Class 4A State Tournament Preview
In this article:
#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…
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Continue Reading#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
Tamin Lipsey
Tamin
Lipsey
6'2" | PG
Ames | 2022
State
#163
Nation
IA
(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.
Trevion Labeaux
Trevion
Labeaux
6'3" | SF
Ames | 2022
State
IA
(15.3, 6.4 rebounds) is an athletic forward who scores efficiently around the rim, and
Corey Phillips
Corey
Phillips
6'5" | PF
Ames | 2022
State
IA
(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.
#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
Trey Campbell
Trey
Campbell
6'4" | PG
Cedar Falls | 2022
State
IA
(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
Dallas Bear
Dallas
Bear
6'8" | SF
Cedar Falls | 2023
State
#276
Nation
IA
(14.4, 56 3PM) is a 6-8 shooter who can get scorching hot and carry the offense for stretches. Sophomore forward
Cade Courbat
Cade
Courbat
6'8" | PF
Cedar Falls | 2024
State
IA
(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.
#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
Trey Lewis
Trey
Lewis
5'10" | PG
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
(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
Steven Kramer
Steven
Kramer
6'5" | SG
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
(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
Masen Ryan
Masen
Ryan
6'3" | SF
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
(8.7, 45.5 3P%),
Nathan Ruisch
Nathan
Ruisch
6'4" | SF
Johnston | 2023
State
IA
(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%).
#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
Colby Dolphin
Colby
Dolphin
5'10" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
(14.1, 39.8 3P%) and
Kenzie Reed
Kenzie
Reed
5'11" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
(12.4, 7.0 assists), senior
Carson Blietz
Carson
Blietz
5'11" | SG
Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
(8.9, 41.5 3P%), and sophomore
Cyrus Courtney
Cyrus
Courtney
6'1" | SG
Kennedy | 2024
State
IA
(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.
Jackson Bowman
Jackson
Bowman
6'7" | PF
Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
(10.4, 4.7 rebounds) and
Craig Mills
Craig
Mills
6'5" | PF
Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
(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.
#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
Pryce Sandfort
Pryce
Sandfort
6'7" | SF
Waukee Northwest | 2023
State
#123
Nation
IA
(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
Cade Kelderman
Cade
Kelderman
6'0" | PG
Waukee Northwest | 2023
State
IA
(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
Henry Manning
Henry
Manning
6'1" | SG
Waukee | 2023
State
IA
(11.0, 38.1 3P%) and
Grant Tigges
Grant
Tigges
6'4" | SG
Waukee Northwest | 2024
State
IA
(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.
#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
Ryan Crandall
Ryan
Crandall
6'1" | SF
Ankeny | 2022
State
IA
(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
Lio Aguirre
Lio
Aguirre
6'3" | SF
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
(10.6, 5.1 rebounds) is an athletic and powerful slashing wing, while
JJ Kohl
JJ
Kohl
6'8" | PF
Ankeny | 2023
IA
(10.3, 6.0 rebounds) is a big presence in the paint at 6-8/6-9 and sophomore point guard
Carson Johnson
Carson
Johnson
5'11" | PG
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
(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
Elijah Ward
Elijah
Ward
6'2" | CG
Prairie | 2022
State
IA
. Iowa State football commit
Gabe Burkle
Gabe
Burkle
6'7" | PF
Prairie | 2022
State
IA
(14.7) is an athletic and physical force in the paint on both ends of the floor, while younger brother
Reid Burkle
Reid
Burkle
6'5" | PF
Prairie | 2024
State
IA
(3.9, 4.0 rebounds) provides some athleticism and size off the bench. Senior guard
Jake Walter
Jake
Walter
5'10" | CG
Prairie | 2022
State
IA
(13.2, 3.7 assists) has stepped up as a scorer since Ward’s injury, while
Jack Wagemester
Jack
Wagemester
6'1" | SG
Prairie | 2023
State
IA
(7.1, 39.5 3P%) and
Makelle Taylor
Makelle
Taylor
5'11" | PG
Prairie | 2023
State
IA
(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
Amarion Davis
Amarion
Davis
6'3" | SF
Burlington | 2022
State
IA
(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