State Tournament: Monday Preview

[caption id="attachment_1147247" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147247 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"][/caption] 1A Quarterfinal: #4 Lake Mills (24-1) vs. #5 Danville (23-2), 10:30 am Analysis: Lake Mills is making their third consecutive state tournament appearance, while Danville is in Des Moines for the first time since 2016. Lake Mills has been one of the most dominant teams in 1A this season, winning games by an average of 31.2 points a game and they’re just one of two 1A teams (North Linn) to rank within the top-10 in 1A in scoring offense (69.6, 7th) and defense (38.4, 6th). The Bulldogs are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"] (18.3, 9.6 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id="1158456" first="Bennett" last="Berger"] (14.4, 6.7 assists) and junior Denton Kingland (11.1, 40.9 3P%). Helming is a versatile 6-7 forward who can score from all three levels, protect the rim, and control the glass, while Berger is one of the best pure point guards in the state, posting a better than 6-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a Danville team that loves to apply pressure and force turnovers. The Bears are playing a similar style to how they played when their coaches, Steven and Michael Soukup, played when they were at the school in the early 2010s - a pressing style that looks to force turnovers and crash the offensive glass. They have a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id="1352966" first="Drake" last="Johnson"] (13.5), [player_tooltip player_id="1288859" first="Caiden" last="Gourley"] (13.5), and [player_tooltip player_id="1235044" first="Sawyer" last="Nelson"] (10.3, 9.9 rebounds), while [player_tooltip player_id="962692" first="Ty" last="Carr"] (8.9, 6.0 assists) is another quality lead guard who gets others involved at a high level. They average 16.9 steals a game and 13.0 offensive rebounds a game, so both of those areas will need to be focal points for Lake Mills. The Bears last three postseason games were 42-41, 44-41, and 46-39 (3 OT), so they’re comfortable playing at a slower style that often happens in these state tournament games. Players to watch Lake Mills: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"] (18.3, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 58.9 FG%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158456" first="Bennett" last="Berger"] (14.4, 6.7 assists, 42.9 3P%), 2023 Denton Kingland (11.1, 3.1 assists, 40.9 3P%) Danville: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352966" first="Drake" last="Johnson"] (13.5, 3.0 steals), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1288859" first="Caiden" last="Gourley"] (13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235044" first="Sawyer" last="Nelson"] (10.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 61.4 FG%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962692" first="Ty" last="Carr"] (8.9 points, 6.0 assists, 3.3 steals) Our pick: Lake Mills 60, Danville 55 [caption id="attachment_1147291" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Manny-Hammonds-crop-2786x1829-1615315783-crop-507x333-1615315795.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147291 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Manny-Hammonds-crop-2786x1829-1615315783-crop-507x333-1615315795-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"][/caption] 1A Quarterfinal: #1 Grand View Christian (24-0) vs. #8 Bellevue (13-12), 12:15 pm Analysis: Top-ranked and undefeated Grand View Christian qualified for the state tournament for the sixth time in the last seven years, while Bellevue is making their second appearance, the first since 1991. The Thunder have blasted teams all year, winning games by an average of 37.7 points a game behind a dynamic backcourt and the state’s top scoring offense (83.3). Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] (23.9, 42.3 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"] (19.0, 52.8 FG%) are two of the top scorers in the 1A field, a pair of guards who can take over games in the blink of an eye. [player_tooltip player_id="1367400" first="Josh" last="Sanderson"] (10.3, 6.0 assists, 38.4 3P%) has emerged as a high-quality lead guard who can knock down shots, and junior big man [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (8.3, 14.5 rebounds, 4.6 blocks) is the ultimate difference-maker at the back end of their defense. His 7-0 presence allows the Thunder guards to play aggressively and force turnovers, knowing they have an elite shot-blocker behind them. Bellevue entered the postseason with a 9-12 record and notched three straight upsets to reach the state tournament. They’ve played the toughest schedule of any team in the 1A field, playing largely 2A schools in the River Valley Conference, which qualified three teams for state tournaments (Monticello and Mid-Prairie in 2A). The teams that they have lost to have a combined winning percentage of 72.6%. Junior forward Jensen Wedeking (12.3, 5.2 rebounds) has been stellar during the postseason, averaging 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals while shooting nearly 55% from the floor and 50% from the arc. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1158506" first="Colby" last="Sieverding"] (13.2) is the team’s leading scorer, and they have three other players averaging between 6.5 and 7.8 points a game. The lack of size will be an issue on the glass against Tobiloba, and they’ll need to protect the ball to prevent the Thunder from getting out in transition, which can lead to games snowballing away from opponents against GVC. But the Comets have played against great competition and they won’t be intimidated here. Players to watch Grand View Christian: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] (23.9 points, 42.3 3P%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"] (19.0 points, 52.8 FG%), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (8.