STATE TOURNAMENT: Wednesday Preview
4A Quarterfinal: #3 Iowa City West (21-2) vs. #6 Ankeny (18-5), 10:30 am
Analysis: Iowa City West is making their state record 10th consecutive state tournament appearance, and it’s a vintage Steve Bergman team. The Trojans have been loaded with offensive talent for the last decade, but this is a group that relies on their defensive tenacity, ranking second in 4A, allowing just 40.6 points a game. They’re led by Belmont signee Even Brauns Even Brauns 6'9" | PF Iowa City West | 2020 State #253 Nation IA , an athletic 6-8 big man who can control the game on both ends of the floor, provided he stays out of foul trouble. Having an athletic rim protector like Brauns behind them is a safety blanket for high-level perimeter defenders like Joey Goodman Joey Goodman 5'11" | PG Iowa City West | 2020 State IA , Christian Barnes Christian Barnes 5'10" | PG Iowa City West | 2022 State IA and Tate Crane, who really get up into opposing ball handlers and make life difficult.
Those Trojan defenders will have their hands full against a quick Ankeny backcourt led by Braxton Bayless Braxton Bayless 6'1" | PG Ankeny | 2020 State IA and Jaxon Smith. The duo combines to average just under 38 points a game for the Hawks, and if they’re able to get into the paint and get Brauns into foul trouble early, it will open up their entire offense even more.
West is a disciplined team that has lost just twice this season, by a combined four points to Dubuque Senior and Cedar Falls, teams who went a combined 40-6 this season. Their size should be a difference maker here, as they should be able to control the glass on both ends of the floor.
Players to watch
Iowa City West:
Even Brauns
Even
Brauns
6'9" | PF
Iowa City West | 2020
State
#253
Nation
IA
(15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 68.7 FG%, 55 blocks), Nicholas Pepin (10.0 points, 73 assists),
Marcus Morgan
Marcus
Morgan
6'3" | SG
Iowa City West | 2021
IA
(9.8 points, 44.3 3P%),
Joey Goodman
Joey
Goodman
5'11" | PG
Iowa City West | 2020
State
IA
(4.1 points, 95 assists)
Ankeny:
Braxton Bayless
Braxton
Bayless
6'1" | PG
Ankeny | 2020
State
IA
(22.9 points, 54.9 FG%, 84 assists), Jaxon Smith (14.9 points)
Our pick: Iowa City West 51, Ankeny 44
Courbat
4A Quarterfinal: #2 Cedar Falls (21-2) vs. #7 Dowling Catholic (16-7), 12:15 pm
Analysis: Two-time defending champion Cedar Falls has almost an entirely new starting five, but they’re right back in a position for a 3-peat with an absolutely loaded roster filled with talent, athleticism and size. The Tigers are an excellent defensive team, headlined by 6-9 junior big man Chase Courbat Chase Courbat 6'9" | C Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA , who is one of the best defensive big men in the Midwest. He allows their perimeter defenders, Landon Wolf Landon Wolf 6'5" | CG Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA , Josh Ollendieck Josh Ollendieck 6'3" | CG Cedar Falls | 2020 State IA , Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | PG Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , etc. to take a few more chances on the perimeter and play aggressive defense. This is a deep team with nine players that see significant time, and the Wolf-Ollendieck combo in the backcourt can fill it up in a hurry if they get hot from deep.
Dowling is big, with a starting lineup that goes 5-10, 6-2, 6-8, 6-6 and 6-7, and like Cedar Falls, they can really defend. The Maroons are a fairly balanced offensive team, and they go fairly deep into their bench as well. Against the Cedar Falls defense, they’ll need to find a way to knock down some 3s, which isn’t really a strength of this team.
Expect this game to be a grind, played in the 40s. Fewer possessions open up the possibility for a Dowling upset, but they’ll need to be really efficient basketball.
Players to watch
Cedar Falls:
Landon Wolf
Landon
Wolf
6'5" | CG
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(11.7 points, 50 3PM, 44.2 3P%),
Josh Ollendieck
Josh
Ollendieck
6'3" | CG
Cedar Falls | 2020
State
IA
(11.4 points, 51 3PM, 41.8 3P%),
Chase Courbat
Chase
Courbat
6'9" | C
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 55 blocks),
Trey Campbell
Trey
Campbell
6'4" | PG
Cedar Falls | 2022
State
IA
(5.8 points, 106 assists)
Dowling Catholic:
Ryan Riggs
Ryan
Riggs
6'9" | PF
Dowling Catholic | 2021
State
IA
(12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 58.0 FG%), Matt Stilwill (12.1 points),
Drew Daniel
Drew
Daniel
6'5" | SF
Dowling Catholic | 2020
State
IA
(8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds), Omaha Biliew (6.3 points)
Our pick: Cedar Falls 45, Dowling Catholic 39
Shearer
1A Semifinal: #8 Wapsie Valley (19-7) vs. #4 Montezuma (24-2), 2:00 pm
Analysis: Wapsie Valley used a sagging defense to force top-seeded Lake Mills to beat them from the perimeter in their quarterfinal upset of the Bulldogs, but they’ll need to come up with a different game plan in this one, as Montezuma is loaded with talented shooters who can fill it up from deep in a hurry. The Warriors will be looking to establish 6-7 big man Kiks Rosengarten early and often in this one, as no Montezuma starter is listed taller than 6-4, with four of them 5-10 or less. That means Montezuma’s big man, Eddie Burgess, will need to hold his own in the middle of the Braves’ 2-3 zone, and they’ll need the front of the zone to put some pressure on guards Blayde Bellis and Kobe Risse.
