State Tournament: Wednesday Game Recaps

[player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"] had a game-high 26 points in Kennedy’s quarterfinal win

4A Quarterfinal: #4 Kennedy 61, #5 Northwest 55

Jon McKowen is arguably the best defensive coach in the state, so you knew that he would come up with a gameplan to slow down Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA , and the fourth-seeded Kennedy Cougars did just that on Wednesday morning, controlling the game from start-to-finish with a dominant defensive effort en route to a 61-55 win over fifth-seed Waukee Northwest.

Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA , who came in averaging 27.2 points a game, was unable to get anything going against a Cougars defense that switched everything all game, making it difficult for Sandfort to find any open spaces to get his shot off.

It was a tight game throughout the first half, with neither team holding a lead of more than four points in the first 16 minutes and they went to the locker rooms tied at 26.

Then the Kennedy backcourt of Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA and Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA took over the game. In all, the Cougar backcourt scored 31 of the team’s 35 second-half points and helped open up a 10-point lead with a little under two minutes to play. After a layup, steal and a layup, a pair of missed free throws and another score in the paint, Northwest was back to within four points, 55-51, with 37 seconds left, but Dolphin made all four of his free throws and Reed canned both of his to secure the six-point win.

Kennedy (21-3) was led by Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA , who had a game-high 26 points on 8-12 shooting (5-7 3P, 5-6 FT). His three 3-pointers early in the third quarter helped Kennedy gain an edge that they wouldn’t give back. Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA had 22 points, including going a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.

Northwest’s season ends with a 20-5 record and a state tournament appearance in their first year as a school. They were led by Grant Tigges Grant Tigges 6'4" | SG Waukee Northwest | 2024 State IA , who had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA had 14 points, with many of them coming late in comeback mode, while Cade Kelderman Cade Kelderman 6'0" | PG Waukee Northwest | 2023 State IA chipped in 12 and Henry Manning Henry Manning 6'1" | SG Waukee | 2023 State IA finished with 10. The Wolves bring back all but one contributor from this year’s team, including all five starters, and should be considered the favorite to win the 4A title next season.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Northwest	15	11	9	20	55
Kennedy	17	9	13	22	61

Team stats
Northwest: 21-44 FG (47.7%), 5-16 3P (31.3%), 8-11 FT (72.7%), 22 rebounds (10 offensive), 8 assists, 12 turnovers
Kennedy: 18-32 FG (56.3%), 7-14 3P (50.0%), 18-21 FT (85.7%), 16 rebounds (3 offensive), 8 assists, 12 turnovers

MVP: 2023 Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (Kennedy) -- 26 points (8-12 FG, 5-7 3P, 5-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Both of the Kennedy guards were stellar, especially in the second half when they combined to score 31 of the Cougars 35 second-half points. But it was Reed’s perimeter shooting that helped open things up in the second half, knocking down three 3-pointers in a 2:30 span to start the third quarter.

[player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"] had 16 points and 9 assists in Ames’ win

4A Quarterfinal: #1 Ames 60, #8 Burlington 40

It took a little while for top-seeded Ames to get it going, but once they did, the Little Cyclones raced past eighth-seeded Burlington, 60-40, advancing to the 4A semifinals where they’ll face Kennedy tomorrow evening.

Burlington came out with a ton of energy on both ends of the floor, grabbing an 11-8 lead after the first quarter, but Ames used an 18-8 edge in the second quarter to take a 26-19 lead at the break, and extended that lead to 50-29 after three quarters.

The Grayhounds played a solid offensive game, shooting 44.4% against the best defensive team in the 4A field (and that number was in the high 40s or low 50s for most of the game), but they couldn’t get stops against an efficient Ames’ attack headlined by future Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey Tamin Lipsey 6'2" | PG Ames | 2022 State #163 Nation IA . Lipsey was in complete control throughout the game as both a scorer and facilitator and the overwhelming size and athleticism of the Little Cyclones proved to be too much for Burlington to overcome.

Ames (21-3) was led by Tamin Lipsey Tamin Lipsey 6'2" | PG Ames | 2022 State #163 Nation IA , who had 16 points and 9 assists in the win. He scored or assisted on 16 of their 24 made field goals. Jack Wynter had 12 points off the bench on 4-8 shooting from 3. Corey Phillips Corey Phillips 6'5" | PF Ames | 2022 State IA had 11 points and 8 rebounds, and Trevion Labeaux Trevion Labeaux 6'3" | SF Ames | 2022 State IA added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Burlington’s season ends with a 17-8 record and the school’s first state tournament appearance since 1987. The Grayhounds were led by Jackson Carlson who had 12 points, and Amarion Davis Amarion Davis 6'3" | SF Burlington | 2022 State IA with 11.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Burlington	11	8	10	11	40
Ames	8	18	24	10	60

