Tuesday Playoff Preview
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Class 1A District Semifinals Game Location Our Pick Reasoning Don Bosco vs. Belle Plaine Alburnett Don Bosco The Dons won the regular season meeting, 57-47, back on Dec. 16, and that was without star guard Zach Huff having a big…
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Continue ReadingClass 1A District Semifinals
Game | Location | Our Pick | Reasoning |
Don Bosco vs. Belle Plaine | Alburnett | Don Bosco | The Dons won the regular season meeting, 57-47, back on Dec. 16, and that was without star guard Zach Huff having a big game. Huff has a big scoring night, leading the Dons into the district final. |
Alburnett vs. Wapsie Valley | Alburnett | Wapsie Valley | Warriors have lost just three times since holiday break, each to quality 2A teams. Hot Warriors scratch out win over tough, physical Pirates. |
Newell-Fonda vs. Harris-Lake Park | Bishop Garrigan | Newell-Fonda | Balanced and explosive Mustangs attack features four players shooting better than 39% from 3. That will win you playoff games. |
Bishop Garrigan vs. St. Edmond | Bishop Garrigan | Bishop Garrigan | These teams met on opening night, with Bishop Garrigan cruising to a 31-point win. It’ll be closer this time around, but the Golden Bears should still win comfortably behind a big night from Angelo Winkel. |
CAM vs. Stanton | CAM | CAM | Far more difficult schedule for the Cougars proves to be a difference maker here, as they slow down explosive Stanton attack. |
Central City vs. Edgewood-Colesburg | Easton Valley | Central City | It’s tough to beat a team three times, but Ed-Co doesn’t have an answer for Nick Reid, who averaged 32 points, 25.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in two meetings this year. |
Easton Valley vs. Prince of Peace | Easton Valley | Easton Valley | Prince of Peace will try to slow this one down, but playing at home, Easton Valley has a better chance at dictating the tempo and unleashing their explosive offensive attack. |
Springville vs. Lone Tree | Highland | Springville | Guard play from the Orioles dictates the tempo and gets Lone Tree into a track meet in which they can’t keep up. |
Highland vs. North Cedar | Highland | North Cedar | Going through the River Valley has prepared the Knights for postseason play, and they won’t be intimidated by Highland. What Gage Walshire lacks in true size, he makes up for in effort, and can help keep Zack Lasek at bay here. |
West Hancock vs. Rockford | Lake Mills | West Hancock | Eagles may have trouble slowing down 6-8 big man Matt Schubert, but in what we expect to be a tight game, free throw edge goes to West Hancock. |
Lake Mills vs. Newman Catholic | Lake Mills | Lake Mills | Newman Catholic kept it close at home a few weeks ago, but the Bulldogs should bounce back here and win fairly comfortably at home. Big nights from DaShawn Linnen and Chett Helming. |
Madrid vs. Ogden | Madrid | Madrid | Tigers swept season series by an average of 12 points, should take round 3 as well behind high-scoring guard Braden Gibbons, who averaged 29 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists in pair of wins. |
Ankeny Christian vs. Grand View Christian | Madrid | Ankeny Christian | In what should be a great battle, ACA takes better care of the ball, has a few more offensive weapons. |
Martensdale-St. Mary’s vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard | Martensdale-St. Mary’s | Martensdale-St. Mary’s | One of the bigger mismatches of the night, MStM has far too many weapons for offensively challenged Coon Rapids to keep pace with. |
Keota vs. BGM | Montezuma | Keota | Great guard matchup between Keota’s JD Stout and BGM’s Noah Beck. Keota won regular season meeting 60-57, and takes the rematch as well. Free throw shooting determining factor. |
Montezuma vs. North Mahaska | Montezuma | Montezuma | Braves swept season series by an average of 25 points a game. Best backcourt in 1A shouldn’t have too many issues here. |
East Mills vs. Bedford | Mount Ayr | East Mills | Wolverines haven’t lost to an Iowa team not named Stanton, riding dominant defense that ranks 3rd in 1A. |
Mount Ayr vs. Sidney | Mount Ayr | Mount Ayr | Balanced Raiders team that shoots better than 41% from 3 shouldn’t have too many issues with Sidney. |
Janesville vs. Tripoli | Nashua-Plainfield | Tripoli | Janesville swept season series, but by an average of just 6.5 points a game. Call it a gut feeling, Tripoli trips the ‘Cats up in the third meeting. |
Turkey Valley vs. South Winneshiek | Nashua-Plainfield | Turkey Valley | Dominant Trojans defensive unit has beaten South Winn by 12, 26 points already this season. |
Notre Dame vs. Pekin | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | SEISC foes didn’t meet this year, but Nikes get slight edge playing at home. Should be one of the best games of the night. Edge to the best player on the floor, Axel Tjaden. |
