Reliving 25 Memorable Performances: 15-11
With a week-plus off for the holiday break, what better time is there to look back on some of the most memorable performances of the past decade? I’ve been closely following high school basketball in the state of Iowa since my time in high school (graduating in 2007), and over the next week, I’ll be unveiling 25 of the best performances I’ve had a chance to witness, either as a team or individuals. The list will be more individual performance centered, and please note that prior to my hiring at Prep Hoops Iowa, I saw every Iowa City West game for five years, going to other games on evenings they weren’t playing. I look forward to continuing to be able to add performances to this list as the years go on. Without further ado, here are memorable performances Nos. 15 thru 11.
Check out performances 25-21 here.
And 20-16 here.
15.) Dubuque Senior snaps Iowa City West’s 60-game winning streak (January 10, 2014)
On a snowy and icy night in Dubuque in early January, Dubuque Senior played about as good of a game as they could and snapped Iowa City West’s Class 4A record 60-game winning streak. The Rams pretty much dominated the game from start-to-finish, beating the Trojans by 21, 68-47, and holding any non-Wyatt Lohaus player to 15 points on just 3-24 shooting. Lohaus had a huge night, scoring 32 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome Kyle Haber’s 29 points (11-16 FG), the Rams shooting nearly 50% from the floor (27-56) and Senior’s 40-25 rebounding edge. Both teams would go on to make the state tournament, with Senior getting upset by West Des Moines Valley in the first round, and West winning their third straight title. But on this night, it was all about the Senior Rams.
14.) Iowa City West’s comeback against West Des Moines Dowling in the quarterfinals (March 6, 2013)
The first minute or so of this video show exactly how they did it, but given the stakes (a second consecutive unbeaten season on the line), the Trojans comeback in the quarterfinals of the 2013 state tournament was one of the most dramatic comebacks I’ve ever seen, at any level of basketball. Trailing by six with about 1:30 to play, the Trojans erased the deficit in 30 seconds by breaking out a rarely used full-court press. Wyatt Lohaus got a steal and took it for a layup, plus the foul. He missed the free throw, Myzeah Batie-Gaddy grabbed the rebound and Lohaus knocked down a jumper, scoring four points in eight seconds. Another Lohaus steal led to a Jeremy Morgan putback and foul, giving the Trojans the lead with 56 seconds left. Dowling came down to score plus the foul five seconds later, and Batie-Gaddy tied it back up with 41 seconds left to send it to overtime. In the extra period, West was pretty much in control. The defining play of the game came in the overtime, a huge Jeremy Morgan drive and dunk over a defender with 42 seconds left (about 51 seconds into that video above), giving West a three-point lead. Dowling never got any closer, and West would go on to win their second consecutive title by beating Dubuque Senior by 16 and Bettendorf by 18, ending the season with a 52-game winning streak.
13.) Miles Wentzien outduels Johnny Dahl (January 16, 2015)
Miles Wentzien (Fort Madison) and Johnny Dahl (Keokuk) developed quite the rivalry during their time in high school, and during the last regular season meeting between the two, it was Wentzien who got the upper hand. The Bloodhound point guard had a huge night, scoring 30 points, to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists, and helping hold Dahl in check (18 points on 5-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists). Wentzien started out the night hot, knocking down three 3s in the first eight minutes, along with a few mid-range jumpers, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. He was also great late, where he scored 11 of his 30, to help put the game away. The pair of Barnstormers teammates put on quite the show in a packed gym in Fort Madison that night.
12.) Cortez Seales’ big double-double against powerhouse DeLaSalle (December 6, 2014)
Throughout the 2014-15 season, Cortez Seales put together some huge games in North Scott’s biggest ones. This game at the Breakdown Sports Tip-Off Classic in Minneapolis was no exception. In a win over perennial power DeLaSalle, Seales put together a 30 point, 13 rebound effort on 11-15 shooting to carry the Lancers to a very impressive win. DeLaSalle had won three straight AAA titles in Minnesota (that number is now five consecutive), and routinely puts players at high-major programs. In this game, Seales outplayed Jarvis Johnson (Minnesota), Sacar Anim (Marquette) and Goanar Mar (current senior, signed to play at George Mason). Seales is now in his sophomore year at North Dakota, where he is a big contributor. This performance was exceptional, and his showing in their big games was a huge reason the Lancers went on to win the 4A title this season.
11.) Josh Van Lingen’s massive quarterfinal showing in loss to Pella Christian (March 10, 2015)
Western Christian fell victim to an upset at the hands of Pella Christian in the first round of the 2015 state tournament, but Wolfpack big man Josh Van Lingen certainly can’t take any blame of the loss. Arguably the best player in a tradition rich program’s history, Van Lingen put up a huge 32-point, 17-rebound, five block performance in the one-point, 70-69, loss. He shot 13-20 from the floor, pulled down seven offensive and 10 defensive rebounds, and was a force in the paint on the defensive end. If it weren’t for Pella Christian knocking down 10 3s in the game, the Wolfpack likely would’ve had another state title in their trophy case. There will be more from Van Lingen to come later on, but this 32-17-5 was one to remember for a long time.