STATE TOURNAMENT: Tuesday Preview
2A Quarterfinal: No. 1 North Linn (23-0) vs No. 8 Des Moines Christian (17-6), 9:30 a.m
Analysis: North Linn comes into the tournament as the top-seed and the favorite to win it all. They feature a high-powered offense, the state’s best at 90.3 points per game, led by all-time Iowa high school great Jake Hilmer. Des Moines Christian is the eight-seed and have the six losses, but they are capable of beating some very good teams. Curran Ingram is a budding star, and there’s a slew of lengthy, athletic wings surrounding him. We think this could be closer than most people think.
Players to Watch
North Linn: Jake Hilmer, David Seber, Trevor Boge, Austin Hilmer, Austin Miller.
Des Moines Christian: Curran Ingram, Seth Juhl, Jackson Waring, Brady Hewitt.
Our Pick: North Linn 74, Des Moines Christian 65
3A Quarterfinal: No. 1 Norwalk (20-4) vs No. 8 Ballard (15-9), 11:15 a.m.
Analysis: The Warriors have their sights set on a first-ever state title, and they have one Iowa’s best all-around talents leading them; Bowen Born is worth the price of admission, and despite being 5’10, is one of the most dominant offensive threats in the state. Ballard’s star is a big-man, 6’6 sophomore Connor Drew, he’ll battle with Norwalk’s heavyweight center Tyler Andres.
Players to Watch
Norwalk: Bowen Born, Tyler Johnson, Tyler Endres
Ballard: Connor Drew, Chase Winterboer, Max Olsan, Mason Murphy
Our Pick: Norwalk 72, Ballard 58
3A Quarterfinal: No. 4 Clear Lake (23-0) vs No. 5 West Delaware (17-6), 1:00 p.m
Analysis: Clear Lake has had a dream season to date, and have done so after graduating one of the best players in school history last season, Zach Lester. Ir’s been freshman Carson Toebe who’s emerged as a star, and we’re looking forward to getting a look at him on Tuesday. West Delaware has star-power of its own, Derek Krogmann is a strong and skilled lefty big-man; Northern Iowa fans might want to check him out, he’ll be a Panther next year. Krogmann leads all of 3A in rebounding, hauling in 14 per game so far this season.
Players to Watch
West Delaware: Derek Krogmann, Tyler Kelley,
Clear Lake: Carson Toebe, Tate Storbeck, Drew Enke, Jaylen DeVries
Our Pick: West Delaware 56, Clear Lake 52
3A Quarterfinal: No. 2 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (20-3) vs No. 7 Winterset (16-6), 2:45 p.m.
Analysis: Three of our four staffers picked Sergeant Bluff-Luton bring home a first-place trophy, and to do that they’ll have to get by a red-hot Winterset team first. After a 2-3 start to the season, the Huskies figured things out by mid-January and have won 10 of 11 heading into state. SB-L on the other hand has been red-hot all season; the Warriors’ only three losses have been to 4A schools Sioux East and Sioux City West (twice). It’ll be Connor Groves leading the way for SB-L, he’s averaging 16.7 points per game.
Players to Watch
SB-L: Connor Groves, Daniel Wright, Sam DeMoss, Jake Layman
Winterset: Easton Darling, Casey Kleemeier
Our Pick: SB-L 71, Winterest 60
3A Quarterfinal: No. 3 Oskaloosa (16-5) vs No. 6 Marion (16-5), 4:30 p.m.
Analysis: The Indians have two D1 players that will be much taller than any player on the entire Marion roster. Xavier Foster is a 6’11 forward who had some highlight reel moments at last season’s state tourney, and is one of the nation’s most sough-after 2020 prospects. Cole Henry — a Northern Iowa signee — goes 6’9, and is a high flyer who can pass better than most big-men in the state. Marion, like Oskaloosa, is making its second straight rip to the tourney; they’ll be led by ultra quick and skilled junior point guard Will Henricksen, who averages 17.2 points per game.
Players to Watch
Marion: Will Henricksen, Trevor Paulsen, Jaffar Murphy
Oskaloosa: Xavier Foster, Cole Henry, Rian Yates
Our Pick: Oskaloosa 61, Marion 49
4A Quarterfinal: No. 3 Cedar Falls (18-3) vs No. 6 Sioux City East (21-1), 6:30 p.m.
The 4A field is always a lot of fun, and this year’s edition will almost certainly be no different. We get things started with a brilliant match-up between defending state champs Cedar Falls and one of the state’s more storied programs, Sioux City East. Cedar Falls breezed its way to a title last season behind all-time great point guard AJ Green. He’s now at Northern Iowa, but the Tigers have done well to stay on top without him. Sioux City East is making its 20th trip to state, its third in a row. The Black Raiders are led by sharpshooter Aidan Vanderloo, and have a pair of athletic forwards, Jaleque Dunson and Javante Keck to help lead the way.
Players to Watch
SC East: Aidan Vanderloo, Javante Keck, Jaleque Dunson, Jack Peterson
Cedar Falls: Logan Wolf, Josh Ollendieck, Jackson Frerichs, Jack Campbell, Chase Courbat
Our Pick: Sioux City East 67, Cedar Falls 65
4A Quarterfinal: No. 2 North Scott (22-1) vs No. 7 Ames (17-4), 8:15 p.m.
Ty Anderson and Cortaviaus Seales make up one of the more dangerous duos in the 4A tourney. But Japannah Kellogg and Tamin Lipsey might be an even better duo. Needless to say, the star-power is strong in this one. Ames comes in with fewer wins and more losses than North Scott after playing an ultra-tough CIML schedule. The Lancers played a much weaker schedule and some would say that’s a factor in them having the best record in all of 4A. This will be an interesting match up.
Players to Watch
Ames: Tamin Lipsey, Japannah Kellogg, Corey Phillips, Casey Mumm
North Scott: Cortaviaus Seales, Ty Anderson, Sam Kilburg
Our Pick: North Scott 60, Ames 59