Team stats
Burlington: 16-36 FG (44.4%), 6-14 3P (42.9%), 2-9 FT (22.2%), 26 rebounds (6 offensive), 6 assists, 13 turnovers
Ames: 24-40 FG (60.0%), 6-14 3P (42.9%), 21 rebounds (3 offensive), 12 assists, 7 turnovers

MVP: 2022 Tamin Lipsey Tamin Lipsey 6'2" | PG Ames | 2022 State #163 Nation IA (Ames) -- 16 points (7-12 FG, 1-2 3P, 1-1 FT), 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals

The future Iowa State lead guard was in complete control of this one throughout, scoring or assisting on 16 of the 24 made field goals. He’s a game changer with his speed, creativity, and toughness, and his ability to dominate the game without scoring.

Dionte Fliss had 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals in Prairie’s quarterfinal win

4A Quarterfinal: #7 Prairie 62, #2 Cedar Falls 52

After the way the two regular-season meetings went, you knew this one would be tight and hotly contested throughout, and the rubber match delivered on Wednesday afternoon, with seventh-seed Prairie outlasting second-seeded Cedar Falls 62-52 to advance to the 4A semifinals tomorrow evening.

The conference rivals are extremely familiar with each other and played an emotional, physical, high-level basketball game. They were tied at 10 after the first quarter, and nearly went into the locker rooms tied as well, but Jake Walter Jake Walter 5'10" | CG Prairie | 2022 State IA was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 0.4 seconds left in the half. He buried all three attempts and Prairie took a 28-25 lead into the break.

The third quarter and a majority of the fourth quarter was much of the same, with neither team holding a lead larger than four points for the first 30 minutes of the game. A free-throw from Dionte Fliss gave Prairie a five-point lead, 52-47, with 2:18 to play, and the Hawks iced the game away from the free-throw line, going 8-10 from the stripe in the final 1:38 to claim the 10-point win, overcoming a stellar effort from Cedar Falls star guard Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | PG Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA .

Prairie (18-6) was led by Jake Walter Jake Walter 5'10" | CG Prairie | 2022 State IA who had 16 points and 7 rebounds in the win. Dionte Fliss added 13 points, and Jack Wagemester Jack Wagemester 6'1" | SG Prairie | 2023 State IA and Elijah Ward Elijah Ward 6'2" | CG Prairie | 2022 State IA each chipped in 8 points. This is the Hawks’ first state tournament appearance and win since 1998.

Cedar Falls season ends with a 20-3 record. The Tigers were led by Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | PG Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , who was sensational, scoring 32 points on 11-21 shooting (6-9 3P, 4-5 FT). He was the lone Tiger to score in double figures, with Dallas Bear Dallas Bear 6'8" | SF Cedar Falls | 2023 State #276 Nation IA chipping in 8 points. The Tigers will bring back three starters and two of their top bench pieces from this team and should be in contention again next season despite losing the phenomenal Campbell.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Prairie	10	18	11	23	62
Cedar Falls	10	15	12	15	52

Team stats
Prairie: 21-38 FG (55.3%), 6-12 3P (50.0%), 14-17 FT (82.4%), 23 rebounds (8 offensive), 10 assists, 6 turnovers
Cedar Falls: 18-40 FG (45.0%), 10-21 3P (47.6%), 6-7 FT (85.7%), 17 rebounds (7 offensive), 6 assists, 8 turnovers

MVP: 2022 Dionte Fliss (Prairie) -- 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 steals

Fliss was looking to attack the rim early and his physicality on both ends of the floor set the tone for the Hawks in the win. He has the ability to impact the game on both ends with his length and athleticism.

[player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] had a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in Johnston’s quarterfinal win

4A Quarterfinal: #3 Johnston 55, #6 Ankeny 53

These teams didn’t meet in the regular season as they’re in different divisions within the CIML, but these programs and the kids are familiar with each other, with the schools separated by just 11 miles, and it showed throughout the evening in the last 4A quarterfinal, as third-seed Johnston narrowly escaped sixth-seed Ankeny, 55-53, to move into the 4A semifinals against Prairie.

The game featured eight lead changes and five ties, and the margin only got outside of two possessions for 42 seconds in the third quarter when Johnston held a seven-point lead. After the Dragons took that 31-24 lead midway through the quarter, Ankeny closed on a 18-6 run to take a 42-37 lead after three. The constant attacking of Trey Lewis Trey Lewis 5'10" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA and Steven Kramer Steven Kramer 6'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA got Johnston into the double-bonus early in the fourth quarter, and the Dragons took full advantage of that opportunity, getting to the free-throw line 15 times and converting 13 of them in the final period.

