ND News

All-SEI Superconference boys basketball teams released

The West Burlington High School boys basketball ran the table in the Super Conference South Division this season, going a perfect 14-0 in what can be considered the best season in school history.

Notre Dame and Holy Trinity both put together solid seasons in the South Division, while Mediapolis nearly pulled off a shocker in Class 2A districts.

In the end, it was New London which advanced to the state tournament, losing to top-ranked Grand View Christian, 61-51, in a Class 1A state quarterfinal game Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

New London’s Blaise Porter was named the Player of the Year. He led the South in points per game (25.0), was third in assists (4.6), fourth in rebounds (8.4) but first in defensive boards (7.2), second in free throw percentage (80.6), free throws made (5.3) and attempted (6.6).

Holy Trinity Catholic’s Luke Hellige was a pick for the first team. He was second in total points scored (423), third in average points per game at 19.2, second in defensive rebounds per game (6.6), third in rebounds (8.4), third in 3-pointers made (2.5) and fourth in attempts (6.4), third in free throws made (3.0) and fourth in attempts (4.2), and fifth in free throw percentage (72.8).

Hellige’s teammate on the Crusaders, Conner Gehling, was a pick for the second team as was Central Lee’s Brayden Wyrick.

Wyrick, Hellige and West Burlington’s Mason Watkins were the only sophomores selected to the first or second teams.

Wyrick was sixth in rebounds at 7.6 per game, seventh in points per game at 15.8, fourth in field goal attempts (14.0), fourth in free throws made (2.8) and third in free throws attempted (4.6), and second in offensive rebounds per game at 3.0.

Gehling averaged 13.5 points per game (12th in the South) and was second in the South with 2.2 blocked shots per game, fourth in offensive rebounds (2.5), ninth in rebounds (6.5), and fifth in free throws made per game at 2.6.

Holy Trinity’s Adam Sobczak led the South in assists per game at 5.1. He and teammate Nick Fullenkamp earned honorable mention.

Central Lee’s Cory Jones and Owen Swan earned honorable mention. Swan was one of three freshman to be honored.

That balance and depth is reflected in the 2023 All-SEI Super Conference South Division boys basketball teams, which were announced Monday night.

ALL-SUPER

CONFERENCE SOUTH DIVISION BOYS

BASKETBALL TEAMS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Blaise Porter, senior, New London

FIRST TEAM

Caiden Gourley, senior, Danville

Luke Hellige, sophomore, Holy Trinity

Blaise Porter, senior, New London

Kade Benjamin, senior, New London

Jackson Manning, senior, Van Buren County

Brady Martin, junior, West Burlington

Mason Watkins, sophomore, West Burlington

Cole Lipper, senior, Mediapolis

Carsen Jones, senior, Notre Dame

Jace Figuereo, senior, West Burlington

COACH OF THE YEAR — Ryan O’Hern, West Burlington

SECOND TEAM

Brayden Wyrick, sophomore, Central Lee

Liam Delaney, junior, Notre Dame

Parker Lau, senior, West Burlington

Spencer Nelson, senior, Danville

Conner Gehling, junior, Holy Trinity

Ben Egan, senior, Mediapolis

Jackson Hutcheson, junior, Mediapolis

Hunter Lillie, senior, Notre Dame

Leo Gebauer, junior, New London

HONORABLE MENTION

Central Lee — Cory Jones, junior; Owen Swan, freshman

New London — Brendan Richey, junior; Rylan Martin, senior

Danville — Carson Ourth, junior; Titus Svoboda, junior

Holy Trinity — Nick Fullenkamp, junior; Adam Sobczak, sophomore

Mediapolis — Max Griffin, freshman; Lance Ludens, junior

Notre Dame — Matthew Booten, senior; Spencer Brent, junior

Van Buren County — Izaak Loeffler, sophomore; Wyatt Mertens, senior

West Burlington — Hayden Vandenberg, senior; Ayden Figuereo, freshman