Class 4A Substate Quarterfinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Top Five Games</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Des Moines North (5-16) at Dallas Center-Grimes (12-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DCG probably shouldn't have too many issues here, but North does have some good athletes who could make things interesting for a while if they're able to protect the ball better than they have for most of the season. Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] (14.4, 7.1 rebounds) is an explosive playmaker who can take over games and have big scoring nights. [player_tooltip player_id='1367446' first='Kenny' last='Brooks'] (12.0) is a shifty guard who can get to the rim, and [player_tooltip player_id='1367458' first='David' last='Caulker'] (8.1, 6.4 rebounds) is a physical, athletic forward who can control the glass. If DCG isn't prepared for the quickness and athleticism of North, this could be a tight game for much longer than most would expect. The Mustangs are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (12.5, 46.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (11.3, 8.4 rebounds), and senior Hudson Ehlert (11.8). Outside of Cahill, nobody on the roster really has much postseason varsity experience. Could that be a factor?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davenport North (7-14) at Davenport West (12-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West swept the season series, winning both games by 15 points - 85-70 on December 20, and 76-61 on February 3. The Falcons built big early leads in both of those games, using their quickness to routinely get to the rim, both in the halfcourt and in forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376725' first='Jermilyn' last='Gardner'] (17.6, 4.4 assists) is the team's leader in scoring and assists, a quick guard who puts constant pressure on opposing defenses. Landon Winston (13.7, 37.7 3P%) has been the team's most reliable 3-point shooting threat, and [player_tooltip player_id='1751175' first='Davante' last='Bradford'] (9.7, 3.1 assists) and Idris Thomas (11.3, 6.1 rebounds) provide additional scoring, rebounding, and playmaking. For North, it's the [player_tooltip player_id='1288870' first='Tre'von' last='Coney'] (18.0) show. Coney is a long, athletic wing who can create his own shot at a high level. They'll need to get more production out of the secondary and tertiary options if they want to pull off this upset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty (8-13) at Linn-Mar (8-13)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect plenty of firepower in this one. Linn-Mar won the regular-season meeting 87-81 on January 17 behind 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks from [player_tooltip player_id='1381412' first='Davis' last='Kern']. [player_tooltip player_id='1167731' first='Jackson' last='Severson'] had 21, and [player_tooltip player_id='1484413' first='Payson' last='Nietert'] added 17. [player_tooltip player_id='1288867' first='Da'Shon' last='Fisher'] led Liberty with 29 points in that loss. Kern (19.4, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) is a really difficult matchup for Liberty here. A 6-8 stretch-4 who can protect the rim, stretch the floor, and score around the bucket, his constant activity makes him tough to defend. Severson (12.0) has added some scoring since coming back from injury, and Nietert (8.0, 35.9 3P%) is a pure shooter capable of getting hot and having big nights. Fisher (21.7, 39.6 3P%) is one of the most dangerous scorers in the state, a powerful, explosive wing who gets to the rim seemingly at will. The Lightning are able to put some good shooters around him in [player_tooltip player_id='1469777' first='Luke' last='Ramsey'] (11.3, 37.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1376683' first='Trey' last='Hughes'] (11.3, 41.7 3P%). If they can knock down some shots, find a way to slow Kern down, and dominate on the glass like they did in the regular-season meeting (46-33), Liberty can get the win here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Des Moines Lincoln (10-12) at Marshalltown (12-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams met early this season, a 78-59 Marshalltown win back on December 13. In that game, the Bobcats got 25 points from [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'], 22 from [player_tooltip player_id='1167669' first='Prince' last='Jallah'], and forced 20 turnovers. They'll have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Lincoln's star guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'] (20.4, 6.3 assists), here. Cavil is a fantastic ball-handler who knows how to get to his spots and uses his quick first step to blow by defenders. The Railsplitters will need to get quality games from other scorers like [player_tooltip player_id='1288903' first='Deng' last='Gai'] (10.5), [player_tooltip player_id='1288901' first='Benno' last='Cooper'] (8.5), and a strong effort on the glass from [player_tooltip player_id='1171699' first='Ja'Vion' last='Bell'] (8.0, 7.0 rebounds). Marshalltown will likely throw a few different defenders at Cavil - expect to see Jallah (15.0, 7.4 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='1751107' first='Treshaun' last='Brooks'] (9.3, 4.6 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'] (14.0, 8.1 rebounds) to each get shots at him. Marshalltown has some good athletes in Jallah and Huston, and they're able to put a pair of knockdown shooters next to them in [player_tooltip player_id='1167711' first='Drake' last='Kapayou'] (10.0, 42.6 3P%) and Jaxson Eisenbarth (6.0, 39.4 3P%).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>City (8-14) at Waterloo East (12-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Former MVC rivals face off in an interesting opening-round matchup. Both of these teams are capable of lighting up the scoreboard at times, and both can also struggle at times to score. City is led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1240089' first='Shamar' last='Benton'] (12.4), a quick-twitch athlete who can get to the rim and create plays for himself and others. [player_tooltip player_id='1381427' first='Trey' last='Wright'] (9.6, 2.8 assists) has had a solid sophomore season, and freshman big Samuel Mbingazo (7.7, 1.2 blocks) is a formidable rim protector. [player_tooltip player_id='1167741' first='Kewone' last='Jones'] (19.3, 7.1 rebounds) has had a fantastic senior year for East, showing his ability to score from all three levels, posting 55-51-77 shooting splits. A big-bodied, physical wing who can really shoot it, he's a difficult matchup here for City. [player_tooltip player_id='1469837' first='Jameel' last='Montgomery'] (14.9, 8.7 rebounds) is a dynamic athlete, and [player_tooltip player_id='1240087' first='Jamauryus' last='Bradford-Gates'] (13.7, 3.9 assists) puts constant pressure on opposing defenses with his quickness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Upset Alert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes:</strong> DCG will have their hands full with North freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], a versatile three-level scorer and playmaker capable of explosive scoring nights. If the Polar Bears are able to protect the ball, something they've struggled with at times this season, they have the athleticism to score against the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linn-Mar:</strong> Both Linn-Mar and Liberty have had inconsistent seasons, but the Lions will have the difficult task of stopping senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1288867' first='Da'Shon' last='Fisher'] here, easier said than done. The Lightning are able to put a pair of dynamic shooters around Fisher in [player_tooltip player_id='1469777' first='Luke' last='Ramsey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1376683' first='Trey' last='Hughes'], and if they can knock down some shots, they're primed to upset the Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marshalltown: </strong>The Bobcats beat Lincoln at 19 earlier this season, but that was before the holiday break and the Railsplitters will be looking to get some revenge for that loss here. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'] is one of the most dynamic scorers in the state, a skilled ball-handler who can break down the defense and get to the rim seemingly at will. The 'Cats will need to find a way to slow him down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Picking all 16<br></span>Substate 1: Sioux City West over Sioux City North, Johnston over Council Bluffs Jefferson<br>Substate 2: Iowa City West over Prairie, Dowling Catholic over Fort Dodge<br>Substate 3: Davenport Central over Muscatine, Pleasant Valley over Hempstead<br>Substate 4: Burlington over Clinton, Davenport West over Davenport North<br>Substate 5: Waterloo East over City, Cedar Rapids Washington over Cedar Rapids Jefferson<br>Substate 6: Ankeny over Ottumwa, Liberty over Linn-Mar<br>Substate 7: Southeast Polk over Mason City, Marshalltown over Des Moines Lincoln<br>Substate 8: Dallas Center-Grimes over Des Moines North, Urbandale over Des Moines East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->