Class 4A State Tournament Preview

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Tamin-Lipsey-crop-3024x1986-1630182046.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1273063" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Tamin-Lipsey-crop-3024x1986-1630182046-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>#1 seed: Ames (20-3) About the Little Cyclones: Ames started the season ranked #1 in the state, and the Little Cyclones have done nothing to change our minds about that fact. At full strength, they haven’t lost to a team from Iowa, as star guard [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"] (15.9, 6.1 assists) was sidelined with a hamstring injury for the last six games of the regular season. Lipsey is a dominant guard on both ends of the floor who can dominate games even when he isn’t scoring. [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"] (15.3, 6.4 rebounds) is an athletic forward who scores efficiently around the rim, and [player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"] (11.3, 5.6 rebounds) is a physical presence in the paint. The Little Cyclones are always a fantastic defensive team, and that hasn’t changed this year, allowing just 42.7 points a game despite playing in the loaded CIML. Why they can win it all: They’re the best defensive team in the state, and they have a ton of pieces back from last year’s team that lost in the semifinals. Experience, talent, and dominant defense will help lead this team to the state title. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dallas-Bear.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1177345" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dallas-Bear-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>#2 seed: Cedar Falls (19-2) About the Tigers: The Tigers haven’t lost since a January 4 setback to Prairie, entering the tournament on a 16-game winning streak. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682265" first="Trey" last="Campbell"] (24.0, 4.2 assists) is a dominant three-level scorer with quickness who can take over games in the blink of an eye, and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="956870" first="Dallas" last="Bear"] (14.4, 56 3PM) is a 6-8 shooter who can get scorching hot and carry the offense for stretches. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="1171693" first="Cade" last="Courbat"] (6.9, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) may end up being the difference-maker if the Tigers are going to make a run, an athletic 6-7 forward who can block shots, finish around the rim, and stretch the floor. Cedar Falls started the season a little rough as they broke in a lot of new pieces, but they’re rolling now. Why they can win it all: They have a dominant guard who can take over games at any point in time and they’re playing as well as any team in the state on both ends of the floor right now. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1148899" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>#3 seed: Johnston (19-3) About the Dragons: Johnston has been playing incredibly well down the stretch, entering the tournament on an eight-game winning streak by an average of 12.6 points a game. They returned two starters from a team that finished runner-up last year, and that tandem has been sensational this year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] (21.7, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists) is an electric scorer from all three levels who has really improved his all-around offensive game and playmaking this year. Wing [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] (16.0, 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists) is an athletic 6-5 wing who can get to the rim seemingly at will, knock down shots from anywhere, and has the length and athleticism to be an impact defender. They’re able to surround that tandem with a trio of excellent shooters in [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"] (8.7, 45.5 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id="1240090" first="Nathan" last="Ruisch"] (7.5, 44.6 3P%), and Samuel Tornabane (5.5, 42.5 3P%). Why they can win it all: Lewis and Kramer have a ton of state tournament experience, and this is the best 3-point shooting team in the 4A field (41.0 3P%). <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/11-Kenzie-Reed-crop-2173x1427-1610657914.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1116187" 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>#4 seed: Kennedy (20-3) About the Cougars: Two of the Cougars three losses this season came to the teams who are the top two seeds in this tournament, with the other coming to rival Linn-Mar. A high-powered offensive team that averages 69.2 points a game, they have a stellar quartet of guards that pace the attack in juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1167718" first="Colby" last="Dolphin"] (14.1, 39.8 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"] (12.4, 7.0 assists), senior [player_tooltip player_id="1158435" first="Carson" last="Blietz"] (8.9, 41.5 3P%), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171687" first="Cyrus" last="Courtney"] (7.9, 2.5 steals). Dolphin and Blietz are both really good perimeter shooters, Reed is one of the best pure point guards in the state, an excellent passer with elite court vision, and Courtney gives them athleticism and defense off the bench. [player_tooltip player_id="1158434" first="Jackson" last="Bowman"] (10.4, 4.7 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id="784983" first="Craig" last="Mills"] (7.7, 7.1 rebounds) are the big men for the team, with Bowman acting as a mobile forward who can run the floor and finish above the rim, and