Playoff Preview: 2A-1
Bryce Coppock The favorite: Despite scuffling a bit down the stretch, West Sioux is still the favorite to come out of this district behind the strong guard play of Bryce Coppock (25.4) and Hunter Dekkers (22.0). Coppock, the Newell-Fonda…
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The favorite: Despite scuffling a bit down the stretch, West Sioux is still the favorite to come out of this district behind the strong guard play of Bryce Coppock (25.4) and Hunter Dekkers (22.0). Coppock, the Newell-Fonda transfer, has been one of the best scorers in the state for the last four years with the ability to light it up from all three levels. Future Iowa State quarterback Dekkers stuffs the stat sheet and can score from anywhere. He’s also a gifted passer who really runs this team well. The Falcons average 82.8 points a game, but lost two of three games down the stretch, and didn’t look great in the win over Trinity Christian. They’ve been playing without starter Baxter Walsh (13.1) lately, which is a concern, as this team really isn’t very deep, and a majority of the production comes out of their top five (Coppock, Dekkers, Walsh, Mason Coppock, Kade Lynott), who have accounted for 88% of the team’s points this year. This is still the most talented team in the district, but if Walsh is still out and Coppock or Dekkers have an off night, they could certainly get knocked off.
The biggest threat: Despite Cherokee being the #2 seed in the district, we actually like Rock Valley to come out of the bottom half of the bracket, and the Rockets would give West Sioux a strong game in the district final. They’re led by a quartet of double-figure scorers in Alex Godfredson (13.2), Jaxon Rus (12.1), Bryson Van Grootheest (11.5) and Sam Remmerde (10.5). Godfredson can really shoot it, and Rus and Van Grootheest are quality shooters as well, while Remmerde has been a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. The semifinal against Cherokee will be a great game, and whichever team wins will have a real chance at the district title.
The dark horse: It’s hard to consider Cherokee a “dark horse” given the fact that they’re the #2 seed in the district, but since we’re taking Rock Valley over them, this is where they slot in. The Braves are led by forward Ryan Hurd (18.7), an efficient scorer who leads the team in every major category. Brayden Faver (9.6, 41.1 3P%) is a knockdown shooter alongside Hurd, and they get solid production out of Kobe Grell (9.0), Alex Paulsrud (7.6), Joe Benson (5.5) and Trevor Lundquist (4.5) as well.
Players to watch
2020 Bryce Coppock, West Soiux
2020 Hunter Dekkers, West Sioux
2020 Baxter Walsh, West Sioux
2020 Kade Lynott, West Sioux
2020 Ryan Hurd, Cherokee
2021 Brayden Faver, Cherokee
2021 Alex Godfredson, Rock Valley
2022 Bryson Van Grootheest, Rock Valley
2020 Jaxon Rus, Rock Valley
2022 Sam Remmerde, Rock Valley
2020 Ethan Klompien, Unity Christian
2020 Wilson Harshbarger, Sioux Center
2021 Eli Hibma, Sioux Center
2021 Chase Pester, MVAOCOU
The favorite: Despite being the #3 seed in the district, we’re making East Sac County the team to beat in this group. The Raiders swept South Central Calhoun and split with semifinal opponent Southeast Valley, although their win against the Jaguars came more recently (Feb. 7) and came by 23 points. They’ve been led by do-everything forward Camden Schroeder (23.3), who has been highly efficient, shooting 62.1% from the floor and 44.7% from 3, while also leading the team in rebounding and blocking 43 shots. Griffin O’Neill (14.2, 41.9 3P%) gives them another dynamic shooter who can get hot and put points on the board in a hurry. They’ve proven they can beat the other teams in this district, and they’ve earned the right to be considered the favorite here.
The biggest threat: South Central Calhoun has lost just once since the holiday break, a 79-77 defeat at the hands of East Sac County. The Titans have been great when star forward Zane Neubaum (25.3) has been in the lineup, and he’s the type of player who can take over a game on the offensive end of the floor. Brennan Holder (12.3), Cole Corey (11.2) and Landon Schleisman (9.7) are all quality perimeter shooters. They’ve already beaten both OABCIG and Alta-Aurelia, their semifinal opponents, this season and should get to the district final.
The dark horse(s): In junior wing Cooper DeJean (25.6), OABCIG has the single best player in the district, which is always dangerous come postseason time. Also a dynamic football player, DeJean is the type of player who can take over a game on both ends of the floor with his explosive athleticism and skill. Southeast Valley has a pair of excellent sophomores in big man Aaron Graves (15.4) and guard Kolson Kruse (14.5). Graves, an Iowa football commit, is a strong, big body on the interior who can also stretch out to the arc. Kruse is an excellent shooter who has knocked down 64 3s this season.
Players to watch
2020 Zane Neubaum, South Central Calhoun
2021 Cole Corey, South Central Calhoun
2021 Brennan Holder, South Central Calhoun
2021 Camden Schroeder, East Sac County
2020 Griffin O’Neill, East Sac County
2022 Aaron Graves, Southeast Valley
2022 Kolson Kruse, Southeast Valley
2021 Cooper DeJean, OABCIG
2020 Anthony Krier, Alta-Aurelia
2021 Trey Englemann, Alta-Aurelia
2020 Austin Anliker, Manson-Northwest Webster
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
West Sioux vs. East Sac County
West Sioux scuffled down the stretch, but they’ve been so good this season it’s hard to see them not finding their way to Des Moines. Coppock, Dekkers and crew are able to end their high school careers on a high note, at the Well.