Tuesday’s Top Games

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4A #5 Sioux City East (16-1) at Bellevue West (NE) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a tough overtime loss to Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Monday night, the Black Raiders will need to re-group in a hurry as they travel to Omaha to take on a nationally ranked Bellevue West team. The Thunderbirds are undefeated, 16-0, and ranked 23rd nationally in the latest MaxPreps rankings. They're led by Josiah Dotzler (#1 in Nebraska's 2023 rankings), Jaxon Stueve (#7 2023), Jaden Jackson (#1 2024), Jacob Arop (#4 2024), and Eldon Turner (#11 2024). Dotzler is a Creighton signee while Jackson is drawing heavy interest from Nebraska.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The always high-flying Black Raiders are averaging 72.4 points a game behind the dynamic perimeter tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1196279' first='Preston' last='Dobbs'] (15.7 points) and [player_tooltip player_id='1437607' first='Fitzgerald' last='Grant'] (15.3). Both have been extremely efficient (Dobbs 57.1 FG%, Grant 61.4%), using their toughness and athleticism to get to the rim for finishes, which will be a bit more difficult against the length and size of Bellevue West. [player_tooltip player_id='1167750' first='Brandt' last='Van Dyke'] (9.8, 2.5 assists), a talented 6-6/6-7 playmaker will be key in initiating offense from a different angle for the Black Raiders. East is a veteran team with five seniors and a junior comprising their top six scorers, and Ras Vanderloo will have them ready for this showdown, but they may be overmatched against this supremely talented team from Omaha.<br><strong>Our pick: Bellevue West 82, Sioux City East 70</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4A #7 Waterloo West (13-2) at 4A #1 Kennedy (14-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy has absolutely rolled through their schedule so far this season, winning games by an average of 32.1 points a game, and a win over West would basically lock up the Valley Division for the Cougars. They're led by a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1167718' first='Colby' last='Dolphin'] (15.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1171679' first='Micah' last='Schlaak'] (11.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='956877' first='Kenzie' last='Reed'] (10.5), while five others average between 4.5 and 9.3 points a game, giving them eight legitimate scoring threats. Arguably the best defensive team in the state, they have a bevy of quick, tough guards to throw at opposing teams and some good length and athleticism in the painted area. An efficient offensive team that is averaging nearly 78 points a game, they share the ball extremely well (19.9 assists a game) and are posting 51-41-78 shooting splits as a team. Simply put, this is a juggernaut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo West rebounded from a short-handed loss to Xavier two weeks ago with good wins over Iowa City West and Linn-Mar. The Wahawks are led by senior wings [player_tooltip player_id='1288869' first='Si'Marion' last='Anderson'] (14.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='1367438' first='Keishaun' last='Pendleton'] (14.5), a pair of athletic 6-3 wings who can get to the bucket seemingly at will and are threats to knock down shots from deep and get hot in a hurry. West is athletic and quick, and they use their quickness to make up for a bit of a lack of traditional size. This group has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the state this year, but they may be in over their heads a bit against a Kennedy team that looks like a buzzsaw at this point in time.<br><strong>Our pick: Kennedy 77, Waterloo West 63</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Senior (12-3) at 3A #6 Xavier (11-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a big game in the Mississippi Division of the MVC if either of these teams wants to have a shot at catching Cedar Falls in league play. Senior is coming off a tough rivalry loss, dropping a 38-36 rock fight against Wahlert on Friday night, and they'll have to travel to another 3A parochial school to try and get back on track. Spurred by their quickness, length, and athleticism, the Rams have been really good defensively this season, allowing just 41.9 points a game. