Substate Preview: 4A-5
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[player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"] The favorite: The lone remaining undefeated team in 4A is Pleasant Valley. The Spartans play a slower, methodical style on the offensive end and really get their kids to buy in and play excellent defense. They…
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Continue ReadingThe favorite: The lone remaining undefeated team in 4A is Pleasant Valley. The Spartans play a slower, methodical style on the offensive end and really get their kids to buy in and play excellent defense. They lead 4A in scoring defense, allowing just 41.0 points a game. Their style on both ends of the floor makes them an incredibly frustrating team to play, and a difficult team to beat. Senior guard Ryan Dolphin Ryan Dolphin 5'8" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA (16.4, 44.8 3P%) has had an excellent year on both ends of the floor, leading the team in scoring and assists, and he’s shooting it at an incredible clip. Junior guard Connor Borbeck Connor Borbeck 6'2" | SG Pleasant Valley | 2023 State IA (13.5, 37.1 3P%) and senior Joel Lawlor Joel Lawlor 6'3" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA (9.9, 42.4 3P%) give them some more shooting, and as a team, the Spartans are hitting 39.9% of their 3-point attempts. Sophomore David Gorsline David Gorsline 6'2" | SG Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (5.9, 7.1 rebounds) is undersized but athletic and physical on the glass. The Spartans don’t have anyone who is going to blow you away, but they’re a really good all-around team that shares the wealth, shoots it well, and defends like crazy. They’re also a 73% team from the line, with their five starters each shooting at least 71.8% from the free-throw line, which will help late in games.
The biggest threat: Iowa City West got off to a strong 7-0 start this year, looking like the Trojans of old. An injury to Savion Taylor Savion Taylor 6'4" | SF The Burlington School | 2024 State NC , the team’s top perimeter shooting threat and a strong wing defender, derailed the team a bit, and they are scuffling heading into the postseason, losing five of their last six games. Still, this is a talented roster that can make some noise, led by senior forward Peter Moe Peter Moe 6'9" | PF Iowa City West | 2022 State IA (21.7, 9.1 rebounds). A 6-8/6-9 forward who is unstoppable on the block, he has excellent footwork and touch around the rim, and he can stretch the floor a bit as well. Freshman Jack McCaffery Jack McCaffery 6'8" | SF Iowa City West | 2025 State #70 Nation IA (9.6, 35.8 3P%) is a 6-7/6-8 combo forward who can shoot it, and sophomore guard Jacob Koch Jacob Koch 6'1" | PG Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (8.9, 42.3 3P%) has stepped up as the team’s top perimeter shooting threat following the Taylor injury. Sophomore wing Kareem Earl Kareem Earl 6'5" | SF Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (8.3) has had an up-and-down season but is one of the most talented sophomores in the state, and senior guard Christian Barnes Christian Barnes 5'10" | PG Iowa City West | 2022 State IA (7.9) is a solid two-way player with lots of experience. The talent is there, but they are not clicking right now.
The dark horse: Burlington lost their head-to-head meeting with Iowa City West by 12, but that was when the Trojans were playing good ball at the beginning of the year. They’ll be itching to get another shot at West in the semifinals with the two teams heading in opposite directions. The Grayhounds have won seven of their last eight, and are 10-2 since the holiday break. Senior wing Amarion Davis Amarion Davis 6'3" | SF Burlington | 2022 State IA (14.7) is an athletic wing who can score from all three levels, and Merquiche Lewis Jr (12.9, 2.1 steals) has been a strong contributor this season as well. This is an athletic team that can force turnovers and get out in transition, and while the competition that they’ve played isn’t the strongest in the Southeast Conference, they’re playing well and should have a ton of confidence heading into postseason play.
Players to watch
2022
Ryan Dolphin
Ryan
Dolphin
5'8" | PG
Pleasant Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Pleasant Valley
2023
Connor Borbeck
Connor
Borbeck
6'2" | SG
Pleasant Valley | 2023
State
IA
, Pleasant Valley
2022
Peter Moe
Peter
Moe
6'9" | PF
Iowa City West | 2022
State
IA
, Iowa City West
2025
Jack McCaffery
Jack
McCaffery
6'8" | SF
Iowa City West | 2025
State
#70
Nation
IA
, Iowa City West
2022
Amarion Davis
Amarion
Davis
6'3" | SF
Burlington | 2022
State
IA
, Burlington
2023 Merquiche Lewis Jr, Burlington
2022
Jermaine Gardner
Jermaine
Gardner
5'11" | PG
Davenport West | 2022
State
IA
, Davenport West
2022
NaZion Caruthers
NaZion
Caruthers
6'0" | CG
Davenport West | 2022
State
IA
, Davenport West
2022
Jamari Newson
Jamari
Newson
6'2" | PG
Iowa City | 2022
State
IA
, City
2023
Shamar Benton
Shamar
Benton
6'1" | PG
City | 2023
State
IA
, City
2024
TaeVeon Stevens
TaeVeon
Stevens
6'1" | PG
Iowa City West | 2024
State
IA
, City
2025
Luke Wieskamp
Luke
Wieskamp
6'6" | SF
Brophy Prep | 2025
State
AZ
, Muscatine
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Pleasant Valley vs. Iowa City West
While they’re not playing very good ball right now, West has the talent and a home game in the semifinals, so we’ve given them the edge into the substate final. But this substate belongs to Pleasant Valley, which uses their suffocating defense and efficient offensive attack to frustrate the Trojans and punch their ticket to the state tournament with a 23-0 record in tact.