Tuesday's Top Games - Prep Hoops

[caption id="attachment_1224660" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Josh-Dix.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1224660 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Josh-Dix-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"][/caption] 4A #1 Council Bluffs Lincoln (6-0) at Bellevue West (NE) In an effort to really test themselves during non-league play, Council Bluffs Lincoln is headed across the Missouri River to take on Bellevue West, a powerhouse program from the Omaha area. West’s only loss this season came to Corona Centennial, a team from California that is currently ranked #4 in the country by MaxPreps. The Thunderbirds are loaded with talent, with two of the top 14 players in Nebraska’s 2022 class (#6 William Kyle, #14 Evan Inselman), three of the top 10 in the 2023 class (#1 Josiah Dotzler, #7 Jaxon Stueve, #10 John Mitchell III), and three of the top 13 players in the 2024 class (#2 Jaden Jackson, #9 Eldon Turner, and #13 Jacob Arop). (All rankings from Prep Hoops Nebraska.) Kyle is the team’s leader, an athletic 6-8 rim protector who is headed to South Dakota State, while the rest of the headliners are more perimeter-oriented threats. The Thunderbirds are loaded with length, athleticism, and quickness, and this will be a real test for CBAL. The Lynx are led by future Iowa wing [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"] (20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists), a stat-sheet stuffing wing who scores at a highly efficient clip, gets others involved, and is a versatile defender. He’ll need to have a big game if the Lynx are going to hang around with the hyper-athletic Thunderbirds. Fellow senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="784974" first="Jamison" last="Gruber"] (17.3) and Jaxson Jones (11.3) are the team’s top perimeter shooting threats, and they’ll need to knock down a number of 3-pointers in this one. Even if the Lynx lose this one, the experience of playing an extremely talented team like West will be a huge benefit for them come postseason time. And if they win, they’re adding one hell of a win to their resume.   [caption id="attachment_1289735" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Padraig-Gallagher-crop-4852x3186-1632360992.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1289735 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Padraig-Gallagher-crop-4852x3186-1632360992-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"][/caption] Marion (7-2) at Beckman Catholic (6-1) This game doubles as a huge game in the WaMaC East and a meeting between two of the best scorers in the 2023 class - Marion’s [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"] (18.7) and Beckman Catholic’s [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"] (23.3). Laube has grown up to about 6-3 and has turned himself into a fantastic playmaker and shot creator. He’s scoring efficiently (50-47-76 shooting splits) and is capable of dropping 30+ points on any given night with his ability to get his shot off whenever he wants to. Alex Mota (9.9) has been solid in the backcourt as well, an athletic playmaker and defender. The Wolves have done a great job crashing the offensive glass (11.6 offensive boards a game) despite being a fairly undersized team. Gallagher, a 6-5 wing, leads the Blazers. He’s a dominant three-level scorer who is also posting incredible efficiency numbers, with 57-49-89 shooting splits. He has a silky smooth stroke off the dribble and the catch, limitless range, and has really improved as a playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id="1158470" first="Logan" last="Goedken"] (14.7, 6.0 assists) has emerged as a strong secondary scorer and playmaking option for Beckman. Expect to see Mota matched up with Gallagher quite a bit in an effort to throw some athleticism at him to slow him down.   [caption id="attachment_1166763" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jake-Walter1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1166763 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jake-Walter1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"][/caption] Cedar Falls (4-1) at 4A #7 Prairie (6-1) Cedar Falls rebounded from a stunning loss to Jefferson by winning three straight heading into the break by an average of 19.3 points a game. The Tigers lost a ton of production off of last year’s team that was at or near the top of the 4A rankings all season, but have been one of the most prominent programs in the state over the last decade. They’re headlined by senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="682265" first="Trey" last="Campbell"] (26.8), who is headed to play his college ball at Northern Iowa. A 6-4 guard who has developed into a big-time scorer after the heavy personnel losses, he has the ability to torch teams from all three levels. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="956870" first="Dallas" last="Bear"] (14.0) has had a rough start shooting the ball (just 29.2% from the arc so far), but is one of the better shooters in the 2023 class and should snap out of that funk sometime soon. Sophomore combo forward [player_tooltip player_id="1171693" first="Cade" last="Courbat"] (8.4, 6.2 rebounds) also provided some strong production pre-holiday break in his first five varsity games. The Tigers were probably one of the teams that needed the extra practices that the holiday break provided most, with the bevy of newcomers on the roster. Prairie posted solid wins over Johnston, Xavier, and Hempstead before the holiday break. The Hawks are led by a talented senior backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"] (14.4) and [player_tooltip player_id="784979" first="Elijah" last="Ward"] (11.7), as well as senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="682264" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"] (14.4). Walter and Ward are both solid three-level scorers who do a great job penetrating the defense to set up the rest of their offensive games, while Burkle, a future Iowa State football player, is back after missing last year with a knee injury and has provided excellent production on both ends of the floor in the paint. