Games of the Week (Week 5)
MONDAY (Jan. 6) Game of the night: Glenwood at Atlantic The Rams really can’t afford to fall any further behind in the Hawkeye 10 race, as they’ve already dropped a pair of conference games, while Harlan and Lewis Central are…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Jan. 6)
Game of the night: Glenwood at Atlantic
The Rams really can’t afford to fall any further behind in the Hawkeye 10 race, as they’ve already dropped a pair of conference games, while Harlan and Lewis Central are still unbeaten in league play. This is a tricky spot against an Atlantic team that has been competitive and will be looking for revenge against them. Ryan Blum was dominant in the Rams’ win earlier this season, going for 26 points and 8 rebounds and Atlantic doesn’t really have anyone to match up with the talented combo forward. Look for Blum to have another big day, and the Rams get enough from fellow standout guard Zach Carr to pick up a road win here and stay within striking distance in the league race.
Our pick: Glenwood 72, Atlantic 63
Others to monitor
Grand View Christian at Bedford
PCM at Earlham
River Valley at Hinton
TUESDAY (Jan. 7)
Game of the night: 2A #3 West Sioux at 1A #1 St. Mary’s, Remsen
Bryce CoppockThis is one of the biggest games in the state this year, regardless of class, as both teams are undefeated with (obviously) sky-high expectations. This one is a major contrast in styles, as West Sioux has one of the most high-powered offensive attacks in the state, averaging 86.6 points a game (second in 2A), while St. Mary’s allows just 37.9 points a night, which ranks second in 1A.
St. Mary’s will have their hands full trying to slow down the Falcons’ guard tandem of Bryce Coppock and Hunter Dekkers, who are combining to average over 50 points a game. West Sioux swept the season series last season, and both teams return most of the production from those units. The difference is that West Sioux brought in Coppock, a high-scoring guard from Newell-Fonda, and that addition may prove to be too much for a St. Mary’s team that can struggle at times to score at a high level. Spencer Schorg will need to be outstanding if St. Mary’s wants to hang with the Falcons here.
Our pick: West Sioux 75, St. Mary’s 63
Others to monitor
2A #4 Treynor at AHSTW
North Scott at 3A #1 Assumption
Indianola at 3A #4 Dallas Center-Grimes
Pleasant Valley at Davenport Central
Southeast Valley at East Sac County
1A #10 Madrid at Earlham
4A #2 Hempstead at 4A #7 Iowa City West
Unity Christian at LeMars
3A #5 Norwalk at Oskaloosa
1A #7 WACO at Notre Dame
Grinnell at 2A #9 Pella Christian
4A #8 Ankeny at Ottumwa
4A #5 Cedar Falls at Prairie
Dakota Valley (SD) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton
OABCIG at South Central Calhoun
North Polk at South Hamilton
Senior at Xavier
4A #3 Sioux City East at Yankton (SD)
THURSDAY (Jan. 9)
Game of the night: 2A #10 Dike-New Hartford at 1A #9 West Fork
These teams enter the week undefeated and this is a big-time non-conference game between a pair of historically strong programs in northern Iowa. West Fork has been extremely impressive so far this season, notching quality wins over Clear Lake and Osage, while the Wolverines have a solid win over Aplington-Parkersburg, but have won each of their last two games by just two points. The Warhawks have three players averaging in double figures in Kayden Ames (14.4), Jakob Washington (12.5) and Brayden Vold (12.0), while D-NH has been led by guard Dane Fuller, who is averaging just under 20 points a game. Washington could be a matchup problem for the Wolverines with his ability to score inside-out and control the glass. The extra possessions that he grabs could be a difference maker here, and every possession will matter in what should be a tight game throughout.
Our pick: West Fork 63, Dike-New Hartford 58
Others to monitor
1A #6 Martensdale-St. Mary’s at Ankeny Christian Academy
Van Meter at Des Moines Christian
3A #8 MOC-Floyd Valley at Dakota Valley (SD)
West Lyon at Spirit Lake
FRIDAY (Jan. 10)
Game of the night: 4A #5 Cedar Falls at 4A #7 Iowa City West
Josh OllendieckTwo-time defending champion Cedar Falls has been rolling since a season-opening loss to Waterloo West, winning their last five games by an average of 21.4 points a game behind the dynamic guard play of Landon Wolf and Josh Ollendieck, who are combining to average 29.5 points a game and shooting 47.1% from 3. On the other side of the floor, this is a throwback West team that is relying on defense. The Trojans rank third in 4A, allowing just 41.5 points a game. They’ll need to get a big effort out of Belmont signee Even Brauns, who is averaging 14.8 points a game and has blocked 19 shots so far this season. The unfortunate news for Brauns is that Chase Courbat is a solid post defender, so things won’t come easy for Brauns. And with West without Marcus Morgan, who is nursing a tibia injury, West will struggle to score against the Tigers here, and Cedar Falls should pick up a solid win.
Our pick: Cedar Falls 64, Iowa City West 55
Others to monitor
4A #8 Ankeny at 4A #9 Ankeny Centennial
Denver at Aplington-Parkersburg
Xavier at Iowa City Liberty
Central DeWitt at 3A #9 Marion
2A #8 Beckman Catholic at 3A #6 Mount Vernon
South Hamilton at PCM
Oskaloosa at 3A #10 Pella
3A #4 Dallas Center-Grimes at 2A #9 Pella Christian
4A #2 Hempstead at Prairie
4A #1 Waukee at Southeast Polk
SATURDAY (Jan. 11)
Game of the night: 2A #2 Monticello vs. Cuba City (WI)
This game will be played at the Wendy’s Classic at Loras College in Dubuque. In fact, there are a number of big showcase events this weekend that will bring us a lot of quality matchups in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City.
The Panthers are going to have their hands full here with Cuba City, the top ranked team in Wisconsin’s Division 4, which would be similar to Iowa’s Class 2A. Cuba City is led by 6-5 wing Brayden Dailey, who is one of Wisconsin’s top prospects in the 2021 class. Dailey has offers from UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee and is a talented playmaking wing who can fill it up from all three levels. The Cubans also have a strong lead guard in Jackson Noll who will make life difficult on the Monticello guards.
Monticello is led by 6-6 junior big man Justin Recker, who is averaging 18 points a game on 71.7% shooting. He’ll be a tough matchup for Cuba City. The key here will be the Panther guards – Luke Lambert, Tate Petersen and Connor Lambert – who will need to protect the ball and limit turnovers against a talented Cuba City squad with plenty of length. This should be a great game, and if the Panthers can find a way to win this one, they really need to be considered an elite team in 2A. That said, Brayden Dailey is going to be the best player on the floor, and in a tight one, we’ll side with the top player.
Our pick: Cuba City (WI) 65, Monticello 60
Others to monitor
Don Bosco vs. Alburnett
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at 3A #7 Algona
St. James Academy (MO) vs. Kennedy
Xavier vs. Charles City
Wahlert Catholic vs. 4A #6 Dowling Catholic
Springfield Lanphier (IL) vs. 4A #2 Hempstead
Valley vs. Linn-Mar
2A #1 Camanche vs. Mineral Point (WI)
Sergeant Bluff-Luton vs. Omaha Skutt (NE)
Senior vs. Naperville North (IL)
Ankeny Christian Academy at St. Albert, Council Bluffs
Spencer at 2A #3 West Sioux