STATE TOURNAMENT: Monday Preview
1A Quarterfinal: No. 1 Grand View Christian (23-1) vs. No. 8 Council Bluffs, St. Albert (12-13), 9:30 am
Analysis: Two-time defending champion Grand View Christian’s quest for the 3-peat has a tricky start against a St. Albert team that plays a 3A schedule during the regular season. The Thunder have only lost one game this year, coming to 4A powerhouse Iowa City West, and they’ve beaten some really good teams this season, including a win over 4A Sioux City West (17-5).
With a frontcourt that rivals any in the state, regardless of class, Grand View Christian is an overwhelming favorite to win their third straight title. Arturo Montes (16.2, 55 3PM) probably gets the least hype of their “Big Three”, but he may be their most important player with his ability to score from anywhere. 6-7 forwards Issa Samake (15.0, 94 blocks) and Harouna Sissoko (15.5) are fantastic athletes who are going to provide plenty of highlights throughout the week. St. Albert’s best bet here is to try and slow this one down, but as a team they turned it over 246 times (against 162 assists), so good luck there. We anticipate the Falcons hanging around for a half or so before the overwhelming athleticism and talent of GVC takes over.
Players to watch
Grand View Christian: Arturo Montes (16.2 points), Issa Samake (15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 94 blocks), Harouna Sissoko (15.5 points), Bryce Crabb (9.3 points, 98 assists, 38 turnovers), Kong Neyail (7.3 points)
St. Albert: Jared Gast (13.0 points), Sam Rallis (10.0 points), Reed Miller (7.5 points, 38.3 3P%)
Our pick: Grand View Christian 68, St. Albert 49
1A Quarterfinal: No. 4 Montezuma (21-1) vs. No. 5 Bishop Garrigan (19-6), 11:15 am
Analysis: This one might be the best first round game in 1A, an interesting contrast in strengths, as it’s Montezuma’s guard play against Bishop Garrigan’s incredible size.
Montezuma is led by the best non-Grand View Christian player in the 1A field in sophomore guard Trey Shearer (23.0, 63 3PM, 99 assists), who is capable of taking over any game with his scoring and distributing abilities. The Braves recently got a boost with the return of fellow sophomore guard Cole Watts (11.5), who has played in their last four games after missing most of the season. He’s another dangerous shooter who can help space the floor. They allow just 44.4 points a game, with Hunter Ray (15.3, 62 blocks) anchoring their 2-3 zone.
Bishop Garrigan has a starting lineup that goes 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 and 6-9, with 6-6 coming off the bench. The Golden Bears aren’t a great 3-point shooting team (32%), so they’ll need to find ways to work the ball into the paint and crash the offensive glass to score against Montezuma’s zone. TJ Schnurr (16.6, 9.7 rebounds) and Angelo Winkel (16.5, 9.5 rebounds) should control the glass on both ends of the floor, and the length that the Bears are able to put on the perimeter defensively could frustrate Montezuma’s guards. In what should be a great game, Bishop Garrigan’s edge on the glass may give them the edge here.
Players to watch
Montezuma: Trey Shearer (23.0 points, 63 3PM), Hunter Ray (15.3 points, 62 blocks), Cole Watts (11.5 points)
Bishop Garrigan: TJ Schnurr (16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds), Angelo Winkel (16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds), Cade Winkel (9.5 points, 58.3 FG%), Brad Capesius (5.8 points, 128 assists)
Our pick: Bishop Garrigan 69, Montezuma 66
1A Quarterfinal: No. 3 Prince of Peace (20-3) vs. No. 6 St. Mary’s (19-6), 1:00 pm
Analysis: This one could be a slugfest, as both teams rank among the top 16 in 1A in scoring defense – Prince of Peace 16th at 46.4 points a game, St. Mary’s 9th at 44.6. Prince of Peace is making their first state tournament appearance since 1994, when the school was known as Mater Dei. The Irish are led by speedy guard Kaidion Larson (19.7), a slasher who thrives on getting into the paint. Nathan Moeller (15.6, 62.3 FG%) is a versatile forward who can stretch the floor and control the glass, and Patrick Mulholland (12.1, 80 assists) is a solid lead guard who facilitates the action.
