Mt. Pleasant, IA- As our local teams enjoy a much-needed break between the first and second semesters of school, now is an excellent opportunity to break down the Southeast Conference (SEC) standings through the first three contests of conference ball.
SEC Girls Standings
Keokuk: 4-2 (3-0)
Washington: 5-2 (2-1)
Fort Madison: 4-2 (2-1)
Burlington: 4-3 (2-1)
Fairfield: 1-6 (0-3)
Mount Pleasant: 1-6 (0-3)
Keokuk
A year after getting knocked off their pedestal, Keokuk remains the only undefeated squad of the SEC having knocked off one of the preseason favorites to win the conference. Last year was the Chiefs’ first time losing multiple conference games in one season since the 2020-21 season and they don’t want to repeat the sin.
So far, Keokuk’s most impressive win was a narrow win at home against Burlington, 58-51. The Kendra Boatman and Naveah Logan feasted on boards, helping gather 15 of the team’s 23 offensive rebounds and limiting the Grayhounds to just 29.2% shooting from the floor.
Keokuk has held all three of their conference opponents to a shooting percentage south of 30%. If we are looking for early issues, then their 35.5% field goal percentage would be their lowest since the 2020 season. Additionally, a mark of 39 of 75 (52%) from the free throw line in conference games does not inspire confidence going down the stretch.
Washington
This is Washington’s first time starting the season 5-2 since 2013, a year they went 15-8 and became just their second winning season in the past 13 seasons. Adalyn Long continues to be the main draw for the Demons, but the return of Leighton Messinger after a two-year hiatus from the hard court has reinvigorated this Washington squad.
After a narrow 49-41 loss to Keokuk that saw the Demons send the Chiefs to the free throw line 24 times compared to their seven trips, Washington has rattled off two 20-plus point victories over Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant. That’s despite the team shooting just 31% from the field, 27.3% from three-point land, and 51% from the free throw line.
Their improvement as been on the offensive glass, mainly due from the return of Messinger. The Demons are averaging nearly 14 offensive rebounds per game and add in 11.5 steals per game, these extra possessions are allowing for a struggling offense to earn second chances.
Fort Madison
The Bloodhounds are in a similar situation as the Demons. Fort Madison defeated Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield by double figures and instead of a narrow loss to a team that could see time in the rankings, they were throttled by Burlington 66-44. Head coach Landon Bentley was quick to tip his cap to Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel, who scored 15 of her 23 points in the first quarter.
It just shines a spotlight on the Bloodhounds’ limitations as a team. They play incredible defense, as they hope this to be the sixth consecutive season allowing less than 40 points per game. Yet, in that same span, the Bloodhounds have averaged more than 50 points per game once. They have shot above 30% in conference games this season once, while allowing over 50 points in both of their losses.
Fort Madison has not won a game since January 7th, 2022, when allowing more than 50 points in a game. They know how to rebound well; they average more steals (15.5) than turn the ball over (12.2). The question will always lie with how the offense will perform.
Burlington
This was not the team the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) expected to see when they ranked the Grayhounds 11th in the preseason rankings. They are without two of their main bigs from a year ago, including Kylee Hill, who finished with 2nd Team All-SEC honors last year.
This is still a very good team with their big three of Stiefel, Daphne Brown, and Vanessa Woodsmall. However, it might be too reliant on these three with the other eight members on the team that have seen the court this year has compiled only 37 total points.
Let’s put it this way, Burlington is 1-3 when scoring less than 60 points this season and in their three losses they have allowed 20-plus offensive rebounds in each of the losses. If you are hoping to score 60-plus points every night, then you might be in for a tough season.
Fairfield
Their only win of the season came against a winless Knoxville squad, 64-16. In their other showdowns, they have managed only 29 points per contest. Add in a defense that has allowed just a tick under 50 points per game, and this is a team struggling.
Offensively, this is a team that cannot reliably shoot the three-point ball. The Trojans have knocked down only 14.3% of their deep shots. Moreover, the free throw percentage has anchored under 50% for the year.
Faith Jones is the leader of this team as the only member averaging 10.3 points per game, but someone else will need to step up.
Mount Pleasant
Unfortunately, this is a team that has lost their confidence. In a three-game span, the Panthers either scored 50 or more points or won their game. In their last three games, they have failed to score over 30 points, while allowing 160 total points.
The Panthers have done themselves no favors in the first half of their games this season; in fact, they have been held to 24 combined first half points in their last three games. For a team that would like to get out and press and run, it starts on offense and making shots to allow time for your defense to get set.
What happened to the team that put up 56 points against Burlington, which is two less points than Keokuk and 12 more points than Fort Madison put up. If the Panthers can find that team again, then look for them to possibly steal a game in the second half of the season.