Mills providing some size and physicality in the paint. Coach Jon McKowen is an excellent defensive coach who likes to throw a number of different looks at opposing teams. Why they can win it all: They have really good guard play, a number of shooters, and some versatility on the defensive end. That, combined with an excellent defensive coach, makes them a real threat. [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] #5 seed: Northwest (20-4) About the Wolves: In their first year as a school Northwest qualified for the state tournament behind the stellar play of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] (27.2, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks), who has been the best player in the state this season. He holds offers from Drake, Iowa, and Washington State, and that list is going to explode this summer when he plays with D1 Minnesota. He’s a 6-7 wing with outstanding length and ridiculous shotmaking abilities. Their four losses this season have come to a really good Valley team in their first game of the season, and then to three state tournament qualifiers (Ames, Ankeny, Johnston). Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="956887" first="Cade" last="Kelderman"] (16.1, 5.5 assists, 43.3 3P%) has been a really good running mate alongside Sandfort, a physical and quick lead guard who can get to the rim and knock down shots, while [player_tooltip player_id="1240092" first="Henry" last="Manning"] (11.0, 38.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="1376673" first="Grant" last="Tigges"] (8.5, 44.6 3P%) provide additional perimeter shooting. Why they can win it all: They have the best player in the state in Sandfort, and they can surround him with a ton of shooting. If they are able to string together three strong games on the defensive end, they have the offensive firepower to win a state title in their first year as a school. [caption id="attachment_1288578" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Carson-Johnson-top-250-crop-4512x2963-1632317333.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1288578 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Carson-Johnson-top-250-crop-4512x2963-1632317333-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1171660" first="Carson" last="Johnson"][/caption] #6 seed: Ankeny (19-4) About the Hawks: The Hawks have a ton of depth, with seven players averaging at least 6.5 points a game, and four of them contributing double-digits. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962614" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"] (11.7, 8.4 rebounds) leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals and provides a ton of versatility on the defensive end at 6-5/6-6. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="1171676" first="Lio" last="Aguirre"] (10.6, 5.1 rebounds) is an athletic and powerful slashing wing, while [player_tooltip player_id="1167709" first="JJ" last="Kohl"] (10.3, 6.0 rebounds) is a big presence in the paint at 6-8/6-9 and sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1171660" first="Carson" last="Johnson"] (10.1, 2.5 assists) is the team’s primary distributor and perimeter shooting threat. This team can comfortably go deep into their bench, rebound well, and they have a lot of versatility on both ends of the floor. Why they can win it all: Their depth might be the best in the field, and that can be a major asset playing on the bigger floor at Wells Fargo Arena. They have a lot of pieces that can score, and a lot of versatility defensively. #7 seed: Prairie (17-6) About the Hawks: Prairie held Hempstead to just 20 points in their substate final win, advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 1998. An athletic and physical team, they are able to comfortably go eight deep even after the injury suffered by starting guard [player_tooltip player_id="784979" first="Elijah" last="Ward"]. Iowa State football commit [player_tooltip player_id="682264" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"] (14.7) is an athletic and physical force in the paint on both ends of the floor, while younger brother [player_tooltip player_id="1376680" first="Reid" last="Burkle"] (3.9, 4.0 rebounds) provides some athleticism and size off the bench. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"] (13.2, 3.7 assists) has stepped up as a scorer since Ward’s injury, while [player_tooltip player_id="1240063" first="Jack" last="Wagemester"] (7.1, 39.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="1240079" first="Makelle" last="Taylor"] (4.4) have played well in expanded roles. Why they can win it all: They have size, athleticism, and physicality and can wear opposing teams down with their physical play. #8 seed: Burlington (16-7) About the Grayhounds: The Grayhounds qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 1987 and have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into the tournament, including a 55-40 substate final win over previously undefeated Pleasant Valley. They’re led by a pair of athletic wings in senior [player_tooltip player_id="962667" first="Amarion" last="Davis"] (14.2, 6.0 rebounds) and junior Merquiche Lewis Jr (13.2, 5.2 rebounds) who can impact the game on the defensive end. Senior guard Nate Spear (7.5, 42.1 3P%) is the team’s top shooting threat and will need to knock down some shots if they want to keep their fantastic late-season run going. Why they can win it all: They enter the postseason hot and have a pair of athletic wings who can defend and create some chaos on that end of the floor. They’re playing well on both ends right now and brimming with confidence.   Staff Picks Tony Quarterfinals: Ames, Northwest, Cedar Falls, Johnston Semifinals: Ames, Johnston Champion: Ames