Playoff Preview: 4A-5
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The favorite: When you have one of the best players in the state in UNI signee Michael Duax Michael Duax 6'5" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA (22.6) you’re going to have a chance in every outing to the…
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The favorite: When you have one of the best players in the state in UNI signee Michael Duax Michael Duax 6'5" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA (22.6) you’re going to have a chance in every outing to the court. Duax is a player the business likes to call a swiss army knife, as he can do everything a coach asks him to do. Dubuque Hempstead is playing good basketball right now as they just recently fell to #1 Cedar Falls nearly by 6 points. In that game Duax was helped by another solid Senior wing man Jamari Smith Jamari Smith 6'4" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA (14.7), who would finish with a team high 19 points. Smith brings athleticism, defending, and a good facilitator of the ball. To round out the trio of players for the Mustangs, Junior big man Cameron Fens Cameron Fens 7'0" | C Hempstead | 2022 State IA (9.8) is a player who can hang with anyone in the post and had a breakout summer/fall season but is getting his first taste of varsity basketball this season for the Mustangs. This team will need to take care of the ball and make some perimeter shots, but with these three players winning this district is something this team is fully capable of doing.
The biggest threat: The obvious answer here is the #2 seed, North Scott, led by Senior, Truman State signee Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA (13.3). The Lancers haven’t quite hit their peak in potential this season, and are going to be trying to be ride a 2-4 February record out heading into the postseason. Eiland is followed by Junior shooter Oliver Hughes (11.6 & 41% 3pt) who helps in the scoring department. The thing this team will need to be better at is rebounding the basketball, as the most important part of defense is finishing a play off with a rebound. The Lancers don’t have a single player who averages more than 4 rebounds per game, so that shows they gang rebound, but don’t have someone who takes control of the glass which could be important down the long postseason road.
The dark horse: Davenport West is a team that hasn’t really been recognized enough on the border of the state, but is a team that could make a run at Hempstead as early as the second round game. The Falcons haven’t quite found the most consistency yet, but with their leader Senior PG John Miller John Miller 5'10" | PG Davenport Central | 2021 State IA (17.4) at the helm this team should be ready to go into the postseason. Junior guard Jermaine Gardner Jermaine Gardner 5'11" | PG Davenport West | 2022 State IA (10.4) and big man Senior Aldane Barrett Aldane Barrett 6'7" | C Davenport West | 2021 State IA (9.4) will look to bring some consistency with Miller. This team is a dangerous .500 team.
Players to watch
2021 Michael Duax Michael Duax 6'5" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA , Dubuque Hempstead
2021 Jamari Smith Jamari Smith 6'4" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA , Dubuque Hempstead
2022 Cameron Fens Cameron Fens 7'0" | C Hempstead | 2022 State IA , Dubuque Hempstead
2021 Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA , North Scott
2022 Oliver Hughes, North Scott
2021 John Miller John Miller 5'10" | PG Davenport Central | 2021 State IA , Dubuque West
2022 Jermaine Gardner Jermaine Gardner 5'11" | PG Davenport West | 2022 State IA , Dubuque West
2021 Jim Bonifas Jim Bonifas 6'5" | PF Senior | 2021 State IA , Dubuque Senior
2022 Jai Jensen, Clinton
2021 Noah Yahn Noah Yahn 6'2" | SF Muscatine | 2021 State IA , Muscatine
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Dubuque Hempstead vs North Scott
Though Dubuque Senior or Dubuque West could pose some problems to Hempstead, the Mustangs will prevail getting them to this game. Should be a good matchup, but the edge goes to Hempstead with the inside presence of Cameron Fens Cameron Fens 7'0" | C Hempstead | 2022 State IA . North Scott will have troubles matching up with him and he could be the X-Factor for this team going forward as you know what you’re going to get from Smith and Duax.