Class 4A State Tournament Preview
McCullough #1 seed: Ankeny Centennial (23-1) About the Jaguars: Centennial punched the first state tournament berth in school history (opened in 2013), and have been perhaps the most dominant team in the state this year, winning by an average…
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Continue ReadingMcCullough
#1 seed: Ankeny Centennial (23-1)
About the Jaguars: Centennial punched the first state tournament berth in school history (opened in 2013), and have been perhaps the most dominant team in the state this year, winning by an average of over 20 points a game. They have the #4 scoring offense in 4A (69.0) and the #9 defense (48.2), and have suffered just one setback, at the hands of Dowling. With 6-8
Cody McCullough
Cody
McCullough
6'7" | PF
Ankeny Centennial | 2020
State
IA
(13.9) and 6-7
Micah Johnson
Micah
Johnson
6'7" | SF
Ankeny Centennial | 2020
State
IA
(12.3), they have a dominant big of versatile big men who can control the glass. The tandem combines to pull down 18.3 rebounds a game and will dominate the glass against whoever they match up with. Jaron Crews (13.7), an Ankeny transfer, has given them a dynamic scorer in the backcourt as well, leading the team with 48 made 3s and 111 assists.
Preston Kelling
Preston
Kelling
6'4" | SG
Ankeny Centennial | 2020
State
IA
(9.3) and Colin McAleer (7.5) round out the starting five, and while the Jags don’t have a single truly dominant player, their starting five is as balanced as any in 4A, and all are really solid players on both ends of the floor.
Why they can win it all: They’ve lost just once this year, despite the CIML being as strong as it’s been. McCullough and Johnson will control the glass against anyone they meet, and they can put up points in bunches with Crews leading an efficient offense that gets to the free throw line.
Chances they win it all: 20%. We’re making each of the top four seeds co-favorites, because we think each of them have real chances at cutting down the proverbial nets on Friday night.
Ollendieck
#2 seed: Cedar Falls (21-2)
About the Tigers: The two-time defending champions have the most talented roster in the state, and haven’t lost a game to a team not named Waterloo West this season. They’ve played just four games decided by single digits – wins over Dubuque Senior, Iowa City West, Waterloo East and Hempstead – and are beating teams by an average of 16 points a game behind one of the best defenses in 4A.
Josh Ollendieck
Josh
Ollendieck
6'3" | CG
Cedar Falls | 2020
State
IA
(11.4), a Truman State signee, is the only returning starter from last year’s state championship team, but this group is loaded with talent.
Landon Wolf
Landon
Wolf
6'5" | CG
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(11.7) has emerged as the team’s leading scorer, pairing with Ollendieck and
Jaxon Heth
Jaxon
Heth
5'10" | CG
Cedar Falls | 2020
State
IA
(5.7, 35 3PM) to give the Tigers a trio of high-level perimeter shooters. 6-8 junior big man
Chase Courbat
Chase
Courbat
6'9" | C
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(10.0) is one of the best defensive big men in the Midwest, and
Trey Campbell
Trey
Campbell
6'4" | PG
Cedar Falls | 2022
State
IA
(5.8) is an athletic lead guard who can get into the paint and finish, but he also leads the team with 106 assists.
Ben Sernett
Ben
Sernett
6'0" | SG
Cedar Falls | 2020
State
IA
(6.0),
Carter Janssen
Carter
Janssen
6'5" | SF
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(4.6),
Joe Knutson
Joe
Knutson
6'8" | PF
Cedar Falls | 2021
State
IA
(2.9) and Cael Loecher (2.8) are all solid players from this group as well, giving them a lot of depth and versatility. This is one team that won’t really be bothered by foul trouble in Des Moines.
Why they can win it all: They have the most talented roster in the field, and a coach who has won two titles in a row. They entered the season ranked #1 by us for a reason, and a 3-peat is certainly possible.
Chances they win it all: 20%. Like we mentioned with Centennial, we really think the top four seeds in this bracket are pretty even.