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376678' first='Jacob' last='Williams'] (12.1, 7.3 rebounds) leads the team in scoring, but this is a group that has six others averaging at least 6.3 points a game, and they can easily have a different leading scorer every night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavier has lost four games since the holiday break, but those four losses have come by a combined 12 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1167689' first='Aidan' last='Yamilkoski'] (18.7) and Joseph Bean (15.7) are one of the top scoring tandems in the MVC, a pair of dynamic three-level scorers who can take over a game at any point in time. Senior will need to find a way to slow at least one of them down, and don't be surprised to see the Rams throw a box-and-one, or triangle-and-two, look at the Saints on occasion in an effort to make the Saints role players beat them. <br><strong>Our pick: Xavier 56, Senior 52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>West Sioux (14-3) at 1A #7 Remsen, St. Mary's (13-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Mary's won the first meeting between these teams back on January 12, 61-57, behind 21 points from [player_tooltip player_id='1759937' first='Collin' last='Homan'] and 20 from [player_tooltip player_id='1167735' first='Jaxon' last='Bunkers']. Bunkers (14.9) and Homan (14.4) lead a balanced attack for the Hawks, who are always pretty balanced offensively and stout defensively. This iteration of St. Mary's hasn't shot it well from the arc (26.4%), which is a bit unusual for them and could be a major factor in this rematch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Sioux is a team that likes to get out and run, using their quickness and athleticism to push the pace and get to the bucket. Led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1738706' first='Booker' last='Walsh'] (16.6) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='956885' first='Mason' last='Coppock'] (16.5), the Falcons will look to turn this into a faster game, which is easier said than done against the disciplined Hawks.<br><strong>Our pick: Remsen, St. Mary's 57, West Sioux 53</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A #5 Newton (9-4) at Pella Christian (11-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newton won the first meeting between these teams back on January 3, 50-42, behind a huge outing from senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1367442' first='Cole' last='Plowman'], who had 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. This is a huge game for the Cardinals (7-3 in the Little Hawkeye) if they want to have a chance to chase down Indianola (9-1 LHC) and keep pace with Norwalk (7-3).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newton has been playing dominant defense of late, winning four of their last five while allowing just 42.6 points a game during that stretch. They held The Eagles to just 32.7% from the floor in that win back on the 3rd, and their ability to lock down on that end of the floor makes them extremely dangerous in 3A. They're led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Plowman (14.6), [player_tooltip player_id='1240081' first='Brody' last='Bauer'] (11.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='1167723' first='Jake' last='Ingle'] (10.1). Plowman, a big, physical 6-5 forward with soft hands and touch around the rim, is a really difficult matchup for a smaller, leaner PC team, and he'll need to be a focal point of the PC defensive game plan if the Eagles want to avenge that earlier loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='DeVries'] (13.8) leads a deep stable of options for the Eagles, with seven players averaging at least 3.3 points a game. DeVries is a small but fearless guard who loves to play downhill and put pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to absorb contact and finish around the bucket as well as get others involved. He's the one constant in each game for the Eagles, and the second leading scorer could be one of a number of different options, making PC difficult to defend. Expect to see another chess match here between a pair of really good coaches and defensive-minded, scrappy teams. This will be decided late.<br><strong>Our pick: Pella Christian 52, Newton 50</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Other games to watch<br></span>Bellevue (13-4) at Beckman Catholic (12-5)<br>New London (12-5) at Notre Dame (15-4)<br>Sioux Center (10-5) at 2A #2 Central Lyon (13-1)<br>Harlan (10-4) at Kuemper Catholic (13-5)* Harlan<br>Montezuma (15-3) at North Mahaska (15-3)<br>Pleasant Valley (9-5) at North Scott (12-2)<br>Ames (11-5) at Hoover (9-5)* Hoover<br>2A #1 Western Christian (14-1) at Tea Area (SD)* Western<br>North Polk (13-3) at Winterset (11-7)<br>Hudson (13-4) at 2A #4 Aplington-Parkersburg (15-1)* AP<br>4A #9 Norwalk (12-3) at Dallas Center-Grimes (9-6)<br>Van Meter (13-3) at Des Moines Christian (12-6)<br>Maquoketa (13-4) at Monticello (11-6)<br>Bettendorf (11-4) at Davenport Central (10-5)<br>Danville (13-6) at 2A #6 West Burlington (17-0)<br>1A #9 Newell-Fonda (11-2) at GTRA (12-3) *NF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*Rankings are the IHSAA rankings, not Prep Hoops rankings.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->