The biggest play of the game came with 5:16 left. Ankeny big JJ Kohl JJ Kohl 6'8" | PF Ankeny | 2023 IA came from the weakside for a big block on an attempt from Trey Lewis Trey Lewis 5'10" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA , the ball came back out to Kramer, who knocked down a 3 to give the Dragons a 45-44 lead, a lead that they wouldn’t give back the rest of the way.

Johnston (20-3) was led by Steven Kramer Steven Kramer 6'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA who had a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Trey Lewis Trey Lewis 5'10" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA had a rough shooting night but still finished with 18 points, going 10-10 from the free-throw line, while Samuel Tornabane was huge off the bench, finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 blocks. The Dragons were 20-22 from the free-throw line as a team in the win.

Ankeny’s season ends with a 19-5 record. The Hawks were led by JJ Kohl JJ Kohl 6'8" | PF Ankeny | 2023 IA with 14 points and Carson Johnson Carson Johnson 5'11" | PG Ankeny | 2024 State IA , who had 10. They bring back four of their top five scorers from this year’s team, and will be one of the top contenders in 4A next season.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Ankeny	10	14	18	11	53
Johnston	10	13	14	18	55

Team stats
Ankeny: 22-57 FG (38.6%), 7-17 3P (41.2%), 2-5 FT (40.0%), 27 rebounds (6 offensive), 11 assists, 7 turnovers
Johnston: 15-43 FG (34.9%), 5-19 3P (26.3%), 20-22 FT (90.9%), 39 rebounds (9 offensive), 5 assists, 14 turnovers

MVP: Steven Kramer Steven Kramer 6'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA (Johnston) -- 19 points (5-12 FG, 2-6 3P, 7-8 FT), 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 steal

Johnston struggled from the floor throughout the game, but Kramer found ways to get to the rim for a few finishes, knocked down a few big 3-pointers, and was clutch at the free-throw line. An athletic wing who is headed to South Dakota, he also provided a few major highlights with his chasedown blocks.

[player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"] had 27 points and played excellent defense in GVC’s comeback win

1A Semifinal: #1 Grand View Christian 71, #4 Lake Mills 66 (2 OT)

Thirty-two minutes just isn’t enough fun for Grand View Christian this week, they want to play longer, and they did so again on Wednesday night, as the top-seed Thunder outlasted fourth-seeded Lake Mills 71-66 in double overtime, advancing to Friday afternoon’s Class 1A championship game.

Everything went right for Lake Mills in the first half, jumping out to an 18-8 lead after the first quarter and carrying a 32-16 advantage into the locker rooms. The Bulldogs played exceptionally on both ends of the floor in the first 16 minutes, shooting over 54% from the floor and limiting the potent Thunder to just 26% shooting.

The switch got flipped in the locker room for the Thunder, who came storming out of the gate in the third quarter, scoring the first seven points of the frame and ultimately winning the quarter by a 20-3 margin, coming all the way back from the 16-point deficit to take a 36-35 lead by the end of the period. The Thunder made a few adjustments at the break, having Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA faceguard Lake Mills guard Bennett Berger Bennett Berger 6'2" | PG Lake Mills | 2022 State IA , essentially taking him out of the game, and having Baucum and Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA attack the rim relentlessly. The duo was excellent in the second half, combining to score 40 points to help carry the Thunder to the win.

The Thunder took a five-point lead midway through the fourth quarter on a Baucum layup, then Lake Mills answered with six straight points to take a 47-46 lead with 3:02 remaining. Baucum answered with four straight of his own to take the lead back, and after a pair of Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA free throws and a Baucum layup, Helming drilled a 3-pointer with 1:27 to play to tie it at 52. The Thunder held for the final 1:28 and got a good look from Baucum and a putback attempt from Caleb Parlee at the horn but neither dropped, and for the second time this week, a Grand View Christian game went to overtime.

In the first extra period, Baucum scored to start things, then Helming scored five straight. A Hammonds 3-pointer with 1:29 left tied it at 57 and as Lake Mills tried to hold it for one shot, the Thunder intentionally fouled Seth Hermanson with 31 seconds to play. He missed the front-end of the 1-and-1, giving the Thunder a chance at the win, but they turned it over on a jump ball and Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA nearly made a miraculous shot to win it from past halfcourt (video below). In the second overtime, the Thunder scored the first six points and Lake Mills ran out of gas, sending the Thunder to the 1A championship game, where they’ll await the winner of the North Linn vs. Remsen, St. Mary’s tilt.

