Rob's Class 4A Postseason Recap 3-1-23

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The 2023 Boys State Basketball Tournament was set after Tuesday night’s substate contests wrapped up. Class 4A took center state Tuesday with Newton topping Solon in the lone 3A substate matchup. Those teams agreed to move…

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The 2023 Boys State Basketball Tournament was set after Tuesday night’s substate contests wrapped up. Class 4A took center state Tuesday with Newton topping Solon in the lone 3A substate matchup. Those teams agreed to move their game with the Solon girls playing at the state tournament Monday night, when the rest of the 3A teams played.

Here’s a look at how things shook out in 4A:

SUBSTATE 1 CHAMPION – NORWALK

Sixth-ranked Norwalk (20-3) reached state with a 64-58 victory against No. 9 Sioux City East (21-3) at Denison. The Warriors returned to Des Moines for the first time since 2020, when they won it all.

East jumped out to a 15-3 lead before Norwalk found traction. It responded with a 24-9 advantage in the second quarter for a three-point halftime lead. The second half was a back-and-forth affair before the Warriors hung on for their 16th consecutive victory. It’s their ninth state tournament bid and first in Class 4A.

Redek Born Redek Born 6'3" | PG Norwalk | 2024 State IA , whose brother, UNI guard Bowen Born, led Norwalk to the ’20 title, scored a game-high 25 points Tuesday, hitting all 14 of his free throws. Jack Brown connected on a big trey late and scored 17 points for the victors, while teammate Braeden Carlson Braeden Carlson 6'4" | SF Norwalk | 2023 State IA chipped in with 10.

SUBSTATE 2 CHAMPION – ANKENY CENTENNIAL

No. 10 Ankeny Centennial (16-7) advance to Des Moines with a 54-57 triumph against No. 8 Cedar Falls Tuesday at Marshalltown. The Jaguars head back to The Well for the second time in the school’s short history, finishing fourth in ’20.

The Tigers led by eight points after one quarter and four at the half. Centennial then outscored Cedar Falls, 16-2, in the third period.

Junior Luke Winkel Luke Winkel 6'1" | PG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA paced the Jags with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Fellow juniors Nick Vaske Nick Vaske 6'3" | SG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'4" | PF Centennial | 2024 State IA (7 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two assists) also came up big in the win.

SUBSTATE 3 CHAMPION – PLEASANT VALLEY

Unrated Pleasant Valley (19-5) edged seventh-ranked Dubuque Senior (19-4), 54-51, Tuesday at DeWitt Central. The Spartans clinched their seventh-ever state tournament berth, last making it in ’21.

Coy Kipper Coy Kipper 5'8" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA led the way for Pleasant Valley, netting 17 points.

SUBSTATE 4 CHAMPION – CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

Top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy remained unbeaten with an impressive, 76-48, victory against North Scott (17-6) Tuesday night at Iowa City West. The Cougars (22-0) reached the state tournament for a 17th time, matching Washington for the most among the city’s public schools.

Kennedy, making its second trip in a row to Des Moines, seized control of Tuesday’s game with a 26-13 second quarter. Its lead was 23 points after three quarters.

Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA scored 17 points for the Cougars, who also received big nights from Cyrus Courtney Cyrus Courtney 6'1" | SG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (15 points, 9 rebounds), Micah Schlaak Micah Schlaak 6'6" | PF Kennedy | 2024 State IA (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) and Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (8 assists, 0 turnovers).

SUBSTATE 5 CHAMPION – WEST DES MOINES VALLEY

No. 4 West Des Moines Valley (18-5) cruised into the state tournament with a 66-41 win against Waterloo West (17-6) Tuesday at Marshalltown. The Tigers reached state for the 15th time in program history and the first time since ’18. The won it all in ’16 and ’93.

Sophomore Trevin Jirak Trevin Jirak 6'9" | C Valley | 2025 State IA paced Valley with 16 points, while classmate Zay Robinson added 11. Senior Si’Marion Anderson Si’Marion Anderson 6'2" | SG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA led the Wahawks with 14.

SUBSTATE 6 CHAMPION – AMES

Unranked Ames (17-7) took down cinderella Linn-Mar (10-14), 67-49, Tuesday at Nevada. The defending champion Little Cyclones make their 24th appearance at state and third in a row.

Sophomore Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA led the Lions with 18 points and four rebounds, while teammate Jackson Severson Jackson Severson 5'11" | PG Linn-Mar | 2023 State IA added 14 points.

SUBSTATE 7 CHAMPION – WAUKEE NORTHWEST

Third-rated Waukee Northwest (21-2) downed Des Moines Roosevelt (14-10), 73-62, Tuesday at West Des Moines Dowling Catholic. The new school secured its second consecutive trip to The Well.

Iowa Basketball signee Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA , younger brother of Iowa’s Payton Sandfort, led the winners with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two assists. Cade Kelderman Cade Kelderman 6'0" | PG Waukee Northwest | 2023 State IA (22 points, 4 assists) and Grant Tigges Grant Tigges 6'4" | SG Waukee Northwest | 2024 State IA (12 points) also stood out for the Wolves.

SUBSTATE 8 CHAMPION – WAUKEE

No. 2 Waukee (21-2) topped Dallas Center-Grimes (14-9), 49-38, Tuesday at Northwest High School. The Warriors reached Des Moines for the 11th time overall and the fourth time this decade. They won it all ’21, when the Sandfort brothers played for them.

Iowa State Basketball signee Omaha Biliew Omaha Biliew 6'8" | SF Waukee | 2023 State IA posted 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for Waukee Tuesday. Vance Peiffer Vance Peiffer 6'7" | C Waukee | 2023 State IA (9 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 assists) and Cade Littlefield Cade Littlefield 6'1" Waukee | 2023 IA (10 points) also shined for the Warriors.