Friday’s Games to Watch

1A #10 Keota (11-0) at Montezuma (10-2)

Montezuma has dominated this series of late, winning the last five meetings, and nine of the last 10. The Braves opened the season ranked #3 in our 1A rankings, but a season-opening loss to North Mahaska dropped them. They’ve also suffered a loss to 2A Williamsburg. However, they were playing without a key piece in those two losses - junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962629" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"] (12.0, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists). A versatile forward, he’s the key piece in their 2-3 defense and is the team’s top rebounder. Having him back is huge. They’re led by Truman State signee [player_tooltip player_id="796108" first="Trey" last="Shearer"] (31.0), the state’s leading scorer. Shearer just surpassed the 2,000 career point mark in their Tuesday win over Belle Plaine. [player_tooltip player_id="796146" first="Cole" last="Watts"] (21.3, 45.5 3P%) is the other key piece for this group, a sharpshooter who competes on the glass and is a perfect fit alongside the slashing Shearer. This group is starting to hit its stride.

Keota’s 11-0 start is even more impressive when you consider the loss of [player_tooltip player_id="801853" first="JD" last="Stout"], who averaged 29.1 points for a 20-4 team last year. The Eagles have been led by the senior tandem of Carson Sprouse (17.4) and Luke Hammen (16.9), a pair of high-level shooters who are a combined 57-137 (41.6%) from 3. 

Clear Creek-Amana (8-2) at 2A #10 Beckman Catholic (7-3)

These two teams are headed in opposite directions, as the Clippers enter on a seven-game winning streak, and the Blazers are currently on a three-game skid. CCA started off 1-2 as they broke in some new pieces from last year’s state tournament team, but they’ve caught fire lately, winning those seven games by an average of 28.1 points a game. The Clippers are averaging 71.4 points a game, good for 3rd in 3A. [player_tooltip player_id="796141" first="Christian" last="Withrow"] (17.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="964923" first="Mike" last="Potter"] (11.2) are averaging in double-figures, while four others are just outside - Brock Reade (9.8), Kyle Schrepfer (9.2), Ben Swails (9.5) and Ryan Navara (9.9). This is a deep and balanced offensive attack, with a number of weapons that need to be accounted for. 

Beckman has lost three straight games and will be looking to get back on track. The Blazers have been led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="964934" first="Mason" last="White"] (17.8), who has stepped into the primary scoring role well this year. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"] (11.5) is just scratching the surface of his abilities, and he’ll be a major matchup problem down the road with his ability to score inside and out. [player_tooltip player_id="964931" first="Jack" last="Gehling"] (9.3) is an athletic big man who can stretch the floor a bit, and this group is shooting 40.1% from behind the arc, so they can get hot and put up points in a hurry.

Mount Vernon (7-2) at 3A #7 Solon (9-1)

Mount Vernon has won the last three meetings in the Highway 1 Rivalry, but Solon holds the historical edge, 14-12. Both of these teams are playing good basketball, so this should be an excellent game between rivals. Mount Vernon enters on a five-game winning streak and is coming off arguably their best performance of the year so far, a 51-27 win over Beckman Catholic. The Mustangs are led by South Dakota signee [player_tooltip player_id="530135" first="Keaton" last="Kutcher"] (18.3), a high-scoring, sharpshooting guard who hasn’t quite found his stroke yet this season. He’s a threat to go off for 35-40 points on any given night, and he should see his efficiency numbers go up as the year progresses. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="964883" first="Jayden" last="Meeker"] (16.0) has been excellent stepping into the secondary scoring role after being a role player last year. Collin Swantz (9.0) is giving them some solid shooting and freshman Joe Rhomberg (8.3) has given them some solid production since entering the rotation as well.

New coach Jared Galpin has Solon playing excellent defense, allowing just 48.1 points a game. The Spartans are deep and athletic, and they can throw a number of different bodies and looks at opposing players. [player_tooltip player_id="796195" first="David" last="Bluder"] (15.5) is the team’s leading scorer, a long wing who can fill it up from all three levels, while junior forward Kinnick Pusteoska (10.0) has given them a physical presence in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id="964917" first="Carson" last="Shive"] (8.6, 42.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="964913" first="Ben" last="Cusick"] (8.1) have also been strong for this group so far.

2A #5 Spirit Lake (12-0) at 2A #6 Western Christian (8-3) 

Western Christian has absolutely dominated this series historically, holding an incredible 26-1 lead. The Wolfpack are led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962616" first="Ty" last="Van Essen"] (16.9), a remarkably efficient, 6-4 wing who is also averaging 8.0 rebounds a game. He’s putting up incredible 63-48-75 shooting splits, and his ability to score inside and out makes him a really tough matchup. Senior Tyson Boer (10.5, 43.1 3P%) is a knockdown shooter and this group as a team is shooting 40.1% from behind the arc. 

Is it too early to call Spirit Lake a potential team of destiny? The Indians have won eight of their 12 games by single digits, including five by just one or two points. A very experienced team, they’ve obviously done a great job closing out games behind their star tandem of junior [player_tooltip player_id="962615" first="Vance" last="Katzfey"] (18.3) and senior Creighton Morisch (17.6). Both are versatile scorers who can really fill it up from all three levels. They’ll need to run the Wolfpack off the 3-point line in this one and let their star players handle the majority of the work on the offensive end. 

