Friday Games to Watch (12/15)
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1A #8 South O’Brien (5-0) at George-Little Rock (4-1) These two teams have been great on the defensive end to start the year, with South O’Brien allowing just 40.6 points, and George-Little Rock giving up 41.8. Points may be tough…
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Continue Reading1A #8 South O’Brien (5-0) at George-Little Rock (4-1)
These two teams have been great on the defensive end to start the year, with South O’Brien allowing just 40.6 points, and George-Little Rock giving up 41.8. Points may be tough to come by here, as both are stingy defensively, and neither team shoots it particularly well from behind the arc. South O’Brien has been led by junior wing Derek Paulsen (21.4), a highly efficient scorer who is shooting over 62% from the floor through the Wolverines’ first five games. Willie Conley (14.2) is the other big-time scorer, and this is a team that has been really good at limiting turnovers (8.6 a game) this season.
The South O’Brien 2-3 zone will likely be collapsing in on G-LR star forward Drew Denekas Drew Denekas 6'2" | PF George-Little Rock | 2024 State IA (16.2, 8.6 rebounds), a skilled big man who scores effectively around the rim and controls the glass on both ends of the floor. The Mustangs’ top four scorers – Denekas, Charlie Hamilton (12.6), Noah Terhark (10.2), and Isaiah Johnson (10.0) – are all players who do their damage inside the arc, which will be difficult to do against the Wolverines’ zone defense. Ball movement and some role players knocking down shots will be key if the ‘Stangs are going to hold down their home court and get a big early-season War Eagle win.
4A #2 Iowa City West (4-0) at 4A #8 Linn-Mar (4-0)
These two teams split their meetings last year, with each winning at home, and both are off to strong 4-0 starts to this season. West has won each of their first four comfortably (don’t let the eight-point win over Davenport West fool you, they led by 16 after three quarters), posting a +20.0 average point differential. Junior wing Jack McCaffery Jack McCaffery 6'8" | SF Iowa City West | 2025 State #70 Nation IA (16.8, 7.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 3.8 blocks) is the headliner of the group. McCaffery is about 6-9 now and spent the summer really improving as a ball-handler and playmaker, as evidenced by his huge increase in assist numbers this season. With his size and skill set, he’s a matchup problem for just about anyone. But it’s not McCaffery who leads the Trojans in scoring; that honor goes to senior guard Jacob Koch Jacob Koch 6'1" | PG Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (17.0, 54.2 3P%), who has been scorching hot from the arc in their first four games, knocking down 13 of his first 24 attempts from distance. Senior wing Kareem Earl Kareem Earl 6'5" | SF Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (11.5) is healthy this season and has provided additional three-level scoring, while sophomore forward Julian Manson Julian Manson 6'3" | SF Iowa City West | 2026 State IA (8.8) provides more scoring and playmaking.
Linn-Mar has won each of their first four games, including three straight impressive road wins (Bettendorf, Waukee, Xavier) to open the year, with each game decided by four points or less. That proficiency in close games could really come in handy in this one, and will certainly be a major benefit come postseason play for a fairly young team. Junior forward Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State #244 Nation IA (18.8, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks) is one of the best two-way players in the state, and is off to a ridiculously efficient start on the offensive end of the floor. At 6-8, he can shoot it from deep, score on the block, and protect the rim, making him, like McCaffery, a really difficult matchup. Mason Matson Mason Matson 6'1" | PG Linn Mar | 2025 State IA (12.5) has provided a spark in the backcourt, a quick, athletic guard who can play downhill and get to the rim or knock down shots from deep, and Owen Havlik (11.3, 4.5 assists) provides some length on the wing and playmaking. Junior wing Payson Nietert Payson Nietert 6'6" | SF Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA (7.5) hasn’t gotten his shot going yet this season, but is finding other ways to impact the game. This one should be a lot of fun between a pair of talented traditional powers in eastern Iowa.