Brauns
#3 seed: Iowa City West (21-2)
About the Trojans: The Trojans made history this season, becoming the first school to ever advance to 10 straight state tournaments. While we’ve become accustomed to seeing them loaded with talented offensive options in previous years, this year’s team is a bit of a vintage West High team under Steve Bergman – defense, defense, then some more defense. The Trojans rank second in scoring defense, allowing just 40.6 points per game, and they’ve held 11 teams to 40 or fewer points this season. The headliner is
Even Brauns
Even
Brauns
6'9" | PF
Iowa City West | 2020
State
#253
Nation
IA
(15.1), a Belmont signee who has blocked 55 shots and is shooting 68.7% from the floor. The skilled big man is incredibly agile and is a major difference maker on both ends of the court. Nicholas Pepin (10.0) leads the team with 34 made 3s, although his percentage is down significantly from last year, while Tate Crane (8.3), Ben Vander Leest (8.3),
Joey Goodman
Joey
Goodman
5'11" | PG
Iowa City West | 2020
State
IA
(4.1) and
Christian Barnes
Christian
Barnes
5'10" | PG
Iowa City West | 2022
State
IA
(2.9) have been solid role players for West this season. Goodman leads the team with 95 assists and 32 steals, Crane is a solid do-everything piece, as is Vander Leest. The key for this group has been the return of guard
Marcus Morgan
Marcus
Morgan
6'3" | SG
Iowa City West | 2021
IA
(9.8, 44.3 3P%), who gives them another perimeter scoring threat. He missed a chunk of time with a leg injury that was suffered during football season, but is back to provide some scoring and defensive help. This group can lock in on the defensive end of the floor, and they have a coach who has won six state titles.
Why they can win it all: The coaching talent that the Trojans have on the sidelines is remarkable. Between Steve Bergman, Gordon Rundquist and Paul Rundquist, there are seven state titles on the sidelines, and over 1,500 wins. They’re an elite defensive team with just enough offensive firepower to claw out wins. They’ve lost just twice this season, to Dubuque Senior and Cedar Falls, teams with a combined 40-6 record, by a combined four points.
Chances they win it all: 20%. Elite defense, elite coaching, and maybe a little luck could propel the Trojans to their 8th state championship.
DeVries
#4 seed: Waukee (21-2)
About the Warriors: Waukee got off to a 10-0 start before dropping back-to-back games to Valley and Centennial. The Warriors haven’t lost since, winning their last 11 games by an average of 20.2 points. In 6-6
Tucker DeVries
Tucker
DeVries
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#123
Nation
IA
(21.8) and 6-7
Payton Sandfort
Payton
Sandfort
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#138
Nation
IA
(19.6), they’re going to have the two best players on the floor in every game they play at State. Those two junior wings have combined to make 136 3s this season at a 48.1% clip. They’re far from alone in terms of perimeter shooting, however, as
Wyatt Heston
Wyatt
Heston
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
IA
(7.7, 46 3PM) and Pryce Sandfort (9.3, 51 3PM) have combined to make nearly 100 of them on their own. The Warriors shoot 45.4% from behind the arc as a team and have the highest scoring offense in the field, averaging 71.7 points a game.
Why they can win it all: DeVries and Sandfort are elite high school basketball players in this state, and this group is loaded with shooting. They’ve rebounded extremely well from the mid-season swoon and are playing great basketball heading to the Well.
Chances they win it all: 20%. A first round win should get them a rematch against Centennial, who handed them one of their losses this year. Get by that, and they’re probably the favorite in the championship game.
Anderson
#5 seed: North Scott (22-1)
About the Lancers: The Lancers got here on a controversial shot by
Ty Anderson
Ty
Anderson
6'7" | PF
North Scott | 2020
State
#457
Nation
IA
, knocking off Waterloo West in the substate final. The top defensive team in 4A, they allow just 39.3 points per game. Some of that can be attributed to the deliberate pace they play at on the offensive end, but this team can also really get after it defensively. Future UNI Panther forward
Ty Anderson
Ty
Anderson
6'7" | PF
North Scott | 2020
State
#457
Nation
IA
(18.5) and guard
Sam Kilburg
Sam
Kilburg
6'0" | PG
North Scott | 2020
State
IA
(15.1) account for over 60% of the team’s scoring output on the season. Kilburg (57 3PM, 46.7%) and
Landon Eiland
Landon
Eiland
6'4" | SF
North Scott | 2021
State
IA
(8.3, 43 3PM, 41.3%) are both knockdown shooters, and Anderson (26 3PM, 51.0%) is also very capable of stepping out and knocking down an open 3. Depth could become a concern for the Lancers, as they generally only play about six players, but this is a well-conditioned, highly disciplined team that limits mistakes and locks teams down on the defensive end. Anderson, a 6-7 forward who can take over games, will need to be great for them.
Why they can win it all: Games generally slow down at State, and North Scott is already accustomed to playing that type of style, grinding out wins. If the Lancers dictate the tempo, there are few teams who will score enough in the halfcourt to beat them.
