Substate Preview: 4A-5

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-5.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1384077" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-5-1024x323.png" alt="" width="1024" height="323" /></a></p> [caption id="attachment_1241256" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Ryan-Dolphin9.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1241256 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Ryan-Dolphin9-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"][/caption] <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> The lone remaining undefeated team in 4A is <strong>Pleasant Valley</strong>. The Spartans play a slower, methodical style on the offensive end and really get their kids to buy in and play excellent defense. They lead 4A in scoring defense, allowing just 41.0 points a game. Their style on both ends of the floor makes them an incredibly frustrating team to play, and a difficult team to beat. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"] (16.4, 44.8 3P%) has had an excellent year on both ends of the floor, leading the team in scoring and assists, and he’s shooting it at an incredible clip. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1367437" first="Connor" last="Borbeck"] (13.5, 37.1 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id="1158499" first="Joel" last="Lawlor"] (9.9, 42.4 3P%) give them some more shooting, and as a team, the Spartans are hitting 39.9% of their 3-point attempts. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1256301" first="David" last="Gorsline"] (5.9, 7.1 rebounds) is undersized but athletic and physical on the glass. The Spartans don’t have anyone who is going to blow you away, but they’re a really good all-around team that shares the wealth, shoots it well, and defends like crazy. They’re also a 73% team from the line, with their five starters each shooting at least 71.8% from the free-throw line, which will help late in games. </p> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Iowa City West</strong> got off to a strong 7-0 start this year, looking like the Trojans of old. An injury to [player_tooltip player_id="1167705" first="Savion" last="Taylor"], the team’s top perimeter shooting threat and a strong wing defender, derailed the team a bit, and they are scuffling heading into the postseason, losing five of their last six games. Still, this is a talented roster that can make some noise, led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1158261" first="Peter" last="Moe"] (21.7, 9.1 rebounds). A 6-8/6-9 forward who is unstoppable on the block, he has excellent footwork and touch around the rim, and he can stretch the floor a bit as well. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1381414" first="Jack" last="McCaffery"] (9.6, 35.8 3P%) is a 6-7/6-8 combo forward who can shoot it, and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="1376672" first="Jacob" last="Koch"] (8.9, 42.3 3P%) has stepped up as the team’s top perimeter shooting threat following the Taylor injury. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="1171670" first="Kareem" last="Earl"] (8.3) has had an up-and-down season but is one of the most talented sophomores in the state, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682262" first="Christian" last="Barnes"] (7.9) is a solid two-way player with lots of experience. The talent is there, but they are not clicking right now.</p> <p><strong>The dark horse: Burlington</strong> lost their head-to-head meeting with Iowa City West by 12, but that was when the Trojans were playing good ball at the beginning of the year. They’ll be itching to get another shot at West in the semifinals with the two teams heading in opposite directions. The Grayhounds have won seven of their last eight, and are 10-2 since the holiday break. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962667" first="Amarion" last="Davis"] (14.7) is an athletic wing who can score from all three levels, and Merquiche Lewis Jr (12.9, 2.1 steals) has been a strong contributor this season as well. This is an athletic team that can force turnovers and get out in transition, and while the competition that they’ve played isn’t the strongest in the Southeast Conference, they’re playing well and should have a ton of confidence heading into postseason play. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Players to watch</span><br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682267" first="Ryan" last="Dolphin"], Pleasant Valley<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367437" first="Connor" last="Borbeck"], Pleasant Valley<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158261" first="Peter" last="Moe"], Iowa City West<br /> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="1381414" first="Jack" last="McCaffery"], Iowa City West<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962667" first="Amarion" last="Davis"], Burlington<br /> 2023 Merquiche Lewis Jr, Burlington<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962634" first="Jermaine" last="Gardner"], Davenport West<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962640" first="NaZion" last="Caruthers"], Davenport West<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784977" first="Jamari" last="Newson"], City<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240089" first="Shamar" last="Benton"], City<br /> 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1256297" first="TaeVeon" last="Stevens"], City<br /> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="1381426" first="Luke" last="Wieskamp"], Muscatine<br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> <p style="text-align: center;">Pleasant Valley vs. Iowa City West</p> <p>While they’re not playing very good ball right now, West has the talent and a home game in the semifinals, so we’ve given them the edge into the substate final. But this substate belongs to <strong>Pleasant Valley</strong>, which uses their suffocating defense and efficient offensive attack to frustrate the Trojans and punch their ticket to the state tournament with a 23-0 record in tact. </p>