Iowa’s Premier Performers (Week 7)
Each week, we’ll sift through quikstats.com, Twitter, emails and the like in search of the best performances from around the state. It’s the 40-point games, triple doubles and stat-stuffing performances that are likely to make the list. Below, you’ll find 10 of this week’s eye-opening performances.
Cliff McCray (2019)
6’2 PG, Sioux City West
25 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists
Cliff McCray is one of the best players in the state, and sometimes the Northwest Iowa guard doesn’t get the exposure he deserves. But he and his Wolverines came to Des Moines and gave one of the state’s best teams a run for their money. The Wolverines may have lost in triple OT, but McCray made his presence felt in the narrow loss, coming away with a trip-doub in the process.
Zach Lester (2018)
6′ G, Clear Lake
43 points, 8 steals, 6 rebounds
Maybe the breakout star of the year, it’s not too surprising to us that this speedy Clear Lake star is having a better season than almost anyone in the state. We saw him shredding opponents on several occasions during the off-season. He’s scored 40-plus multiple times this season, and dropped a season-high 43 in a win over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. Lester is averaging 30.6 points per game this season.
Devin Fuson (2019)
6′ F, Madrid
20 points, 20 rebounds
Anytime we see a guy go for 20 and 20, it’s very likely we’ll include them in this segment, and that’s exactly what Fuson did during a Madrid win over Glidden-Ralston last Thursday night. Nine of those 20 rebounds were offensive. That is one dominant night.
Bailey Arwine (2019)
6’6 C, Lisbon
35 points (16-21 FGs), 16 rebounds, 4 assists
Lisbon is rolling and they have senior big-man Bailey Arwine to thank for that. He’s had an exceptional career, and this season is averaging 19.6 points and eight rebounds per game. He exploded last Tuesday night during a 93-78 win over Prince of Peace Prep, putting together one of the most dominant performances of his illustrious career.
AJ Green (2018)
6’3 PG, Cedar Falls
36 points (13-24 FGs)
Make no mistake about it, AJ Green is on a mission, and that’s to guide his Cedar Falls Tigers to a 4A state title. He and his team got a big confidence boost last Tuesday night, when they defeated previously undefeated — and seemingly unbeatable — Iowa City West, 55-54. If the Tigers can beat West, they can beat anyone. Consider them a legit contender.
Sean Peeters (2020)
6’4 F, Assumption
31 points (13-13 FGs), 7 rebounds
It’s one thing to score 31 points in a game, it’s another (much more impressive) thing to do so while making all 13 of your shot attempts. Sean Peeters is just a sophomore, and is having himself something of a breakout season with the Knights; he’s averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He’ll debut in the next installment of 2020 rankings.
Cameron Kreschbach (2018)
6’3 F, Manson-Northwest Webster
30 points (8-12 FGs), 12 rebounds, 2 steals
Another newcomer to the Premier Performers list. Kreschbach is a guy we didn’t know about before, but after this big-time performance, we’re well-aware. It was during a win 14-point twin over Southeast Valley when he pieced together this gem. And 14 was the lucky number that night, as he canned all 14 his free-throw attempts.
Lance Buitkofer (2019)
6’3 G/F, North Fayette Valley
20 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds
It’s a week of debuts on the Premier Performers list, and this North Fayette Valley standout is another. He was so, so close to putting together a trip-doub, missing the mark by just one rebound. Buitkofer came away with the solid stat-line during a 15-point win over Kee, Lansing last Tuesday night.
Peyton Pope (2020)
6′ G, West Marshall
33 points (12-19 FGs, 7-10 3s)
Pope has proven himself to be one of the state’s most productive 2020s this season, and is averaging 22.4 points per game this season for the Trojans. Get this: he’s connected on 53 percent of his 107 3-point attempts this season. A true marksmen, it’s no surprise he canned seven 3s in a win over Pella Christian last Monday night.
Alec Oberhauser (2018)
6’6 G, Aplington-Parkersburg
31 points (13-17 FGs), 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Never one to shy away from an all-around performance, Oberhauser — a future Grand View Vikings guard — did it all for the Falcons during a 79-43 win over Columbus Catholic last week. The Falcons are rolling this season, off to a 14-1 start, and Oberhauser is averaging 16.8 points, 7.1 assists, 3.4 steals, 2.1 blocks and 7.6 rebounds per game.