Chances they win it all: 10%. Going through Waukee in the quarterfinals is tough, then Centennial (likely) awaits. It’s a grind that this shallow group will have to fight through. And in tight games, this is the worst free throw shooting team in the field.
Bayless
#6 seed: Ankeny (18-5)
About the Hawks: The Hawks have arguably the most dynamic backcourt in the field with 6-1
Braxton Bayless
Braxton
Bayless
6'1" | PG
Ankeny | 2020
State
IA
(22.9) and 5-11 Jaxon Smith (14.9) leading the charge. They’re the third highest scoring team in the tournament, averaging 66.3 points a game, and they’ll look to use their quickness to turn games into track meets, as no regular is listed taller than 6-3. Nearly half of their games this season have been decided by 10 or fewer points, so they’re used to playing in tight games. The question will be how effectively they can score when the game slows down, as they shoot just 34.5% from behind the arc as a team.
Why they can win it all: Guard play wins in high school basketball, and the Hawks have a great pair of guards in Bayless and Smith.
Chances they win it all: 2%. The bottom of the bracket features a lot of teams that defend really well, and have the size, length and versatile defenders to throw at Ankeny’s guards.
Riggs
#7 seed: Dowling Catholic (16-7)
About the Maroons: According to BC Moore’s power rankings system, the Maroons have played the most difficult schedule in 4A, with 10 games played against teams ranked within the top 11 in the class. They went 5-5 in those 10 outings. With 6-8
Ryan Riggs
Ryan
Riggs
6'9" | PF
Dowling Catholic | 2021
State
IA
(12.2), 6-7 Omaha Biliew (6.3) and 6-6
Drew Daniel
Drew
Daniel
6'5" | SF
Dowling Catholic | 2020
State
IA
(8.4), they’re able to put the type of size on the floor that few other teams can. Riggs leads the team in scoring and rebounding; Biliew is a freshman phenom who hasn’t put up great numbers this season, but is a great defender; and Daniel leads the team in made 3s with 42, and also contributes on the glass. The other key piece for the Maroons is Matt Stilwill (12.1), a versatile two-way player who can do a bit of everything. Dowling is always a big, physical team, and this year is no exception. They take pride in the way they defend, and they’ll be looking to play at their pace, grinding games out and beating teams with their physicality. The question will be whether they can score enough.
Why they can win it all: They have size, physicality and can really defend.
Chances they win it all: 7%. This group has a negative assist-to-turnover mark, and it’s tough to win games at State when that is going on.
Houston
#8 seed: Davenport North (16-8)
About the Wildcats: The Cats stunned Dubuque Senior at the buzzer to advance to State for the first time since 2003 under first year head coach Marc Polite. North started the season 1-3, and lost four of their last six regular season games, but got hot at the right time in the postseason, and have found their way to Des Moines. They lack traditional size, but have a lot of athleticism on the perimeter, particularly in wings
Jayden Houston
Jayden
Houston
6'3" | SF
Davenport North | 2021
State
IA
(17.3) and
Quincy Wiseman
Quincy
Wiseman
6'3" | SF
Davernport North | 2021
State
IA
(14.3), the team’s top two scorers and rebounders. They provide versatility and length on both ends of the floor, and
Sam Wellman
Sam
Wellman
6'0" | CG
Davenport North | 2020
State
IA
(7.1) leads the team in made 3s with 41. This group will need to take advantage of their athleticism and attack the glass hard against a much bigger Centennial team in their opener.
Why they can win it all: They’re playing their best basketball of the season right now, and have the type of athleticism that few teams in the 4A field do.
Chances they win it all: 1%. This would probably be a little higher if Centennial wasn’t their first round opponent. The type of size the Jaguars put on the floor is going to be a lot for North to overcome.
Staff Picks
Tony
Quarterfinals: Centennial, Waukee, Cedar Falls, Iowa City West
Semifinals: Centennial, Cedar Falls
Champion: Cedar Falls
Adam
Quarterfinals: Centennial, Waukee, Cedar Falls, Iowa City West
Semifinals: Waukee, Iowa City West
Champion: Waukee
Sean
Quarterfinals: Centennial, Waukee, Cedar Falls, Iowa City West
Semifinals: Waukee, Cedar Falls
Champion: Waukee
Josh
Quarterfinals: Centennial, Waukee, Cedar Falls, Iowa City West
Semifinals: Centennial, Cedar Falls
Champion: Cedar Falls