PREVIEW: Wildcats' season outlook is brighter for '16-17

BOYS BASKETBALL

     The outlook is brighter for a Maquoketa Valley High School boys basketball team that finished 4-18 last year, but has four starters and 10 letter-winners returning.

     “We will have a good group of returning players that either started or have plenty of experience in varsity-level basketball,” fourth-year head coach Creig Dunlap said.

     The Wildcats will be led by two players who made the Tri-Rivers all-conference team last season. Junior Brock Hillers made the second team after scoring an average of 11.3 points per game, and led the team in steals with 42. Senior Jacob Bonert was given honorable mention, coming off a season in which he was second on the team in scoring (9.6 points per game) and first in rebounding (5.9 per game).

     The two also tied for the assist lead, with 47 apiece.

     Other key returning players are seniors Clint Krapfl and Kyle Wilson, and junior Garrett Hogan.

     Newcomers who could make an immediate impact are senior Zak Harbach, and juniors Trevor Elgin and Tyson Tucker.

     “This group spent the summer in a league and a few basketball tournaments,” Dunlap said.

     The coach said he believes North-Linn and Lisbon will be among the contenders in the Tri-Rivers, but is optimistic about the Wildcats improving over last year’s 3-9 conference record and recording a top-half finish this year.

     “This team has a great group of guards that are athletic and can shoot fairly well,” he said. “They are also hard-working, and have a degree of toughness that was missing the past few seasons.

     “This group does not have a lot of height, but can be very physical.”

     Eric Conner is the assistant coach.