Friday's Top Games - Prep Hoops

Prince of Peace (7-2) at Alburnett (8-1)   Alburnett may be on the verge of entering the top 10 rankings in Class 2A next week, with their lone loss coming by two points to the #1 team in 1A, North Linn. The Pirates are big, athletic, and physical, and have been absolutely dominant on the defensive end of the floor, allowing just 39.9 points a game. They're also pulling down over 14 offensive rebounds a night, led by senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1469785' first='Tytan' last='Bowers'] (13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds), who is pulling down three offensive boards a game. The 6-8 center has been a difference-maker as a defender, protecting the paint in a major way. Physical and athletic guards Braydon Osborn (20.0) and Jordan Caton (14.0), a pair of juniors, lead the way in the backcourt.   Prince of Peace is off to a surprising 7-2 start, led by a quartet of double-figure scorers in sophomore Hakeal Powell (17.6), junior Jhikeith McGraw (12.1), and seniors Marcus Blount (11.4) and Eric Berry (11.0). That type of depth in scoring options makes them difficult to defend. Like Alburnett, the Irish are pulling down a ton of offensive rebounds (14.1), using their toughness and athleticism to control the glass on both ends. They'll need to win the battle on the glass and gain some extra possessions if they want to beat this tough Alburnett team. Our pick: Alburnett 62, Prince of Peace 52   3A #8 Mount Vernon (6-1) at 3A #9 Williamsburg (5-1)   These teams are in different divisions within the WaMaC, but it's still a huge game that could help determine postseason groupings down the line, as the winner likely has an inside track at avoiding Marion and Xavier in substate. Williamsburg hasn't lost a game to a WaMaC team since February 9, 2021, going undefeated against league competition last year. Their lone loss this season came to #1 Xavier in their season opener and they've been on a role since then behind junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (15.2 points, 6.7 rebounds). Weisskopf is a dominant two-way player who has committed to play football at Iowa, and he uses his strength and athleticism to his advantage on the hardwood. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1426814' first='Ethan' last='Harman'] (13.7 points, 41.2 3P%) has been excellent early on, and as a whole, the Raiders are deep with scoring options, as five other players average between 5.7 and 9.7 points a game.   This is a big two-game stretch for the Mustangs, traveling to Williamsburg tonight and then to #4 North Polk tomorrow for a non-conference game. We'll learn a lot about this group in the next 48 hours. Sharpshooting junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171688' first='Jackson' last='Kutcher'] (17.7 points, 37.5 3P%) is the team's leader in scoring and assists, while [player_tooltip player_id='1376688' first='Joe' last='Rhomberg'] (10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Brady Erickson (10.0 points) have provided some additional scoring punch. Like Williamsburg, Mount Vernon is deep with scoring options, with four others averaging between 5.3 and 7.1 points a game. Will this be the team to finally hand Williamsburg a WaMaC setback? Our pick: Williamsburg 62, Mount Vernon 57   3A #1 Xavier (8-0) at 4A #8 Iowa City West (6-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/137A1686.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/137A1686.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1688568" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'25 Iowa City (IA) West F [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery']. (Rob Howe/PrepHoops.com) </figcaption></figure>   West has dominated this series of late, winning 19 of the last 21 meetings, including both meetings last year. However, both of those games were extremely close (48-46, 46-40), and another tight one should be expected here. Xavier has been impressive through their first eight games, allowing just 48 points a game and racking up quality wins over Cedar Falls, Liberty, and Williamsburg. The Saints are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1167689' first='Aidan' last='Yamilkoski'] (18.4 points), Joe Bean (15.4 points), and [player_tooltip player_id='1367451' first='Josef' last='Lemker'] (11.8 points, 43.2 3P%), but it's the emergence of junior big man Tyler Netolicky (9.8 points, 8.6 rebounds) that has been the biggest reason for their early-season success. His interior presence at 6-8 has made this team better defensively and he's been great on the glass.   Led by sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (17.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks), the Trojans are playing their best ball of the young season coming into this one. They got revenge on Burlington, a team that knocked them out of the postseason last year, on Tuesday with a blowout 39-point win, and they've been playing really well on the defensive end recently. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171670' first='Kareem' last='Earl'] (13.5 points) seems to have regained his confidence this season, and the junior backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1376672' first='Jacob' last='Koch'] (9.7 points) and [player_tooltip player_id='1256297' first='TaeVeon' last='Stevens'] (7.5 points) has been solid. Whichever one-two tandem (Yamilkoski/Bean or McCaffery/Earl) has the better game likely decides this one. Our pick: Iowa City West 58, Xavier 56   Baxter (9-0) at 1A #7 Dunkerton (9-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Casey-Gardner-new-crop-1394x915-1641851859.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Casey-Gardner-new-crop-1394x915-1641851859.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1363514" /></a></figure>   Both of these teams have been blasting their opponents so far this season, with Baxter posting a +41.7 point differential and Dunkerton coming in at +42.3. Expect a ton of points in this one, with Dunkerton point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'] (23.6 points, 10.8 assists) leading the charge as both a scorer and facilitator. He'll match up against a talented senior backcourt of Cody Damman (12.6 points, 5.8 assists) and Cael Shepley (6.9 points, 5.6 assists), as well as junior [player_tooltip player_id='2325277' first='Treyton' last='Travis'] (11.3 points, 4.0 assists). The Bolts have done a really good job protecting the ball so far this season, turning it over just 10 times a game, but that will be put to the test against a quick, athletic Dunkerton team that loves to press. [player_tooltip player_id='1240107' first='Carson' last='Scroggins'] (19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) of Baxter will have his hands full trying to defend Dunkerton wing [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'] (26.9 points), one of the top scorers in the state. In this game that figures to be up-tempo and high scoring, the team that protects the ball better will have the edge. This one should be a ton of fun, and there is no danger of a shot clock violation in this one! Our pick: Dunkerton 89, Baxter 78   4A #2 Waukee (7-1) at 4A #10 Valley (6-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Omaha-BIliew-crop-2786x1829-1615434200-crop-533x350-1615434218.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Omaha-BIliew-crop-2786x1829-1615434200-crop-533x350-1615434218.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1148396" /></a></figure>   This game may very well be the present (Waukee) versus the future (Valley). In senior five-star wing Omaha Biliew (24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds), Waukee has the state's best player, a possible future NBA player who will play his college ball at Iowa State next year. The Warriors have just one loss, a two-point setback against Northwest, the #1 team in the state. They're deep, athletic, and talented, and have the looks of a team that can absolutely win the state title this year. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1167685' first='Vance' last='Peiffer'] (8.0 points, 3.4 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='1239875' first='Cooper' last='Randall'] (7.8 points), and [player_tooltip player_id='1288872' first='Cade' last='Littlefield'] (4.4 points, 45.0 3P%) pair with Biliew to provide senior leadership, while junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'] (10.9 points, 37.5 3P%) gives them a talented three-level scoring threat and playmaker.   On the other end of the spectrum is Valley, who has the state's best 2025 class and will be a real state championship threat for the next three years. Five of the Tigers' top six scorers are sophomores, led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381422' first='Curtis' last='Stinson Jr'] (14.1 points), a physically advanced and talented guard who already holds an offer from Missouri. He's a high IQ, versatile guard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] (11.6 points) is a cat-quick guard who can break down a defense and get to the bucket, while [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'] (7.6 points) is an athletic wing scorer. Trevin Jirak (10.0 points, 7.7 rebounds) might be the next dominant big-man, a mobile 6-8 center who can protect the rim and score efficiently. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1288925' first='Trevian' last='Carson'] (10.5 points, 6.4 rebounds) is the veteran presence for this group, a tough, physical guard who passes and defends well. This team is deep, young, and TALENTED. But will they have an answer for Biliew? Our pick: Waukee 68, Valley 62     Other big games tonight 3A #2 Bondurant-Farrar (8-0) at 3A #4 North Polk (6-1) 4A #4 Indianola (7-0) at Dallas Center-Grimes (5-1) Webster City (5-0) at Humboldt (5-0)

Prince of Peace (7-2) at Alburnett (8-1)