WACO vs. New London | Notre Dame | WACO | Warriors survived first meeting, 55-53, before blowing out young Tigers in rematch, 70-44. Expect a game closer to the first meeting, but veteran WACO squad edges out youth movement of New London. |
George-Little Rock vs. HMS | South O’Brien | George-Little Rock | HMS has size, but G-LR has size and star power to offset that in 6-4 Payton Mauldin, 6-5 Matt Haken. Mustangs edge out feisty HMS squad. |
South O’Brien vs. Kingsley-Pierson | South O’Brien | South O’Brien | Size and length of SOB 2-3 creates issues for K-P shooters. Jackson Louscher best player on the floor. |
St. Albert vs. IKM-Manning | St. Albert | St. Albert | Playing in 2A/3A Hawkeye 10 prepares CBSA for postseason play. Falcons are undefeated against 1A competition this season, 3 starters back from State group last year. |
Boyer Valley vs. Woodbine | St. Albert | Boyer Valley | Boyer Valley won second meeting by 23 points after escaping in first meeting. Meet in the middle, BV by 14. |
Meskwaki Settlement vs. Grundy Center | West Fork | Meskwaki Settlement | Fun Warriors group will have their work cut out against GC team that has played much tougher SOS, but find a way to get it done behind Taurice Grant. |
West Fork vs. AGWSR | West Fork | West Fork | Deep, versatile and balanced Warhawks squad shouldn’t have too many issues with AGWSR team that struggles to score at times. |
Siouxland Christian vs. Lawton-Bronson | Woodbury Central | Siouxland Christian | Eagles swept season series, 62-57 and 71-59. Size of Christian Heilbuth negates size of Ben Thelander. |
St. Mary’s vs. River Valley | Woodbury Central | St. Mary’s | Hawks on a mission, won regular season meeting by 21. |
Class 2A District Finals
Game | Location | Our Pick | Reasoning |
Albia vs. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | Centerville | Albia | Young but talented Blue Demons swept feisty EBF, but second meeting was 53-51. Expect a battle here between familiar foes. On a neutral floor, edge to the team that protects the ball better. |
Beckman Catholic vs. Crestwood | Central Elkader | Beckman Catholic | Length of Blazers on defense really bothers Crestwood team that can struggle to score. Michael Keegan impacts game on both ends en route to substate final appearance. |
Osage vs. Forest City | Clear Lake | Osage | Green Devils have been dominant defensively all year, allowing just 35.5 a night. Jonah Bluhm does just enough on offensive end for Osage to win a slugfest. |
Treynor vs. Tri-Center | Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson | Treynor | Cardinals have lost just once this season, to Kansas 6A power Blue Valley Northwest. Swept Tri-Center during regular season. |
Van Meter vs. Woodward-Granger | Dallas Center-Grimes | Van Meter | Should be one of the best games of the evening. Van Meter puts undefeated mark on the line against talented Hawks group led by Bryce Achenbach. Bulldogs backcourt duo of Anthony Potthoff and Chris Schreck find a way to get it done. |
Camanche vs. Williamsburg | Davenport West | Camanche | Williamsburg has been one of the feel good stories of the season in 2A, but no match for an Indians team oozing with athleticism and size. |
Kuemper Catholic vs. Panorama | Harlan | Panorama | Panthers can put a lot of shooting on the floor with Malachi Peasley, Kolby Shackelford and Zach Rizzuti combining to make 139 3s this year. |
North Linn vs. Dike-New Hartford | Independence | North Linn | DNH hangs around for a while, but Lynx pressure gets to them in second half, similar to last year’s NL substate final against Beckman. |
Hudson vs. South Hamilton | Iowa Falls-Alden | South Hamilton | Hudson upset A-P to get here, will have their hands full trying to keep Cade Balvanz and Quinton Grove off the glass. |
West Sioux vs. Cherokee | Le Mars | West Sioux | Falcons need better performance from Hunter Dekkers (2-13 in narrow win over Sioux Center) if they want to keep playing. Best game of the night in 2A. |
South Central Calhoun vs. Southeast Valley | Manson Northwest Webster | South Central Calhoun | Teams split regular season meeting, with SCC blowing out SEV on Feb. 4, 91-62. Big night from Zane Neubaum marches Titans one step closer. |
Des Moines Christian vs. Pella Christian | Newton | Pella Christian | The other great game in 2A tonight, PC gets revenge for 13-point regular season loss in which 6-9 big man Josh Van Gorp didn’t play. His impact on both ends of the floor is crucial here. |
Boyden-Hull vs. Sioux Central | Sheldon | Boyden-Hull | Explosive, balanced roster of B-H too much for the Rebels. |
Okoboji vs. West Lyon | Sibley-Ocheyedan | Okoboji | Teams split regular season meetings, but Okoboji takes round 3 with big nights from dynamic duo of Lucas Lorenzen and Jamison Helmers. |
Monticello vs. Cascade | Solon | Monticello | Schools separated by 10 miles, extremely familiar with each other. Cascade playing great ball, but Monticello has the best player on the floor in Justin Recker, survives a real scare here to advance. |
West Branch vs. West Burlington | Washington | West Branch | Better defensive team advances in slugfest. Bears also shoot it better from 3. |