Riverside Basketball fighting for the top of the Western Iowa Conference

January 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The (8-6) Riverside Bulldogs basketball team has had a mixed year for the program with the third spot at the top of the Western Iowa Conference. Riverside started off the year 3-0 with wins against AHSTW, IKM-Manning, and Griswold. Senior Grady Jeppesen looked as sharp as ever and the Bulldogs were building up to be the top team in the WIC. Their next four games saw them go 1-3 in conference play and it was time for Riverside to take a step back and revaluate. Head Coach Nick Kroon decided he would have his team to focus on shooting with the lack of size on this year’s roster. Coach Kroon explained that the Bulldog’s need to bring their best game every night considering how competitive the WIC has shaped up to be this year.

A key focal point for the Riverside offense has been the stellar play from Grady Jeppesen who’s averaging over 26 points a game and leading the team in assists at 46 and rebounds with 98. The progress and improvement for Jeppesen comes from the time spent in the weight room.

Second in points behind Grady Jeppesen is senior Mason McCready at 11.5 points per game. For his senior year McCready wanted to focus and taking better shots and having a larger role in the offense. McCready’s refinement is something Coach Kroon is well aware of.

Another player that has impressed Bulldog fans and the rest of his team is the only freshman starter for Riverside Cole Jeppesen. In critical situations Cole Jeppesen is normally assigned the most talented offensive player for the other team and his job is to lock them down. It is not an easy role, but one Jeppesen excels at.

The WIC is especially competitive this year for the Bulldogs and still coach Kroon believes his team can win every team they face. They just have to be aware of the margin of error and play at their best.