STATE TOURNAMENT: Class 4A Recaps
FINAL: No. 6 Iowa City West 39 vs. No. 5 Valley 46
Valley got out to a strong start and never looked back in its 4A title win over Iowa City West on Saturday night in Des Moines.
For a brief moment in the first quarter — after Devontae Lane made 3 — the Trojans led 3-2, it was the only lead of the game, and Valley hit a slew clutch free-throws late to seal the win.
Quinton Curry was a beast down low for the Tigers, the junior forward scored all 16 of his points from in the paint or at the line. He was an efficient 6-7 from the floor. Curry and senior point guard Turner Scott were named to the all-tournament team. Scott finished with 10 points and a game-high five assists.
Valley does it — 4A champs (23-2) #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/s6Y6Y92Rx2
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) March 13, 2016
Iowa City West got solid performances from Devontae Lane (14 points, 3 assists), and Wali Parks (11 points, 3-3 FGs), but the rest of the team was off tonight. Aside from Parks, the Trojans were just 7-33 from the floor.
The championship is Valley’s first since 1993, and just the school’s second ever. Iowa City West will return a bevy of top-talent next year, and will once again be contenders for a state title.
Team Scoring
West……8 6 12 13 — 39
Valley….12 11 9 14 — 46
Individual Scoring
West: Devontae Lane 14, Wali Parks 11, Alex Henderson 8, Connor McCaffery 4, Tanner Lohuas 2.
Valley: Quinton Curry 16, Carlo Marble 10, Turner Scott 10, Pete Economos 4, Peyton Long 4, Charley Long 2.
MVP
2017 Quinton Curry, 6’6 F
He was an efficient 6-7 from the floor and the wily vet hit some very clutch free throws late to help seal the win. He’s bigger and stronger than anyone he faces, and will have a big-time summer with Kingdom Hoops this offseason.
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Semifinal: No. 7 Cedar Falls 59 vs. No. 6 Iowa City West 61
With 0.1 seconds on the clock and the game tied, Iowa City West’s Tanner Lohaus tipped in a Devontae Lane miss and sent his squad to a 4A state title against West Des Moines Valley.
The Lane missed jumper came when he stole a rebound from TreyShawn Labeaux after Connor McCaffery missed the front-end of a one-and-one with 5 seconds left in the game.
Play it back: Tanner Lohaus bats in winner for Iowa City West. #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/brljjRzyou
— Chris Cuellar (@cuellarchris) March 11, 2016
West had been in control of the game from the opening tip, but then in the fourth quarter Cedar Falls’ future Division I point guard AJ Green went nuts — scoring 14 of his game-high 24 in the fourth quarter. All 14 of the 6-foot-1 sophomore’s fourth quarter points came in the last four minutes.
Wali Parks led the Trojans with 17 points, the Indian Hills commit was using his great length and leaping ability routinely to hurt the Tigers — coming away with four dunks in the process.
It was going to be tough to top the Turner Scott game-winning bucket in double overtime from the first semifinal, but this game did just that. The 2016 4A state semifinals will go down in history as legendary.
Valley and Iowa City West will be a fitting end to the 4A season — many pegged them as the two favorites last fall. They will tip off at 8:05 Saturday night.
Team Scoring
Cedar Falls…………. 10 14 10 25 — 59
Iowa City West…….18 10 15 18 — 61
Individual Scoring
Cedar Falls: AJ Green 24, TreyShawn Labeaux 12, Taylen Alexander 11, Isaiah Johnson 6, Tra’Von Fagan 6
Iowa City West: Wali Parks 17, Connor McCaffery 14, Devontae Lane 13, Tanner Lohaus 8, Alex Henderson 5, Dallas Majors 4
MVP
2018 AJ Green, 6’1 PG
Rare to have an MVP from the losing team, but Green was amazing. He scored 14 points in the final four minutes of the game – including three 3s, one of them a four-point play. If it wasn’t for the sophomore phenom Cedar Falls may have lost this one by double-digits. He played against high-level D1 prospects the entire game (Parks, Lane), yet had no turnovers, a testament to his elite ball-handling. He’s a gifted shooter who can create his own look and has deep range. An incredible player with an extraordinarily bright future.
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Semifinal: No. 5 Valley 50 vs. No. 1 Pleasant Valley 48
In what ended up being a 2OT thriller, Valley held the ball for entire second overtime, then senior point guard Turner Scott — like he’s done countless times before — won it for the Tigers at at the buzzer.
TURNER SCOTT does it in 2OT. Valley is headed to the 4A state final — unbelievable game #iahsbkb https://t.co/P6tbu2BfQS
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) March 11, 2016
With no shot clock in place at the high school level, Valley took advantage of having one of the state’s best ball-handlers, putting the ball in the hands of the sure-handed Scott, and running the entire four minutes off the clock before attempting the game-winner at the buzzer.
