Skip to main content

Stat leaders for boys and girls basketball

Jan 30, 2026 | Cyote's Den

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

This week, I am detailing the leaders across major statistical categories in boys and girls high school basketball. Instead of separating them across classes like I normally do, I’ll include the overall top five.

Boys basketball

Points per game:

  • Malachi Rice, Centerville, 30.5
  • Eli Dee, Baxter, 29.6
  • Jaxon Clark, Keokuk, 29.4
  • Cael LaFrentz, Decorah, 28.7
  • Josiah Harrington, North Scott 26.9

 

Assists per game:

  • Drake Larson, Knoxville, 8.0
  • Trey Bryte, ADM, 7.8
  • Henry Adam, Pekin, 7.4
  • Shay Stephens, Burlington Notre Dame, 7.1
  • AJ Harder, Tri-Center, 6.9

Rebounds per game:

  • Jaxon Clark, Keokuk, 16.9
  • Graham Matlock, Rivermont Collegiate, 16.7
  • Oscar Cline, Louisa-Muscatine, 15.1
  • Cael LaFrentz, Decorah, 14.6
  • Reese Montgomery, Red Oak, 14.1

Steals per game:

  • Peyton Scott, Lamoni, 5.9
  • Benny Doe, Woodward Academy, 5.5
  • Kamden Bork, MMCRU, 4.4
  • Wyatt Alesch, MMCRU, 4.4
  • Judd Jirovsky, Grundy Center, 4.4

Blocks per game:

  • Cael LaFrentz, Decorah, 5.3
  • Luke Chrisman, Springville, 5.1
  • Isaiah Sholes, Essex, 3.9
  • Landon Davis, Waukee Northwest, 3.6
  • Gavin Halbach, Northwood-Kensett, 3.5

 What stood out the most to me from these numbers? Jaxon Clark is a beast. The senior from Keokuk is averaging 29.4 points and 16.9 rebounds. Video game numbers. Also impressive is Decorah’s Cael LaFrentz, averaging 28.7 points, and the most blocks in the state at 5.3 per game.

Girls basketball

Points per game:

  • Izzy Eisbach, Nodaway Valley, 33.6
  • Braylyn Birmingham, Norwalk, 30.7
  • Kendra Boatman, Keokuk, 27.1
  • Nakia Ollivierre, Waterloo West, 26.1
  • Lilee Boriskey, Edgewood-Colesburg, 25.8

Assists per game:

  • Aniya Hardee, Bedford, 7.1
  • Hayden Kuhlmann, Spirit Lake, 6.9
  • Addie McLaughlin, Regina Catholic, 6.5
  • Kinley Birt, Central DeWitt, 6.3
  • Caydence Harmsen, Rock Valley, 6.1

Rebounds per game:

  • Kennedy Brant, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 14.5
  • Rowan Jacobi, Springville, 14.4
  • Eden Horn, St. Edmond, 14.2
  • Corinne Anderson, Heartland Christian, 14.1
  • Deidra Doeden, Cherokee Washington, 12.8

Steals per game:

  • Brynn Clarahan, Sigourney, 7.8
  • Bryndall Paterson, MVAOCOU, 7.0
  • Lindsey Haken, George-Little Rock, 6.5
  • Addy Oetker, Des Moines Christian, 6.4
  • Isabella Schisel, Garner Hayfield Ventura, 6.3

Blocks per game:

  • Taylor Evans, Prince of Peace, 7.1
  • Breegan Lindsey, Central Decatur, 4.4
  • Eden Horn, St. Edmond, 4.4
  • Emma Zabel, East Buchanan, 4.2
  • Izzy Gilbertson, Mount Ayr, 4.0

 Eden Horn of St. Edmond is the only girl who appears in the top five for two categories on the girls side for her exceptional blocking and rebounding ability. It must be a good time to be a basketball fan in Keokuk, as they have some of the best scorers in the state for boys and girls, with Kendra Boatman averaging 27.1.

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

Larry Dale James 

Jan 30, 2026 | Obituaries

1942-2026

Larry Dale James went to be with the Lord in heaven on the morning of Jan. 25, 2026. He was 84 years old. He lived in Casey. He spent the last couple of years staying at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.

