12 Sub-.500 Teams You Don’t Want to See in Your Substate
Groupings for districts and substates will be released over the next few weeks, with the assignments for Classes 1A and 2A set to be released this Friday, the 24th, and assignments for the two larger classes coming on the 31st.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGroupings for districts and substates will be released over the next few weeks, with the assignments for Classes 1A and 2A set to be released this Friday, the 24th, and assignments for the two larger classes coming on the 31st. Upsets occur every year during the postseason, and we’re taking a look at three teams currently below .500 in each class that you won’t want to see in your grouping when the assignments are released. (Records current as of 1/21/20.)
Class 1A
Harris-Lake Park (5-7): Outside of a perplexing loss to MMCRU, each of the Wolves losses have come to quality teams. They have a dynamic pair of scorers in Isaac Ihnen (21.3 points a game) and Bubba Sohn (17.8), who can carry this group to a few wins and a district final appearance, where anything can happen. The question for this group will be can they defend well enough to make a run? They currently rank 111th in 1A in scoring defense, allowing 58.3 points a game. Get that number down into the low 50s, and they’ll have the firepower to make some noise.
Earlham (2-8): Almost all of the Cardinals losses have come to quality 2A teams (or 1A top 10 Madrid), and they just posted a solid win over 2A AHSTW, which was 11-1 coming into the game. TJ Harkins (12.2) is a high-level shooter who is capable of getting hot and carrying this group to some wins. He hasn’t shot a great percentage yet this year (29%, compared to 39.3% and 70 made 3s last year), but he’s certainly capable of going on a run.
St. Albert (5-6): The Falcons always play one of the most difficult schedules in 1A, as they’re a part of the Hawkeye 10 Conference, which is almost entirely made up of 3A schools. They started the season 0-5 but have won five of their last six games, including a win over a Mount Michael Benedictine (NE) team that was ranked in Nebraska’s equivalent to 3A. They have some state tournament experience with guys like Sam Rallis, Ryan Hughes and Lance Wright, who were all starters on last year’s State team that gave 1A champion Grand View Christian fits in the quarterfinals. This pick is kind of a cop-out, but they are below .500 currently and likely make it to State.
Class 2A
Sioux Center (2-9): It’s been a rough year for the Warriors, but this is still a program with a lot of winning tradition, and if they get separated from some of their Siouxland counterparts and instead find themselves in a district with War Eagle schools, they may have a chance to make some noise. They’ve got a pair of solid scoring threats in Wilson Harshbarger (15.5) and Eli Hibna (10.9), as well as a role player in Christian Vietor who can get hot from deep and carry this group to a few upsets. Are they likely to make a run? No. But there is enough talent here to give teams a real test.
Kuemper Catholic (2-7): Like St. Albert in 1A, the Knights play against primarily larger schools, which prepares them well for postseason play. A physical team with guys like Kyle Berg and Cole Collison holding down the paint and gaining extra possessions with their effort on the offensive glass, they could make some noise if they can get some more consistent shooting.
Sumner-Fredericksburg (5-6): They showed what they’re capable of what they beat a Dike-New Hartford team that has spent a good chunk of the season inside the top 10. The Cougars have a trio fo double figure scorers in James Stimson (14.3), Kody VanEngelenburg (11.8) and Peyton Schmitz (10.3), and that trio will keep this team in games. Stimson will be the best player on the floor in a lot of matchups, and if he’s able to take over the game on both ends of the floor like he’s capable of, S-F could make a run to a district final, where anything can happen.
Class 3A
Sergeant Bluff-Luton (4-6): The Warriors haven’t lost a single game by more than 7 points this season, and they entered the year with high expectations that they haven’t quite lived up to yet. They go 6-7, 6-7 and 6-8 in their starting lineup, the type of size and length that few teams (if any) in the state can match up with. In addition to that length, they have some shooting with Daniel Wright (40.7 3P%) and Deric Fitzgerald (45.1 3P%). This group has been in every game, against some really strong competition no less, and knows how to win in the postseason.
Xavier Foster (Photo credit: Matt Bain, DM Register)Oskaloosa (4-6): Last year’s champions have had quite a bit of adversity to deal with this season, with the health of coach Ryan Parker and star forward Xavier Foster being out an extended period of time with mono casting a shadow over the team this year. The good thing about Foster missing time is that it allowed some other kids to get involved and gain some valuable experience. With Foster back on the floor, this group will be capable of beating anyone because of the 7-footer’s ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Noah Van Veldhuizen, Iszac Schultz and Keaton Flaherty are capable shooters, and if Foster is protecting the rim and dominating the glass, the Indians will be a tough out.
Newton (3-7): The Cardinals are a young team, but they have some shooting with Noah Allen (36.5 3P%) and Kyle Long (42.5%), and that type of shooting can carry a team to some wins. Like Sioux Center in 2A, Newton would benefit by being placed with some non-Little Hawkeye teams, as they’ve been largely overmatched against teams in their league, but if they were able to play teams from the South Central, Raccoon River or WaMaC, they could have some success.
Class 4A
Trae SwartzOttumwa (4-7): 6-4 junior wing Trae Swartz (22.3) has established himself as one of the top scoring threats in 4A, and that alone will make this Bulldogs squad dangerous. Swartz is a high-level shooter who is knocking down 45.3% of his attempts from the arc, and he’s capable of lighting up the scoreboard from all three levels. In Joe Hammer, they have a solid lead guard who protects the ball, limiting turnovers, and with Swartz on the floor, they will be capable of pulling some upsets.
Bettendorf (4-6): The Bulldogs started the season 0-6 before running off four straight wins, signaling they are starting to turn things around. Curtis Clark is a really good coach who will always have his team defending hard, and that’s no different this season, as they rank 10th in 4A in scoring defense, allowing just 47.9 points a game. With a deliberate approach on the offensive end, they’re going to limit possessions and try to grind out wins, using their physicality, athleticism and pounding the offensive glass. This isn’t a fun team to try and play for a full 32 minutes.
Hoover (3-5): The Huskies have a winning tradition, and while they haven’t been as dominant on the defensive end as they usually are, they will lock in and defend all 94 feet and make life difficult for opposing ball handlers. Chase Henderson and Elijah Vos are having great freshmen seasons, combining to average 25.7 points a game, and they may be young, but they aren’t going to back down for anyone. Henderson in particular can have an explosive scoring game and get this team going.