Playoff Preview: 2A-5

The favorite: Playing in a tough conference and competing closely with Monticello for a conference championship is no small accomplishment and Camanche did just that, only losing to the Panthers by a combined 7 points in two meetings. They are paced by leading scorer, and athletic Senior Jordan LawrenceJordanLawrence5'10" | PGCamanche | 2021StateIA who averaged 14.6 points per game, but have a very balanced attack with 6 of their top scorers averaging 6 points or more per game. The Indians pose good size as they have 6’5, multi-faceted scorer, Junior Zach ErwinZachErwin6'4" | SFCamanche | 2022StateIA (13.9), and 6’4 Senior Zayne FellerZayneFeller6'3" | PFCamanche | 2021StateIA (10.8) anchoring the inside.  The biggest threat: Mid-Prairie has played Camanche back in late January, and lost by 15 points. What the Golden Hawks do possess is a consistent scoring threat in Junior Carter Harmsen (18.0), who can score at all three levels and has good size at 6’4 that allows him more of an advantage to score even when he’s covered. The lefty has a nice looking shooting stroke and is capable of getting his team by a touch Camanche team. Junior Jackson Pennington (4.7 assists, 2.1 steals) and Senior Aidan Rath (10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds) are solid contributors for the Golden Hawks.  The dark horse: This is sort of a toss-up as Wilton brings a 10-11 record into postseason play and has a talented scoring Sophomore, Caden Kirkman (18.5). Iowa City Regina is another team I could see making some noise if the pieces fall into place at 7-11. They have Senior Ashton CookAshtonCook6'5" | SFRegina | 2021StateIA (20.7) and is capable of stringing a couple of wins together for his team. Players to watch 2021 Jordan LawrenceJordanLawrence5'10" | PGCamanche | 2021StateIA, Camanche 2022 Zach ErwinZachErwin6'4" | SFCamanche | 2022StateIA, Camanche 2022 Carter Harmsen, Mid-Prairie 2021 Aidan Rath, Mid-Prairie 2021 Ashton CookAshtonCook6'5" | SFRegina | 2021StateIA, Iowa City Regina 2023 Caden Kirkman, Wilton 2023 Nolan Delong, Durant 2022 Caleb Wulf, West Liberty   The favorite: A surprise team from the beginning of the year, but a senior-laden team with good leadership and lead scoring to go along with it, Pekin. Led by Seniors Brock Long (15.5) and Brady MillikinBradyMillikin6'0" | PGPekin | 2021StateIA (14.0). The rest of the supporting Cast for the Panthers are averaging above 8 points per game with Junior Chandler Stull (9.1), Senior Brayden SobaskiBraydenSobaski6'3" | SFPekin | 2021StateIA (8.8) and Cael Lyle (8.0). They also do a great job of taking care of the ball as all five of the aforementioned players have a positive A/TO ratio led by Millikin at 5.8/1.7 Assist to turnover. Pekin has only lost two games and one came as recently as Friday to a young, but talented New London team and earlier in the year against Wapello which they avenged in January. If they can continue to take care of the ball and bring that balanced attack they have a good chance of getting to that substate final.  The biggest threat: West Burlington has a talented player in Senior Forward, 6’6 Marvion JacksonMarvionJackson6'5" | PFWest Burlington | 2021StateIA (16.8) who is athletic and can finish at the hoop but also step out and shoot the perimeter jumpshot. He is backed up by fellow seniors, Darian JohnsonDarianJohnson5'10" | PGWest Burlington | 2021StateIA (13.6) and Colten SherwoodColtenSherwood5'10" | SGWest Burlington | 2021StateIA (12.3). The Falcons finished second in the SEISC-South behind New London.  The dark horse: Outside of Pekin and West Burlington, it’s kind of a toss up of who could make a run, but Louisa-Muscatine is the team that stands out here. They have Senior Emmanuel Walker (10.2) and Freshman Ty Northrup (9.1) leading the way for the Falcons. Turnovers will be the key here. Players to watch 2021 Brock Long, Pekin 2021 Brady MillikinBradyMillikin6'0" | PGPekin | 2021StateIA, Pekin 2021 Marvion JacksonMarvionJackson6'5" | PFWest Burlington | 2021StateIA, West Burlington 2021 Darian JohnsonDarianJohnson5'10" | PGWest Burlington | 2021StateIA, West Burlington 2021 Emmanuel Walker, Louisa-Muscatine 2024 Ty Northrup, Louisa-Muscatine 2023 Cole Lipper, Mediapolis 2021 Jaxon Betker, Central Lee 2023 Jackson Manning, Van Buren County SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION Camanche vs. Pekin This would be the first meeting between these two teams and has the potential to be a tough matchup between two well-rounded teams. Senior leadership can be a driving force for teams to go deeper into the postseason, and Pekin has that, though Camanche has a plethora of playing experience from top to bottom, senior leadership wins out.