Norther Michigan commit Will Carius was amazing for the Spartans, scoring 34 of their 48 points, and connecting on seven of his nine 3-point attempts.
Carlo Marble was instrumental in the win for Valley, he scored 16 points, and added two blocks and two steals. Until his game-winner, Scott had a rough-go for most of the game, but still finished with a team-high 17 points (4-18 FGs).
Valley will play the winner of Cedar Falls and Iowa City West tomorrow night (Saturday), at 8:05 PM.
Team Scoring
Valley………………….6 8 15 13 OT 6 2OT 2 — 50
Pleasant Valley….4 7 14 17 OT 6 2OT 0 — 48
Individual Scoring
Valley: Turner Scott 17, Carlo Marble 16, Quinton Curry 7, Peyton Long 6, Charley Crowley 2, Pete Economos 2
Pleasant Valley: Will Carius 34, Brian Dayman 5, Carter Milam 5, Trevon Montgomery 2, John Czarnecki 2.
MVP
2016 Carlo Marble, 6’5 G/F
Still with no basketball offers, the supremely athletic and good-sized wing told me in the winter he was considering football at the next level. It’s not too late for hoops programs to swoop in and offer the do-it-all Valley wing. He was impactful in many ways today, most notably hitting some key deep balls for the Tigers in the second half — he’s 42 percent for 3 this year. He was also using his length and leaping ability to get his hands on a bevy of defensive rebounds that others wouldn’t even sniff. Lastly, he come away with two blocks and two steals — Marble was the MVP on both ends for the Tigers.
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Quarterfinal: No. 3 Hoover 48 vs. No. 6 Iowa City West 51
Hoover scored the game’s first bucket, but Iowa City West led from that point on in this 4A thriller.
It was not easy for the Trojans, and Hoover’s speed and quickness caused some fits for the supremely talented West squad at times.
Devontae Lane looked like a superstar for West, starting out hot, then hitting some demoralizing buckets in the second half. His buzzer-beating 3-ball to end the third quarter put West up nine, and squelched the Husky momentum.
Douglas Wilson was good for Hoover, he scored 11 points, and added six rebounds and three blocks. Aldreais Campbell Jr. scored a team high 15 — both he and Wilson will be back next season.
On paper this was an upset, but trust us when we say, that West is no No. 6 seed. The Trojans are the most talented team in the state, and when they assert themselves, they will be very tough to beat.
Team Scoring
Hoover……………..12 6 6 24 — 51
Iowa City West…16 12 5 18 — 48
Individual Scoring
Hoover: Aldreias Campbell 15, Y’Vez Quinn 14, Douglas Wilson 11, Nate Lee 6, Kenny Quinn 2.
Iowa City West: Devontae Lane 24, Connor McCaffery 9, Wali Parks 8, Tanner Lohaus 6, Alex Henderson 4
MVP
2017 Devontae Lane, 6′ PG
He’s a nice and rare blend of bull and electric, able to beat you with brute strength or with finesse. Tonight he was both prolific and clutch, hitting backbreaking buckets on multiple occasions, devastating the Huskies and ruining any chance of a comeback. He was offered by Iowa State over a year ago when Fred Hoiberg was still there, we don’t believe that offer still stands. He should pick up a bevy of Division I offers this spring and summer with the Iowa Barnstormers.
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Quarterfinal: No. 2 CB Lincoln 58 vs. No. 7 Cedar Falls 60
It was by far the most fascinating game of the tournament, with a controversial finish and all, but ultimately it was Cedar Falls which moved on to the 4A semifinals.
The fourth quarter was back-and-forth from start to finish, and with 10 seconds left to play, his team down three, Council Bluff’s Lincoln senior Kyle Crowl rained in a 26-footer to tie the game at 58.
Without calling a timeout, Cedar Falls in-bounded, found its star senior forward Tra’Von Fagan and he drove the length of the floor, got to the hoop and a foul was called with two-tenths of a second left.
Fagan knocked in both of his free-throws and the game ended with a Crowl heave from three-fourths the court that would not have counted had it gone.
Cedar Falls was led by Fagan, who scored 19 second half points, 24 for the game. And AJ Green who poured in 12 first half points, and 14 in the game.
Council Bluffs Lincoln was led by Tony Bonner with 15 points, Crowl with 14, and Tre’Vonte Jones with 10.