Grand View Christian (26-0) was led by Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA , who had 27 points, with 23 of them coming in the second half. He was stellar on both ends of the floor, with his defensive effort on Berger playing a major role in the Thunder’s comeback. Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA had 19 points.

Lake Mills’ season ends with a 25-2 record and their first ever state tournament win. The Bulldogs were led by Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA , who posted an all-time stat line of 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks (with no turnovers). He single-handedly carried the ’Dogs to the brink of a major upset, playing all 40 minutes despite battling some sort of injury that had him grimacing on a few occasions. Seth Hermanson added 10 points off the bench.

Wyatt Helming almost made this to send Lake Mills to the 1A championship. Instead, we go to a second overtime. #iahsbkb pic.x.com/h10wd3gMGE
— Tony Roe (@tonysroe) March 10, 2022

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	OT	2OT	F
Lake Mills	18	14	3	17	5	9	66
Grand View Christian	8	8	20	16	5	14	71

Lake Mills: Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA 36, Seth Hermanson 10, Bennett Berger Bennett Berger 6'2" | PG Lake Mills | 2022 State IA 8, Denton Kingland 4, AJ Ramaker 3, Kadin Abele 3, Eli Menke 2
Grand View Christian: Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA 27, Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA 19, Noah John 6, Daniel Tobiloba Daniel Tobiloba 7'0" | C Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA 5, Frankie Chiodo 5, Josh Sanderson Josh Sanderson 5'10" | PG Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA 5, Caleb Parlee 4

Team stats
Lake Mills: 26-56 FG (46.4%), 9-21 3P (42.9%), 5-8 FT (62.5%), 32 rebounds (11 offensive), 9 assists, 7 turnovers
Grand View Christian: 24-54 FG (44.4%), 7-20 3P (35.0%), 16-22 FT (72.7%), 32 rebounds (13 offensive), 7 assists, 4 turnovers

MVPs: 2022 Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (Grand View Christian) -- 27 points (9-16 FG, 2-5 3P, 7-9 FT), 3 assists, 1 steal and 2022 Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA (Lake Mills) -- 36 points (14-33 FG, 4-12 3P, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks

These two seniors were exceptional. Baucum’s constant attacking of the rim in the second half and his stellar defense on Berger were the biggest reasons that the Thunder are still playing, and Helming was sensational throughout the game, nearly carrying the Bulldogs to a big upset.

[player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] had a game-high 18 points in helping lead North Linn to their fifth straight state championship game

1A Semifinal: #2 North Linn 56, #3 St. Mary’s 46

Over time, the constant pressure that North Linn puts on you on both ends of the floor can wear you down, and the second-seeded Lynx did just that on Wednesday night, using a 13-2 third quarter burst to race past third-seeded St. Mary’s, 56-46, to advance to the Class 1A championship game on Friday afternoon against Grand View Christian.

Two of the best defensive teams in the state meant that nothing was going to come easy and it certainly did not for either team in the first half. They were tied at 10 after the first quarter, and North Linn had a narrow 25-24 lead at the half.

The Lynx forced six St. Mary’s turnovers in the third quarter and used them to break the game open, as St. Mary’s never got closer than seven points the rest of the evening.

North Linn (26-1) advances to a championship game for the fifth consecutive season, with two of them coming in 2A. Per Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, that has never been done before. The Lynx were led by Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA who had a game-high 18 points. Tate Haughenbury Tate Haughenbury 6'5" | PF North Linn | 2023 State IA had 13 and Dylan Kurt Dylan Kurt 6'3" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA chipped in 12.

St. Mary’s season ends with a 25-1 record and their sixth consecutive state tournament appearance. The Hawks were led by Carter Schorg Carter Schorg 5'9" | PG Remsen, St. Mary's | 2022 State IA , Austin Jensen Austin Jensen 6'2" | PF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2022 State IA , and Jaxon Bunkers Jaxon Bunkers 5'11" | SF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2023 State IA , who each had 12 points. They bring back four of their top six scorers and should be one of the top contenders in Class 1A next season.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
St. Mary’s	10	14	2	20	46
North Linn	10	15	13	18	56

Team stats
St. Mary’s: 18-46 FG (39.1%), 4-18 3P (22.2%), 6-9 FT (66.7%), 24 rebounds (9 offensive), 7 assists, 14 turnovers
North Linn: 16-32 FG (50.0%), 4-11 3P (36.4%), 20-28 FT (71.4%), 26 rebounds (6 offensive), 7 assists, 15 turnovers

MVP: 2022 Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA (North Linn) -- 18 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 3P, 7-10 FT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

The heart-and-soul of the Lynx led the team in scoring and made some big shots to help the Lynx build their lead in the third quarter, helping lead them to yet another state championship game appearance.