Five Questions: Hempstead at Prairie
Jamari Smith scored a game-high 22 points for Hempstead in the win CEDAR RAPIDS — The #6 Hempstead Mustangs bounced back from their first loss of the season in a big way on Monday night, building up a lead as…
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Continue ReadingCEDAR RAPIDS — The #6 Hempstead Mustangs bounced back from their first loss of the season in a big way on Monday night, building up a lead as large as 31 against a solid Prairie team en route to a 63-48 road win.
Hempstead suffered their first defeat last week, dropping a one-point game at Iowa City West, but they showed they are among the elite teams in 4A on Monday. They scored the first nine points of the game before Prairie closed the first quarter on a 9-1 run. Early in the second quarter, the Hawks took a brief 11-10 lead, but it was all Hempstead after that. The Mustangs responded with a 17-2 run that eventually stretched into a 27-8 run to close out the half. They were nearly perfect in the second quarter, going 10-11 from the floor, building up an 18-point halftime advantage.
The second half was more of the same, Hempstead getting great looks and converting. Their lead ballooned to 53-22 before they took their foot off the gas and got a little sloppy late, but it was far too late for Prairie to mount any sort of meaningful comeback.
Hempstead (8-1) was led by Jamari Smith, who had a game-high 22 points. Michael Duax added 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win, and each starter scored at least six points.
Prairie (6-3) dropped their third straight game following a 6-0 start. The Hawks were led by Gabe Burkle, who had 16 points and 7 rebounds in the loss. Elijah Ward chipped in 11 points.
Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
Hempstead | 10 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 63 |
Prairie | 9 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 48 |
Hempstead: Jamari Smith 22, Michael Duax 12, Nicholas Kaesbauer 9, Jack Sabers 7, Kellen Strohmeyer 7, Cam Davis 6
Prairie: Gabe Burkle 16, Elijah Ward 11, Jackson Nove 8, Johnny Joens 5, Garrett Pientok 4, Caleb Miller 2, Zach Hilleman 2
What makes Michael Duax so special?
Duax, a 6-5 junior wing, is currently ranked #2 in the 2021 class by us, only behind Waukee’s Payton Sandfort, who has a number of high-major offers. And while Duax is an outstanding scoring threat with his ability to score from all three levels at a highly efficient clip, it’s his ability to impact the game in every facet, and dominate a game without scoring, that make him such a special player. He’s a fantastic rebounder from the wing, a plus athlete who skies for rebounds. He handles the ball well and passes it extremely well, and he’s equally content getting others involved as he is scoring in bunches. He congratulates his teammates, thanks them for passes that lead to his buckets, and takes control of the game on each possession with how hard he plays. He finished with ‘only’ 12 points, but chipped in 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Is Hempstead’s junior class the best in the state?
That honor probably goes to Waukee, with junior stars Payton Sandfort and Tucker DeVries, as well as the strong play of Wyatt Heston, each of whom are 6-6/6-7 wings who can really shoot it, but the Hempstead trio of Cam Davis, Michael Duax and Jamari Smith are right there with them. Davis is a lightning quick lead guard who can create some chaos on the defensive end of the floor, jumping passing lanes. Smith is a long, athletic wing who can score from all three levels at an efficient level, and Duax, as we mentioned above, is a star.
What makes Hempstead so good?
The Mustangs are incredibly patient on the offensive end, always moving the ball and getting high quality looks, which is why they’re shooting 50% from the floor as a team. Of course it helps to have someone at the level of Duax, but in addition to Duax, they can put shooting around him with Jamari Smith, Nicholas Kaesbauer and Kellen Strohmeyer, each shooting at least 38% from the arc. This team also plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. They crash the offensive glass at a high rate, pulling down an average of 9.6 offensive rebounds a night, and those extra possessions are highly valuable, especially when it’s going back to a unit as talented as this one is. They’re versatile, physical, patient and efficient.
What’s the ceiling for the Mustangs?
In a year where no team has really established themselves as THE team to beat in 4A this year (Waukee may be getting close, however), the ‘Stangs are among the top teams in the class, and look like a viable state championship team. The Duax-Smith combination is deadly, combining to average 36.6 points a game, and they can make an impact on both ends of the floor. They play really hard, and they’ll have the best player on the floor on a nightly basis. This team could be playing on Championship Friday, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they are.
What does the future look like for Prairie?
The Hawks start three sophomores (Jake Walter, Elijah Ward and Gabe Burkle) and a junior (Caden Stoffer). Burkle was really good in this game. The 6-7 forward showed an improved jumper, knocking down a few shots around the free throw line, and good footwork around the rim. Elijah Ward is a talented guard with great length and ability to finish around the rim. Walter and Stoffer didn’t do much in this game (Walter in particular battled foul trouble), but they’re both quality shooters. The future is extremely bright for Prairie. They have talent, size, length and plenty of versatility. They’ve gone through a rough patch lately, but this is a group that got off to a 6-0 start, including wins over good North Scott and Kennedy teams. This is a team that will make some noise this year, and be a real state tournament threat next season.