For Montezuma, it’s the Trey Shearer Trey Shearer 5'10" | PG Montezuma | 2021 State IA show. He’s the most dynamic player in 1A basketball, with his ability to score from anywhere and break down a defense to get his teammates involved. He had 24 in their quarterfinal win over Martensdale-St. Mary’s, but the Braves will need a bigger game from Cole Watts Cole Watts 5'10" | SG Montezuma | 2021 State IA , who had just 5 in that game. He averages nearly 19 points a game on the season.
Montezuma has the best player on the floor, and Shearer is the type of player who can negate Rosengarten and get him into early foul trouble with his dribble penetration. This one should be fun, but edge to Montezuma with the best player and the dynamic shooting.
Players to watch
Montezuma:
Trey Shearer
Trey
Shearer
5'10" | PG
Montezuma | 2021
State
IA
(25.5 points, 45.3 3P%, 133 assists),
Cole Watts
Cole
Watts
5'10" | SG
Montezuma | 2021
State
IA
(18.4 points, 71 3PM), Eddie Burgess (11.0 points, 10.3 rebounds), Masin Shearer (8.4 points, 47 3PM)
Wapsie Valley: Kiks Rosengarten (19.2 points, 12.4 rebounds), Blayde Bellis (10.6 points, 112 assists), Kobe Risse (9.8 points, 152 assists)
Our pick: Montezuma 61, Wapsie Valley 56
Winkel
1A Semifinal: #2 Bishop Garrigan (23-2) vs. #6 West Fork (24-2), 3:45 pm
Analysis: Bishop Garrigan survived a real scare in their quarterfinal meeting against a much smaller Springville team, as star big man Angelo Winkel Angelo Winkel 6'9" | C Bishop Garrigan | 2021 State IA was able to avoid foul trouble for the final 10-12 minutes of action and exert his dominance on both ends of the floor. A fluid, athletic and springy 6-9 big, he’s more than capable of dominating this game. The task of slowing him down will be a team effort for the Warhawks, mostly in the form of 6-2 Jakob Washington and 6-5 Brayden Vold. Look for West Fork to throw a number of different looks at Winkel, and try to force the other Golden Bears to beat them.
West Fork was impressive in their quarterfinal win over an experienced St. Mary’s team, riding a patient, balanced and efficient offense that shot 60% from the floor. Look for them to attack Winkel and try to get him into foul trouble again, which will allow for the rest of their offensive attack to flourish. They have a number of different players who can get to the rim in Kayden Ames, Jakob Washington, Ian Latham Ian Latham 5'11" | PG West Fork | 2020 State IA and by having Brayden Vold pound the offensive glass.
These teams are both from the Top of Iowa Conference, but play in different divisions so haven’t met this year. Winkel will be the best player on the floor, and if he stays out of foul trouble, he should take care of business. It should be fun though.
Players to watch
Bishop Garrigan:
Angelo Winkel
Angelo
Winkel
6'9" | C
Bishop Garrigan | 2021
State
IA
(18.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 58.0 FG%),
Cade Winkel
Cade
Winkel
6'4" | PF
Bishop Garrigan | 2020
State
IA
(16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 62.1 FG%),
John Joyce
John
Joyce
6'3" | PG
Bishop Garrigan | 2020
State
IA
(13.9 points, 84 assists), Marcus Plathe (9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds), Cameron Baade (5.8 points, 40.8 3P%)
West Fork: Kayden Ames (14.5 points, 68 3PM), Jakob Washington (12.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 77 assists),
Ian Latham
Ian
Latham
5'11" | PG
West Fork | 2020
State
IA
(10.0 points, 44.3 3P%), Brayden Vold (9.1 points, 62.4 FG%)
Our pick: Bishop Garrigan 68, West Fork 64
Delzell
2A Semifinal: #1 Boyden-Hull (22-3) vs. #4 Camanche (22-3), 6:30 pm
Analysis: Oh boy are these 2A semifinals going to be a ton of fun. Both of these teams looked excellent in their opener, with Boyden-Hull’s length suffocating Woodward-Granger, and Camanche’s explosiveness throwing together enough runs to hold off Monticello in their third meeting fo the season.
