Games of the Week (Week 10)
MONDAY (Feb. 10) Game of the night: 1A #7 St. Mary’s, Remsen at 2A #4 West Sioux West Sioux suffered a shocking loss to Hinton last week that made the War Eagle Conference race a little more interesting. The Falcons…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Feb. 10)
Game of the night: 1A #7 St. Mary’s, Remsen at 2A #4 West Sioux
West Sioux suffered a shocking loss to Hinton last week that made the War Eagle Conference race a little more interesting. The Falcons are 12-1 in the league, while St. Mary’s is 13-2. If the Hawks are able to get a win here, they can share the league title with West Sioux. West Sioux has been playing the last few games without the services of Baxter Walsh (13.1) and Kade Lynott (8.9), a pair of starters who make major impacts for this group. Still, with Bryce Coppock (25.3) and Hunter Dekkers (22.1) leading the way, they’ve got plenty of firepower. St. Mary’s has to get better production out of standout guard Spencer Schorg (16.2), who was just 5-18 from the floor in their 72-58 loss to West Sioux earlier this season. St. Mary’s wants this game to be played in the 40s or 50s, West Sioux wants it up in the 70s or 80s. The team that dictates the tempo will win, and we think that the guard play of West Sioux can push the tempo to their liking at home, taking home the league crown.
Our pick: West Sioux 71, St. Mary’s 62
Others to monitor
Ankeny Christian Academy at Albia
Davenport North at 3A #2 Assumption
Alburnett at Central City
Spencer at Denison-Schleswig
Meskwaki Settlement at Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Highland at Keota
1A #5 Martensdale-St. Mary’s at Panorama
Don Bosco at Turkey Valley
Des Moines Christian at 2A #5 Van Meter
Osage at 1A #9 West Fork
TUESDAY (Feb. 11)
Game of the night: 2A #1 Camanche at 2A #6 Monticello
LJ HendersonThis is another big game with conference title implications. Camanche beat Monticello in the first meeting, handing the Panthers their only conference loss, so if Monticello can find a way to get revenge here, they’ll split the conference title. The Indians were dominant in the first meeting, winning 77-55, and shooting 29-48 from the floor (60.4%), while holding Monticello to 18-48 shooting (37.5%). Justin Recker (18.2) was his usual solid self for Monticello in that meeting, going for 22 points on 9-12 shooting, but the rest of the team really struggled, and they shot 5-24 from 3 (not including Recker’s 3-4). That number needs to improve if they want to win here. The issue is that Camanche has the size and athleticism on the perimeter to really bother the Monticello shooters. They really put pressure on the Panther guards in the first meeting, picking them up full court and making them uncomfortable. Look for more of that in this meeting. Behind another big night from LJ Henderson (12.7), who really matches up well in this game, we expect to see Camanche grab the River Valley Conference title on the road.
Our pick: Camanche 62, Monticello 55
Others to monitor
Center Point-Urbana at 2A #9 Beckman Catholic
Ballard at 3A #3 Carroll
4A #10 Dowling Catholic at Des Moines North
Denver at Dike-New Hartford
4A #4 Waterloo West at 4A #8 Senior
PCM at Gilbert
Oskaloosa at Indianola
Sioux City East at Le Mars
Knoxville at 1A #5 Martensdale-St. Mary’s
3A #6 Marion at 3A #5 Mount Vernon
3A #8 Glenwood at Omaha Skutt (NE)
Dallas Center-Grimes at 3A #4 Pella
West Branch at Regina
Spirit Lake at 2A #8 Western Christian
THURSDAY (Feb. 13)
Game of the night: Gilbert at 3A #7 Winterset
Easton DarlingIf you’re a fan of guard play, this is the game for you. Winterset is led by one of the state’s best guards in senior Easton Darling (25.0), who is having an outstanding senior year. Dawson Forgy (9.4) and Hunter Farr (7.5) are also solid young guards for the Huskies. They’ll be countered by a Gilbert attack that has five players averaging in double figures – Matt Ockey (18.9), Jack Dresser (10.1), Jacob Papesh (10.0), Tony Terrones (10.8) and Tanner Henningsen (10.4). The Tigers are the third highest scoring team in 3A, averaging 72.2 points a game, so they like to get up-and-down, which is something that Darling, Forgy and company also like to do. This one should be extremely entertaining, and we’ll give the edge to Winterset, with the best player on the floor in Darling.
Our pick: Winterset 74, Gilbert 70
Others to monitor
4A #2 North Scott at Davenport North
Pella Christian at Oskaloosa
2A #8 Western Christian at Sioux Falls Christian (SD)
St. Albert at 2A #2 Treynor
FRIDAY (Feb. 14)
Game of the night: 3A #2 Assumption at Davenport Central
Sean PeetersAssumption won the first meeting between these teams this season, 73-62, back on January 14. The Knights were led in that one by star forward Sean Peeters, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Central’s star wing Emarion Ellis was really good himself, going for 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils. Neither team really has an answer for the other one, and they should have big games again here, in what should be an entertaining contest inside one of the state’s best gyms.
Our pick: Assumption 68, Central 62
Others to monitor
Johnston at Ankeny
3A #7 Winterset at Ballard
1A #10 Springville at Central City
3A #1 Norwalk at Dallas Center-Grimes
Denison-Schleswig at 3A #8 Glenwood
1A #4 Montezuma at Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Center Point-Urbana at 3A #5 Mount Vernon
Alburnett at 2A #3 North Linn
Southeast Polk at 4A #9 Valley
3A #9 MOC-Floyd Valley at West Lyon
SATURDAY (Feb. 15)
Caleb DelzellGame of the night: 2A #1 Camanche at West Branch
These two teams always seem to play some entertaining games, and this one should be no exception. Camanche likes to run, and they’ll apply pressure on the West Branch guards which should speed the Bears up as well. It’s a short schedule on Saturday, but this one should be entertaining, as Camanche’s quintet of standouts – Caleb Delzell (14.5), LJ Henderson (12.7), Cam Soenksen (13.5), Jordan Lawrence (9.6) and Zach Erwin (9.1) – should each have solid games in this one. This is a potential substate final preview, as each of these teams are going to be favored to come out of their districts.
Our pick: Camanche 74, West Branch 60
Others to monitor
2A #2 Treynor at Grand View Christian
Le Mars at Sioux City East