Tuesday’s Top Games

3A #6 Marion at Kennedy

This should be a good test for Marion, stepping up a class and playing against a Kennedy team that has some excellent guards and is always strong defensively. We have high expectations for the Wolves this season, and that starts with junior guard Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA , who has already established himself as one of the state’s elite shooting threats. He’s grown, shooting up to 6-2 now, and he’s adding some real explosive athleticism to his arsenal, which will make him an even more dangerous offensive threat. Alex Mota, a sought-after Division I football prospect, returns on the perimeter as well, giving Marion a very athletic tandem in the backcourt. Seniors Cael Hodges Cael Hodges 6'0" | SG Marion | 2022 State IA and Boede Rahe will give this group some experience, and look for sophomore guard Myles Davis, an Iowa baseball commit, to give them some more athleticism and quickness in the backcourt on both ends of the floor. 

Kennedy opens the year just outside our top 10 in Class 4A, and the Cougars will have one of the best backcourts in the state this year with juniors Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA and Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA being joined by senior Carson Blietz Carson Blietz 5'11" | SG Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022 State IA , who transferred from Jefferson. Reed is a dynamic lead guard who stands out in the pick-and-roll game, showcasing his excellent court vision and shooting, while Dolphin is a tough, physical guard who really gets after it on the defensive end of the floor. Blietz averaged over 12 points a game at Jefferson last year and gives them some more scoring on the perimeter. Where Kennedy will have a major edge, however, is in the painted area, where 6-7 seniors Jackson Bowman Jackson Bowman 6'7" | PF Kennedy | 2022 State IA and Craig Mills Craig Mills 6'5" | PF Kennedy | 2022 State IA should have their way, controlling the glass on both ends of the floor. 

3A #7 Spencer at Sioux City East

After losing ten straight meetings in this series, Spencer broke through and took home a 62-59 win last year, with star guard Karter Petzenhauser Karter Petzenhauser 6'4" | SG Spencer | 2022 State IA going off for 24 points. A 6-2 three-level scorer, he’s capable of going off for 35+ points on any given night for the Tigers, who did a solid job defensively in last year’s meeting. The Tigers are able to surround Petzenhauser with a few key returning pieces in big man Evan Schmidt Evan Schmidt 6'5" Spencer | 2022 IA and guard Owen Olson. Schmidt led the team in rebounding, and Olson is a knockdown shooter who pairs well with Petzenhauser in the backcourt.

This could be the start of a breakout year for East junior forward Brandt Van Dyke Brandt Van Dyke 6'8" | PF Sioux City East | 2023 State IA , a long and versatile 6-8 forward who can score inside and out. The Black Raiders lost leading scorer DaVares Whitaker DaVares Whitaker 6'0" | PG Sioux City East | 2022 IA , who moved back to Arkansas, but they may be a more balanced team this year as a result, which will benefit them. Van Dyke has a ton of potential, and 6-4 senior wing Bie Ruei Bie Ruei 6'4" | SF Sioux City East | 2022 State IA is the team’s top returning scorer, an athletic and long wing who can impact the game on both ends of the floor. Expect plenty of points in this entertaining non-conference matchup.

3A #1 Pella at North Polk (0-1)

The defending 3A champions open their title defense with a road trip to Alleman to take on North Polk and star wing Jevin Sullivan Jevin Sullivan 6'5" | SG North Polk | 2022 State IA . Sullivan has signed to play his college ball at UMKC, and he impacts the game on both ends of the floor with his size, athleticism, and remarkable talent. A gifted three-level scorer who is willing to take smaller defenders down onto the block, or shoot it from deep, he’s primed to have a big senior year. The Comets will need other players to step up in a big way if they want to have a more successful year, and they have a very difficult start to the season with games against 4A #9 Indianola and Pella.

These teams have played each of the last two seasons, with the Dutch dominating each meeting, winning 97-69 in 2019 and 78-35 last season. They bring back three of their top four scorers from the 3A championship team, and should pick up right where they left off last season, putting up points in bunches. Karl Miller Karl Miller 6'4" | SF Pella | 2022 State IA (15.7 points a game last season) and Noah Allen Noah Allen 5'10" | PG Pella | 2022 State IA (12.3) combined to shoot nearly 43% from deep last year, while senior wing Parker Elder Parker Elder 6'4" | SF Pella | 2022 State IA is a freak of an athlete on the perimeter who impacts the game with his length and highlight-reel blocks and dunks. The Dutch also add in Knoxville transfer Luke Keitges Luke Keitges 6'4" | SF Knoxville | 2023 State IA , a 6-4 combo forward who can score inside and out at a highly efficient clip. Look for them to come out of the gates hot and announce themselves once again as the team to beat in 3A.

Okoboji at 2A #4 Rock Valley

Rock Valley has historically dominated this series, holding a 22-3 edge during the QuikStats/VarsityBound era, although Okoboji had won three straight before last year’s loss. Okoboji lost a lot of production off of last year’s team, but bring back one of the best players in the Siouxland in senior combo forward Lucas Lorenzen Lucas Lorenzen 6'4" | SF Okoboji | 2022 State IA , who averaged just under 24 points a game last season with 45-42-79 shooting splits. A big, physical wing who can score in bunches from anywhere, he also controls the glass and is improving as a playmaker. He’ll need to do a ton for the Pioneers this year, who lost four of their top six scorers from last year’s team. 

On the other end of the spectrum in terms of returnees is Rock Valley, who bring back all three double-figure scorers from last season in seniors Landyn Van Kekerix Landyn Van Kekerix 5'11" | SG Rock Valley | 2022 State IA , Bryson Van Grootheest Bryson Van Grootheest 6'0" | CG Rock Valley | 2022 State IA , and Sam Remmerde Sam Remmerde 6'3" | PF Rock Valley | 2022 State IA . That trio will be one of the best in 2A this season, with each of them giving the Rockets a little something different. Van Kekerix led the team in rebounding and is a slashing wing who can get to the bucket and finish. Van Grootheest led the team in assists and is more of a perimeter-oriented scorer, while Remmerde is a power forward who can score inside and out, control the glass, and protect the rim. 

4A #4 Valley at 4A #7 Waukee Northwest

This is a fantastic way to start the year for both of these teams. Valley has a pair of talented big men in Ruot Bijiek Ruot Bijiek 6'8" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA and Eli Raridon Eli Raridon 6'7" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA leading the way, who combined to average over 30 points a game last season. Bijiek, a 6-9 combo forward, can stretch the floor and protect the rim, while Raridon, a Notre Dame football signee, is an athletic 6-7 forward who can score inside and out, and dominate the glass. That tandem will be tough for any team in the state to match up with. They’ll get a defensive boost with the addition of Hoover transfer Kir Diew Kir Diew 6'8" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA , a 6-8 forward who can switch and block shots, and point guard Mason Morrow Mason Morrow 5'11" | CG Valley | 2022 State IA returns to hold down the backcourt. There are also a pair of freshmen who made Valley’s varsity roster in Curtis Stinson Jr. and Kiki Deng. Freshmen playing varsity for the Tigers is rare, and these talented athletes should make an impact. 

This will be the first game as a school for Northwest, which will be led by junior wing Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA and point guard Cade Kelderman Cade Kelderman 6'0" | PG Waukee Northwest | 2023 State IA . Sandfort has established himself as one of the state’s elite shooting threats at 6-7, and he’s picking up interest from programs like Gonzaga in addition to offers from Drake and Iowa. After being an elite role player for last year’s Waukee state championship team, the Wolves will be his team for the next two years. Kelderman gives them an experienced lead guard who can control tempo and get others involved.