SEC Boys Standings
Keokuk: 4-1 (3-0)
Washington: 5-2 (2-1)
Burlington: 3-4 (2-1)
Fairfield: 1-5 (1-2)
Mount Pleasant: 1-5 (1-2)
Fort Madison: 0-6 (0-3)
Keokuk
It felt like Keokuk should have won the SEC the last two years, but uncharacteristic losses kept them in second place the last two years, including a conference championship clinching showdown last year against Fort Madison.
Jaxon Clark feels like an entirely different animal this year as he looks for his second consecutive SEC Player of the Year honor. The senior is averaging 40 points and 18 rebounds per game with a total of seven blocks in his three conference games this season.
They have won all three of their conference showdowns by double digits, including two victories by more than 30 points. Look to Pella for the formula on how to beat them: limit everyone else, force turnovers, make nine three pointers, and good luck.
Washington
Much like the girls’ team, the boys’ team is off to their best start since their conference winning 2021 season. That year’s team also lost a conference showdown before winter break, and both allowed around 52 points per game.
Where they differ is this year’s squad is better at taking the ball away with four more steals per game than their 2021 counterparts and that proved to be huge in their 55-47 victory over Mt. Pleasant last Friday. Their 20 to 3 run from the mid-point of the third quarter to the mid-point of the fourth quarter was brought on by steals, which they captured 12 of by the night’s end.
Washington’s offense is prone to off-nights, with the Demons only putting up 42 points in their two losses. Still, if they can force enough takeaways and win the transition battle, their offensive liability never becomes an issue.
Burlington
The Grayhounds are keeping to the same formula that has hounded them for the past couple of years. Play well against SEC foes, struggle against teams of the same Class with a 68-60 victory over Ottumwa proving to be the only exception.
Nevertheless, this is a team that does not boast much in terms of starting experience so with every game they start to get a little more comfortable with one another. This was on full display when they managed to go on a 22 to 9 run in the fourth quarter to comeback and beat Fort Madison last Friday. The Grayhounds secured 15 more offensive rebounds, resulting in nearly 20 more shots than the Bloodhounds.
Keokuk was the only team that has been able to neutralize Burlington’s ability to gather offensive rebounds, getting outdone 34 to 15 on the glass in their 11-point loss. Sophomore Jett Morris’ meteoric rise has been fun to watch as he averages 17 points per game, now the question is whether he can sustain it or not.
Fairfield
Ever since Fairfield’s narrow three-point victory against Fort Madison to start conference play, the Trojans have gone on a four-game losing streak with two of those losses by 18 points or more. They had a chance to knock off unbeaten Hillcrest Academy last Saturday but allowed the Ravens to get to the line 29 times, compared to their six trips.
That has proven to be a problem for Fairfield with five of their six opponents getting to the free throw line at least 15 times. The Trojans currently average 17 turnovers per game and 18 fouls per game. For a team allowing 62 points per game, it appears that half of the points are coming via the Trojans’ hands.
Offensively, they are still waiting to find their equilibrium. They are shooting just 36.4% from the field and 25.5% from downtown. Ethan Bisgard is their leading scorer with 13.8 points per game. The offense will have to find its motion to have a chance at a run.
Mount Pleasant
The Panthers are being plagued by the mistakes of last year’s team: compounding turnovers and one bad quarter. The perfect example was in their last conference game. Leading 34 to 26 after Aiden Humble had hit his second three-pointer of the second half, the Demons force multiple turnovers and proceed to go on a 20 to 3, controlling a 46 to 37 advantage before Mt. Pleasant was able to regain composure.
It is something that the Panthers have become accustomed to, which is play three great quarters of basketball and then sputter out in one of the quarters. In their five losses, that bad quarter sees Mt. Pleasant getting outscored 103-38.
The three-point ball has also been lagging compared to last year with Aiden Humble’s 44.2% three-point percentage and 17 threes in the last four games really doing the heavy lifting to Mt. Pleasant’s percentage. Add in just 2.3 steals per game to 19 turnovers per game and the Panthers are handing over too many possessions.
The good news? They are still waiting for the return of two starters from last year from injury in Ryan Helling and Noah Lange. Helling will provide another ball handler and with both Langes on the court teams will struggle to contain the height and skill. If the Panthers can cut back on a couple of the turnovers, then this is a team that can challenge the upper echelon of the SEC.
Fort Madison
Nothing has gone right for last year’s conference champs. With only one returning starter, this team is in desperate need for someone to step up and help Nolan Guzman, who is averaging 17.2 points per game.
Still, the Bloodhounds have battled against their conference foes. Fort Madison led entering the fourth quarter against Fairfield before losing 47-44 and outscored Burlington 28 to 4 in the second quarter to lead 41 to 26 at halftime before squandering a 15-point lead and losing 63-60.
The Bloodhounds are still searching for their offense. Only shooting 35.9% from the field as a team has kept their points per game below 50. Missing out on Darius Foy has rebounding a liability for Fort Madison as the club averages only seven offensive rebounds per game.
Conference Matchups
January 2nd: Washington @ Fort Madison
January 2nd: Keokuk @ Mt. Pleasant
January 5th: Fairfield @ Burlington
