Iowa’s Blazin’ Five (Week 1)
Ankeny After starting the season un-ranked, the Hawks have leaped to No. 5 in our latest 4A rankings, thanks largely in part to a season-opening win over previous No. 2 Des Moines North. There was no big-win slump for the…
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After starting the season un-ranked, the Hawks have leaped to No. 5 in our latest 4A rankings, thanks largely in part to a season-opening win over previous No. 2 Des Moines North. There was no big-win slump for the Hawks, after beating North they’ve gone on to win their next two, over Fort Dodge and an improved Des Moines Lincoln squad. Newcomer Braxton Bayless has been as good as billed. And a slew of talented guards, Dillon Carlson, Jaxon Smith, Jordan Kumm and Jaron Crews have been leading the charge. Ankeny will be majorly tested this Friday when it hosts crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial.
Ankeny Christian Academy
Des Moines’ second largest suburb (WDM is still No. 1 by a hair) is a happening spot right now for high school hoops. Not only are the Hawks been breezing their way through Class 4A, but Ankeny Christian Academy has started off 3-0 and scoring at an unprecedented pace. In their first two games, the Eagles eclipsed 100 points, and they dropped 90 in their third game of the season last night. Through three games they are 3-0 and averaging 102.3 points per game. Jayce Goergen is well on his way to being voted our Player of the Week after a monster opening two games. Caleb Grizzle has, as predicted, been sensational for the Eagles.
Davenport Central
after a monumental win to start the season. The Blue Devils took down mighty Dubuque, Senior, 66-59 in the second game of the season, thanks in large part to a big performance from senior forward Keshawn Pegues. That win was sandwiched in between wins over Dubuque, Hempstead and most recently a blowout win over Davenport West. Now, the Blue Devils find themselves ranked No. 6 in the state. Pegues is averaging 19.7 points, 11 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
Sioux City West
Holy Cliff McCray. We knew McCray and the Wolverines would be pretty good this season; any team with one of the best players in Iowa should. But he’s come out smoking hot, and as a result, so has his team. Through three games, the 6-foot-2 point guard is just a hair shy of averaging a triple-double; 19.3 points, 10.3 assists and 9.7 rebounds per game. Sioux City West has beaten Sergeant-Bluff Luton, Sioux City North and Council Bluffs Lincoln by an average margin of 21.6 points per game. Now, it’s the real showdown: Friday the No. 9 Wolverines will take on No. 7 Sioux City East in a crosstown rivalry.
Maquoketa
After starting the season with high expectations, . One of those wins came over a 4A opponent, Davenport West, and it wasn’t close, 78-58. The four Cardinals wins have come by an average of 19.3 points. No team has come within single-digits of Abe Becker and Co. They’ll likely push their record to 5-0 this Friday against a South Tama squad that has yet to win a game.