Substate Preview: 4A-8

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/4A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/4A-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1797466" /></a></figure>   The favorite: When [player_tooltip player_id='1733510' first='Omaha' last='Biliew'] (22.9, 10.5 rebounds) announced that he was headed back to Iowa for his senior year, Waukee went from a possible state tournament team to a state championship favorite. The Warriors haven't done much to dissuade that line of thinking, either, largely rolling through their schedule, with 13 of their 20 wins coming by double digits. The aforementioned Biliew is a five-star wing who can defend every position at this level, score inside and out, create for himself, and control the glass. The future Iowa State wing is the most dynamic player in the state and a possible future NBA player. [player_tooltip player_id='1167685' first='Vance' last='Peiffer'] (10.8, 3.2 blocks) is one of the best defensive big men in the state, a versatile defender who can play in a variety of different coverages and score around the bucket or stretch the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1239875' first='Cooper' last='Randall'] (9.6, 41.2 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'] (9.0, 35.1 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1288872' first='Cade' last='Littlefield'] (5.5, 60.0 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1171657' first='Keysean' last='Moore'] (3.3, 42.9 3P%) are all good shooting threats from the arc, and as a team the Warriors are shooting 40.5% from deep. They have the best player in the state, and a veteran group of talented shooters and high IQ players around him.   The biggest threat: Council Bluffs Lincoln will get their semifinal game at home, giving them the edge to come out of the bottom of the bracket here. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1376689' first='Cole' last='Arnold'] (13.9) leads the team in scoring, a physical wing who transferred from Lewis Central to provide the Lynx with some perimeter scoring punch. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1738615' first='Mathok' last='Mathok'] (13.5, 10.2 rebounds) is a bouncy, athletic forward who can protect the rim and dominate the glass. He pairs with sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'] (10.2, 9.2 rebounds) to give them a pair of strong forwards who can control the glass and thus control the game. They'll have a major edge on the glass in their semifinal game, and if they reach the substate final, anything can happen in a one-game setting.   The dark horses: Urbandale is starting to play their best ball of the season, winning four of their last five coming into postseason play. The J-Hawks will have the unenviable task of heading to Waukee in the semifinals, but they've played the Warriors tough in both regular-season meetings, losing by 12 on December 13th and 7 on January 27th. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1172912' first='Grant' last='Uecker'] (11.0) leads a balanced scoring effort. He's a good shooter off both the dribble and the catch and a good ball-handler who can get others involved. Jack Craig (9.7), [player_tooltip player_id='1476942' first='Brevin' last='Phillips'] (9.1), [player_tooltip player_id='1367409' first='Brice' last='Lange'] (8.5), and Cole Garwood (7.0) are also solid scoring options, and in Phillips and Garwood, they have the physical interior presences who could give Waukee some issues.   Dallas Center-Grimes has a good chance to represent the bottom of the bracket in the substate final. The Mustangs have a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (12.5), Hudson Ehlert (11.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (11.3, 8.4 rebounds), and three others averaging between 6.0 and 7.3 points a game, giving them six reliable scoring threats. A team that isn't going to beat themselves (11.5 turnovers a game), the 'Stangs are disciplined, physical, and athletic.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1733510' first='Omaha' last='Biliew'], Waukee 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167685' first='Vance' last='Peiffer'], Waukee 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1239875' first='Cooper' last='Randall'], Waukee 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'], Waukee 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376689' first='Cole' last='Arnold'], Council Bluffs Lincoln 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738615' first='Mathok' last='Mathok'], Council Bluffs Lincoln 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'], Council Bluffs Lincoln 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1172912' first='Grant' last='Uecker'], Urbandale 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476942' first='Brevin' last='Phillips'], Urbandale 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171694' first='Tyron' last='Wright'], Des Moines East 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587379' first='Desmon' last='Campbell'], Des Moines East 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'], Dallas Center-Grimes 2023 Hudson Ehlert, Dallas Center-Grimes 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'], Dallas Center-Grimes 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], Des Moines North   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Waukee vs. Council Bluffs Lincoln   There isn't too much intrigue here, as the overwhelming athleticism and talent of [player_tooltip player_id='1733510' first='Omaha' last='Biliew'] is too much for CBAL to overcome here and Waukee punches their ticket to the state tournament, where they'll be considered one of the favorites to take home the 4A title.