Panorama (9-1) at 2A #4 Des Moines Christian (10-1)

This is another series that has been historically dominated by one side, with Des Moines Christian holding a 26-3 edge, including the last nine meetings. Panorama has a balanced attack, with five players averaging between 7.1 and 12.4 points a game. They’re led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="796142" first="Zach" last="Rizzuti"] (12.4), while Lucas Leiferman (8.9, 4.1 assists) will be a major key in this meeting. He’ll need to protect the ball against a very good DMC defense.

Des Moines Christian is allowing just 42.5 points a game, and they average just under 10 steals a night. The Lions have a trio of players averaging in double-digits with [player_tooltip player_id="962669" first="Adam" last="Witty"] (13.9), [player_tooltip player_id="964806" first="Ben" last="Loverude"] (13.2), and [player_tooltip player_id="796183" first="Grant" last="Veenstra"] (10.6). The Lions are always a bigger, athletic, and physical team, and they make life tough on the opposition with their physicality. 

Dowling Catholic (4-3) at 4A #4 Johnston (2-1)

Dowling is coming off a pair of top-10 wins, and will look to extend that streak on Friday night. The Maroons have beaten Ames (37-35) and Valley (56-51) their last two times on the hardwood. A big team, Dowling can put 6-9 [player_tooltip player_id="796134" first="Jack" last="Groeteke"] (9.6), 6-8 [player_tooltip player_id="796103" first="Ryan" last="Riggs"] (11.6) and 6-9 [player_tooltip player_id="796106" first="Jaylon" last="Moses"] (4.5) on the floor at the same time if they want. [player_tooltip player_id="964878" first="Matt" last="Riedl"] (13.0) is the team’s leading scorer, an athletic, physical wing who thrives on getting to the bucket. They don’t shoot the 3 very well (26.2% as a team), but they are a very good defensive team that uses their size, athleticism and physicality to wear teams down.

The antithesis of Dowling is Johnston, a small but very skilled team. The Dragons have a number of talented guards who lead the way, headlined by North Dakota signee [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"] (15.3) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] (14.3, 50.0 3P%), a sharpshooter who thrives on playing alongside Grant and getting open looks from him. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] (9.7) is starting to get more involved in the offense, a long and skilled wing who can do a little bit of everything at a high level. They play a four-out offense around big man [player_tooltip player_id="796153" first="Max" last="Roquet"] (9.3), a nimble big who runs the floor and does a great job cleaning up on the offensive glass, pulling down 3.3 second-chances a game. 

4A #2 Waukee (4-1) at 4A #7 Southeast Polk (4-2)

High-powered Waukee has rebounded well following an upset loss to Johnston last Friday night, beating Roosevelt and Urbandale by a combined 81 points. (It should be noted that the loss to Johnston came without star [player_tooltip player_id="727862" first="Tucker" last="DeVries"], who was in COVID contact tracing protocols). The Warriors are remarkably talented, led by Iowa signee [player_tooltip player_id="727863" first="Payton" last="Sandfort"] (18.8) and the aforementioned DeVries (18.3), who will play his college ball for his dad at Drake. DeVries is averaging 8.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 4.0 steals to go with his scoring, while Sandfort is shooting 52.4% from the arc and pulling down 8.0 rebounds as well. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="956447" first="Omaha" last="Biliew"] (12.0, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) has given this group another player with an overwhelming blend of size and athleticism, while [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] (8.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="727899" first="Wyatt" last="Heston"] (4.8) are knockdown shooters with size. 

Southeast Polk has a number of talented scoring threats who have struggled to get it rolling so far this year, but the Rams can get it going at any point. [player_tooltip player_id="727881" first="James" last="Glenn"] (10.2) is one of the state’s best shooters, and they’re expected to get [player_tooltip player_id="964835" first="Chase" last="Bartlett"] (13.5) back tonight. [player_tooltip player_id="964914" first="Boone" last="Bain"] (9.0) is the only player who has shot it well so far this season, but they have a number of players who can be 40ish-percent shooters from deep; it’s only a matter of time before they get it rolling.

South Hardin (8-3) at Grundy Center (8-2)

Grundy Center won the first meeting this year, 70-52, back on December 4. The Spartans had four players in double-figures in that game, led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="962675" first="Brayden" last="Sawyer"], who had 21 points. South Hardin shot just 6-27 (22.2%) from 3 in that meeting and turned the ball over 17 times. Grundy Center has been led by Sawyer (14.4), who is shooting over 52% from behind the arc on the season. Dayne Zinkula (10.1) is the only other player averaging in double figures, but four more players average between 6.0 and 9.3 points a game. 

South Hardin has two players averaging in double-figures in Kael Carr (12.4) and Ryan Walters (11.3), with five others averaging between 6.2 and 8.8 points a game. This group does a good job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10.5 offensive rebounds a game, and they’ll need to crash the glass hard again here, as they don’t shoot it particularly well from the arc.