Five Takeaways: No.4 Sioux City East 65 vs Johnston 61
Des Moines — It was the kind of game that may never really be duplicated. It was wild. The first half was ho-hum, with Sioux City East going into break up 25-23. After halftime, though, things got very interesting. Johnston…
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Continue ReadingDes Moines — It was the kind of game that may never really be duplicated. It was wild.
The first half was ho-hum, with Sioux City East going into break up 25-23. After halftime, though, things got very interesting.
Johnston (6-4) came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, and used a 19-2 run to take a 42-27 lead. By the end of the quarter, they had outscored Sioux City East 27-8, and led by 17 heading into the fourth quarter.
This one seemed over.
But then the Black Raiders (8-0) deployed their full-court press, and it was debilitating to the Dragons. Amazingly, East started the fourth quarter with a 20-2 run of their own, they regained the lead on a Javante Keck free throw, 53-52. They would never trail after that.
The Black Raiders, almost inconceivably, put together a fourth quarter that was even better than the Dragon’s near-perfect third quarter, and escaped Wells Fargo Arena with a scintillating four point win.
Javante Keck, a senior wing who is averaging 14.2 points per game, was most impressive for the Black Raiders. He scored a game high 20, and came away with some key blocks. Peyton Williams, one of the best bigs in Iowa, was dominant for Johnston, he scored a team-high 17.
Team Scoring
SC East — 8 17 8 32 — 65
Johnston — 11 12 27 11 — 61
Individual Scoring
SC East: Javante Keck 20, Aidan Vanderloo 13, Jaleque Dunson 12, Sayvion Armstrong 10, Jack Peterson 9, Nate Zyzda 1.
Johnston: Peyton Williams 17, Reid Grant 14, Jacob Runyan 9, Garrett Miller 7, Max Roquet 4, Trey Lewis 3, Andrew Bauer 2.
Five Takeaways
Javante Keck Coming out Party
We’ll admit that Javante Keck is currently unranked in our Class of 2019 prospect rankings. That’s our bad, that will change soon, when the new rankings come out. He was sensational tonight, scoring a game-high 20 points and adding some top-level defense while doing so. He’s averaging 14.2 points on 55 percent shooting, 86 percent free-throw shooting, 2.2 steals and 9.7 rebounds per game. He’ll make a big debut in the upcoming installment of rankings.
Never Seen Anything Quite Like That
The closest game I can recall, in terms of sheer comeback prowess, is last year’s Glenwood vs Norwalk game at state, when the Rams overcame a massive halftime deficit to come back and win. That seemed like a bigger deal, because it was at state, but really, this was crazier. Maybe it’s something in the air at Wells Fargo Arena, but wild high school hoops things tend to happen there. Johnston’s third quarter was the best and most dominant quarter I’ve seen this season. The 17 point lead was insurmountable; until it wasn’t. Sioux City East is a force, and that clutch fourth quarter dominance made it clear, that they are among the state’s best teams.
Peyton Williams is Easily one of Iowa’s Best
For three years now, Johnston big-man Peyton Williams has been wrecking shop for the Dragons. As a sophomore, he averaged 4.9 points and team-best 5.1 rebounds and an also team-best 27 blocks. Last season, he averaged 12.5 points and again team-bests 1.5 blocks and 9.2 rebounds. This season, he’s gone for team bests in all three categories, 12.4 points, 2.4 blocks (both numbers will increase after this game) and 10.3 rebounds per game. He’s apparently better at baseball, and will play at Iowa next season; but he could be a majorly sought-after big-man in college hoops, too.
Sioux City East Proves Ranking
Last season, Sioux City East played extremely well in the regular season and then not-so-well once it got to state. Which was begging the question: did they really belong? This season, they’re projecting to get there again, and after what we saw in the fourth quarter against one of the better 4A teams in Iowa, it appears that damage could be done this season if they get back to state. Aidan Vanderloo has been a presence now for years, we knew he was going to be one of the better players in Iowa this season, and he has been. Guys like Jaleque Dunson and Javante Keck have added a new dynamic. The Raiders should make is back to Wells Fargo Arena this season, and we like their chances to compete once they get there.
Johnston Is Trending Up
This was the second loss in two nights for Johnston, but there’s no denying that the Dragons are a really good team, and will be a tough out — at the very least — for the remainder of the season. Reid Grant has been tremendous this season, he’s just a sophomore. Jacob Runyan is a freshman point guard who’s been starting since the third game of the season; he’s been very good. Those two will make up one of the finer back-courts in Iowa over the next couple seasons. Plus, the Dragons have slick, skilled freshman point guard Trey Lewis waiting in the wings. The next several seasons at Johnston should continue to be bright. It really boils down to how much they will miss elite big-man Peyton Williams, guys like him don’t just grow on trees.