Aplington-Parkersburg (5-1) at 1A #5 Marquette Catholic (7-0)
As far as I can tell, this is the first ever meeting between these two schools, and it should be a fun non-conference matchup between a pair of teams with high expectations this season. Aplington-Parkersburg is off to a nice 5-1 start, with their lone loss coming to Hudson, a top-5 team in 2A. The Falcons are led by a really talented backcourt tandem, senior Gavin Thomas Gavin Thomas 6'1" | SG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2024 State IA (19.7, 4.7 assists, 45.7 3P%) and sophomore Benny Waller Benny Waller 6'1" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2026 State IA (14.2, 50.0 3P%), who give them a pair of dynamic scorers and playmakers who have the ball in their hands a ton. Senior guard Nick Neuroth Nick Neuroth 5'10" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2024 State IA (9.2, 4.0 assists) is another talented ball-handler and playmaker who has been a menace on the defensive end this season. This A-P team is smaller than they’ve been in previous years, with no player on the roster listed taller than 6-2, but they’ll look to play fast, pressure constantly, and shoot it often.
Marquette, knowing that they have a chance to be pretty darn good this year, is testing themselves in non-conference play this year, and this A-P game is part of that. Six players are averaging at least 8.0 points a game for the Mohawks, led by junior forward Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA (15.3, 8.0 rebounds), a long combo forward who can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and control the glass. A-P may have trouble matching up with him. Eli Scott (13.7, 4.7 assists) paces the offensive attack, a high IQ lead guard who limits turnovers, and Caden Kettmann Caden Kettmann 6'4" | SG Marquette Catholic Bellevue | 2024 State IA (11.4) is a versatile two-way player who can score from all three levels and defend multiple positions. Marquette is deep, tough, physical, athletic, and has pretty good size for a 1A team, and if they’re able to beat A-P here, they’ll add another significant bulletpoint to their resume for the 1A rankings committee to consider when they meet for the first time a week from Friday.
4A #9 Waukee (5-1) at 4A #5 Centennial (4-1)
Following a loss to Dowling Catholic, Centennial has been playing really good ball, winning three straight by an average of 19 points a game, including a win over then-#1 Valley. Senior guard Luke Winkel Luke Winkel 6'1" | PG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA (22.8, 5.2 assists) has been sensational this season, ranking among the leaders in 4A in scoring and assists, and he has been remarkably efficient as well, posting shooting splits of 51-46-74. Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'4" | PF Centennial | 2024 State IA (10.4, 9.6 rebounds) is a tough, physical forward who has done a great job controlling the glass, and Nick Vaske Nick Vaske 6'3" | SG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA (9.2), Connor Welsch Connor Welsch 6'2" | SF Centennial | 2024 State IA (8.8), and Joey Oakie (6.0) provide some additional perimeter scoring.
Waukee has been a bit of a surprising team to start the year, with their lone loss coming by two to Linn-Mar. After losing a ton of talent from last year’s semifinal team, the Warriors were expected to take a bit of a step back this season, but they’ve pretty much picked up right where they left off. Senior wing Mason Costello Mason Costello 6'3" | SG Waukee | 2024 State IA (19.5) has stepped into the primary scoring role for Waukee, filling it up efficiently from all three levels while serving as one of the best playmakers on the roster as well. Sophomore forward Evan Jacobson Evan Jacobson 6'7" | C Waukee | 2026 State IA (12.7, 9.7 rebounds) is a mobile big with great hands, soft touch, and the ability to stretch the floor, and Jaden Rogers Jaden Rogers 6'4" | SF Waukee | 2024 State IA (11.2) and Deion Kinnetz-Jenkins Deion Kinnetz-Jenkins 6'0" | PG Waukee | 2024 State IA (10.2) give them some quickness and athleticism on the perimeter, especially on the defensive end. Owen Schipper Owen Schipper 6'6" | PF Waukee | 2024 State IA (7.0, 8.8 rebounds) has also given them really strong minutes on both ends of the floor, giving them some more size and length in the paint. This is a team that has the athletic perimeter defenders to throw at Winkel, and it should be a fascinating matchup to watch.
