Games of the Week (Week 10)
MONDAY (Feb. 4) Game of the night: 3A #3 Norwalk at 2A #5 Pella Christian With just one conference loss on the season, and only four league games remaining (every other team in the Little Hawkeye has at least three…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Feb. 4)
Game of the night: 3A #3 Norwalk at 2A #5 Pella Christian
With just one conference loss on the season, and only four league games remaining (every other team in the Little Hawkeye has at least three league losses), Norwalk could essentially wrap up the conference crown with a win Monday night in Pella. Bowen Born and company have a difficult test, however, against a surging Pella Christian team that has won five of their last six, including dominating wins over ranked teams Pella (73-57) and Van Meter (53-38). Jason Lai (11.8 points a game) has provided a boost for the Eagles since becoming eligible five games ago, giving them a dynamic scoring threat to add to their incredibly deep and balanced rotation that sees eight players averaging between 6.3 and 11.8 points a game. Norwalk won the first meeting this season, 65-61, at home back in early December, with Born (28.1) going off for 37 points, but Lai wasn’t eligible for that one. The Warriors have been one of the hottest teams in 3A, winning eight straight games, behind their “Big Three” of Born, Tyler Johnson (14.9) and Tyler Endres (13.8). If PC is able to find a way to slow Born down a bit, the Eagles can stay hot. But it’s hard to bet against Bowen Born and the way this Norwalk team is playing right now. The Warriors wrap up the LHC tonight.
Our pick: Norwalk 77, Pella Christian 72
Others to monitor
3A #4 Maquoketa at Dyersville Beckman
ADM at 3A #6 Carroll
Aplington-Parkersburg at 2A #6 Dike-New Hartford
2A #9 Van Meter at Earlham
1A #7 Prince of Peace at Easton Valley
OA-BCIG at Denison-Schleswig
West Marshall at Meskwaki Settlement
3A #10 West Delaware at Marion
2A #4 Boyden-Hull at Rock Valley
4A #4 Waukee at 4A #7 West Des Moines Valley
Unity Christian at 2A #2 West Sioux
TUESDAY (Feb. 5)
Game of the night: 4A #3 Dubuque Senior at 4A #6 Cedar Falls
Since getting off to a 1-2 start, our preseason #1 team in 4A, Dubuque Senior, has responded with 11 straight wins and enter Tuesday’s contest against defending champion Cedar Falls in the driver’s seat in the Mississippi Division of the MVC. The Rams are 11-1 in conference, while Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids Prairie each are 10-2. It’s the Noah Carter (23.5) show for Senior. The future UNI Panthers forward has been fantastic for the Rams, scoring those 23.5 points on shooting splits of 55-41-81, and dominating the glass as well. He’s surrounded by a slew of quality role players who protect the ball and defend. Cedar Falls is riding a six game winning streak and has really clamped down on the defensive end during that stretch, allowing just 46.5 points a game. The Tigers have fantastic length across the board, and expect to see them throw a fair amount of zone at the Rams, as the Logan Wolf-Josh Ollendieck combination at the top has an incredible amount of size and length for high school teams to contend with. Wolf (15.9) and Ollendieck (11.1) also pace a balanced offensive attack for CF. This should be tight throughout, and it’ll come down to whichever future UNI Panther (Carter or Wolf) makes more plays down the stretch. Playing at home, we’ll give the slightest edge to Wolf and company in this fantastic game between a pair of state title hopefuls.
Our pick: Cedar Falls 60, Dubuque Senior 59
Others to monitor
1A #1 Grand View Christian at Aplington-Parkersburg
Monticello at Camanche
Forest City at Mason City Newman
Davenport Central at 4A #1 North Scott
Indianola at Oskaloosa
3A #8 Gilbert at PCM
Calamus-Wheatland at 1A #7 Prince of Peace
2A #7 Iowa City Regina at West Branch
1A #8 Bishop Garrigan at West Fork
THURSDAY (Feb. 7)
Game of the night: 2A #1 North Linn at Cascade
There are probably actually some better games on Thursday, but this is our last real chance to see get a better gauge on what to expect from North Linn come postseason time. The Lynx moved up to 2A this year and have rolled, winning games by an average of 92-40.5, but they’ve only played one 2A team, Aplington-Parkersburg. They rolled in that one, winning 83-59, and now they get another shot at a 2A club, this time the defending champion in the class. Jake Hilmer (25.2 points, 11.1 assists) paces the most explosive offense in the state, and North Linn will get an interesting test here from a team that solely plays a 2-3 zone and will be looking to slow the game down as much as possible to control the Lynx attack. Good luck with that.
Our pick: North Linn 75, Cascade 52
Others to monitor
Oelwein at Crestwood
3A #5 Pella at Indianola
Oskaloosa at 2A #5 Pella Christian
Western Christian at Sioux Falls Christian (SD)
Storm Lake at 2A #10 South Central Calhoun
Mason City Newman at West Fork
FRIDAY (Feb. 8)
Game of the night: Johnston at Ankeny
It’s a surprisingly slow night of games on Friday night, but this is a good one in the CIML between a pair of teams that are just outside the 4A rankings. Johnston won the first meeting, 63-60, at home behind a 23-41 (56.0%) showing from the floor, while Ankeny shot just 41.7%. Peyton Williams (10.8, 8.5 rebounds) was strong in the first meeting for the Dragons, going for 13 points and 10 rebounds against a smaller Ankeny lineup. If the Hawks aren’t able to keep Williams off the glass, they’ll struggle to prevent Johnston from scoring again, as even when they have empty possessions, Williams, Max Roquet and Jonathon Leth crash the offensive glass hard. The Hawks’ strength lies in their backcourt, with three double figure scorers pacing their offensive attack in Braxton Bayless (13.9), Jaxon Smith (13.4) and Dillon Carlson (12.9). They all thrive on getting to the rim, which won’t be ideal against a team with a rim protector like Johnston has in Williams. The Dragons complete the season sweep, as they just match up well with the Hawks.
Our pick: Johnston 58, Ankeny 54
Others to monitor
Mason City Newman at Lake Mills
1A #6 George-Little Rock at Rock Valley
Western Christian at Tea Area (SD)
Linn-Mar at Dubuque Wahlert
SATURDAY (Feb. 9)
Game of the night: 3A #10 West Delaware at 3A #4 Maquoketa
These two teams met back in December when both teams were ranked in the top 3 in 3A. Maquoketa won that game 40-35 in a game that was not very much fun to watch. These are two physical teams that rely on their defense and physicality to win games, and that will likely be the case again here. Maquoketa shot just 15-43 (34.9%), and really struggled at the line, going 6-18, while West Delaware was just 13-38 from the floor (34.2%). While Maquoketa doesn’t have an answer for West Delaware star Derek Krogmann (22.6 points, 15.2 rebounds), who went for 15 points and 20 rebounds in the first meeting, we don’t expect to see the Cardinals shoot so poorly at home, particularly from the free throw line. Pack your shoulder pads and helmets, this one is going to be physical.
Our pick: Maquoketa 51, West Delaware 47
Others to monitor
Sioux City West at 3A #9 LeMars
3A #3 Norwalk at Oskaloosa
2A #7 Iowa City Regina at Solon
1A #4 Ankeny Christian Academy at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont