STATE TOURNAMENT: 10 Who Impressed (Wednesday)
Dylan Jones (Waukee)
Jones was critical in the second half during the Warriors’ 13 point win over Dowling Catholic. In the third quarter, with the game tied at 22, Jones got the ball deep in the lane and pulled off one of his patented and-ones (he’s got to be among the state leaders in those), he made the free-throw and put Waukee up three. The next time down, after an empty Dowling possession, Jones was sent back to the line, where he canned two more free throws, putting his team up five. That was the push Waukee needed, as they maintained control the rest of the game. Jones led all scorers with 18 points, he was 10-11 from the free-throw line.
Matt Stilwill (Dowling)
This junior guard had a breakout season for the Maroons, and after a summer playing with All Iowa 17U this offseason, he should emerge as one of Iowa’s best overall guards next winter. Stilwill is athletic, aggressive and a fiery competitor. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and that emotion is contagious at times. He scored 17 points to lead the way for Dowling, which put up a good fight against top-seed Waukee (the Maroons actually led by two at the break).
Noah Carter (Dubuque, Senior)
He’s a big man, and he’s also swift and skilled and oh so bouncy. Carter may not exactly look the part of a major D1 hoops big-man, but that’s just what he is. He was held mostly in check today, at least by his standards, but the senior did lead the Rams with 12 points in their win over Iowa City West. He got some strong, tough buckets down the stretch to help keep the Rams in it. And he did come away with a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds, despite the West defense being extremely focused on him throughout. (Sidenote: West’s Marcus Morgan, a sophomore, was tremendous guarding Carter and keeping him relatively in check).
Daquon Lewis (Dubuque, Senior)
He came into the game against Iowa City West as a role player, and he finished the game as a superstar. Lewis, a quick and athletic off-guard, had already been good for the Rams; he had four points on 2-2 shooting and a pair of rebounds off the bench as he headed into the fourth quarter. But his one shining moment came when with 42 seconds left, and his team down one, he picked off a long West pass at mid-court, and raced to the other end for what proved to be a game-winning lay-in. Kids dream of moments like that, shining under the brightest lights, now Lewis can say he’s experienced that.
Issa Samake (Grand View Christian)
It had been a bit of a rough go for the 6’7 Mali-born big-man, but he caught fire in the second half of this one, and for a stretch of basketball, was otherworldly. In the third quarter, Samake was blocking shots that no high schooler should have any business blocking, he put in a nasty baseline jam through traffic, and banked in a 3-ball for good measure. The dunks did not stop after that, the third quarter was all he needed to keep rolling. When he’s on, Samake is as electric as any player we’ve ever seen at the state tourney. Drake will have some fun with him the next four seasons.
Izic Mackey (Alburnett)
It was another magical finish for Alburnett, and whereas it was Hunter Caves who put in the eventual game-winner on Monday, Mackey put in an actual buzzer-beating game-winner today. The 6-foot-6 center was great throughout the game for the Pirates, even before the game-winner he was 7-9 from the floor. He finished 8-10 from the floor and scored a game-high 19 points in a 39-37 win over St. Mary’s, he blocked two shots for good measure. Mackey surely cemented himself in Alburnett lore, as the guy whose buzzer-beater sent the Pirates into the finals for the first time in school history.
Conner Hill (South Hamilton)
South Hamilton did not play a great game against Boyden-Hull in the semifinals, but the reason they were in it ( in what may have been the best game of the tourney so far) was because Hill dropped 20 first half points and finished with a game-high 29. His slick handles and shiftiness with the ball make him hard to handle, and his savvy passing is probably underrated. Hill might have finished the game — a 62-59 loss — with just two assists, but they were both memorable.
Keyton Moser (Boyden-Hull)
On a team where sometimes all the players can blend in, Moser certainly stood out tonight. He’s the first player who’s been perfect from the floor so far in this tournament (minimum of five FG attempts), and Boyden-Hull needed every bit of that perfection in its narrow win over South Hamilton. Moser, a 6’1 junior, was especially effective in the second half, when he was 5-5 from the floor, 2-2 from deep and scored 15 of his 19 points.
Jake Hilmer (North Linn)
He’s like a blur with the ball in his hands, very few guys in Iowa, maybe none, can get from one spot to another off the dribble quicker than Hilmer. And it’s not just when he has the ball, defensively he seems to emerge out of nowhere, and that’s from a viewer’s standpoint, we can see the whole floor, imagine how a player feels out there. Hilmer is a dangerous on D; he’s sneaky, fast and smart, it’s no wonder he’s the state’s all time steals leader. Hilmer led the Lynx into the finals while for 26 points, six assists and five steals
Ryan Schmitt (Van Meter)
He was filling up the stat sheet against North Linn, going for 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. As far as we know, the legit 6’9 big-man is uncommitted, but certainly a college prospect. His shining moment was in the third quarter, when he got loose for a big jam down the lane, a bucket that brought his Bulldogs to within two of North Linn midway through the third quarter.