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1240063" first="Jack" last="Wagemester"] (7.4, 42.3 3P%) has provided solid play on both ends as well, a strong and physical defender and high-level shooter.   [caption id="attachment_1290512" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/107-Kareem-Earl.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290512 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/107-Kareem-Earl-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1171670" first="Kareem" last="Earl"][/caption] 3A #9 Xavier (4-2) at 4A #4 Iowa City West (6-0) Sophomore point guard Joe Bean (15.3, 4.3 assists) has burst onto the scene in the MVC this year, leading the Saints in scoring, assists, and steals. A high IQ 6-2 guard who does a great job using his physicality to bully his way to the rim and to make an impact on the defensive end, he’s also a knockdown shooter who is burying 43% of his 3-point attempts through his first six varsity games. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1167689" first="Aidan" last="Yamilkoski"] (12.2) led the team in scoring last year and has been a solid pairing with Bean, who does a great job putting his teammates in position to score. The Saints will have their hands full with West forward [player_tooltip player_id="1158261" first="Peter" last="Moe"] (26.5, 10.0 rebounds), a dominant three-level scorer who will take advantage of any matchup with his ability to score on the block at will or stretch the floor with his shooting. Three other Trojans are averaging in double-figures in freshman Jack McCaffery (12.7, 51.6 3P%), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171670" first="Kareem" last="Earl"] (10.7), and junior [player_tooltip player_id="1167705" first="Savion" last="Taylor"] (10.5, 50.0 3P%). West has been one of the most potent offensive teams in the state this season, averaging 72.5 points a game and posting incredible 57-44-77 shooting splits. Sophomore point guard Jacob Koch (8.7, 4.3 assists) has stepped into a distribution role this year and been excellent on both ends of the floor as well.   [caption id="attachment_1254557" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Caden-Kirkman2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1254557 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Caden-Kirkman2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1167686" first="Caden" last="Kirkman"] battles for position with the Iowa Barnstomers during the summer of 2021[/caption] Wilton (7-1) at Mid-Prairie (7-0) This is a game that is probably going to go overlooked by most people around the state, but it’s a huge one between a pair of teams that are trying to prove themselves as contenders in Class 2A. Wilton’s lone loss came to Monticello by 6, and the Beavers are on track to blow last year’s win total (11) out of the water. They’re led by junior big man [player_tooltip player_id="1167686" first="Caden" last="Kirkman"] (19.6, 10.8 rebounds, 4.1 blocks), a dominant force on both ends of the floor who scores efficiently on the block, dominates the glass, and protects the paint. Aidan Walker (11.1) and Landyn Putman (10.8) have given them some more scoring, while Jackson Hull (8.9, 3.1 assists) and Clayton Guyer (4.3, 3.3 assists) have given them good playmaking on the perimeter. We’ll learn much more about the undefeated Golden Hawks in the next few weeks, as they have this game against Wilton, a road trip to Anamosa, and home games against Williamsburg, Monticello, and Camanche (among other games) all lined up before the end of the month. They’re led by 6-5 playmaking wing [player_tooltip player_id="1158414" first="Carter" last="Harmsen"] (19.3), who leads the team in scoring and rebounding. He’s also a talented playmaker who can get others involved. [player_tooltip player_id="1167728" first="Alex" last="Bean"] (9.6) is the team’s top perimeter shooting threat, while [player_tooltip player_id="1352979" first="Ethan" last="Kos"] (8.9) has given them strong production in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id="1235039" first="Jackson" last="Pennington"] (5.3, 4.3 assists) isn’t much of a scorer, but he thrives on getting others involved and does a great job limiting turnovers. Whichever team has a better answer for the opposing team’s star should have the upper hand in this huge River Valley South game.   [caption id="attachment_1033617" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Elvis-Nnaji.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1033617 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Elvis-Nnaji-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"][/caption] 3A #1 Dallas Center-Grimes (5-1) at 2A #6 Pella Christian (6-1) Dallas Center-Grimes has won four straight meetings in this Little Hawkeye Conference series, and the winner of this matchup will be in front of the LHC race. The Mustangs are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"] (14.8), [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"] (11.8), and [player_tooltip player_id="1158421" first="Bo" last="Huston"] (11.3). Glasgow is an athletic scoring guard who is headed to play his college ball at UMKC. Runyan is a solid point guard who transferred to DCG from Johnston and has posted a 5.2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio so far, and Huston is one of the best shooters in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="1172626" first="Jackson" last="Jones"] (8.7), another senior wing, has given the ’Stangs quality shooting and is the team’s top defender. Pella Christian’s lone loss so far came to a very good Indianola team, and they rebounded from that loss by winning three straight heading into the break by an average of 24.7 points a game. An experienced and balanced team, the Eagles have two double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id="1158492" first="Levi" last="Schelhaas"] (14.3) and [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] (11.3), and five others averaging between 6.3 and 9.6 points a game. Mulder is a very talented 6-9/6-10 big man who is headed to play at IPFW. He has the ability to stretch the floor, protect the rim and rebound at a high level, but PC needs to try and get him more involved on the offensive end of the floor, as he’s averaging only seven shot attempts a game. The Eagles go deep into their bench, and that may be helpful here.