Team Scoring
CB Lincoln….15 16 13 14 — 60
Cedar Falls… 20 10 17 13 — 58
Individual Scoring
CB Lincoln: Tony Bonner 15, Kyle Crowl 14, Tre’Vonte Jones 10, Adam Barrett 8, Trey Nixon 6, Justin Neyland 5
Cedar Falls: Tra’Von Fagan 24, AJ Green 14, Isaiah Johnson 8, Treyshawn LaBeaux 7, Taylen Alexander, 4Mitchell Bower 3
MVP
2016 Tra’Von Fagan, 6’7 SF
Fagan was unstoppable in the second half and all of his buckets came around the rim, where even with 6’8 shot-blocker Tony Bonner patrolling, he was able to get off any shot he wanted. He’s an athletic and under-control wing, who can hit the 3-ball –nailed one in the first half — and as far as we know he’s still offer-less. This could should be playing — at the very least — Division II basketball next season.
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Quarterfinal: No. 1 Pleasant Valley 42 vs. No. 8 Dubuque, Senior 57
For at least two quarters of basketball it appeared another one-seed over eight-seed upset may be in the works — but that was promptly squelched in the second half by Pleasant Valley.
The Spartans (23-1) — which were tied with the Rams 27-27 at half — outscored Dubuque, Senior 13-2 in the third quarter to take control of the upset-minded eight-seed. The fourth quarter was also controlled by the Spartans, and this one was over early.
Carter Milam recorded a double-double by the third quarter for Pleasant Valley, notching 12 rebounds and adding 12 points. He’s headed to Des Moines NAIA Grand View.
Northern Michigan commit Will Carius had a double-double of his own — he snared 10 rebounds to go along with his game-high 20 points.
The Rams (14-11) could be considered early favorites to compete for a 4A title in 2018, 24 of their 42 points came from underclassmen, and they started two freshman and a sophomore.
Pleasant Valley will play West Des Moines Valley in a semifinal match Thursday at 1:30.
Team Scoring
Dubuque, Senior…11 16 2 13 — 42
Pleasant Valley…… 9 18 13 17 — 57
Individual Scoring
Dubuque, Senior: Noah Carter 18, Derek Noel 9, Carter Stevens 6, Louis Psihoyos 5, Ryan Fair 4.
Pleasant Valley: Carter Milam 20, Will Carius 12, Trevon Montgomery 9, John Czarnecki 7, Brian Dayman 6, Alex Kitzmann 1, Michael Meyer 1, Nick Jordahl 1.
MVP
2016 Will Carius, 6’6 SF
Iowa’s 12th-ranked 2016, Carius is a big, tall, and strong small forward, who is capable of dominating in the post, or knocking it down from the perimeter. He was a fringe Division I prospect, and was getting some Ivy looks this time last year, but ended up committing to D2 Northern Michigan late in 2015.
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Quarterfinal: No. 4 Dowling (20-3) 56 vs. No. 5 Valley (20-3) 61
Quinton Curry carried the load in the first half and Turner Scott took the reins in the second for a Valley squad that looked like a 4A title contender from start to finish in its win over Dowling Wednesday afternoon.
Iowa’s 5th ranked 2017, Quinton Curry was scorching hot from the floor to start, connecting on six of his first seven attempts, and scoring 13 first half points — he finished with 19.
Truman State commit Turner Scott poured in 19 second half points, dazzling the crowd with his electric speed and savvy. Carlo Marble was a difference-maker on both ends of the floor, his elite athleticism game-changing; he finished with 10 points, three blocks and four rebounds.
Dowling forward Stevie Sarcone spurred a 13-0 run in the third quarter which saw the Tiger lead decrease from 16 to three. Sarcone, who had made two 3s all year, connected on two NBA 3s to end the quarter. But Valley came out 10-0 in the four, and iced it from there.
Iowa’s 2nd-ranked 2018 Sam Ingoli showed glimpses of what the future holds for the Maroons, he led them with 17 points and seven assists.
Valley will play in a semifinal on Friday at 1:30 against the winner pf Pleasant Valley vs Dubuque, Senior.
Team Scoring
Valley…….16 14 12 19 — 61
Dowling…12 8 19 17 — 56
Individual Scoring
Valley: Turner Scott 25, Quinton Curry 19, Carlo Marble 10, Pete Economos 4
Dowling: Sam Ingoli 17, Stevie Sarcone 15, Cole Scieszinski 10, Ted Brown 6, Joey Kern 5, Luke Eastman 3
MVP
2016 Turner Scott, 5’10 PG
Scott is never disappointing and today was certainly no exception. He might be the fastest player in the state with the ball in his hands, as one Valley students proclaimed, “freaky fast.” He’s an elite ball-handler and shooter, and with years of varsity ball under his best he’s as poised and calm as you’ll see a 17 year old kid. We can not say enough great things about the Truman State commit. One question though….why did he not receive a Division I offer?
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