Wells Fargo Advisors Shootout Session II Preview
Iowa Mavericks program director Tyler Cleveland has partnered with Wells Fargo Advisors to bring a pair of all-day shootouts to Cedar Rapids. The second of the two sessions will be this Saturday, January 20th, at the US Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids, with the first game scheduled to tip off at 8:30 am, and games expected to run until about 9:00 pm. Below, we preview what you can expect to see from this second session of games, which will feature 20 players ranked in the top 50 of their respective classes.
Schedule
8:30 am: 3A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier vs. Solon
10:15 am: 2A No. 2 Cascade vs. Osage
12:00 pm: 3A No. 2 Mount Pleasant vs. 3A No. 7 Charles City
1:45 pm: Waverly-Shell Rock vs. West Delaware
3:30 pm: Linn-Mar vs. Western Dubuque
5:15 pm: Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. 4A No. 3 Sioux City East
7:00 pm: Cedar Rapids Prairie vs. 4A No. 1 Iowa City West
Ranking the games
7. Linn-Mar (6-4) vs. Western Dubuque (10-2)
It’s a testament to how strong the rest of the slate is that this game is the worst one of the day. This is a game pitting future conference rivals against each other, as Western Dubuque is set to leave the WaMaC and join the MVC beginning next season. In their only game against an MVC team this season, they were blown out by Cedar Rapids Prairie, 67-41. The Bobcats didn’t have standout sophomore guard Calvin Harris (13.5 points a game) for that one, but having him back in the lineup alongside Jordan Lake won’t be enough for this group to overcome a really strong Lions squad headlined by junior sharpshooter Trey Hutcheson. Expect the ‘Cats to be more competitive against an MVC opponent this time around, but the Lions have too much experience against top-notch competition and should pull out a win here.
Players to watch
Linn-Mar: Trey Hutcheson (4th in 2019; 17.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 52.3 3P%), Jacob Robertson (9.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Nolan Ruff (8.9 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Western Dubuque: Jordan Lake (15.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Calvin Harris (13th in 2020; 13.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Kale Cartee (10.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Our pick: Linn-Mar 69, Western Dubuque 52
6. 3A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier (9-3) vs. Solon (9-4)
After a mid-season swoon against some quality 4A teams, Xavier has rebounded and won five straight behind the strong play of their star duo, Matt Mims and Jackson Joens. That tandem is averaging 38 points a game. The Saints played in this event as well last week, beating Perry 80-48, and playing in a venue like this can be difficult to adjust to, so having that extra game in there should be a benefit. Solon has three regulars shooting above 40% from behind the arc with Ben Krutzfeldt (43%), AJ Coons (40.6%) and Cam Miller (43.5%). If they’re able to get hot from deep, they can stay competitive in this game. But they don’t have anyone who will be able to limit Mims, who should be able to do whatever he wants here, and the big difference in schedule strength should play a factor.
Players to watch
Cedar Rapids Xavier: Matthew Mims (9th in 2018; 21.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 43.2 3P%), Jackson Joens (11th in 2018; 16.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 48.5 3P%)
Solon: AJ Coons (7th in 2020; 15.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Ben Krutzfeldt (16.2 ppg, 4.0 apg, 43.0 3P%)
Our pick: Cedar Rapids Xavier 70, Solon 52
5. 2A No. 2 Cascade (14-0) vs. Osage (10-4)
The Cougars have been ranked inside the top three in 2A all season long, riding the fifth ranked scoring defense (40.4) to a perfect 14-0 record. They’ll draw a fairly tough assignment on Saturday morning, as Green Devils guard Drew Olson (17.3) is one of the better guards in 2A. They recently got Nathan Bushbaum (10.7) back, and Lucas Schwamman gives Osage an interior scorer. That said, Osage could struggle to find spots in Cascade’s vaunted 2-3 zone. The Cougars have lots of length and do a great job communicating inside that defense, locking opponents down. Haris Hoffman (14.4) leads the way in the scoring column, but all five starters are capable of scoring 15+ on any given night. Cascade is undefeated for a reason, they make the winning plays on both ends when they need them. They should stay unbeaten here despite a good effort from Olson and company.
Players to watch
Cascade: Haris Hoffman (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 62.8 FG%), Brock Simon (11.2 ppg, 3.9 apg), Johnny Supple (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
Osage: Drew Olson (17.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.9 apg), Nathan Bushbaum (10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Lucas Schwamman (9.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Our pick: Cascade 58, Osage 45
4. Waverly-Shell Rock (9-3) vs. West Delaware (9-4)
Like the Kennedy/Sioux City East game later in the day, this is a rematch of last year’s 3A third place game, which was won by Waverly-Shell Rock. Both teams, however, had to deal with major graduation losses from that game. West Delaware struggled early on, but have now won five straight behind the efforts of 6-7 junior Derek Krogmann, who has been absolutely dominant for the Hawks. He’s averaging 22.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and over two blocks a game, while shooting 61.3% from the floor. Tyler Kelley (17.6) is the only other consistent scorer, and gives them good size on the wing. Waverly-Shell Rock has a more balanced unit, with five players averaging between 6.3 and 12.4 points a game, but the Go-Hawks will struggle to contain Krogmann and keep him off the glass. Jacob Bahe and Mosai Newsom are fine players, but neither is the level of Krogmann, and if he’s able to get them into foul trouble, it could be a long afternoon for W-SR.
