Substate Preview: 4A-4

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-4.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1384073" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-4-1024x330.png" alt="" width="1024" height="330" /></a> [caption id="attachment_1116187" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/11-Kenzie-Reed-crop-2173x1427-1610657914.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1116187 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/11-Kenzie-Reed-crop-2173x1427-1610657914-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"][/caption] The favorite: Kennedy has to be considered one of the biggest favorites in any 4A substate. The Cougars just had a 15-game winning streak snapped by Cedar Falls, but they have been absolutely rolling after a 3-2 start. They have the third-highest scoring offense in the class, putting up 70.7 points a game behind a fantastic quartet of guards - juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1167718" first="Colby" last="Dolphin"] (14.2, 42.0 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"] (12.7, 7.2 assists), senior [player_tooltip player_id="1158435" first="Carson" last="Blietz"] (9.3, 42.2 3P%), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171687" first="Cyrus" last="Courtney"] (7.5, 2.6 steals). Dolphin and Blietz are fantastic perimeter shooting threats, and Dolphin is a tough, physical guard who finishes through contact and really gets after it defensively. Reed is one of the best pure point guards in the state, a great passer with court vision and pace, and Courtney is an X-factor, a long and athletic wing who can dominate games on both ends of the floor in spurts. Put those four guards with bigs [player_tooltip player_id="1158434" first="Jackson" last="Bowman"] (10.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="784983" first="Craig" last="Mills"] (7.9, 7.1 rebounds), who each have strengths of their own, and you have one of the best teams in the state. They swept Washington by 20 and 8 points, split with Linn-Mar, and blasted Liberty by 33 points this season. [caption id="attachment_1290499" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/93-Jaxson-Young.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290499 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/93-Jaxson-Young-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="962642" first="Jaxson" last="Young"][/caption] The biggest threat: Linn-Mar has a tricky opening round game against an always tough defensively North Scott team, but the Lions are the only team in this substate that has beaten Kennedy this year, and their loss to the Cougars came by just four points a month ago. The Kennedy/Linn-Mar rivalry is huge, and the Lions would love to ruin a magical Kennedy season by upsetting them in the semifinals. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="962642" first="Jaxson" last="Young"] (15.0, 2.2 steals) is a physical and athletic guard who can get to the rim and has an excellent mid-range game. Freshman big [player_tooltip player_id="1381412" first="Davis" last="Kern"] (10.2, 1.2 blocks) is a stretch-4 with high upside who has really played well lately, and the Lions have a slew of athletic options that they can throw out on the floor. They play Kennedy tough and know that they can beat the Cougars. [caption id="attachment_1115610" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/117-Traijen-Sain-crop-2004x1316-1610572845.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1115610 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/117-Traijen-Sain-crop-2004x1316-1610572845-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956880" first="Traijan" last="Sain"][/caption] The dark horse: Expectations were high for Washington coming into the year, and at times, they’ve looked like the team we anticipated they would be. Consistency has been the key for this group, and will be the key for them throughout their postseason run and heading into next year. Three juniors lead the team in scoring, led by [player_tooltip player_id="956880" first="Traijan" last="Sain"] (17.2) and [player_tooltip player_id="1167702" first="Jesse" last="Sellers"] (11.3). Sain is a long, athletic 6-5 wing who can take over games on both ends of the floor, while Sellers, [player_tooltip player_id="1167699" first="Jaden" last="Harris"] (6.9, 3.8 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id="1171663" first="Willie" last="Hodges"] (4.2, 3.0 assists) give the Warriors a ton of athleticism and speed in the backcourt. The Warriors are capable of winning this substate and making noise in Des Moines - this is a really talented team. They just need to put it all together for a few games in a row. Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167718" first="Colby" last="Dolphin"], Kennedy 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"], Kennedy 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158435" first="Carson" last="Blietz"], Kennedy 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171687" first="Cyrus" last="Courtney"], Kennedy 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962642" first="Jaxson" last="Young"], Linn-Mar 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="1381412" first="Davis" last="Kern"], Linn-Mar 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956880" first="Traijan" last="Sain"], Washington 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167702" first="Jesse" last="Sellers"], Washington 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158424" first="Oliver" last="Hughes"], North Scott 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1288867" first="Da’Shon" last="Fisher"], Liberty 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1288912" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"], Davenport Central   <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> Kennedy vs. Washington Add another chapter to a great Cedar Rapids rivalry. Kennedy has won each of the meetings this year, forcing 32 turnovers and shooting 52.1% from the floor in those wins. It’s a good matchup for the Cougars, with their number of talented guards blitzing Washington’s younger guards and forcing them into mistakes. After a four-year absence, Kennedy makes a trip to Wells Fargo Arena, where they’ll be a contender for the 4A title.