Panther boys push pace

Among the eight graduating seniors on last year’s Creston boys basketball team were all-conference players Jake Hoyt (first team) and Parker Varner (honorable mention), so it’s a new look to the Panther lineup this winter.

Yet, eighth-year coach Bryce Schafer, assisted by Chris Tibbals and Drew Dornack, are encouraged by the group of 13 juniors and seniors on this year’s squad of 25.

Senior Cael Barton and juniors Rhett Driskell and Tanner Ray have extensive varsity experience to lead this Panther team that spent the first practice week in two-a-day sessions. Morning conditioning workouts and afternoon practices gave the team a jump start in preparing for Monday’s opener at home against Winterset.

“Our big push with this group is tempo, getting the ball up the floor,” Schafer said. “We’re trying to run more. We did two-a-days for my first time here and it went well. I was proud of those guys for buying in.”

Hoyt nearly averaged a double-double in leading last year’s team at 19.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Varner averaged eight points a game and made 33 3-pointers, second on the team to Driskell’s 34.

Top returnees

Driskell has the top returning scoring average of 11.1 points and was second on the team with 2.0 assists per game. Driskell, Ray and Barton are all scoring threats on the perimeter and Schafer said senior Nathan Carroll has emerged as a point guard candidate. Junior Garrett Troutwine and senior Hector Suazo offer shooting potential as other guard candidates. Gabe Kaufman is contending for varsity time as a freshman.

Seniors Jaxson Jondle, CT Stalker and Ayden Purdum provide rebounding and inside scoring potential in Schafer’s five-out offensive system — rarely with a post player set up in the lane — along with juniors Baret Lane, Layne Sand and Brodie Pashek.

There isn’t necessarily a 20-point scorer in the bunch like Hoyt, but Driskell will certainly garner attention from opposing defenses and there is better balance overall on this 2025-26 team.

“I’ve told people, I don’t think our depth of top end talent is going to be as high as last year, but I do believe we’re a good overall team,” Schafer said. “They are connected well and they understand their roles. This year’s senior class has come a long way since their freshman year. We had a group of about 20 working all summer and I thought we made a lot of progress. We played 12 games in our summer camp at Ames and that really helped us on what we’re trying to do on the court this year.”

Look for quick looks off the fast break, and a halfcourt offense designed on driving to score or to pass to open cutters. It’s based on drawing help defenders and finding the open man.

“We’re reading what the defense is doing,” Schafer explained. “We’re looking to penetrate — we call it puncturing the arc. Every drive doesn’t have to get to the rim, but it forces the defense to provide help. We have more off-ball cutting and screening to give us those options. Against zone defenses it’s pretty much the same concept, but we talk about cutters hunting ‘windows’ between defenders. Just keep moving.”

Conference outlook

The Panthers were 11-11 overall last season, tying St. Albert for fourth place in the Hawkeye Ten at 6-4. Kuemper Catholic was league champion at 10-0 in going 22-2 overall and again is the heavy favorite with 6-5 senior forward Ryan Clair, senior guard Brock Badding and junior guard Dylan Schon returning from all-conference campaigns last year.

Lewis Central (9-1, 12-10) and Glenwood (8-2, 19-5) finished second and third last year and again figure to be top contenders. LC sophomore guard Carter Thielen was unanimous all-conference last year as a freshman.

St. Albert, Creston, Clarinda and Harlan should be capable of being in that next tier of contenders, Schafer said.

With the retirement of longtime coach Mitch Osborn, Harlan is now led by head coach Dean Mosher. Other new coaches in the league are Spencer Pauley (Denison-Schleswig), Luke Buttry (Shenandoah) and Jesse Taylor (Red Oak).

Roster

Seniors — Cael Barton (6-1), Ayden Purdum (6-2), Nathan Carroll (5-10), CT Stalker (6-4), Jaxson Jondle (6-2), Hector Suazo (5-9), Waymond Foster (6-1).

Juniors — Rhett Driskell (6-3), Tanner Ray (6-0), Garrett Troutwine (5-9), Baret Lane (6-5), Layne Sand (6-5), Brodie Pashek (6-1).

Sophomores — Jaxson Schaffer (6-1), Landyn Scherer (5-9), Adam Thompson, Damian Bowlby.

Freshmen — Kade Goins, Javen Hyde, Harrison Krantz, Gabe Kaufman, Mason Wilson, Jacob Gordon, Owen Bruce, Matthew Warner.