St. Mary’s is making their third straight appearance in Des Moines, and they’ll be leaning on the experience of Spencer Schorg (16.0) to carry them here. The senior wing accounts for a big chunk of the Hawks offense, as he scored over 28% of their points and leads the team in assists. As he goes, they’ll go. This is a group that relies on slowing the game down and using that defense to suffocate teams. If they’re able to keep Larson out of the paint, and limit Moeller on the glass, they can win a low scoring game.
Players to watch
Prince of Peace: Kaidion Larson (19.7 points), Nathan Moeller (15.6 points, 62.3 FG%, 8.8 rebounds), Patrick Mulholland (12.1 points, 80 assists)
St. Mary’s: Spencer Schorg (16.0 points, 89 assists), Skyler Waldschmitt (10.7 points), Brayden Ricke (9.1 points)
Our pick: Prince of Peace 52, St. Mary’s 48
1A Quarterfinal: No. 2 Sioux Central (22-2) vs. No. 7 Alburnett (18-5), 2:45 pm
Analysis: Each of these schools are making their first ever state tournament appearance, so expect to see a pretty large crowd for a 1A game here. Sioux Central has been one of the surprise teams this year, with their only two losses coming to larger schools (3A Spencer, 2A South Central Calhoun) that spent time ranked this year. The Rebels are led by senior guard Hunter Decker (18.6, 60 3PM, 42.9 3P%), an explosive scorer who can light the scoreboard up in a hurry. Prestan Samson (11.2) is a beast on the glass, despite being just 6-2, but he’ll have his hands full with Alburnett big man Izic Mackey (17.6, 8.7 rebounds), a 6-5 forward who is highly active on the glass on both ends of the floor. Austin Huber (10.9, 69 3PM) is a fantastic shooter for the Pirates who can help take some of the pressure off of Mackey in the paint.
Sioux Central has played a significantly more difficult schedule, and that could play a big role here, as could the fact that Alburnett has struggled with turnovers at times this year.
Players to watch
Sioux Central: Hunter Decker (18.6 points, 60 3PM, 42.9 3P%), Prestan Samson (11.2 points, 65.5 FG%), Logan Grote (7.8 points, 93 assists)
Alburnett: Izic Mackey (17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds), Hunter Caves (13.9 points, 99 assists), Austin Huber (10.9 points, 69 3PM, 43.4 3P%)
Our pick: Sioux Central 56, Alburnett 48
2A Quarterfinal: No. 3 Boyden-Hull (22-2) vs. No. 6 Iowa City Regina (20-2), 4:30 pm
Analysis: Traditional power Boyden-Hull is making their first state tournament appearance as a 2A school (they made plenty of trips as a 1A school), and the Comets got off to a great start this year, winning their first 18 games before dropping games to Rock Valley and Okoboji (sandwiched around a win over Sheldon). They picked things back up when district play started, running off three straight wins to reach Des Moines. Beau De Jongh (14.5, 55.9 FG%) paces an attack that has six players averaging at least 6.0 points a game, giving them a balanced attack. At 37.4% from behind the arc as a team, only North Linn shoots it better from deep in the 2A field, and seven players have made at least 11 3s on the season, so it can come from anywhere. This team is balanced and deep, and will be looking to make some real noise in Des Moines.
Few teams in the state are hotter than Regina, who haven’t lost since December 18. The Regals have run off 15 straight wins behind standout junior guard Masen Miller (20.6, 97 3PM, 43.7 3P%), who leads the state in made 3s this year. Ashton Cook (13.6) is a long, rangy forward who gives them some versatility on both ends of the floor, and Bryce Barnett (11.8) is a good running mate alongside Miller, as he can allow Miller to move off the ball at times and is also a quality shooter. They don’t get a lot of production outside of those three, and that could become an issue against a deep and talented team like Boyden-Hull, but Miller is really, really good and could certainly carry them to a win here.