Boyden-Hull has an efficient offense with lots of length and versatility. Every player on the floor can do a bit of everything, which makes them really tough to defend. And they share the ball extremely well. Camanche will need to be disciplined on defense and contest shots, really make the Comets work on that end of the floor. They have the size, length and athleticism to do so. They’ll need a better game from standout sophomore wing Tanner Te Slaa Tanner Te Slaa 6'5" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2022 State IA here as well. The work that Keyton Moser Keyton Moser 6'2" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2020 State IA does inside the paint can’t go unnoticed either, he’s relentless on the glass and is incredibly active. Camanche will need to make sure to get a body on him or he can kill them on the offensive glass.
Camanche put together some big runs in their quarterfinal game, and that’s something they’ve done all season. When they’re locked in and engaged, few teams in the state, regardless of class, have the weapons on the defensive end to slow them down. They’re big and much more disciplined than the group that was here a few years ago, with a balanced group of scoring threats. Cam Soenksen had a great quarterfinal game, showing off his extended range, and he’ll need to be knocking down some 3s to keep the Comets defense stretched out, allowing for driving lanes for talented slashing wing LJ Henderson LJ Henderson 6'2" | SG Camanche | 2020 State IA . Free throw shooting was a major bugaboo for the Indians in their win over Monticello, going just 14-31 from the line (45.2%). That has been their weakness all season, but it can’t be that bad if they want to win a semifinal game.
Expect this one to be close, and a lot of fun. We had Camanche ranked #1 to open the season, and we’ll stick with it. They’re able to piece together a few explosive runs, use their athleticism to limit Te Slaa and come away with a win. But we don’t feel too comfortable with it.
Players to watch
Boyden-Hull: Tanner TeSlaa (17.2 points, 50 3PM, 45.5 3P%),
Keyton Moser
Keyton
Moser
6'2" | SF
Boyden-Hull | 2020
State
IA
(13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds), Marcus Kelderman (11.6 points), Andrew Frick (10.1 points)
Camanche:
Caleb Delzell
Caleb
Delzell
6'8" | SF
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 58.8 FG%),
Cameron Soenksen
Cameron
Soenksen
6'2" | SG
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(14.0 points, 55 3PM, 42.0 3P%),
LJ Henderson
LJ
Henderson
6'2" | SG
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(11.7 points, 74 assists, 58.6 FG%),
Jordan Lawrence
Jordan
Lawrence
5'9" | PG
Camanche | 2021
State
IA
(8.9 points, 56 assists, 43 steals)
Our pick: Camanche 68, Boyden-Hull 65
Stogdill
2A Semifinal: #2 Treynor (25-1) vs. #4 North Linn (25-0), 8:15 pm
Analysis: Treynor was probably the most impressive team during the 2A quarterfinals, dominating a strong Pella Christian team on both ends of the floor. The Cardinals have lost just once this season, to 6A Kansas City-area powerhouse Blue Valley Northwest, while North Linn is riding a 51-game winning streak and is now 106-2 in their last 108 games.
The Lynx like to apply pressure constantly, but they back off a little bit when they get to State, as the teams they’re playing handle pressure better. Treynor turns it over a little more frequently than some of the other teams in the 2A field, so we should see that usual North Linn pressure a little bit more today. Look for them to try and speed up the Cardinals backcourt. The real edge for Treynor will come in the form of 6-10 Jon Schwarte Jon Schwarte 6'10" | C Treynor | 2020 State IA and 6-4 Jack Tiarks Jack Tiarks 6'4" | PF Treynor | 2020 State IA , who have the size to dominate a smaller North Linn team on the glass. Tiarks is a phenomenal athlete (headed to Iowa State to play football), and he should have a strong day against a smaller Lynx frontcourt.
Austin Miller Austin Miller 6'2" | PF North Linn | 2020 State IA is a great rebounder for the Lynx, but he’ll have his hands full with the aforementioned Tiarks and Schwarte. The Lynx will need to get increased production out of role players like Dylan Kurt and Gunner Vanourney if they want to win this one and keep that streak alive. Nobody other than Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA and Austin Miller Austin Miller 6'2" | PF North Linn | 2020 State IA scored in the second half in their quarterfinal win, that can’t happen again.
Players to watch
Treynor:
Jack Tiarks
Jack
Tiarks
6'4" | PF
Treynor | 2020
State
IA
(16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds),
Jack Stogdill
Jack
Stogdill
6'2" | PG
Treynor | 2020
State
IA
(14.8 points, 85 assists),
Jon Schwarte
Jon
Schwarte
6'10" | C
Treynor | 2020
State
IA
(9.3 points, 59 blocks)
North Linn:
Austin Miller
Austin
Miller
6'2" | PF
North Linn | 2020
State
IA
(22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 73 steals, 70.3 FG%),
Austin Hilmer
Austin
Hilmer
5'10" | PG
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
(18.1 points, 206 assists, 95 steals), Dylan Kurt (12.8 points, 64 3PM), Gunner Vanourney (8.0 points, 45.6 3P%)
Our pick: Treynor 72, North Linn 65