Tigers Could Contend For RVC South

Members of the 2017-18 Tipton boy’s basketball team are, front row l-r: Cole Syring, Grady Glick, Eli Lindsey, Joey Butler, Caleb Jedlicka, Alex Reynolds, Landon Hill and Riley Keil.  Second row: Kayden Rezac, Nile Schuett, Preston Hodgden, Tyler Hennings, Craig Shafer, Jack Boldt, Kael Jauron and Colby Kleppe.  Third row: Caleb Shumaker, Jacob Tischuk, Andrew Stewart, Hunter Tenley, Logan Hoffman, Frank Bierman, Blake Wilkins, Andrew Comstock, Luke Becker and Payten Elijah.  Back row: Trent Pelzer, Jared Hightower, Keith Penningroth, Elliot Cummins, Quentin Mesick, Connor Hermiston, Bryce Deerberg and Blaise Thumma.  Not Pictured: Austin Mente.  Contributed Photo.

By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative
TIPTON — The Tipton Tiger boy’s basketball team has their sights set on a River Valley Conference South title and rightfully so.  The Tigers return three starters and a host of reserves from a 13-win season a year ago.  The Tigers got a boost last postseason beating an 18-3 West Burlington Notre Dame team in Burlington before falling to RVC champs West Branch in the district final.

Returning starters this season are senior Logan Hoffman, junior Andrew Stewart and sophomore Frank Bierman.  Hoffman was an Elite All-RVC selection last year.  He has received preseason Des Moines Register basketball honors as well.  Hoffman led Tipton in scoring last year with a 22.8-point average.  He also led Tipton in rebounding with 189.  He shot 81-percent from the free throw line and made 13 three pointers.

Stewart was a All-RVC South Division selection as a sophomore.  Stewart shot 33-percent from the three-point line with 48 made three pointers.  He averaged 15.3 points game and had 22 steals, 19 assists and 62 rebounds.

Bierman made quite an impact as a freshman last season.  Bierman finished second on the team in rebounding with 114 to go with 28 steals and a 3.3-point scoring average.

Key reserves back for the Tigers are senior Bryce Deerberg and juniors Jacob Tischuk (4.7 ppg, 28 steals, 49 rebounds) and Luke Becker (2.4 ppg, 12 made 3’s).

Others out this season that were on the varsity roster last year are  Connor Hermiston, Jared Hightower, Blake Wilkins, Hunter Tenley, Quinten Mesick and Blaise Thumma and sophomore Trent Pelzer.  Senior Keith Penningroth and sophomore Colby Kleppe are also out this season.

Tipton has an interesting schedule, opening the 2017-18 schedule on the road for their first four basketball games.  Tipton opens the season at Mid-Prairie on Tuesday, November 28.  That’s followed by road games at Camanche, West Branch and North Tama.  The Tigers first home game will be Friday, December 8 against Durant.  The Tigers will play ten games before Christmas break.  The Tigers play North Cedar for the first of two games with the Knights on Tuesday, December 12 at Clarence.

Members of the 2017-18 North Cedar boy’s basketball team are, front row l-r: Tyler Alexander, Ethan Sahr, Brady Lehrman, Mason Minar, Owen Meyer, Greg Hansen, Keon McCullough.  Back row: head coach Scott Jackson, Jon Scheer, Alex Woodward, Caden Wendt, assistant coach Robert Helgersen, assistant coach Dan Kedley, Cameron King, Logan Thimmes, Kael Unruh and assistant coach Les Koering.  Photo by Ryan Stonebraker.

Knights Hope To Move Up In RVC North Standings

CLARENCE — Last year was an uncommon season at North Cedar.  The Knights finished below .500 and was one-win shy of giving the RVC North five of their six team members with at least ten victories.

North Cedar returns two starters from last year’s team in sophomore guard Ethan Sahr and senior swingman Mason Minar.  Both are athletic and both will look to lead the team.  Sahr averaged 3.9 points as a freshman.  He was third on last year’s team in made three pointers.

Minar returns after earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season.  Minar is the top returning scorer for the Knights with a 10.0 point average.  He had 44 assists and 43 steals to go with 63 rebounds.

Opportunity waits for North Cedar to fill the other three starting spots.  Candidates will come from a pool of returning players.  Returning seniors are Seb Curley (0.5 ppg), Greg Hansen (0.9 ppg), Brady Lehrman (0.8 ppg) and Owen Meyer (2.2 ppg).  

