Ten Best: Cedar Rapids Xavier (58) vs. Dubuque Wahlert (39)
Max Techau scored 16 points, had 12 rebounds and four blocks for Xavier Cedar Rapids Xavier 58, Dubuque Wahlert 39 Cedar Rapids Xavier will have a chance to defend their Class 3A title following a dominant 58-39 win over Dubuque…
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Continue ReadingCedar Rapids Xavier 58, Dubuque Wahlert 39
Cedar Rapids Xavier will have a chance to defend their Class 3A title following a dominant 58-39 win over Dubuque Wahlert in Monday night’s substate final.
A close game throughout the first half, Xavier took a 28-22 lead into the locker rooms. They added a bit of breathing room in the third quarter before completely blowing it open in the fourth. The Saints held Wahlert to just 24% from the floor in the game.
Xavier (13-11) was led by their “Big Three” of Matt Mims, Jackson Joens and Max Techau. Each scored 16 points, and Techau added 12 rebounds and four blocks.
Wahlert ends the season at 7-16. The Golden Eagles were led by Austin Savary, with 14, and Peter Timmerman, who had 10. It was a rough season for this proud program after a great run that had been led by Iowa big Cordell Pemsl. With most of the rotation back next season, Wahlert will be on our radar to have a bounceback year and be a formidable opponent once again.
Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
Cedar Rapids Xavier | 10 | 18 | 10 | 20 | 58 |
Dubuque Wahlert | 7 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 39 |
Cedar Rapids Xavier: Matt Mims 16, Jackson Joens 16, Max Techau 16, Nolan Butkowski 5, Spencer Dempewolf 3, Quinn Schulte 2
Dubuque Wahlert: Austin Savary 14, Peter Timmerman 10, Craig Collins 3, Will Leytem 3, Alex Timp 3, Matthew Bandy 2, Jackson Jaeger 2, Sam Gruhl 2
MVP: Max Techau (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
The Xavier big man was a major difference maker on both ends of the floor in this one. He pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his co-game-high 16 points (on 6-7 shooting, no less), and also blocked four shots for good measure. Wahlert had no answer for him in the paint, and he really limited what the Golden Eagles could do on the offensive end. This is as well as I’ve ever seen him play in a game on both ends of the floor.
Best offensive performance: Jackson Joens (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
Joens is playing arguably his best basketball of the season in the last few games. A knockdown shooter who can’t be left alone, he canned four of his six attempts from the arc, and went 6-9 overall, en route to a game-high 16 points. With his size and shooting ability, he’s a tough matchup, and he’s getting hot at the right time.
Best defensive performance: Max Techau (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
Perhaps the best defense I’ve ever seen Techau play, the 6-7 forward was a wall in the paint, blocking four shots, altering numerous others and proving nearly impossible to score against at the rim in this game. With his length and athletic ability, it’s only a matter of time before he puts it all together, and this game was as put together on the defensive end as I’ve ever seen him.
Best shooter: Jackson Joens (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
The junior sharpshooter is nearly automatic with the corner 3, and he knocked down four of his six 3-point attempts in the game en route to his 16 points. He’s got a great release, moves well without the ball and is a knockdown shooter off the catch. Memo to opposing teams: Don’t leave him open in the corner – he will kill you.
Best rebounder: Max Techau (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
The biggest player on the floor, Techau is relentless on the glass, with a non-stop motor. He attacks the ball on both ends of the floor and uses his long arms to snatch the ball away from others. He pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Best passer: Quinn Schulte (Cedar Rapids Xavier)
Normally a role player for the Saints, Schulte had the ball in his hands quite a bit in this game and dished out a game-high six assists as a result. He did a nice job penetrating the defense and finding open shooters (Joens) or big men (Techau) to dump off passes to for easy layups. The sophomore has played very well down the stretch for Xavier.
Wahlert’s best: Austin Savary
A crafty lefty, Savary led the Golden Eagles with 14 points. He had difficulty at times scoring in the paint against Techau and crew, but he’s got a versatile skill set, pretty good footwork and has a tendency to score at difficult angles. Peter Timmerman also played pretty well for Wahlert, a playmaking 6-6 wing who probably needs to have the ball in his hands more.
Stat of the game: Wahlert shoots just 11-46 (23.9%)
A major theme down the stretch this season for Xavier has been defense, and Monday night was no exception. During the last 11 games (in which Xavier has won nine), the Saints are allowing just 51.2 points a game. The combination of skilled, athletic guards who can pressure the ball with Techau defending the paint has proven difficult for teams to score against. Wahlert found that out the hard way, shooting a combined 30-92 (32.6%) in their two late losses to the Saints, and just 23.9% in this game.
Getting hot late: Xavier has won nine of their last 11 heading into the state tournament
Xavier got off to a rocky start this season, beginning the year 4-9. They’ve won nine of their last 11 games heading into the 3A state tournament, and just might have re-established themselves as a favorite heading into next week. The “Big Three” of Techau, Mims and Joens is playing as well as they have all season, and they seem to finally have found the right role players to piece in alongside them.
What to watch in Xavier’s state tournament appearance: Where are the Saints seeded?
Xavier will be an interesting case for the coaches to seed (brackets released on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.). The Saints have the worst record in the 3A field at just 13-11, but they’ve played the most difficult schedule of the bunch, are the defending champions and have a number of players from last year’s group back. There’s a decent chance they get put into the 4-5 game, and good luck in the semifinals to whoever the No. 1 seed is trying to beat this group.