Tuesday's Top Games - Prep Hoops

[caption id="attachment_1290526" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/119-Caiden-Gourley.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290526 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/119-Caiden-Gourley-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1288859" first="Caiden" last="Gourley"][/caption] WACO (14-3) at 1A #10 Danville (15-2) Two of the top defensive teams in 1A meet in an SEISC South clash, with the winner holding onto slim chances of taking over New London at the top of the division, and the loser eliminated from the conference race. Danville won the first meeting, 43-38, two weeks ago in a game that featured just 28 combined points in the second half. These two teams are very similar to each other. Neither shoots it well from the arc (Danville 25.2%, WACO 30.2%), they pound the offensive glass (Danville 13.2 a game, WACO 13.2 a game), and they force a lot of turnovers (Danville 17.8 steals a game, WACO 14.8). The Bears are led by [player_tooltip player_id="1352966" first="Drake" last="Johnson"] (14.2), who leads three averaging in double-figures. He’s joined by [player_tooltip player_id="1288859" first="Caiden" last="Gourley"] (13.6) and [player_tooltip player_id="1235044" first="Sawyer" last="Nelson"] (10.2, 9.9 rebounds). While the Bears don’t shoot it well from the arc, they play a similar style to how they played when their coaches, Steven and Michael Soukup, were playing. They put a lot of pressure on opposing ball-handlers and use that defense to create a bunch of extra chances. WACO has a very balanced attack, with five players averaging between 7.5 and 11.7 points a game, led by sophomore Hunter Hughes (11.7), who also leads the team in assists and steals. Six other players average between 2.0 and 4.6 points a game, so this is a Warriors team that isn’t afraid to go deep into their bench and throw a number of different options at opposing teams. They have struggled at times with turnovers (15.9 a game), which isn’t ideal playing against the pressure looks that Danville will throw at them, so winning the rebounding battle in a major way will be key if the Warriors want to salvage a split in the season series.   [caption id="attachment_1147232" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Eddie-Burgess-new-crop-2786x1829-1615314807-crop-640x421-1615314816.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147232 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Eddie-Burgess-new-crop-2786x1829-1615314807-crop-640x421-1615314816-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="962629" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"][/caption] Montezuma (14-3) at North Mahaska (14-3) A major rivalry game will have a little added incentive tonight as both of these teams enter with 12-2 records in the SICL West. Lynnville-Sully trails with an 11-4 league mark, so the winner of this game will have the inside path to the division title. North Mahaska rolled in the first meeting, winning 50-34 on December 14th, but the Braves are playing solid ball now, winning seven straight games. Montezuma, the defending champions in 1A, have a very different look this year following the graduations of Cole Watts and Trey Shearer, but senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962629" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"] (17.5, 15.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.3 blocks) is still anchoring the middle of their attack on both ends of the floor and putting together a fantastic senior season. [player_tooltip player_id="956886" first="Masin" last="Shearer"] (13.6, 4.5 assists) is the top perimeter scoring threat, while Gavin Strong (11.1) has provided some additional punch, and Nik Kotar (9.5, 4.5 assists) has emerged as a reliable ball-handler and decision-maker. The Braves don’t shoot it as well from 3 as they have the last several years (just 29.3% as a team), but they’ve done a good job limiting turnovers and playing strong defense. North Mahaska comes in off a loss to Lynnville-Sully and will look to get back on track with this huge game. The Warhawks are led by a quartet of juniors - [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"] (21.1), [player_tooltip player_id="1367407" first="Lane" last="Harmon"] (14.0), [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"] (9.6), and Ethan Huffman (8.2). Each of them are versatile scorers and solid decision-makers with the ball in their hands, and the Warhawks do a really good job sharing the ball (17.9 assists a game). This team also pounds the offensive glass (14.3 offensive boards a game), so if they are able to get Burgess into foul trouble, things could get ugly in a hurry with the way they relentlessly attack the glass on both ends of the floor.   