Players to watch
Boyden-Hull: Beau De Jongh (14.5 points), Keyton Moser (12.2 points), Spencer Te Slaa (10.2 points), Tanner Te Slaa (9.7 points)
Regina: Masen Miller (20.6 points, 97 3PM, 43.7 3P%), Ashton Cook (13.6 points), Bryce Barnett (11.8 points, 39.1 3P%)
Our pick: Boyden-Hull 67, Iowa City Regina 60
2A Quarterfinal: No. 2 South Hamilton (21-1) vs. No. 7 Rock Valley (18-7), 6:30 pm
Analysis: South Hamilton has been considered among the best teams in 2A all year, opening the year ranked #3 by us, and the Hawks backcourt is among the best in the state. They’ve suffered just one loss this year, coming by five to a Gilbert team that spent most of the year ranked in 3A. The Hawks are led by guard Conner Hill (17.0), a dynamic playmaking guard who is among the best two-way players in the state. Logan Peters (14.5), Cole Berg (12.4) and Cade Balvanz (11.2) are all capable scorers as well, but this group is going to go as Hill does.
Rock Valley may have had the most impressive run of any 2A team to get to Des Moines, beating perennial power Western Christian, undefeated West Sioux and OA-BCIG to reach State. Going through the always loaded Siouxland prepared this team for this moment, and they have a pair of high-level shooters in Brayton Van Kekerix (18.0, 61 3PM, 42.4%) and Jaxon Rus (10.2, 75 3PM, 42.1%) who can carry them.
South Hamilton is going to have their hands full, as Rock Valley is far from a typical 7-seed. This team is capable of winning it all. But the defense of South Hamilton’s backcourt is what makes the difference here, and veteran guard Conner Hill makes a few key plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor to preserve the win.
Players to watch
South Hamilton: Conner Hill (17.0 points), Logan Peters (14.5 points), Cole Berg (12.4 points), Cade Balvanz (11.2 points)
Rock Valley: Brayton Van Kekerix (18.0, 61 3PM, 42.4 3P%), Jaxon Rus (10.2 points, 75 3PM, 42.1 3P%), JT Van’t Hul (12.1 points)
Our pick: South Hamilton 58, Rock Valley 52
2A Quarterfinal: No. 4 Van Meter (21-2) vs. No. 5 Dike-New Hartford (21-1), 8:15 pm
Analysis: Expect to see a slugfest in the nightcap, as these are two of the best defensive teams in 2A. Van Meter (39.2 points a game allowed, 1st) and Dike-New Hartford (47.8, 13th) are both comfortable trying to grind out games and relying on their dominant defenses to win games.
Van Meter has three double figure scorers in Ryan Schmitt (15.1, 9.6 rebounds), Anthony Potthoff (14.6) and Spencer Lamb (12.4), who account for over 70% of the team’s scoring. The battle between Schmitt and D-NH’s Colton Harberts (15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds) is one to watch. The Wolverines have a bit more firepower than the Bulldogs do, with Cade Fuller (15.1), Dane Fuller (10.1), Tim Koop (7.3) and Derek Kinney (5.9) helping out Harberts, and that type of depth of scoring punch should give them a bit of an edge here. Expect to see a really low scoring game here, and it may be the first to 40 wins this one.
Players to watch
Van Meter: Ryan Schmitt (15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds), Anthony Potthoff (14.6 points), Spencer Lamb (12.4 points)
Dike-New Hartford: Colton Harberts (15.7 points, 63.1 FG%, 9.6 rebounds), Cade Fuller (15.1 points)
Our pick: Dike-New Hartford 44, Van Meter 40