STATE TOURNAMENT: Ten Who Impressed on Tuesday

Ian Abrahamson, Van Meter (2020) -- 12 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3P, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists, one steal The freshman guard came off the bench and provided a major boost for the Bulldogs. A strong, physical scoring guard, he excelled at getting to the rim and finishing, using a mixture of strength, creative ball handling and quickness to get to the rim and score. He also showed the ability to shoot from behind the arc and create shots for others. One of the most physically mature looking freshman I've ever seen, he uses his strength and physicality well. He'll be a major piece for a Van Meter team that returns their top nine next season.   Alex Pringle, Pella Christian (2017) -- 18 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3P, 5-6 FT), two rebounds, one assist, two steals Pringle will head to Central to play soccer next year, but he saved arguably his best performance on the basketball court for the Eagles' quarterfinal overtime win. He scored a game-high 18 points, with 17 of them coming in the second half and overtime. He knocked down three crucial 3s, a few mid-range jumpers and went 5-6 from the free throw line to help the Eagles ice the game and advance to the semifinals for the third straight season.   Matt Dentlinger, Kuemper Catholic (2017) -- 19 points (9-17 FG, 0-2 3P, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds, two blocks The future South Dakota State Jackrabbit had his way throughout Kuemper's quarterfinal win over Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, scoring seemingly at will at the rim. He's got great footwork, the ability to score with either hand in the paint and solid touch around the bucket. He was dominant on the glass, made a major impact on the defensive end of the floor and had an efficient day as the Knights cruised into the semifinals.   Garrett Franken, Atlantic (2017) -- 21 points (6-14 FG, 1-4 3P, 8-10 FT), five rebounds, three assists, four steals The future North Dakota Fighting Hawk showcased a little bit of everything in his arsenal in the Trojans' quarterfinal loss. At 6-7, he's an excellent ball handler who excels playing downhill. He did a nice job attacking the rim, getting into the paint and finishing with his length with either hand. A skilled playmaker, he's a capable passer, can step out and hit from 3, and has the length and athleticism to defend multiple positions.   Austin Phyfe, Waverly-Shell Rock (2017) -- 17 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3P, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks, three steals The future Northern Iowa big man was exceptional in the second half of the Go-Hawks win, routinely scoring big buckets as Atlantic tried to mount a comeback. He scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half, showcasing high-level footwork and an array of post moves to score in a variety of ways at the rim. He's developed his ball handling and scored a few times after putting the ball on the floor from the perimeter, making a few strong dribbles, into a spin move and finish. He's worked to expand his range as well, and knocked down a pair of 3s. He's a brick wall on the defensive end and does a really nice job maintaining his verticality and rarely using his feet, instead just using his massive frame to do the work.   Matt Mims, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018) -- 17 points (6-10 FG, 0-2 3P, 5-5 FT), six assists (zero turnovers), two steals The Saints' point guard was sensational, particularly in the second half, where Xavier pulled away. When he's attacking the rim in the halfcourt, Xavier is really difficult to beat, and he was doing plenty of that in this game. He's got great speed, changing pace and finishes well at the rim. Perhaps even more remarkable, he dished out six assists and committed zero turnovers in the game. He was in complete control of the game, and when he really got things going in the second half is when Xavier took off.   Max Techau, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2017) -- 20 points (9-14 FG, 0-1 3P, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, two blocks The Xavier big man was his typical, efficient self, scoring a team-high 20 points and finishing at the rim. He runs the floor well, can finish with either hand and is aggressive on the glass. He scored 14 of his points in the second half, part of the dominant final 16 minutes that the Saints had.     Steve Borneman, Dallas Center-Grimes (2018) -- 19 points (7-12 FG, 2-3 3P, 3-7 FT), five rebounds, three assists The key piece of DC-G's comeback effort, Borneman was great during the stretch in which they pulled themselves within five. The junior Mustangs guard scored 10 points in a two minute stretch, showing the ability to stretch the floor and score at the rim. With Trevor Grove graduating, Borneman could be a star in the Little Hawkeye next season.   John Nagel, West Delaware (2017) -- 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists The Iowa State football signee showcased a fantastic mid-range game for the Hawks en route to his team-high 15 points. He scored efficiently and made some plays in the middle of West Delaware's stellar defense.     Conner Groves, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2019) -- 17 points (6-13 FG, 3-7 3P, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, three assists, two steals The sophomore guard was on our "breakout candidates" list, and he was exceptional in the Warriors' win over Pella. A playmaker, he made huge play after huge play down the stretch to keep Pella at bay and get SB-L a win in their first state tournament appearance since 1940. He's capable of scoring from the arc, and proved to be solid playing downhill as well. A strong showing from this young guard.