State Tournament: Championship Friday Preview

[caption id="attachment_1402587" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Austin-Hilmer-crop-3050x2003-1646690380.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1402587 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Austin-Hilmer-crop-3050x2003-1646690380-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"][/caption] Class 1A Championship: #1 Grand View Christian (26-0) vs. #2 North Linn (26-1), 1:00 pm How they got here: Grand View Christian has enjoyed playing some extra minutes this week, beating #8 Bellevue 64-63 in overtime in the quarterfinals, and #4 Lake Mills 71-66 in double overtime in the semifinals. North Linn raced past #7 North Mahaska 89-43 in the quarterfinals and outlasted #3 St. Mary’s 56-46 in the semifinals. Analysis: The highs for Grand View Christian have been as dominant as any team in the state this year, but they haven’t played a consistent 32 minutes yet this week. They’ll need to do that against the Lynx, who will come at you relentlessly on both ends of the floor. North Linn looks to press you, trap you, and turn you over, and if the Thunder aren’t able to handle the pressure, things could snowball. The Thunder have the guards in [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"], [player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1367400" first="Josh" last="Sanderson"] to handle the pressure as long as they don’t get careless with the ball. Expect to see North Linn pack it in when the game gets into the halfcourt and make the Thunder beat them from the arc. They’re a combined 11-39 from behind the arc (28.2%) so far this week. Offensively, North Linn isn’t going to back down from anyone, with [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] looking to attack the rim in transition and in the halfcourt, and the Haughenbury brothers, Tate and Cade, finishing efficiently around the rim. Obviously that won’t be as easy against the 7-footer [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"], but they won’t be afraid of the big man. Anticipate seeing the Lynx looking to run early and often, trying to score before the GVC defense can get set, and then looking to get it inside, either via that pass or dribble penetration, when in the halfcourt in an effort to get Tobiloba out of the game. If they’re successful in getting him into some early foul trouble, things will open up for them in a big way. The Lynx were our top-ranked team to start the season, and we’re going to stick with that pick, but this one should be a lot of fun. Players to watch Grand View Christian: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] North Linn: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962641" first="Dylan" last="Kurt"] Our pick: North Linn 51, Grand View Christian 47   [caption id="attachment_1402963" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Zach-Lutmer-crop-2812x1847-1646714835.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1402963 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Zach-Lutmer-crop-2812x1847-1646714835-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"][/caption] Class 2A Championship: #1 Central Lyon (24-2) vs. #2 Rock Valley (21-5), 3:00 pm How they got here: Central Lyon rolled past Red Oak in the quarterfinals 68-34 and held off Pella Christian 57-51 in the semifinals. Rock Valley has breezed through both of their games, beating Jesup 75-61 in the quarterfinals and Monticello 60-44 in the semis. Analysis: These Siouxland Conference rivals split their regular season meetings by identical scores, with Central Lyon winning 65-63 on January 7 and Rock Valley winning by the same score on February 11. [player_tooltip player_id="1158431" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"] missed the first meeting for the Rockets, but returned for the February game and scored 27 points in Rock Valley’s win. Central Lyon guard [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"] has averaged 29 points in the two games, as the Rockets game plan in the first two meetings seems to have been to take away [player_tooltip player_id="962637" first="Mason" last="Gerleman"] and make Lutmer beat them. Both of these teams are filled with excellent, physical athletes who obviously have a ton of familiarity with each other. Whichever coach is able to draw up the better game plan, and whichever team is able to better execute said game plan, will come out on top in this one. I don’t expect either team to hold a lead of much more than two possessions and it should be hotly contested. This should be a fascinating chess match between the two teams that have clearly been the two best teams in Class 2A this week. Players to watch Central Lyon: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962637" first="Mason" last="Gerleman"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367399" first="Andrew" last="Austin"] Rock Valley: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962672" first="Bryson" last="Van Grootheest"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158431" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962673" first="Sam" last="Remmerde"] Our pick: Central Lyon 65, Rock Valley 63   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Cole-Glasgow-crop-3027x1987-1646949376.