Substate Preview: 4A-7

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/4A-7.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/4A-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1797470" /></a></figure>   The favorite: Waukee Northwest has been one of the top three teams in the state all year and was given a pretty favorable substate draw as a result. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='956868' first='Pryce' last='Sandfort'] (25.6, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks) has been dominant, posting 54-45-88 shooting splits and showing the ability to dominate games on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='956887' first='Cade' last='Kelderman'] (16.7, 6.0 assists) has taken his game up another level this year, routinely having huge games in some of the Wolves' biggest. A quick lefty guard with a physical frame, he's shooting 59% from the floor, nearly 46% from 3, and leads the team in assists. [player_tooltip player_id='1376673' first='Grant' last='Tigges'] (10.1, 46.3 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1751176' first='Andrew' last='Cose'] (4.7, 48.8 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1240092' first='Henry' last='Manning'] (7.2) provide additional shooting and scoring on the perimeter. The Wolves aren't traditionally big, but they have good length at a majority of their spots in the lineup, tons of shooting, and one of the top two players in the state in Sandfort.   The biggest threats: Roosevelt earned the #2 seed in the substate and gets their semifinal game at home as a result. The Roughriders are led by a trio of senior double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='939063' first='Tevonta' last='Jackson'] (15.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1167710' first='Sam' last='King'] (15.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1367403' first='Jaekwon' last='Bradley'] (14.3). Jackson, a move-in from Illinois, leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals and has been a dynamic two-way threat for this group all year. King is a high IQ guard who can impact the game as a scorer, playmaker, or defender, and Bradley is a fantastic athlete who rebounds at an extremely high level on the offensive glass. As a team, Roosevelt is pulling down 13 offensive rebounds a game, so that will need to be a major piece of the game plan for opposing teams - finding ways to keep this athletic team off the boards.   The dark horses: Southeast Polk got off to a very slow start to the year, going just 1-9 in their first 10 games. They've played much better down the stretch, going 7-5 in the last month or so, including a really good win over Ames in the final week of the regular season. The Rams are led by a pair of 15-point scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1167719' first='Riley' last='Edwards'] (15.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='1587368' first='Bode' last='Goodman'] (15.0). Neither are shooting it at the level they're capable of from behind the arc, but both are capable of getting hot and carrying this team. [player_tooltip player_id='1367397' first='Lincoln' last='Cantrall'] (9.6, 36.6 3P%) is a big wing at 6-7 who can really shoot it as well. They've played a loaded schedule and improved as the year progressed. They'll give Roosevelt a tough time in the semifinals.   Des Moines Lincoln and Marshalltown have the difficult assignment of heading to Northwest in the semifinals, but both teams have some players who could give the Wolves issues for a bit. Lincoln is led by dynamic point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'] (20.4, 6.3 assists), a high-level playmaker and scorer who can get to the rim at will, while [player_tooltip player_id='1288903' first='Deng' last='Gai'] (10.5) is an athletic slasher on the wing. The Railsplitters can struggle at times with turnovers, but if they're able to protect the ball and Cavil is able to get hot, they can hang with just about anyone. Marshalltown has a pair of fantastic shooters in [player_tooltip player_id='1167711' first='Drake' last='Kapayou'] (10.2, 42.3 3P%) and Jaxson Eisenbarth (6.2, 40.9 3P%) that they're able to put around a tandem of athletic wings in [player_tooltip player_id='1167669' first='Prince' last='Jallah'] (15.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'] (14.0). Jallah is a really good defender, Huston an explosive athlete who can dominate the glass.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956868' first='Pryce' last='Sandfort'], Northwest 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956887' first='Cade' last='Kelderman'], Northwest 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376673' first='Grant' last='Tigges'], Northwest 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='939063' first='Tevonta' last='Jackson'], Roosevelt 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167710' first='Sam' last='King'], Roosevelt 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367403' first='Jaekwon' last='Bradley'], Roosevelt 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'], Lincoln 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288903' first='Deng' last='Gai'], Lincoln 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167669' first='Prince' last='Jallah'], Marshalltown 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'], Marshalltown 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167711' first='Drake' last='Kapayou'], Marshalltown 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167719' first='Riley' last='Edwards'], Southeast Polk 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587368' first='Bode' last='Goodman'], Southeast Polk 2023 Kale Hobart, Mason City   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Waukee Northwest vs. Roosevelt   Waukee Northwest shouldn't have too many issues getting through this substate. The Wolves have been dominant this season and behind a big Sandfort game, they get back to the state tournament.