Examining the Unbeatens
We’re down to eight undefeated teams remaining around the state. We take a look at these eight teams, and determine when (or if) their first regular season loss will come. Class 1A WACO (14-0) Nik Coble About the Warriors:…
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Continue ReadingWe’re down to eight undefeated teams remaining around the state. We take a look at these eight teams, and determine when (or if) their first regular season loss will come.
Class 1A
WACO (14-0)
Nik CobleAbout the Warriors: The Warriors have proven themselves to be one of the state’s best defensive teams, allowing just 42.4 points a game so far this season. They’ve been tested a few times, as they’ve played four games decided by single digits – West Burlington (58-51), Danville (55-51), New London (55-53) and Notre Dame (48-45). Big man Nik Coble is the headliner, averaging 14.4 points and 13.1 rebounds, but they have a more versatile team this year with the addition of foreign exchange student Pietro Vannini, who gives them a good perimeter scoring threat alongside Drew Kissell. This team is fairly methodical on offense, and they’ll wear you down on the defensive end.
Toughest remaining games: 2/4 at New London, 2/6 vs. Notre Dame
Will they go undefeated? No. The Warriors have survived some close calls so far this season, but we think that either a young but talented New London team, or a balanced Notre Dame team will trip them up the second time around.
Easton Valley (12-0)
About the River Hawks: Class 1A’s most explosive offensive team, Easton Valley is averaging 76.3 points a game so far this season, and hasn’t been held to less than 66 points in a game. They’ve already gotten through the most difficult portion of their schedule, dismissing Springville, Central City and Alburnett, and they’re winning games by just under 30 points a night. They have a trio of big-time scorers in big man Kaleb Cornilsen (20.0) and guards Jessen Weber (18.5) and Cade Jargo (12.5), while Nate Trenkamp (9.4) is also a really good perimeter shooter who has knocked down 44.7% of his 3s this year. This team has been exceptional at preventing turnovers, as they’ve committed just 36 turnovers this season, compared to 242 assists. This is an offensive juggernaut that has already gotten through the most difficult games on their schedule, and looks primed to make some noise in Des Moines come March.
Toughest remaining games: 1/25 at Lena-Winslow (IL), 1/28 at Calamus-Wheatland
Will they go undefeated? Yes. The most difficult game remaining for the River Hawks is against a solid Lena-Winslow team from Illinois, but this group does too good a job at limiting turnovers, and they’re too potent offensively to get tripped up there.
Mount Ayr (12-0)
About the Raiders: Mount Ayr has been impressive behind a 3-point attack that is among the best in the state, shooting 42.9% as a team. Three players average in double figures in Dawson Frost (17.3), Payton Weehler (13.2) and Jaixen Frost (12.2), and like Easton Valley, they’ve taken really good care of the ball, dishing out 158 assists to just 70 turnovers. They’ve done their damage against a schedule that BC Moore’s power rankings system ranks 121st in 1A, so they haven’t really been tested yet. It’s about to get trickier.
Toughest remaining games: 1/24 vs. Martensdale-St. Mary’s, 1/28 vs. Van Meter, 2/4 vs. Nodaway Valley
Will they go undefeated? No. They’ll struggle with the size that conference rival Martensdale-St. Mary’s can provide, and even if they can get through that one, the date with 2A power Van Meter seems daunting. The Bulldogs can really lock up on the defensive end, and they’ll make things difficult for this offensive power.
Class 2A
West Sioux (14-0)
Bryce CoppockAbout the Falcons: West Sioux is averaging 86.9 points a game, which ranks second to only fellow unbeaten North Linn. The Falcons have already been tested, posting wins over South O’Brien, Western Christian, St. Mary’s and Dakota Valley (SD), and while the schedule still has some potential trip-up spots in it, this is a powerhouse that is one of the top teams in 2A and a real state title threat. Future Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers (24.2) paced the attack, but he’s far from alone. The addition of Newell-Fonda transfer Bryce Coppock (24.5) has given this group some real firepower on the perimeter, and Baxter Walsh (13.8) is another efficient scoring threat. The only way to try to beat this group is to slow them down, and with the punch they’ve got on the perimeter, that’s much easier said than done.
