Games of the Week (Week 7)
MONDAY (Jan. 20) Game of the night: 4A #6 Ankeny (9-1) at 4A #8 Ankeny Centennial (10-1) Micah Johnson This is not only a big game in 4A, but a huge game in the CIML Central division, as each of…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Jan. 20)
Game of the night: 4A #6 Ankeny (9-1) at 4A #8 Ankeny Centennial (10-1)
Micah JohnsonThis is not only a big game in 4A, but a huge game in the CIML Central division, as each of these teams only have one league loss, as does Dowling Catholic. So the winner here will keep pace with the Maroons, while the loser falls back a game and will have an uphill climb. Both of these teams are hot, with Centennial having won four straight games and the Hawks entering on a six-game winning streak. Ankeny has one of the best guard trios in the state in Braxton Bayless (23.3), Jaxon Smith (18.0) and Jordan Kumm (11.4), while Centennial is headlined by their pair of 6-8 forwards, Micah Johnson (12.3) and Cody McCullough (11.4). The Jaguars leading scorer is guard Jaron Crews (15.3), who is actually an Ankeny transfer, adding even more intrigue to this inner-city rivalry. Centennial has been dominant defensively, allowing just 45.5 points a game, which ranks 6th in 4A. They’ll have their hands full with the Hawks trio of guards, but they have the rim protection with Johnson and McCullough to limit their dribble penetration and finishing ability. The size of Centennial should also allow them to control the glass on both ends of the floor, and the extra possessions they’re able to dig out should become critical in a tight, hotly contested game. We think these teams are going to split their meetings this year (February 7th at Ankeny), with each team winning the home contest.
Our pick: Centennial 62, Ankeny 57
Others to monitor
Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Janesville
Dakota Valley (SD) at 2A #2 West Sioux
2A #9 Van Meter at 3A #3 Winterset
TUESDAY (Jan. 21)
Game of the night: 1A #1 Bishop Garrigan (11-1) at 1A #4 Lake Mills (11-1)
Angelo WinkelThis is Bishop Garrigan’s first game as the top ranked team in 1A, and it comes against a strong Lake Mills team that will be looking to avenge their only loss so far this season. Garrigan handed the Bulldogs a 72-65 loss back on December 10, with four players scoring in double digits, led by guard John Joyce, who had 19 points and 8 assists. The Golden Bears’ only loss this season came to 3A Algona, by just two points, and they’ve been highly impressive this year behind Joyce and the Winkel brothers, Angelo (19.1) and Cade (13.8). Angelo Winkel controls the paint on both ends of the floor, and will make life difficult for the ‘Dogs inside the arc, so Lake Mills will need to be better from 3 this time around. This isn’t a great shooting team (33.8% from 3), but they’re better than the 7-29 they shot in the first meeting from deep (24.1%). Dashawn Linnen (20.2) and Chett Helming (18.0) have been dominant wing scorers, and if they can just knock down a few more 3s this time around (or do so at a more efficient clip), they could get their revenge here. That said, it’s really hard to pick against a Bishop Garrigan team that is rolling. The Golden Bears grab another impressive win here, pretty much wrapping up the Top of Iowa West division race in the process.
Our pick: Bishop Garrigan 71, Lake Mills 67
Others to monitor
Valley at 4A #6 Ankeny
Des Moines North at 4A #8 Ankeny Centennial
4A #5 Hempstead at Kennedy
Harlan at 3A #10 Ballard
4A #1 Waukee at 4A #7 Dowling Catholic
St. Albert at Glenwood
1A #2 Montezuma at Keota
4A #2 Waterloo West at 4A #4 Iowa City West
Sergeant Bluff-Luton at Le Mars
Gehlen Catholic at 2A #2 West Sioux
North Cedar at 2A #6 Monticello
Knoxville at 3A #5 Pella
Central City at Springville
THURSDAY (Jan. 23)
Game of the night: 2A #9 Van Meter (10-0) at Woodward-Granger (10-1)
Anthony PotthoffThis is a big one in the West Central Activities Conference, as Van Meter is unbeaten in league play, Woodward-Granger has a lone loss to Panorama and Des Moines Christian and Madrid each enter the week with two league losses. If Van Meter is able to pull out this win, they’ll grab firm control of the conference. The Bulldogs are riding their defense again, ranking 4th in 2A, allowing just 37.5 points a game. They’ll have their hands full with a Woodward-Granger attack paced by Bryce Achenbach, a highly efficient scorer who is shooting 56.7% from the field. The Hawks have a deep rotation of scorers, with seven players averaging at least 5.5 points a game, but they’ll have a difficult time getting things going against a Van Meter squad that prides themselves in their defensive effort. Look for the ‘Dogs to try and take away Achenbach, who leads the team in every major category except for 3-point shooting. If they can limit his effectiveness and make the Hawks play through someone else, W-G could have difficulty scoring. Behind the guard play of Anthony Potthoff (17.5) and Chris Schreck (8.9), Van Meter does just enough to seize control of the WCAC here, in what should be a fairly low-scoring contest.
