Playoff Preview: 4A-1

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/4A-1.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1130433" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/4A-1.png" alt="" width="754" height="689" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The favorite: Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln </strong>plays in a weaker 4A conference during the regular season, which includes a few 3A teams, but they have gone out of the state taking on some big challenges such as Blue Valley Northwest (top team in KS), Bellevue West and Millard North (#1 and #2 in NE) and are planning to take on Millard West before the postseason starts this upcoming weekend. Not only have they stepped out and played these top teams in not only the Midwest, but nationally, they have competed with all but Blue Valley Northwest (lost by 26). They were in a one possession game with Bellevue West and lost by 7, though the game was closer than the score appears, to Millard North. Not only did those games show that this team could be a player in the 4A scheme of things, but it also showcased a top 2 talented player in the in-state Class of 2022, in [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"] (19.7), and his ability to take games over whether that be by scoring or providing for his teammates. Junior, guard [player_tooltip player_id="784974" first="Jamison" last="Gruber"] is another name to know in that class as he’s a quick, tough nosed defending point guard (11.2), followed by Midland signee<strong> Noah Sandbothe</strong> (12.7) who can shoot it and score inside well. After their top 3 there isn’t much of a drop off to their next 4 guys and are able to go into their bench and provide good minutes. This team could make some noise throughout the postseason. </p> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Through injuries and other things that have gone in this season, I don’t think we’ve seen this <strong>Southeast Polk </strong>team at it’s best just yet. It all starts with Senior PG [player_tooltip player_id="727881" first="James" last="Glenn"] (11.3), who has yet to find the rhythm that viewers knows he has offensively and the way he can put the ball in the basket. If defenses get relaxed on Glenn he can make them pay. Leading scorer this season has been Senior [player_tooltip player_id="964835" first="Chase" last="Bartlett"] (13.7), who has been hampered by an injury in the middle of the season but should 100% healthy now and going into the postseason. Bartlett<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/46-James-Glenn.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1066247 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/46-James-Glenn-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> can shoot the 3 well (42.2%) but stands at about 6’3 and uses his length well offensively and defensively. Another Senior [player_tooltip player_id="964914" first="Boone" last="Bain"] (10.9) rounds this trio out and has shown his versatility to shoot it from deep, but is also pretty crafty in the lane with the ball. The Rams are not quite trending in the right way right now as they hold an 0-4 record in the month of February and will be looking to right the ship heading into next week’s matchup with Sioux City East/North. </p> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Another team that has a lot of potential but has hit kind of a roadblock in the month of February posting a 1-4 record is <strong>Sioux City East</strong>. As has been mentioned though, The Black Raiders have a bunch of talent on their roster and head coach Ras Vanderloo has a long list of success. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1056594" first="DaVares" last="Whitaker"] is the leader for this team (24.8) and he can really go with the ball in his hands, explosive towards the hoop and loves to get downhill and force the action. 6’4 Junior wing/forward <strong>Bie Ruei</strong> has a high ceiling as he can finish at the rim and can step out and hit a jumpshot and has athleticism on the defensive end to effect the game. Don’t forget Senior <strong>Dom Drent</strong> (11.3) who has put a stamp on the Black Raider program over the course of his career and a young name to watch in 6’7 Sophomore <strong>Brandt VanDyke</strong> (7.3) who can do a little bit of everything. The Black Raiders will need to shoot the ball from the outside a better than their season average to make some noise. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Players to watch</span></p> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"], Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln</p> <p>2021 <strong>Noah Sandbothe</strong>, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln</p> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784974" first="Jamison" last="Gruber"], Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln</p> <p>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="727881" first="James" last="Glenn"], Southeast Polk</p> <p>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="964835" first="Chase" last="Bartlett"], Southeast Polk</p> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1056594" first="DaVares" last="Whitaker"], Sioux City East</p> <p>2022 <strong>Bie Ruei</strong>, Sioux City East</p> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962663" first="Keeon" last="Hutton"], Sioux City West</p> <p>2023 <strong>Keavian Hayes</strong>, Sioux City West</p> <p>2022 <strong>Austin Schubert</strong>, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson</p> <p>2021 <strong>Evan Helvig</strong>, Sioux City North</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln vs Southeast Polk</em></p> <p>Abraham Lincoln posts wins against every other team in this district pairing except Southeast Polk. Southeast Polk has struggled as of late, and as has been said will be looking to turn that around before postseason play. The edge is definitely given to this battle-tested <strong>Abraham Lincoln</strong> team, and they could be a team to be reckoned with down the line when/if they make it to Des Moines. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>