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.6 blocks) Bellevue: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158506" first="Colby" last="Sieverding"] (13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds), 2023 Jensen Wedeking (12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 40.7 3P%), 2022 Jackson Mueller (7.8 points, 7.7 rebounds) Our pick: Grand View Christian 68, Bellevue 53 [caption id="attachment_1147251" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147251 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"][/caption] 1A Quarterfinal: #2 North Linn (24-1) vs. #7 North Mahaska (20-5), 2:00 pm Analysis: North Mahaska is making their first state tournament appearance since 2006, while North Linn has become a main-stay in Des Moines, qualifying for their sixth consecutive tournament. The Lynx are one of two teams to rank within the top-10 in 1A in scoring offense (80.5, 2nd) and defense (35.0, 5th) and are paced by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] (20.0, 7.8 assists, 4.4 steals). They play an up-tempo, pressing style that looks to force turnovers in bulk and turn those into easy points on the other end. They’re one of the fastest teams in the state, and they’ve grown up playing the same style they play in high school, so they have a ton of experience and familiarity with each other in the system. [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"] (15.5, 6.0 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id="962658" first="Cade" last="Haughenbury"] (10.4, 5.7 rebounds) are efficient finisher around the rim, and [player_tooltip player_id="962641" first="Dylan" last="Kurt"] (13.4, 40.8 3P%) provides perimeter shooting. North Mahaska is averaging 13.1 turnovers a game, and they’ll really need to focus in on limiting the live-ball turnovers, or this could get away from them. If they’re able to slow the game down a bit, junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"] (19.9, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists) could become a matchup problem for the Lynx. A talented 6-6 wing who can score from all three levels and facilitate, the offense runs through him and he loves to get others involved. [player_tooltip player_id="1367407" first="Lane" last="Harmon"] (14.0, 41.8 3P%) is a knockdown shooter, and [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"] (9.6, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists) is an undersized forward but he rebounds hard and plays with a non-stop motor. If the Warhawks can limit the giveaways, they’ll hang around here. Players to watch North Linn: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] (20.0 points, 7.8 assists, 4.4 steals), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"] (15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962641" first="Dylan" last="Kurt"] (13.4 points, 40.8 3P%) North Mahaska: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"] (19.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367407" first="Lane" last="Harmon"] (14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 41.8 3P%), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167746" first="Braden" last="Steel"] (9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists) Our pick: North Linn 72, North Mahaska 60 [caption id="attachment_1290488" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/85-Sage-Evans.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290488 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/85-Sage-Evans-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1167703" first="Sage" last="Evans"][/caption] 1A Quarterfinal: #3 Remsen, St. Mary’s (24-0) vs. #6 West Harrison (22-3), 3:45 pm Analysis: St. Mary’s is making their sixth straight state tournament appearance, while West Harrison qualified for the first time in school history with a win over AHSTW in the substate final. Per usual, St. Mary’s has been a dominant defensive team, allowing just 34.0 points a game, which is the best mark in 1A. The Hawks have a very balanced team, with six players averaging between 7.1 and 12.9 points a game, led by junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1167735" first="Jaxon" last="Bunkers"] (12.9). Bunkers, [player_tooltip player_id="962656" first="Austin" last="Jensen"] (10.1, 5.1 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id="1158497" first="Carter" last="Schorg"] (9.5, 3.0 assists), and Alex Schroeder (7.1, 43.7 3P%) were all major contributors on last year’s state tournament team, and that could be a major asset in this game. This group has been very efficient, posting 55-43-63 shooting splits as a team. The Hawkeyes are led by a talented trio of juniors - [player_tooltip player_id="1288871" first="Mason" last="King"] (15.4, 4.5 assists, 45.2 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id="1167693" first="Koleson" last="Evans"] (14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id="1167703" first="Sage" last="Evans"] (13.4, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists). King is the team’s best perimeter shooting threat, while the Evans boys (unrelated) are dominant on the glass on both ends of the floor. West Harrison is averaging 15.3 offensive rebounds a game, an offensive rebounding rate of 47.5%, and their ability to gain extra possessions through their work on the glass will be highly valuable in a game that figures to be lower scoring. Experience could play a major role in this game, which gives the edge to St. Mary’s, but this should be a really good quarterfinal. Players to watch Remsen, St. Mary’s: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167735" first="Jaxon" last="Bunkers"] (12.9 points, 3.7 assists, 49.0 3P%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962656" first="Austin" last="Jensen"] (10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 61.0 FG%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158497" first="Carter" last="Schorg"] (9.5 points, 3.0 assists, 53.0 FG%) West Harrison: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1288871" first="Mason" last="King"] (15.4 points, 4.5 assists, 45.2 3P%), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167693" first="Koleson" last="Evans"] (14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167703" first="Sage" last="Evans"] (13.