Knights Could Be Sleeper Team In RVC North

Members of the 2016-17 North Cedar boy’s basketball team are front row, l-r: Alex Woodward, Ethan Sahr, Andrew Reif, Jake Jensen, Carter Johnson, Seb Curley and Keon McCullough. Back row: head coach Scott Jackson, Tyler Alexander, Brice Sahr, Aaron Woodward, Logan Minar, Owen Meyer, Greg Hansen, Brady Lehrman, coach Les Koering and coach Dan Kedley. Photo by Ryan Stonebraker. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

CLARENCE — There is a lot of excitement in the Northern part of Cedar County as the 2016-17 boy’s basketball season begins.  Despite limping to  6-17 overall record last season, there is plenty to be optimistic about for North Cedar.  Coach Scott Jackson returns seven players from last year’s team and a lot of potential as the new season starts.

“We had some injuries to seniors and our juniors had to step up and be leaders and that is tough coming up from the junior varsity level.  We didn’t have a big senior class last year and some of the leadership fell on them,” said Jackson.

North Cedar won their season opener at Calamus-Wheatland 58-42 but then lost their next six to start the season 1-6.  North Cedar won four River Valley Conference games including two in a season high three-game winning streak in late January and early February.  Wins at West Branch (62-44) and at home against Lisbon (65-56) and Bellevue (52-42) were highlights of hte season.  

“We have a lot of guys back and hopefully, this year we will win more.  I am confident that they will look at last year, and think to themselves that they don’t want their senior year to be like that this year, and do something about it,” said Jackson.

North Cedar returns three starters from last season in guard Carter Johnson and forwards Jacob Jensen and Aaron Woodward.  All are seniors and want to leave their mark this season.  Johnson led North Cedar in scoring last year with 8.7 points a game and got to the free throw line 60 times.  He had 23 made 3’s, 41 rebounds and 32 assists.  Jensen averaged 2.3 points a game and had 43 rebounds and Woodward averaged 6.6 points a game and had 62 rebounds.

Gone from last year are senior guards Ian Malaby (injured most of the season), Jacob Holst (4.3 ppg, 25 steals, 20 assists) and Myles Shedeck and forward Cody Fields (3.5 ppg, 93 rebounds, 34 assists, 32 steals).

There will be no where to go but up for the Knights this year.  North Cedar was near the bottom of the RVC North in scoring per game (43.3), field goal attempts (978) and rebounding.

“Our preseason work has been going well.  We have come together and embraced the team concept this year that we are better together than on our own.  They want to show people that they can get the job done,” said Jackson.

“The key to our season will be if we can stay together, play together and work well as a team and if they do, good things will happen.  The talent is there, the size is there and we can shoot the basketball.  They have to do it together,” he said.

North Cedar’s season hopes will rely on how consistent they play will be.  Besides the returning starters back North Cedar has returners Andrew Reif, Logan Minar, Brice Sahr, Mason Minar and Greg Hansen.

Logan Minar is one of four Knights over 6-feet, 4 inches, giving the Knights one of their tallest teams in program history.  Minar averaged 8.7 points and pulled down 83 rebounds in just over half of a season of play.

“We haven’t changed a whole lot over the years.  Our system works well for the kids we have.  Logan - 6-6, Mason 6-5, Owen 6-5, Aaron 6-3, Jake 6-1.  We have some size this year.  We have some kids that can dunk the basketball too.  It’s a tribute to our weight program we have here,” said Jackson.

North Cedar will get a shot in the arm with freshmen Keon McCullough and Ethan Sahr and sophomores Alex Woodward and Tyler Alexander.  Some or all could be called on for help at the guard position.

North Cedar opens the season at Calamus-Wheatland and Cascade.  The Knights host Durant on December 2 in their home opener.  The Knights host Easton Valley before Christmas and travel to Lisbon in late January for their non-conference games.  North Cedar also hosts Tipton for a non-conference game on January 21.  The first Tipton-North Cedar game will be in Tipton on December 13.

North Cedar Knights

2015-16 Record: 6-17

2015-16 RVC Record: 4-14

2015-16 Postseason: 2/15 - Anamosa 66, North Cedar 32.

2015-16 All-Conference RVC Picks: Cody Fields - RVC Honorable Mention.  

Returning Starters (3): Jacob Jensen (2.3 ppg), Carter Johnson (8.7 ppg), Aaron Woodward (6.6 ppg).

2016-17 Roster: Seniors — Andrew Reif, Jacob Jensen, Carter Johnson, Aaron Woodward, Logan Minar, Brice Sahr.  Juniors — Seb Curley, Greg Hansen, Brady Lehrman, Owen Meyer, Mason Minar.  Sophomores — Alex Woodward, Tyler Alexander.  Freshmen — Keon McCullough, Ethan Sahr.