Iowa’s 3 Up, 3 Down (Week 1)
There are certainly plenty of ebbs and flows throughout the high school season, we’ll try our best to track those here. Teams that land in the DOWN portion of an article, could later find itself in the UP part, and vice-versa. Such is the grind of a full high school season. Below, you’ll find this week’s ebb and flow.
UP
Grand View Christian: It was a busy opening week for the defending 1A champions, and they got through it unscathed. The Thunder played on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, against Earlham, Nevada, Ankeny Christian and Central Decatur, and won all four games by an average of 12 points. Grant DeMeulenaere and Mach Nyaw look like one of the better backcourts, not just in 1A, but the entire state. And it seems a dynasty might be budding at GVC.
Johnston: We had a feeling that the Dragons were flying a bit under the radar coming into the season. They had some solid players coming up this season, guys like Bowen Sandquist and Boston Grimes who didn’t get a lot of playing time last season on a senior-laden squad. Then there was Peyton Williams, who is a baseball standout and absent in offseason hoops realms, but a dominant atheltic post nonetheless. Throw those guys in with D1 prospect Camden Vander Zwaag, and you’ve got a squad. The Dragons have opened up their season 2-0, with a 37 point win over Des Moines Lincoln, and a 24 win over Ames.
Forest City: Big things were expected from the Indians this season, and they got themselves a stiff test right away with a Week One tilt against fellow 2A contender Garner-Haydfield-Ventura. Forest City, led by senior Ryan Theel’s 14 points and four steals, passed that test, coming away with a two point win at G-H-V. The balanced Indians squad sandwiched that impressive win in between a 26 point season-opening triumph against Eagle Grove and a 31 point W at Northwood-Kensett.
DOWN
Council Bluffs Jefferson: Times are tough for the Yellow Jackets hoops program right now, and after notching just three wins last season, they started this one 0-2; a 48 point loss to 3A Glenwood then a 64 point loss to 4A’s No.2 team Sioux City East. Jefferson did get into the win column last night against 1A Essex.
Creston: With studs like Evan Jacobson and Kylan Smallwood at the helm, we expected some big things from the Panthers this winter. An 0-2 start, including a 39 point loss and a 32 point loss is certainly not how they drew it up. We expect them to bounce back, and get their fair-share of Ws here soon.
English Valleys: The Bears of English Valleys haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire the past few years, and after losing their final 22 games last season, they’ve started 0-3 this season. The Bears are averaging just 18 points per game in those losses.