Area basketball update

(Statistics and information are current as of Monday, Jan. 6.)

Keota boys (7-1, 5-0)

Possessing one of the more potent offenses in all of Iowa boys basketball, the Keota Eagles have all the parts to be a state title contender in Class 1A.

No player has put more points through the basket to this point — in any class in Iowa — than senior J.D. Stout. The crafty lefty is getting it done from every spot on the floor. He can take you to the basket; he can knock down the long ball; and he can get to the free throw line consistently.

Through eight games, Stout is averaging just under 28 points per game, shooting 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3, and 82 percent from the free throw line. The Eagles will ultimately go as far as Stout can take them.

The complementary pieces of the Keota attack have shown their worth throughout the first part of 2019-2020. Joining Stout as primary scorers are three juniors: Luke Hammen (13.9 ppg), Carson Sprouse (11.9 ppg), and Brady Duwa (8.1 ppg). Hammen and Sprouse are adept at both knocking down 3-pointers and finding their way to the basket. Duwa is more of a slasher, but he can also knock down a long ball if left open.

Defensively, Keota has been suffocating opponents with their pressure. Six different Eagles have tallied double-digit steals to this point. Along with the aforementioned players, Tyler Waterhouse and Wyatt Sieren have proven to be valuable defenders for Dan Stout’s club.

Outside of a Saturday stinker at WACO on Dec. 14, the Eagles have taken care of business everywhere else. In their seven wins, Keota has scored 75 or more points in all but one.

Stout’s club returned to the hardwood on Jan. 7 against Colfax-Mingo. Their second game back from break will be this Friday at BGM.

SICL East Standings

Keota - 5-0

Belle Plaine - 5-1

Iowa Valley - 1-1

Sigourney - 2-3

English Valleys - 1-4

Tri-County - 0-6

Keota girls (1-8, 1-5)

Any time you have just six players on a basketball roster, there are going to be challenges. The Keota Eagles have worked to improve throughout the first part of the season, dealing with the lack of depth, but also, just a lack of experience.

The Eagles have been led in scoring by a pair of juniors, Bailey Sieren and Sky Weber. Sieren, a lefty guard, is averaging 5.3 points per game and leads the team in assists with 13. Weber ranks second on the team in scoring (4.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg). Both Sieren and Weber are great at getting to the foul line and converting from there. They’re each shooting 60 percent from the charity stripe.

Sophomore Taylor Kindred and freshman Macie McDonald are the other two players above three points per game. Kindred owns the highest field goal percentage on the team at 34.1 percent. McDonald is tied with Sieren for the team lead in steals at nine. Kindred is tied with Weber for the team lead in rebounds, with 48. McDonald has also shown to be a willing rebounder at the guard position, ranking third for the Eagles at 44 total rebounds.

The highlight of Keota’s pre-Christmas season came on Dec. 10, when they secured their first win of the year over Tri-County, 37-13. Weber and Kindred led the way with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Kindred notched a double-double, also securing 10 rebounds.

Jeff Sprouse’s group returned to the court on Tuesday against Colfax-Mingo. Their next game is this Friday, Jan. 10 at BGM.

SICL Standings

Montezuma - 5-0

Sigourney - 5-1

North Mahaska - 5-1

Iowa Valley - 4-1

English Valleys - 5-2

Lynnville-Sully - 4-2

Belle Plaine - 2-4

BGM - 2-4

Colfax-Mingo - 2-4

Keota - 1-5

Tri-County - 0-6

HLV - 0-5