Iowa’s 3 Up, 3 Down (Week 4)
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
Oskaloosa: It seems like Oskaloosa has become the center of Iowa’s proverbial basketball universe of late; it started last year with the emergence of blue-chip prospect Xavier Foster, and the results are there this year with guys like Cole Henry and Spencer Tucker proving to be stars. The Indians have started 9-0 and went into the break with an impressive win over 4A Newton. The first game after break is a monster match-up with also unbeaten Norwalk — that will be a doozy.
North Linn: The way North Linn has been beating up on teams this season is a little ridiculous. That was most evident last week when they shattered Midland, Wyoming 105-8. It was 73-4 at halftime. Jake Hilmer, Ryan Miller and Co. have been pummeling every team that’s crossed their path, and are winning by an average of 65 points per game. Few times will we put a team on this list twice in a season, but the Lynx are smokin’ right now.
Sioux City Heelan: What a season the Crusaders have been putting together up in Northwest Iowa. They were methodically doing their thing at the start of the season, and then everyone really started paying attention after a mid-December double-digit win over 4A power Sioux City East. Since that win, they’ve run-off three more Ws; two over 4A opponents and another over a very tough LeMars squad. Elijah Hazekmap is proving why he’s one of the state’s very best; he’s averaging 22.7 points and 14 rebounds per game. Watch out for the Crusaders.
DOWN
Linn-Mar: After a fast start for the Lions, they’ve skidded a bit heading into the break with consecutive losses to Mount Pleasant, a 3A squad, and Cedar Rapids Washington. Trey Hutcheson is still one of the best players in Iowa, though, and we think the Lions will rebound nicely next week.
Ames: It’s been a tough start to the season for the Little Cyclones, a team which has been struggling to find offense. They could muster just 29 points in a 31 point loss to Hoover just before the break, that was their third straight loss.
Essex: The win column has been elusive for the Trojans this season, and they head into the break with an 0-8 mark. Five of their eight opponents have records above .500, and another was 4A team, so there’s hope for Essex in the latter half of the season.