Larry was born to Dale James and Mavadelle Christofferson. Later, he had a sister named Janice. He spent his younger years living with Mavadelle and her husband, Arno Kristofferson. He went to school in Guthrie Center and in Audubon.

Larry joined the Army and spent two years in Germany. While there, he met his wife of 60 years, Gisela. Before coming back to Guthrie Center, they had two daughters, Roswitha (Rita) and Anita. 

Larry had many jobs through the years. He also had a very large family; Rita had three children, Amanda, Allan (Nellie) and Adam (Erin). Anita had a daughter, Andrea. 

Larry also had 12 great-grandchildren: Kaden, Lilly, Taylor, Stella, Faith, Alizabeth, Kaylin, Timothy, Jessie, Madeline, ZynLee and Remy. He also had three stepsisters, Dalen, Susan and Cheryl, and two stepbrothers, Mike and Jeff. He had multiple cousins, nephews and nieces. He had lots of friends and family. 

Larry had many hobbies. He loved fishing, hunting and going on long rides. Everyone who he met became a friend. He also had an ornery side to him. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Anita; and his sister, Janice and her husband, Tommy. Burial of cremated remains will be at a later date at Dalmanutha Cemetery.

Earning interest

Jan 30, 2026 | Publisher's Column

A total of $16. That was the profit I made from selling my toys and games at a garage sale my mother had when I was 7 years old. That collection of cash and coins was what I carried with me to our local bank to open my first savings account in 1975. The bank teller even handed me a folded and stapled passport in a plastic sleeve that had the deposit transaction printed on it. A few years went by before I made any additional deposits from my lawn-mowing money, but it was then when I realized what interest was all about. That $16 I deposited had somehow grown. I didn’t understand how, but I liked it. 

I became fascinated — maybe obsessed — with the entire process of making deposits and growing my savings. As I started walking beans and detasseling corn, some bigger dollars began to come in. I felt personal victories with each savings milestone— $100, $200, $300 and so on.  When I turned 15, I started working at a gas station and received a regular paycheck, but the savings process was still the same. I walked up to the bank, deposited my check and fixed my eyes on that passport to see how much I earned in interest. 

Today I realize how minimal the interest on basic savings accounts is, but I also am not much of a risk-taker in the markets. So, I still deposit savings with the passion I had as a kid. Admittedly, with auto-deposits, ATM withdrawals and online banking, I don’t get the same satisfaction I had as a child when gazing at the entire history of my deposits and withdrawals on that printed passport in the bank lobby, but that’s OK.

As for that original bank passport, I still have it stored away in a box, complete with the now-yellowed plastic sleeve and the memory of my first $16.

It seems money is not the only thing I save. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Guthrie County Supervisors approve Calmer subdivision plat

Jan 27, 2026 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Jan. 27 regular meeting of the Guthrie County Supervisors included consideration regarding the proposed Scott Calmer Minor Subdivision, about 4 acres north of Highway 4 near Panora. A public hearing was held on the matter. Following the public hearing, the supervisors voted to approve the final plat of the subdivision.

The board also held a budgetary work session, hearing from three departments (human resources, conservation, and county attorney).

Conservation Director Brad Halterman noted that his budget projections show an expected decrease in camping revenues. He said camping revenue numbers had been increased for several years but now seem to be returning to pre-COVID levels.

Halterman shared an unusual discovery on the bike trail. He said in the winter, it is common to see large snow drifts on the bike trail, but this winter’s lack of snow cover led to a new sight. He noted that the wind has left many corn stalks in drift patterns on the trail.

“We had drifts waist-high,” Halterman said. “So, that was new.”

County Engineer Josh Sebern discussed right-of-way contracts for road/bridge projects.

The supervisors approved Dani Fink to serve as secretary for the newly formed EMS nine-member committee. The committee’s meetings will be posted on the county website.

The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person (at the courthouse) or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#

Panther esports match rescheduled to Feb. 6

Jan 27, 2026 | Sports

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

The Panorama esports team was set to compete tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 27, but was forced to reschedule due to player illness to Wednesday, Feb. 6. This means that the regular season finale for the Panthers will be played as back-to-back games. Panorama’s playoff hopes hang in the balance of these two results.