2A #8 Pella Christian (12-4) at 3A #7 Dallas Center-Grimes (11-4) This is a huge game in a tight Little Hawkeye Conference race. Dallas Center-Grimes leads the way at 6-2, with Pella Christian, Indianola, and Pella each sitting with 7-3 conference records. DCG rolled in the first meeting, 62-40, a month ago, but the Mustangs are coming off a perplexing loss to Boone over the weekend (although [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"] didn’t play in that game). The Mustangs are led by Kansas City commit [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"] (15.8), an athletic wing who can score from all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id="1158421" first="Bo" last="Huston"] (11.3) provides some shooting, and [player_tooltip player_id="1172626" first="Jackson" last="Jones"] (8.0) is another solid shooter and defender on the wing. If Runyan doesn’t play again, that will be a blow, as he averages 5.8 assists, is a reliable 3-point shooter, and limits turnovers. Pella Christian put together a solid end of the week last week, beating Indianola and Grinnell. The Eagles are led by senior guard Levi Schelhaaas (14.9), who leads a balanced and deep arsenal of scoring options. IPFW commit [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] (11.9, 8.8 rebounds) holds down the painted area on both ends of the floor, and the Eagles are a big, long team that won the rebounding battle in the first meeting by 11, 27-16. Turnovers (16-7) hurt them in that first meeting, as did the 3-point line, where they were outscored by 15 points.   [caption id="attachment_1356612" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408.png"><img class="wp-image-1356612 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408-300x197.png" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] Photo: Sean Bock <a href="https://247sports.com/player/pryce-sandfort-46097292/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">247Sports</a>[/caption] 4A #5 Waukee Northwest (12-3) at 4A #10 Johnston (12-3) Two of the top scorers in 4A match up in this one, as Northwest’s [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] (29.5, 11.2 rebounds) and Johnston’s [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] (23.1, 5.5 assists) square off. They likely won’t’ be matched up against each other, but whichever player has a bigger night will go a long way in determining this game. Northwest has lost two of their last three games, dropping games to #1 Ames and #3 Ankeny within the last week-and-a-half, and the schedule doesn’t let up for them with this tough road trip to Johnston. The Wolves are led by Sandfort, who is playing better than anyone in the state right now, but juniors [player_tooltip player_id="956887" first="Cade" last="Kelderman"] (16.7) and [player_tooltip player_id="1240092" first="Henry" last="Manning"] (11.2) have provided solid production as well. They’re averaging nearly 71 points a game and they shoot it really well (38.8%) from behind the arc as a team. [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] has taken his game to another level this year for the Dragons, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals while shooting 38% from behind the arc. The 5-11 guard has been fantastic on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] (16.4, 7.4 rebounds), a South Dakota commit, provides some scoring and versatility on both ends of the floor on the wing, and he’ll likely be matched up against Sandfort for at least a portion of the evening. The Dragons are shooting it at a 42.7% clip from behind the arc as a team, with role players [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"] (9.4, 48.0 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="1240090" first="Nathan" last="Ruisch"] (8.4, 49.3 3P%) providing some big, timely buckets throughout the year so far.   2A #7 Des Moines Christian (15-2) at 2A #6 Van Meter (14-1) Another game tonight that will likely decide the conference race, as Van Meter comes in with a 12-0 league record, and Des Moines Christian is 11-1, with the lone loss coming to the Bulldogs. Des Moines Christian comes in hot, winning 10 straight games, including really good wins over Pella and Pella Christian. The Lions are allowing just 43.3 points a game and are led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962669" first="Adam" last="Witty"] (22.4, 8.3 rebounds), who has taken his game to another level this year. A physical combo forward who can score inside and out, rebound, and distribute, he’s been a force on both ends of the floor. Emmett Schelhaas (10.3) and [player_tooltip player_id="1171689" first="Landon" last="Craven"] (9.6) have provided additional perimeter scoring punch, and this group always plays excellent defense. Van Meter won the first meeting between these teams, 51-42, right before the holiday break. In that game, they held the Lions to just 28.9% shooting and outrebounded them 43-17 (!). Four players average in double-figures for this balanced attack - [player_tooltip player_id="1158438" first="Clark" last="Fiala"] (12.5), [player_tooltip player_id="784980" first="Chris" last="Schreck"] (11.6), [player_tooltip player_id="1240075" first="Skyler" last="Yazzie"] (10.2), and [player_tooltip player_id="1158469" first="Casey" last="Trudo"] (10.1), and they do a great job moving the ball on the offensive end. Like DMC, Van Meter is always strong defensively, and this year has been no exception, allowing 44.0 points a game. If they dominate the glass again as they did in the first meeting, Van Meter will complete the season sweep and take the West Central.