Games of the Week (Week 3)
MONDAY (Dec. 12) Game of the night: Bedford at Clarke, Osceola Undefeated Bedford travels to Clarke on Monday night, where they’ll face an Indians team that can put some points on the board, led by Troy Morgan (17.2) and Grant…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Dec. 12)
Game of the night: Bedford at Clarke, Osceola
Undefeated Bedford travels to Clarke on Monday night, where they’ll face an Indians team that can put some points on the board, led by Troy Morgan (17.2) and Grant Wishon (15.4). Wishon has controlled the paint early on, already collecting 19 blocks in the first two weeks of the season, but he’ll have his hands full with Bedford’s trio of double figure scorers – Brennan Sefrit (19.8), Joel King (13.8) and Quentin Sefrit (11.5). All three are shooting better than 60% from the floor, as the 4-0 Bulldogs are shooting 59.8% as a team.
TUESDAY (Dec. 13)
Game of the night: Sioux City Heelan at 4A No. 4 Sioux City East
In a night stacked with some good games, this intercity rivalry takes the cake. These teams always play entertaining games, and expect to see the scoreboard lighting up on the east side of Sioux City. Heelan is led by junior wing Elijah Hazekamp, who is a difficult player to contain with his ability to score inside and out, and his relentless motor on the glass. East has the size to limit him with Van Rees, and the guard trio of Aidan Vanderloo, Trae Robinson and Jailen Billings will be tough for the Crusaders to slow down.
Others to monitor
3A No. 8 Mount Vernon at 2A No. 8 Dyersville Beckman
4A No. 2 North Scott at Bettendorf
4A No. 3 Dubuque Senior at 4A No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Davenport Central at Davenport North
Johnston at 4A No. 10 Des Moines North
4A No. 5 Ames at 4A No. 9 West Des Moines Dowling
2A No. 6 South Hamilton at Greene County
City High at 4A No. 1 Iowa City West
Central Lyon at 2A No. 9 West Lyon
Dike-New Hartford at Jesup
THURSDAY (Dec. 15)
Game of the night: Belle Plaine at Lisbon
A pair of 1A teams with fairly high expectations this season meet in Lisbon on Thursday night. Belle Plaine is off to a 4-1 start, headlined by the duo of Brant DeMeulenaere (16.6) and Brandon Mantz (13.4). The Plainesmen are holding teams to 45.6 points a game, and their only loss so far is to 3A Williamsburg. Lisbon wing Bailey Arwine (16.0) will be a tough cover for Belle Plaine, but they’ve got the better all-around roster and should win a close one here.
Others to monitor
Papillion LaVista (NE) at Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
FRIDAY (Dec. 16)
Game of the night: 2A No. 5 Northeast, Goose Lake at Camanche
This matchup lost a little bit of it’s luster after Camanche lost to Cascade last week, but the Indians are still 4-1 and one of the state’s highest scoring teams, averaging 73.4 points a game. Dakota Soenksen (23.2) has been sensational for Camanche in the early going, and he knocked down eight first half 3s in their win over Easton Valley last weekend. Dylan Hundley (15.6), Dev Patel (12.2) and Cameron Soenksen (11.0) provide some additional scoring punch for this group. On the other side is a Northeast team that ranks 5th in 2A in scoring defense, allowing just 39.2 points a game. The Rebels prefer to play at a slower pace, with their big body in the middle, Luke Empen (11.0) controlling the paint and Zach Parson (18.3) the big scoring threat on the perimeter. This will be an interesting contrast in styles, and whoever gets to play at the speed they want should have the upper hand.
Others to monitor
Waukee at 4A No. 5 Ames
West Des Moines Valley at Ankeny Centennial
1A No. 5 Boyden-Hull at Central Lyon
Davenport Assumption at Davenport Central
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Lake Mills
Harlan at 4A No. 8 Council Bluffs, Lewis Central
3A No. 2 West Delaware at 3A No. 8 Mount Vernon
3A No. 4 Grinnell at Newton
2A No. 8 Dyersville Beckman at Solon
2A No. 1 Pella Christian at Norwalk
Bettendorf at Pleasant Valley
2A No. 9 West Lyon at Rock Valley
4A No. 4 Sioux City East at Sergeant Bluff-Luton
PCM, Monroe at 2A No. 6 South Hamilton
SATURDAY (Dec. 17)
Game of the night: Jesup vs. 1A No. 1 Gladbrook-Reinbeck
This game is being played at Wartburg College on Saturday night, and the guard matchup of Ethan Wyant vs. Joe Smoldt should be worth the price of admission alone. These two teams met at the 1A state tournament last season, with Gladbrook-Reinbeck pulling out a win. Smoldt scored 35 points in that contest, with an unbelievable second half in which he scored 27. There will be games going on all day at Wartburg, so get there early, enjoy a day filled with basketball then grab a good seat for this stellar guard matchup (followed by another solid game – Dike-New Hartford vs. Waverly-Shell Rock).
Others to monitor
LeMars at Sioux City Heelan
Dike-New Hartford vs. Waverly-Shell Rock (at Wartburg College, Waverly, IA)
Moline (IL) vs. Davenport Central (at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL)
4A No. 2 North Scott vs. Moline (IL) (at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL)
Bettendorf vs. East Moline, United Township (IL) (at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL)