Friday (12/16) Top Games
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3A #1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (5-0) at 4A #4 Cedar Falls (1-1) Cedar Falls hosts another top-ten opponent this week, as 3A #1 ranked Xavier comes to town. Tons of talent will be showcased in what should be a great…
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Continue Reading3A #1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (5-0) at 4A #4 Cedar Falls (1-1)
Cedar Falls hosts another top-ten opponent this week, as 3A #1 ranked Xavier comes to town. Tons of talent will be showcased in what should be a great matchup between two ranked teams.
Xavier has been impressive thus far this season, coming in at 5-0. With four players averaging over ten points a game, the Saints can spread the floor very well. Leading the scorers is 6’4″ senior guard Aidan Yamilkoski Aidan Yamilkoski 6'4" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA . Averaging 20.0 points a contest, he is always a threat offensively. He finishes well through contact at the hoop and has a smooth shot from mid-range and three. He has improved defensively, guarding well on and off the ball. Junior guard Joe Bean (16.0 ppg) and junior center Tyler Netolicky (12.4 ppg) have had great starts to the season as well. Running the point at 6’3″, Bean doesn’t mind taking his defender into the post, a place where he operates very well. He has good touch on his shot from deep and around the rim, and he distributes the ball very well. Netolicky, the Saints 6’8″ center, gives them a presence down low. He is very good on the glass (9.8 rebounds per game) and is a huge presence around the rim (1.4 blocks per game). Xaviers’ scoring average is just under seventy points through the first five games. They spread the ball out, and crash the offensive glass.
Cedar Falls comes 1-1, after a loss to a very good Cedar Rapids Kennedy team. The Tigers have a lot of talent on the team, starting with Augustana commit, Dallas Bear Dallas Bear 6'8" | SF Cedar Falls | 2023 State #276 Nation IA . Averaging 19.0, 6.0, and 6.0, Bear can do it all. His shot is pure, he can get to the hoop, and his frame and athleticism allow him to guard all five spots. Leading the team in scoring though is sophomore guard Anthony Galvin Anthony Galvin 6'0" | PG Cedar Falls | 2025 State IA , who has been shooting the lights out in the Tigers first two contests. Galvin is shooting 56.2% from three, and averaging 20.0 points. He lit it up for the Barnstormers this summer, so it’s no surprise to see him shooting well. Big man Cade Courbat Cade Courbat 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA is a huge piece for the Tigers, as he’s leading the team in rebounds (8.0 rpg) while averaging 15.0 points a game. A great rim protector, Courbat gives Cedar Falls a presence down low.
My Prediction: I think the Tigers will get back in the win column with a 68-59 win on their home court. I watched this matchup last season in Cedar Falls, and the Tigers defense was way too much for Xavier. Galvin is a great on-ball defender, Bear’s length and athleticism, and Courbat down low, Cedar Falls will ride their defense to a win. There will be a lot of talent to watch tonight on both teams.
Hinton (4-0) at 1A #2 Remsen St. Mary’s (2-0)
Ranked 2nd in this week’s PrepHoops rankings, St. Mary’s has a tough matchup against a 4-0 Hinton team. St. Mary’s has won the last nine matchups between these two, but Hinton has had a great start to the season. Both teams match up well, and early in the season are pretty similar statistically.
Hinton comes into this after winning their first four. They are led by senior guards Carson Peirce (21.5 ppg) and Beau DeRocher (11.0 ppg). Peirce has a smooth shot from three and works extremely hard on defense. He leads the Blackhawks in assists as well, averaging 4.0 a game. Running back for the football team, DeRocher is a solid athlete who does a lot of things well on the court. Caden Winters (7.8 rpg) and sophomore Kyle Leary (4.5 rpg) give the Blackhawks some height and help on the boards. The Blackhawks do a good job limiting turning the ball over, and are good at causing turnovers on the other end.
St. Mary’s comes in only having played two games, both of which they’ve won. The Hawks scoring attack is led by sophomore Collin Homan (19.0 ppg). At 6’5″, Homan is really good at boxing out and getting rebounds. Offensively, he shows good footwork down low and great touch around the rim. Jaxon Bunkers Jaxon Bunkers 5'11" | SF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2023 State IA (17.0 ppg) and Alex Schroeder (11.5 ppg) are two key pieces for the Hawks as well. Bunkers uses his strong frame to finish effectively through contact. With three players averaging over ten points a game, the Hawks spread the floor and distribute.
My Prediction: Both teams shooting percentages, rebounds, and assists are pretty close, but I think St. Mary’s will run away with this one at the end. I’ll take St. Mary’s at home, 68-50.
Keota (7-1) at 1A #10 Lynnville-Sully (7-0)
Both teams come into Friday night’s game with seven wins, Keota having a loss and Lynnville-Sully having none. A perfect 7-0 start to the season, has the Hawks ranked tenth in 1A. The Eagles come in at 7-1, looking to build on a hot start to the season.
Lynnville-Sully is loaded with offensive talent, after returning four double-figure scorers from last season. Klayton Van Dyke Klayton Van Dyke 6'5" | PF Lynnville-Sully | 2024 State IA is leading them in scoring this season, averaging 14.0 a game. At 6’5″, he finishes well around the bucket and gives the Hawks a presence in the paint. Other scoring threats for the Hawks will be Connor Maston (11.9 ppg) and Preston Rodibaugh Preston Rodibaugh 6'3" | SG Lynnville-Sully | 2023 State IA (8.6 ppg). Maston shoots the three ball really well, and Rodibaugh can score at all three levels and gives the Hawks some size and length on the perimeter. The Hawks will be a team that doesn’t turn the ball over, and plays smart defense without fouling.
The Keota Eagles come in with only one loss to WACO. Junior guard Sawyer Stout Sawyer Stout 5'10" | SG Keota | 2024 State IA (17.8 ppg) and Cole Kindred (11.3 ppg) are the backcourt duo for Keota. Stout is a solid shooter who you don’t want to let get going, and Kindred does a great job at finding open teammates, averaging 4.0 assists a game. Evan Vittevoe is the man down low for the Eagles, averaging 8.6 points a game along with 6.3 rebounds. Keota as a team hits the glass hard, averaging 41.5 rebounds a game.
My Prediction: Through the first part of the season, both teams points for and against are pretty close, making me think this will be a pretty close game. Keota has had some issues turning the ball over, averaging just over sixteen turnovers a contest. If they can limit turnovers and have a solid night shooting the ball, they have a chance at upsetting the Hawks at home. With the scorers Lynnville-Sully has, their ability to limit turnovers and rebound the ball, I’m going with the home team in a close one, 65-61.