Friday 4A Substate Semifinal Picks

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Class 4A Substate Semifinals</h4> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;" border="yes"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Game</strong></span></td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Our Pick</strong></span></td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Reasoning</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Fort Dodge at Ankeny</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Ankeny</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Hawks won regular season meeting by 14, without star guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/braxton-bayless/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/braxton-bayless/">Braxton Bayless</a></a>, a 23 point scorer, in the lineup. Too much perimeter scoring punch for Fort Dodge to keep up with.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Roosevelt at Centennial</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Centennial</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">The Jaguars have been dominant this season, rolling to a 21-1 record. They won the regular season meeting by 21 in December, outrebounding Roosevelt by 12. They have too much size and depth for Roosevelt to keep up with.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Linn-Mar at Cedar Falls</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Cedar Falls</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Linn-Mar will try to ugly it up, but CF hasn't lost to a team not named Waterloo West yet this season. Two-time defending champion Tigers rounding into form, have too many scoring options for L-M to slow down.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Urbandale at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">CBAL</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Playing a weaker schedule than most 4A teams may catch up to CBAL at some point, but this Lynx group is strong and talented. Their only loss came to a really good Bellevue West (NE) team, 6-3 sophomore guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-dix/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-dix/">Josh Dix</a></a> will be the best player on the floor.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Pleasant Valley at Davenport Central</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Central</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">PV will do what PV does and try to grind this game to a halt. The two meetings this season were both Central wins - 39-19 and 43-39. So don't expect much scoring here, but the Blue Devils have the best player in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/emarion-ellis/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/emarion-ellis/">Emarion Ellis</a></a>, and the athleticism and length to really stymie what PV wants to do on offense.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Lewis Central at Dowling Catholic</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Dowling Catholic</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Difference between the CIML and Hawkeye Ten will be on full display here, as big, physical Maroons shouldn't have too many issues with Titans. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Liberty at Hempstead</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Hempstead</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Hempstead won first meeting by just 3, in overtime, despite big games from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-duax/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-duax/">Michael Duax</a></a> (27) and Jamari Smith (22). Liberty held 34-21 rebounding edge in that game, 'Stangs will need to clean that up if they want to avoid the upset.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">City High at Senior</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Senior</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">New look Senior team likes to press and push the tempo. They beat City by 23 in regular season meeting a month ago, dropping 91 in the process. Closer this time around, but still a comfortable Rams win.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Ottumwa at Iowa City West</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Iowa City West</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Coach Steve Bergman will have a game plan to stop Ottumwa star wing <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trae-swartz/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trae-swartz/">Trae Swartz</a></a>, a 23-point scorer. Bulldogs have no answer for <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/even-brauns/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/even-brauns/">Even Brauns</a></a> inside, Trojans win comfortably with dominant defensive effort. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Indianola at Johnston</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Johnston</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Game of the night. Johnston has won 9 of 10 down the stretch, Indianola has an explosive offense that has led them to 19-3 record. Dragons have played a much more difficult schedule, and have the athletes to slow down Indians attack, plenty of scoring punch of their own. Look for a game played in the 70s, and it could go either way.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Kennedy at North Scott</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">North Scott</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">If you're looking for a major upset spot, this could be it. Kennedy is extremely dangerous, with a great two-way player in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-schlaak/">Caleb Schlaak</a>. McKowen is an excellent postseason coach, and possessions will be limited here. Still, advantage Lancers playing in The Pit. Too much <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ty-anderson/">Ty Anderson</a>, too much <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-kilburg/">Sam Kilburg</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Davenport North at Prairie</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Prairie</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Hawks won season opener over North, 72-54. It'll be closer this time around, but Prairie still gets the edge playing at home. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Ames at Sioux City East</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Sioux City East</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Ames is feisty, and will try to slow down a high powered Black Raiders attack, but East dictates tempo and outscores the Little Cyclones here.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Des Moines North at Valley</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Valley</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">North is dangerous with Hoover transfer <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/manny-austin/">Manny Austin</a> finally in the lineup, giving them a trio of guys who can score 25 on a given night (<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/malik-allen/">Malik Allen</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/diondre-taylor/">Diondre Taylor</a>). The question is whether the Polar Bears can play enough D to slow down Valley's attack. Veteran Tigers survive a scare at home in a really good game.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Jefferson at Waterloo West</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Waterloo West</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Wahawks blasted Jefferson by 28 a month ago to the day. Shouldn't have too many issues repeating that performance.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Lincoln at Waukee</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Waukee</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Outside of the midseason setbacks against Valley and Centennial, Waukee has been stellar this season. Warriors won regular season meeting by 15, despite just 5 points on 1-7 shooting from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/payton-sandfort/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/payton-sandfort/">Payton Sandfort</a></a>. That won't happen again.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>