? Let me know on Twitter!