Monday’s Games to Watch

Ames

Tony Roe January 4, 2021 @ 03:35 PM

The best game of the evening is this interesting non-conference tilt between a pair of strong 3A programs. Waverly-Shell Rock is bouncing back from a down year with a strong 6-0 start, boosted by senior forward Caleb Burks Caleb Burks 6'6" | C Waverly-Shell Rock | 2021 State IA (12.8), who is blocking 6.5 shots a game and serving as an ultimate rim-protector. Keaton Farmer Keaton Farmer 6'2" | CG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2022 State IA (16.0) has led a much more efficient offensive attack, as the Go-Hawks are shooting over 41% from behind the arc on the season. They’ve been dominant on the defensive end, allowing just 38.8 points a game.

Clear Lake is led by one of the best tandems in 3A basketball in junior guard Carson Toebe Carson Toebe 6'3" | PG Clear Lake | 2022 State IA (16.4) and senior forward Andrew Formanek Andrew Formanek 6'6" | PF Clear Lake | 2021 State IA (15.8, 11.8 rebounds). That duo has been strong again to start this year, and they’re getting solid production out of role players like Joe Faber (7.0) and Eric Ritter (7.3). The Lions will need to protect the ball better (15.0 turnovers a game) against a strong defensive team if they want to pull out a nice home win.

4A #1 Waukee (1-0) at Dowling Catholic (2-1)

Waukee dominated their opener against 4A defending champion Ankeny, 65-28, with four players scoring in double figures - Omaha Biliew Omaha Biliew 6'8" | SF Link Academy | 2023 #14 Nation FL (15), Tucker DeVries Tucker DeVries 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #123 Nation IA (14), Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA (14), and Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA (10). The Warriors have the most talented roster we’ve seen in the state since the Ames team that had Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott, among others.

Dowling has a massive roster that will be able to throw some real size at the Warriors with 6-10 Jack Groeteke Jack Groeteke 6'9" | C Dowling Catholic | 2021 State IA (10.3) and 6-9 Ryan Riggs Ryan Riggs 6'9" | PF Dowling Catholic | 2021 State IA (13.3). They’ve also gotten really strong production out of 6-3 wing Matthew Riedl (17.3, 4.3 assists), but the Maroons are shooting just 29% from behind the arc as a team. They’ll need to knock down plenty of shots to hang with an explosive and talented Warriors squad.

Van Meter (4-1) at Norwalk (4-2)

This should be a good test for Van Meter, stepping up in competition against a strong Norwalk team. The Bulldogs lost their last game before the break, 61-49, against a strong Des Moines Christian bunch, and are anxious to get back on the floor. They’ve been led by junior guard Chris Schreck Chris Schreck 5'10" | PG Van Meter | 2022 State IA (16.8), a quick lead guard who makes a major impact on both ends of the floor. Casey Trudo (11.4) and Carter Durflinger (11.0) are also averaging in double-figures for this young Bulldogs team that starts three juniors and a sophomore alongside senior Taylor Birks.

Defending 3A champion Norwalk is off to a 4-2 start, which is impressive given the gigantic hole that Bowen Born Bowen Born 5'11" | PG Norwalk | 2020 State #401 Nation IA left. Senior forward Cole Tunender (12.3) leads the team in scoring, and the Warriors have gotten strong, balanced production, with seven players averaging at least 3.8 points a game.

Osage (4-1) at 1A #4 West Fork (3-0)

These teams split their season series last year, with West Fork winning 54-47, and Osage winning 74-72 in overtime. These two programs are traditionally strong, and this is a key game in the Top of Iowa East.

Osage has a trio of double-figure scorers in Eric Bobinet (14.8), Tyler Oberfoell (12.4), and Nathan Havel Nathan Havel 6'2" | PF Osage | 2022 State IA (11.6). The Green Devils do a great job pounding the offensive glass, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds a game, which helps lead to a lot of second-chance points.

West Fork hasn’t played since December 11 following COVID exposure from another team, but they were dominant in their first three wins, winning by an average of 81-38. The Warhawks are led by the dynamic inside-out tandem of Jakob Washington Jakob Washington 6'2" | SF West Fork | 2021 State IA (13.3) and Kayden Ames Kayden Ames 6'1" | SG West Fork | 2021 State IA (23.0). Ames is a flamethrower from behind the arc, knocking down 62.5% of his 3-point attempts so far on the young season. They’re also getting good production out of seniors Cail Weaver Cail Weaver 6'0" | SG West Fork | 2021 State IA (10.7), Joe Ingham (9.0), and Colin Martinek (8.0). The key here will be to keep the Green Devils off of the offensive glass.