STATE TOURNAMENT: Wedensday Preview
No. 4 Dowling Catholic (20-3) vs. No. 5 Valley (20-3) — 1:05
Analysis: We couldn’t have asked for a more intriguing game to kick off the 4A tournament in Des Moines. Not only are these two schools bitter rivals, but they are both among the favorites to win a title. Unfortunately only one will advance to the semifinal round. Will it be the height and length of Dowling? Or the experience of Valley — which finished runner-up down here twp years ago.
Players to Watch:
Dowling: Ted Brown (14th in ’16), Luke Eastman (103rd in ’16), Cole Scieszinski (126th in ’16), Joey Kern (29th in ’16), Sam Ingoli (2nd in ’18)
Valley: Carlo Marble (8th in ’16), Turner Scott (13th in 16), Pete Economos (15th in ’16), Quinton Curry (5th in 2017), Charley Crowley (42nd in ’17),
No. 1 Pleasant Valley (22-1) vs. No. 8 Dubuque, Senior (14-10) — 2:45
Analysis: Dubuque, Senior had to get through arguably the weakest substate, but still knocked off some decent teams — North Scott then Hempstead — to get here. Pleasant Valley has been top-3 all season long and have lost just once, to Muscatine early last month. The Spartans are looking to make it back to a second straight 4A title, they should have no trouble at least making it to a semifinal this year.
Players to Watch:
Pleasant Valley: Will Carius (12th in ’16), Carter Milam (39th in ’16), John Czarnecki (145th in ’16)
Dubuque, Senior: Carter Stevens (17th in ’18), Justin Blackman (37th in ’18), Noah Carter (10th in ’19)
No. 2 Council Bluffs Lincoln (22-1) vs. No. 7 Cedar Falls (19-4) — 6:35
Analysis: In a game that should be better than the discrepancy in seeds would indicate, a young, but supremely talented talented Cedar Falls group will try and upset a senior-laden and hungry Lynx squad. AJ Green is a Division I prospect who is at the help for the Tigers, and big-man Tony Bonner — a Wayne State commit — will anchor the Lynx offense.
Players to Watch:
CB Lincoln: Tony Bonner (24th in ’16), TreVonte Jones (76th in ’16), Kyle Crowl (78th in ’16)
Cedar Falls: Tra’Von Fagan (17th in ’16), AJ Green (4th in ’17), TreyShawn Labeaux (24th in ’18)
No. 3 Hoover (21-2) vs. No. 6 seed Iowa City West (19-4) — 8:15
Analysis: The most talented team in the 4A field ends up with a No. 6 seed. Iowa City West earns the low seed because they had some in-state lapses (Iowa City High, Wahlert), but also lost twice to Minnesota powers. But with five Division I guys on the roster, West should win despite being the low seed. Hoover has lost just once this season, to Dowling, and will bring a bevy of athleticism, quickness and a stout defense to Wells Fargo Arena. West is our 4A favorite in the tournament, but this one could be interesting.
Players to Watch:
Hoover: Nate Lee (49th in ’16), Y’Vez Quinn (50th in ’16), Douglas Wilson (9th in ’17), Al Campbell Jr. (70th in ’17), Devonte Thedford (40th in ’18).
Iowa City West: Wali Parks (4th in ’16), Tanner Lohaus (5th in ’16), Alex Henderson (35th in ’16), Connor McCaffery (1st in ‘1), Devontae Lane (3rd in ’17), Patrick McCaffery (1st in 19)