Players to watch
Waverly-Shell Rock: Luke Velky (12.4 ppg), Jacob Bahe (9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Jack Seward (8.8 ppg), Mosai Newsom (7.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
West Delaware: Derek Krogmann (7th in 2019; 22.2 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg), Tyler Kelley (36th in 2018; 17.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Our pick: West Delaware 64, Waverly-Shell Rock 56
3. Cedar Rapids Prairie (7-4) vs. 4A No. 1 Iowa City West (10-1)
This is the second meeting of the season between these teams, with West winning the first one 70-57 back in December. The Trojans got 28 points from Patrick McCaffery and 16 from Seybian Sims in that game, using their huge size advantage to control the paint on both ends. Prairie is a team filled with dangerous shooters in Kris Murray, Keegan Murray and Griff Clark, and if they’re able to get hot, they can beat anyone. The issue for the Hawks is that West’s perimeter defenders are strong, and they don’t have anyone who can keep McCaffery and Sims off the glass, which should play to West’s advantage again. The Trojans suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday, dropping a 55-54 decision to 4A No. 9 Cedar Falls and star guard AJ Green, and they’ll be looking to rebound from that loss. West hasn’t lost back-to-back games since the 2010-2011 season, and they win the next game after a loss by an average of 26.5 points a game. We don’t expect to see that wide a margin, but they should win comfortably against a strong Prairie team.
Players to watch
Cedar Rapids Prairie: Griff Clark (24th in 2018; 13.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.8 apg), Keegan Murray (17th in 2019; 14.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 46.7 3P%, 92.0 FT%), Kris Murray (35th in 2019; 18.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 90.5 FT%)
Iowa City West: Patrick McCaffery (1st in 2019; 20.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 81.6 FT%), Seybian Sims (22nd in 2018; 16.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 78.6 FG%), Hakeem Odunsi (23rd in 2018; 4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg), Dante Eldridge (11.6 ppg, 2.5 apg, 44.7 3P%), Evan Flitz (7.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, 41.9 3P%)
Our pick: Iowa City West 71, Cedar Rapids Prairie 60
2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-5) vs. 4A No. 3 Sioux City East (11-1)
This game should tell us an awful lot about Sioux City East. The common refrain regarding the Black Raiders is that they don’t play anybody during the regular season, with the exception of games against Heelan and an occasional tilt against good South Dakota schools. But this team is talented and has a lot of experience playing together. This is a rematch of the third place game from last year’s state tournament, won 58-56 by East. The Cougars struggled to contain Van Rees (16 points, 7 rebounds) in that game, and should struggle to do so again in this one. On the flip side, East may struggle to defend Kennedy’s star guard Derrick Diggins, who has been great this season and is a matchup problem with his athleticism. Whichever star ends up getting more help from his supporting cast will end up on top here. Another thing to watch: Kennedy has a tough game against Cedar Falls the night before and will have limited time to prepare for the Raiders, while East plays on Thursday night and will have an extra day of prep time. That could make a difference.
Players to watch
Cedar Rapids Kennedy: Derrick Diggins (17th in 2018; 18.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.8 apg), Jack Wetzel (17th in 2020; 15.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 44.3 3P%), Jackson Foley (9.7 ppg, 4.1 apg)
Sioux City East: Van Rees (14th in 2018; 18.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 60.3 FG%), Aidan Vanderloo (15th in 2019; 16.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 50.9 3P%), Jaleque Dunson (28th in 2020; 8.9 ppg, 57.6 FG%), Jack Peterson (9.8 ppg)
Our pick: Sioux City East 68, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 62
1. 3A No. 2 Mount Pleasant (11-3) vs. 3A No. 7 Charles City (12-1)
Currently riding a 12-game winning streak, Charles City has been one of the state’s hottest teams. They lost their season opener to Dike-New Hartford, but haven’t looked back since. The point guard matchup here between Charles City’s Jackson Molstead and Mount Pleasant’s Brady Sartorius will be worth the price of admission alone. These two have been among the state’s best guards for years now, and they’ll finally get a chance to go head-to-head. The Panthers have really tested themselves in the non-conference portion of their schedule, playing top-notch competition to prepare themselves for a state tournament run, and those games against teams like Xavier, Hempstead and Linn-Mar, among others, should help them overcome a good Comets team here. Sartorius is too good, and he should get plenty of help from Jordan Magnani.
Players to watch
Mount Pleasant: Brady Sartorius (18th in 2018; 23.4 ppg, 4.7 apg, 51.3 FG%, 45.2 3P%), Jordan Magnani (15.6 ppg)
Charles City: Jackson Molstead (23rd in 2019; 18.6 ppg, 7.5 apg), Cade Hemesath (12.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 61.0 FG%), Mike Cranshaw (11.8 ppg), Noah Schlader (10.1 ppg, 46.7 3P%)
Our pick: Mount Pleasant 66, Charles City 57