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1404980" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Cole-Glasgow-crop-3027x1987-1646949376-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Class 3A Championship: #1 Dallas Center-Grimes (21-5) vs. #7 Central DeWitt (20-6), 5:00 pm How they got here: Dallas Center-Grimes has smothered both of their opponents defensively, beating Carroll 65-45 and Winterset 63-46 to advance to their first state championship game. Central DeWitt beat Decorah 67-59 in the quarterfinals and dominated Assumption in their rubber match, 70-46, to advance to their third state championship game. Analysis: Dallas Center-Grimes has been stellar defensively all season, and they have some experience playing against a dominant big man in Pella Christian’s [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] and they’ve done a good job against him. He’s a different style big man than Central DeWitt’s [player_tooltip player_id="1158413" first="Shawn" last="Gilbert"], but they at least have some experience playing against a player who is significantly bigger than anyone the Mustangs can put on the floor. The quickness and shooting that DCG can put on the perimeter will be a difficult matchup for the Sabers, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mustangs decide to let Gilbert get his points and take away the rest of the Sabers’ options, namely [player_tooltip player_id="1234965" first="Gibson" last="McEwen"]. [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"] was successful operating out of the mid-post area in the semifinals and I would anticipate them playing him in that area quite a bit in this championship game. With his athleticism, penetration, and decision-making, he can make a lot of things happen in that area of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1172626" first="Jackson" last="Jones"] has been outstanding this week, knocking down 8-15 from behind the arc, and the dribble-penetration ability of [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"] will be tough for the Sabers to contain as well. Gilbert is a major mismatch and he should have plenty of production in this one, but the overall depth of options that the Mustangs have should help them prevail here and give DCG their first state title. Players to watch Dallas Center-Grimes: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682288" first="Jacob" last="Runyan"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1172626" first="Jackson" last="Jones"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158421" first="Bo" last="Huston"] Central DeWitt: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158413" first="Shawn" last="Gilbert"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1234965" first="Gibson" last="McEwen"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240067" first="Matthew" last="Watters"] Our pick: Dallas Center-Grimes 60, Central DeWitt 52   [caption id="attachment_1404175" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Tamin-Lipsey-crop-3226x2118-1646856187.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1404175 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/Tamin-Lipsey-crop-3226x2118-1646856187-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"][/caption] Class 4A Championship: #1 Ames (22-3) vs. #3 Johnston (21-3), 7:00 pm How they got here: Ames has looked every bit the top team in the state, beating Burlington 60-40 and Kennedy 62-43 to advance to the championship game. Johnston has survived a pair of tight games, beating Ankeny 55-53 in the quarterfinals, and Prairie 61-57 in overtime in the semifinals. Analysis: The Little Cyclones entered the season as our top-ranked team, and they’ve been absolutely dominant this season when they’ve had their full lineup. Their lone loss with a healthy team came to Christian Brothers College (MO) with their two in-state defeats coming while [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"] was sidelined late in the year with a hamstring injury. These teams met in the regular season finale, a 56-41 Johnston win, but Lipsey wasn’t playing in that game and [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] took full advantage, going off for 24 points. Points won’t be as easy to come by with Lipsey back on the floor. Ames has been absolutely dominant on the defensive end this week, and with Johnston wing [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] appearing to be a bit hobbled from a quad injury sustained on Wednesday, they’ll be able to focus in more on Lewis and slowing him down. Offensively, the size and athleticism of [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"] and [player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"] will be difficult for Johnston to contain on the glass and in the paint, and Ames has gotten great production out of wings [player_tooltip player_id="1167706" first="Lucas" last="Lueth"] and Jack Wynter this week. If Kramer was operating at 100%, this game could be very entertaining, but with him hobbled it limits Johnston’s options, and they’ll need to get big games from [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"] and Samuel Tornabane if they want to keep pace with an Ames team that appears to be on a mission. Players to watch Ames: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167706" first="Lucas" last="Lueth"], 2024 Jack Wynter Johnston: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"], 2023 Samuel Tornabane Our pick: Ames 61, Johnston 47