Our pick: Van Meter 48, Woodward-Granger 42
Others to monitor
Grand View Christian at Aplington-Parkersburg
Siouxland Christian at OABCIG
Sioux Center at Unity Christian
Central DeWitt at Bettendorf
FRIDAY (Jan. 24)
Game of the night: 1A #5 South O’Brien (10-2) at 2A #2 West Sioux (12-0)
Bryce CoppockThese two teams met in their season openers, with West Sioux scratching out a 55-54 win. Neither team shot well in that game, with the Falcons going 18-53 (34.0%) and the Wolverines going 24-70 (34.3%). Don’t expect that to happen again. That was the opener, and each team has it rolling now. West Sioux has emerged as one of the state’s mot potent offensive attacks, averaging 86.3 points a game behind the strength of Bryce Coppock (24.8) and Hunter Dekkers (23.9). Those two shot well below their season averages in that opener, with Coppock going 7-21 (56.8% on the year) and Dekkers going 3-12 (53.6% on the year). While some of that can certainly be accredited to a South O’Brien defense that is always strong, don’t expect to see them struggle that much again this time around. South O’Brien is led by forward Jackson Louscher (20.9), a versatile scorer who is also the team’s primary ball handler. SOB will need to control the tempo here if they want to stick with West Sioux, but that’s easier said than done, especially in Hawarden. Look for big nights again from Coppock and Dekkers as the Falcons continue to establish themselves as one of the state’s top teams in 2A.
Our pick: West Sioux 72, South O’Brien 58
Others to monitor
Le Mars at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
St. Albert at Denison-Schleswig
3A #1 Norwalk at Indianola
Osage at 1A #4 Lake Mills
2A #10 West Branch at 2A #6 Monitcello
Southeast Valley at Newell-Fonda
1A #7 Martensdale-St. Mary’s at Mount Ayr
3A #5 Pella at Pella Christian
Valley at 4A #1 Waukee
SATURDAY (Jan. 25)
Game of the night: 1A #5 South O’Brien (10-2) at 2A #4 Boyden-Hull (10-1)
Tanner Te SlaaAn extremely difficult week for South O’Brien culminates with a trip to Boyden-Hull and a red-hot Comets squad that hasn’t lost since their season opening defeat at the hands of MOC-Floyd Valley. Since then, B-H has won 10 straight games by an average of 21.1 points a game. This is your typical Boyden-Hull squad, deep, versatile and talented, with a group that really moves the ball and is highly efficient. Against South O’Brien’s 2-3 zone, they’ll need to have guys like Tanner Te Slaa (18.1, 46.2 3P%), Marcus Kelderman (16.1, 38.9 3P%) and Keyton Moser (13.7, 38.5 3P%) step up and make shots, and we expect that to happen. They’ve got a number of different defenders that they can throw at SOB star Jackson Louscher, and they should be able to control this non-conference tilt from start to finish.
Our pick: Boyden-Hull 68, South O’Brien 55
Others to monitor
1A #2 Montezuma at Baxter
Denver at Decorah
3A #1 Norwalk at 3A #7 Gilbert
Siouxland Christian at Hinton
Sioux City East at Omaha Westside (NE)
4A #4 Iowa City West vs. Rock Island (IL)