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By STEVE THOMPSON
Fontanelle Observer
The Nodaway Valley boys will try to reload this season after finishing 10-6 in the Pride of Iowa Conference and 12-10 overall a year ago.
All-conference guard Beau Weinheimer was lost to graduation, as were several key bench players. An unexpected loss was leading scorer Spencer Lamb, who transferred out of the district prior to the start of basketball. Lamb was a first team all-conference pick a year ago.
However, the cupboard isn’t bare for coach Darrell Burmeister. Returning is a trio of starters from last season’s team. Brady Hilpipre averaged 9.7 points a game a year ago. Hilpipre also pulled down 114 rebounds, had 25 blocks, 17 assists and 15 steals.
Spencer Thompson will be the long-range artist for the Wolverines this season after averaging 7.2 points per contest. Thompson had 58 assists, 45 rebounds and 16 steals.
Tyler Vandewater sprung onto the scene last season to average 4.3 points per game. He had 13 rebounds and six assists.
Vying for playing time will be Cole Shike, Josh Baudler, Grant Meisenheimer, Mason Menefee, Toby Bower, Dustin Finck, Aryll Shantz, Corbin Bond, Clay Hohertz, Max Kuhns, Alan Evans and Logan Stevens.
Returning POI leaders:
Scoring- Brady Gavin (MSTM), 22.6; Brennan Sefrit (Bedford), 19.2; Carter Boothe (Central Decatur), 17.3; Bronson Carpenter (Wayne), 14.7; Chance Cobb (SW Valley), 13.2.
Assists- Boothe, 181; Tristan Holmes (Mt. Ayr); 85; Owen Worthington (Pleasantville), 76; Carpenter, 72; Cobb, 69.
Steals- Boothe, 58; Grant Mauer (SWV), 57; Colton Ademeit (SE Warren), 45; Dawson Frost (MA), 27; Luke Wurster (MS), 26.
Rebounds- Gavin, 330; Blake Moore (Wayne), 193; John Shields (MA), 163; Boothe, 142; Cooper Nally (Bedford), 141.
Returning all-conference picks:
Gavin (1st); Boothe (1st); Sefrit (1st); Carpenter (1st); Cobb (2nd); Nally (2nd); Chris Godfrey (I-35; 1st); Richie Griglione (I35, 2nd); Gauge Van Haalen (Pleasantville, 2nd); Isaac Grose (MS, 2nd); Cole Pedersen (CD, 2nd); Grant Atwood (CD, 2nd).