Also returning are Tyler Alexander and Keon McCullough (1.0 ppg).  Alex Woodward is also on the Knights roster.

North Cedar kicks off the season at home against Cascade on November 28.  It is the first of seven pre-Christmas games.  The Knights play four RVC North foes, three on the road.  North Cedar has to big rivalry games at home before Christmas when Tipton comes to town December 12 and Calamus-Wheatland comes in less than a week later on December 18.

Members of the 2017-18 Durant boy’s basketball team are, front row l-r: Cale Frett, Carter Voelkers, Joe Lilienthal, Ty Chenault and Dawson Frett.  Back row: Marcus Engstler, Cole Miedema, Curtis Lilienthal, Mason Compton, Bryce Lafrenz, Easton Botkins, Thomas Rhoades and manager Jada Rock.  Not pictured: Will Lossi.  Photo by Ryan Stonebraker.

Wildcats Return Many, Look To Move Up In RVC

DURANT — There is a lot of excitement in Durant this winter for boy’s basketball.  Though the Wildcats are coming off of a 9-win season, Durant returns three starters, two part-time starters and a host of bench players.  The Wildcats could have their most athletic team in a while and have size as well.

The Wildcats return three starters from last year’s team in junior guard Easton Botkins, junior forward Bryce Lafrenz and sophomore center Joe Lilienthal.  Botkins made 25 three pointers and shot 85-percent from the free throw line.  He averaged 5.6 points, had 38 assists and 31 steals.  Lafrenz averaged 5.1 points to go with 16 made three pointers, 80 rebounds and 41 assists.  Lilienthal averaged 5.3 points a team and had 80 rebounds, 11 blocked shots.

Other key players who started from time to time are junior Mason Compton and senior Curtis Lilienthal.  Compton averaged 7.0 points, had 72 rebounds, 36 assists and 32 steals.  Lilienthal averaged 0.8 points, had 34 rebounds and 16 steals.

The Wildcat bench will be filled with a variety of players with a variety of returning experience.  Ty Chenault returns after moving away last year out of state.  Chenault averaged XX points as a sophomore on the varsity team.

Also back are senior forwards Dawson and Cale Frett and fellow seniors Cole Miedema (1.1 ppg) and Carter Voelkers.  Junior WIll Lossi is also back.  On the roster as well are senior Thomas Rhoades and sophomore Marcus Engstler.

Members of the 2017-18 Wilton boy’s basketball team are, front row l-r: Jacob Shepherd, Garrett Bohnsack, AJ Bosten and Nathaniel Fagner.  Middle row: Charles Martin, Ronen Santiago, Jared Townsend, Isaac Hunter and Chase Montagna.  Back row: Cole Rabedeaux, Corey Anderson, Drake Hayes, Brock Hartley, Chase Miller and Ashton Stoelk.  Photo by Ryan Stonebraker.

5 seniors, 10 juniors Makeup Wilton Roster

WILTON — The Wilton Beavers hope that experience will go a long way.  The Beavers have 15 juniors and seniors on the varsity roster this year with five seniors and ten juniors.  The Beavers look to improve this year, coming off of a two-win season last year.  Veteran coach Mark Patterson returns to guide the Beavers this season.

Wilton returns one starter from last year in senior Jacob Shepherd.  Shepherd averaged 0.8 points a game and had 26 rebounds, 17 assists and 12 steals.

Other returning players are five juniors in Garrett Bohnsack (0.5 ppg), Chase Miller (0.8 ppg), Isaac Hunter (0.4 ppg), Ashton Stoelk (0.8 ppg) and Jared Townsend.  Townsend is the top returning scorer with a 3.8-point scoring average.  He had 42 rebounds 22 assists and 14 steals.

Others out this season are seniors Jake Said, Cole Rabedeaux (1.5 ppg), Drake Hayes, Chase Montagna and Nathaniel Fagner, juniors A.J. Bosten, Corey Anderson, Brock Hartley and Ronen Santiago.

Wilton will play nine games before Christmas.  Of those, five are at home and a sixth is five miles to the East in Durant.  Wilton will begin the new season on Tuesday, November 28 at West Branch.  Wilton hosts Columbus Junction two days later and Cascade the following day on Friday, December 1.  Other home games before Christmas are a three game stretch with Iowa City Regina, Camanche and Tipton.