Players to Watch: Heart of Iowa
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Last season, West Marshall won the Heart of Iowa Conference with a record of 13-1. However, they didn’t run away with the title, only edging out Roland-Story by a single game when things were all said and done. Let’s look…
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Continue ReadingLast season, West Marshall won the Heart of Iowa Conference with a record of 13-1. However, they didn’t run away with the title, only edging out Roland-Story by a single game when things were all said and done. Let’s look at some players who inhabit the Heart of Iowa Conference.
Lydia Olejniczak Lydia Olejniczak 5'8" | SF Perry | 2023 State IA
The rising senior from Perry led the conference with over 20 points per game on average. The 5-foot-8 wing also helped her team out on the glass, grabbing nearly eight rebounds per game in her junior season. She is used to the workload she has to carry for her team after taking more than 18 shots per game for the Jayettes last season. Now that she understands what she has to do to give her team the best chance of winning, the Jayettes could surprise a few teams in the conference this season.
Katy Reyerson Katy Reyerson 6'2" | PF West Marshall | 2023 State IA
The 6-foot-2 forward averaged a double-double last season with 19.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The rising senior averaged over three steals and more than two blocks per game. However, the forward is as versatile of a player as anyone. She can dribble, shoot, and move her feet on the perimeter. Not many kids with Reyerson’s size can go from a behind-the-back dribble into a step-back 3-pointer that doesn’t touch the rim. She’s skilled, and when she’s at her best, few kids have the physical tools to defend her.
Elizabeth Ihle Elizabeth Ihle 5'3" | PG Roland-Story | 2024 IA
The 5-foot-3 guard from Roland-Story finished fourth in assists in the conference last season. She is an excellent offensive piece because of her passing. Ihle didn’t shoot the ball well last season, but by passing as well as she did, teams have to respect what she can do with the ball. You can’t leave her alone because she isn’t afraid to attack the space and pass the ball around the perimeter to her teammates. Ihle also has a knack for beating the ball to the spot and creating turnovers on the defensive end.
Hallee Feaker Hallee Feaker 5'9" | PG South Hamilton | 2023 State IA
Last season, the South Hamilton Hawk was effective on both ends of the floor. Feaker scored over 12 points per game for the Hawks, grabbed over five rebounds, and earned more than three steals per game. She was a net positive on the floor and excelled in every spot she got placed in as a junior. She may not be a blue-chip prospect or anything of that nature, but she’s a winning player that any small school coach would love.