Toughest remaining games: 1/24 vs. South O’Brien, 1/30 at West Lyon, 2/6 at Hinton, 2/10 vs. St. Mary’s (Remsen)
Will they go undefeated? Yes. There are difficult games remaining, but this is one of the best teams in the state, and they are playing like they’re on a mission. Dekkers, Coppock and crew finish the regular season without a blemish.
Van Meter (13-0)
Anthony PotthoffAbout the Bulldogs: Van Meter has established themselves as one of the top athletics programs in the 1A/2A range, and they’ve done so on the hardwood with a commitment to defense. That isn’t any different this year, as the ‘Dogs rank 4th in 2A, allowing just 38.7 points a game. A physical team that relies on the scoring of Anthony Potthoff (18.1) to carry them, this is a balanced group that has eight others who average at least 3.6 points a game, so the role player alongside Potthoff is going to be different every night. They really make opposing teams work on the offensive end of the floor, and grind teams down and wear them out.
Toughest remaining games: 1/28 at Mount Ayr, 2/4 vs. Des Moines Christian, 2/7 at Madrid, 2/8 at Pella Christian
Will they go undefeated? No. This is a strong group, but the lack of additional offensive firepower will catch up to them against DMC, Madrid or Pella Christian.
Camanche (11-0)
Caleb DelzellAbout the Indians: Our top ranked team in 2A, the Indians have held that spot all season with a deep and balanced rotation. Four players are averaging in double figures – Caleb Delzell (14.8), LJ Henderson (12.6), Zach Erwin (11.0) and Cam Soenksen (10.7) – with a fifth just outside at 9.8 a night. After escaping in a few games early, they’ve been on a roll, winning their last eight games by over 32 points a night.
Toughest remaining games: 1/25 vs. Indian Creek (IL), 2/1 at Dubuque Senior, 2/11 at Monticello, 2/15 at West Branch
Will they go undefeated? No. We love this Camanche team, and think they’re the best team in 2A, but a trip to 4A power Dubuque Senior is going to be awfully tough. Win that one, then they probably run the table. But that’s a tall task.
North Linn (11-0)
Austin HilmerAbout the Lynx: The defending 2A champions lost one of the state’s all-time greats in Jake Hilmer, but haven’t missed a beat, dismantling teams by an average of nearly 50 points a game so far this season, while shooting 53.6% from the floor. The frenetic, pressing, up-tempo style that won the Lynx the title last year is still here, with younger brother Austin Hilmer taking over the reins, averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 assists and 4.5 steals a game, while forward Austin Miller (22.5) is shooting 70% from the floor, with a good chunk of those points coming off of easy layups from Hilmer or by crashing the offensive glass. This group completely overwhelms every team in the Tri-Rivers Conference with their style and athleticism, and they should roll through the regular season again.
Toughest remaining games: 2/7 vs. Springville, 2/14 vs. Alburnett
Will they go undefeated? Yes. Springville is 10-3 and the Lynx beat them by 25 in the first meeting, while 9-4 Alburnett lost by 19. This group will overwhelm the rest of the schedule.
Class 4A
Waukee (10-0)
Tucker DeVriesAbout the Warriors: The state’s best team, Waukee has rolled so far this season, winning games by an average of 25 points a game behind their dynamic pair of Division I wings – Payton Sandfort (19.7) and Tucker DeVries (21.4). They’ve also gotten excellent production out of fellow junior wing Wyatt Heston (9.3), who is shooting 47.3% from the arc, and at 6-7, 6-6 and 6-7, respectively, nobody can match up with this group’s size, shooting and length. The concern for this group will be depth beyond the starting lineup, but the Sandfort-DeVries-Heston trio is as good as it gets in the state.
Toughest remaining games: 1/24 vs. Valley, 1/28 vs. Centennial, 2/7 vs. Southeast Polk
Will they go undefeated? Yes. The CIML has been a meatgrinder this year, and it won’t be easy to get by Valley again, or Centennial, or an upstart Southeast Polk team, but this team is loaded with talent and their shooting, length and high basketball IQ will carry them to a 21-0 regular season mark.