By Mark Schafer | The News Review
Both of the teams proved they were more than capable of winning.
As the end of the year rolls in the South Iowa Cedar League announced their All-Conference teams and five players made the All-Conference list this year.
Two of the area stars were able to make the first team All-Conference list this year.
Billie Kindred, a senior from Keota and Isaac Bruns, a senior from Sigourney were both named to the All-Conference list this year.
On the second-team list Keota junior Chase Haifley was named to the list. Sigourney had two players named to the second-team list as John Berg and Solon Yates, both of whom are juniors, made the list.
The Keota boys basketball team advanced to the semifinals of their district tournament and were able to finish the season at 19-4. A big reason why the Eagles had so much success was through the play of senior Billie Kindred.
The first-team All-Conference player had another outstanding basketball season. He was able to set numerous school records, while also leading his team with 565 points scored this year.
Kindred scored the 22nd most points of any player in any class this year. Only one player, Brody Boulton of Montezuma, scored more points than Kindred in the conference.
Kindred was more than just a point scorer. The senior also led his team with 326 total rebounds. That included 230 defensive rebounds and 96 offensive rebounds.
Kindred also had 29 blocks to lead his team. He added 49 steals and 46 assists throughout the season.
Joining Kindred on the first-team list was Sigourney senior Isaac Bruns. Bruns, like Kindred, was an all-around threat on the court.
The Savages also had plenty of success on the court. They made the district semifinals and were able to finish the year with an overall record of 16-7.
Bruns finished the year with 383 total points scored, to lead the Savages. Bruns also surpassed the 1,000 point mark in his career this winter.
Bruns was able to grab 106 rebounds on the year with 63 coming on the defensive side of the glass and another 43 coming on the offensive side.
Bruns led his team with 50 steals. He also added 15 blocks and 55 assists throughout the winter.
Both Keota and Sigourney had players land on the second team All-Conference list as well.
Sigourney had two players named to the second team list.
Junior John Berg became a dual-threat player this winter for the Savages. He was able to score 342 total points. The real threat of Berg was his rebounding ability as he led his team in rebounds with 285 on the season. Berg was always ready for a rebound this year. He recorded 133 offensive rebounds and 152 defensive rebounds on the season.
Berg led his team with 31 blocks. He added 32 steals and 13 assists throughout the year.
Solon Yates concluded his junior year with 260 points scored. Yates was an all-around player that seemed to be able to play any role that coach Mitch Eslick needed him to fill on any given night.
Yates brought in 61 total rebounds with 51 on the defensive side and 16 offensive rebounds. He had 25 assists, 22 steals and four blocks this season.
Keota junior Chae Haifley had a solid year. He scored 367 total points this winter. Haifley was a leader in the conference with 179 total assists as the junior seemed to be able to read any defense that was thrown at him.
Throughout the winter he had 74 rebounds, 71 steals and seven blocks.
Two English Valleys players were named to the honorable mention list this year.
Sophomore Everett Bender finished the season leading the Bears in scoring with 297 total points. He added 114 rebounds, 70 assists, 50 steals and 29 blocks.
Another sophomore making the honorable mention list from English Valleys is Kane Axmear. Axmear scored 263 points. He brought in 165 total rebounds. He had 16 assists, 16 steals and four blocks.
Keota had two players named to the honorable mention list as well. Jace Chalupa scored 253 points with 160 rebounds this year. He added 20 assists, 15 steals and 23 blocks to conclude his senior season.
Jackson Vittetoe was also named to the honorable mention list. The junior scored 166 total points. He scored 71 rebounds with 95 assists, 35 steals and six blocks.
Two Sigourney players were able to land on the honorable mention list (making the starting five players for Sigourney all named to the All-Conference list in one way).
Sophomore Ike Molyneux scored 197 points this winter. He had 120 assists to lead his team. He added 98 rebounds with 34 steals and a block.
Brayden Wood finished his junior season with 102 total points. He had 69 rebounds, 41 assists, 13 steals and six blocks. Wood missed most of the final few weeks of the season due to an injury.