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists) Our pick: St. Mary’s 49, West Harrison 46 2A Quarterfinal: #1 Central Lyon (22-2) vs. #8 Red Oak (18-7), 5:30 pm Analysis: Top-seeded Central Lyon is making their first state tournament appearance in school history, while Red Oak is making their first trip since 1993. The Lions have lost just twice this year, to Boyden-Hull and Rock Valley by a combined eight points. They’re a high-powered offensive team that averages 77.6 points a game, led by their dynamic duo in the backcourt, junior [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"] (20.4, 6.3 assists, 43.8 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id="962637" first="Mason" last="Gerleman"] (17.7, 46.7 3P%). Lutmer is also a standout on the football field, a high-scoring guard who also thrives on getting others involved. His quickness and three-level scoring ability will be tough for teams to defend. [player_tooltip player_id="1367399" first="Andrew" last="Austin"] (13.7, 54.9 FG%) provides more scoring, and Cooper Spiess (5.2, 40.0 3P%) more shooting, while [player_tooltip player_id="1352994" first="Rex" last="Van Wyhe"] (7.0, 7.8 rebounds) is the team’s presence in the paint. They’ve posted 54-38-68 shooting splits during the season as a team and love to play fast. Red Oak upset both Treynor and Van Meter, by two points each, to reach the state tournament. The Tigers have a deep attack with six players averaging between 7.8 and 15.8 points a game, led by sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id="1376714" first="Max" last="DeVries"] (15.8) and Hunter Gilleland (11.8, 3.6 assists). The trio of Ryan Johnson (10.8, 6.7 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id="1288912" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"] (9.5, 7.6 rebounds), and Bradley Sifford (8.3, 6.9 rebounds) have been really good on the glass, and they’ll need to focus on dominating the offensive glass and gaining extra possessions if they want to keep pace with the Lions’ high-powered attack. Players to watch Central Lyon: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"] (20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 56.1 FG%, 43.8 3P%), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962637" first="Mason" last="Gerleman"] (17.7 points, 53.1 FG%, 46.7 3P%), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367399" first="Andrew" last="Austin"] (13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 54.9 FG%) Red Oak: 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1376714" first="Max" last="DeVries"] (15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), 2024 Hunter Gilleland (11.8 points, 3.6 assists), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1288912" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"] (9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds) Our pick: Central Lyon 73, Red Oak 56 [caption id="attachment_1224590" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Eric-Mulder-2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1224590 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Eric-Mulder-2-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"][/caption] 2A Quarterfinal: #4 Pella Christian (18-6) vs. #5 Roland-Story (22-2), 7:15 pm Analysis: Pella Christian is making the 16th state tournament appearance in school history, while Roland-Story is making their third, and the first since 2012. Pella Christian came into the season with high expectations, and they’ve lived up to them, competing at a high level against quality 3A teams in the Little Hawkeye Conference, which helped prepare them for postseason play. A big team that can throw a ton of size and length at opposing teams, their defense is something that many 2A teams haven’t seen. Levi Scheelhaas (14.2, 3.0 assists) leads the team in scoring but senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] (11.3, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) is the team’s most important piece. A mobile 6-9 big man who can switch defensively and protect the rim, he’s headed to play his college ball at IPFW. The Eagles have five other players averaging at least 5.0 points a game and their depth, length, and athleticism is tough for teams to prepare for. The Norsemen are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1367392" first="Isaiah" last="Naylor"] (17.3, 39.4 3P%), sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="1171681" first="Jonovan" last="Wilkinson"] (14.3, 3.3 assists), and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1239871" first="Luke" last="Patton"] (10.8, 11.0 rebounds). Each of them provide a little something different, with Naylor providing ball-handling, quickness, and shotmaking; Wilkinson is a long and athletic wing who can defend multiple positions and facilitate; and Patton is a physical presence int he paint with great hands and footwork. He’ll have his hands full with Mulder in the paint, but they did have a regular season game against Grand View Christian and Tobiloba, so he has played against some size before. Roland-Story will likely be looking to play further away from the paint and they’ll need to knock down some shots if they want to pull off the upset. Players to watch Pella Christian: 2022 Levi Scheelhaas (14.2 points, 3.0 assists), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] (11.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 66.5 FG%), 2023 Aiden Stoltz (6.6 points, 40.4 3P%) Roland-Story: 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367392" first="Isaiah" last="Naylor"] (17.3 points, 39.4 3P%), 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171681" first="Jonovan" last="Wilkinson"] (14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1239871" first="Luke" last="Patton"] (10.8 points, 11.0 rebounds) Our pick: Pella Christian 58, Roland-Story 52