Council Bluffs Jefferson (5-1) at Council Bluffs Lincoln (4-0)
I’m fairly confident that this is the first time that I’ve written about Council Bluffs Jefferson in a “top games” article, and it’s a testament to the fantastic start they’re off to. The Yellow Jackets’ five wins equal the amount they had in the previous three seasons combined, and this is a program that hasn’t won more than eight games since the 2009-10 season. They’ve been led by a trio of seniors in Jayden Calabro Jayden Calabro 5'9" | PG Council Bluffs Jefferson | 2024 State IA (18.6), Jordan Dewaele Jordan Dewaele 6'6" | PF Council Bluffs Jefferson | 2024 State IA (16.0, 8.0 rebounds), and Devin Davis-Conti (13.0), giving them three big-time scoring threats who can each fill it up and are also skilled passers. Calabro is making his first trip back to CBAL after his transfer, so this one will be interesting.
The Lynx have won 22 straight meetings in this rivalry, the last 21 coming by double digits. They’re averaging nearly 75 points a game early this season, behind a deep attack of scoring threats. Senior wing Cole Arnold Cole Arnold 6'3" | SF Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2024 State IA (19.3) has been scorching hot to start this year, with shooting splits of 52-48-87, while junior forward Creighton Bracker Creighton Bracker 6'6" | PF Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2025 State IA (13.8, 10.0 rebounds) could be a matchup problem for CBTJ here. Bracker is a tough, physical forward who dominates the glass on both ends of the floor, but he also has a little finesse to his game, showing the ability to step out and stretch the floor. Etienne Higgins Etienne Higgins 6'3" | SG Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2025 State IA (12.8) gives them an athletic wing scorer, and sophomore guard Easton Klement Easton Klement 5'11" | PG Council Bluffs Lincoln | 2026 State IA (8.3, 3.3 assists) has been really good alongside Will Costello (3.0, 5.3 assists) in the backcourt, giving them a pair of reliable ball-handlers and playmakers.
Pleasant Valley (2-1) at 4A #3 North Scott (4-0)
These teams played a pair of 59-56 games last season, both won by Pleasant Valley. The Spartans entered the season with high expectations, but a blowout loss to Bettendorf was a bit of an eyebrow-raiser, particularly in the way they got dominated on the glass in that game (31-19). Always a tough, disciplined, physical team on both ends of the floor, it appears as though they were beat at their own game in that one. They beat Davenport West by just two last time out and are heading into this one with some real questions to answer. They’re led by senior guards Caden Rubel Caden Rubel 6'0" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (11.5) and Coy Kipper Coy Kipper 5'8" | PG Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (10.5, 4.5 assists), a pair of veteran guards who can facilitate and score. Max Muszalski Max Muszalski 6'5" | PF Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (8.5, 7.0 rebounds), Max Schmeltzer Max Schmeltzer 6'4" | PF Pleasant Valley | 2025 State IA (6.5, 4.5 rebounds), and David Gorsline David Gorsline 6'2" | SG Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (3.5, 4.0 rebounds) will need to hold down the glass against an athletic Lancers team.
North Scott is off to a really nice 4-0 start that includes a high quality win over Assumption. Jamarion Readus Jamarion Readus 6'3" | SG North Scott | 2024 State IA (15.0) leads the team in scoring and assists, a quick guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams with his handles and speed. Josiah Harrington Josiah Harrington 6'4" | SG North Scott | 2027 State IA (13.3, 63.6 3P%) may be the best freshman in the state, a flamethrowing 6-4 wing who plays like a senior, and Kavon Phillips Kavon Phillips 6'7" | SF North Scott | 2024 State IA (11.7, 8.3 rebounds), Kyler Gerardy Kyler Gerardy 6'0" | PG North Scott | 2024 State IA (8.0), and Brennan Reid Brennan Reid 6'7" | SF North Scott | 2024 State IA (7.7, 7.0 rebounds) are all seniors with a ton of experience playing together. It certainly wouldn’t be a shock if PV is able to start righting the ship and is able to go into The Pit and come away with a win, getting right back into the MAC and 4A conversation, but it’s a tall task with the athleticism and talent that North Scott is putting on the floor this season.
Other notable games
Keota (7-0) at 1A #4 Lynnville-Sully (6-0)
4A #4 Cedar Falls (2-1) at 3A #8 Xavier (4-1)
Omaha, Skutt Catholic (NE) vs. Grand View Christian (2-2) (game played at Tyson Event Center, Sioux City)
3A #5 Carroll (5-0) at Ballard (3-2)
Earlham (5-0) at Van Meter (4-1)
2A #6 West Lyon (6-0) at Boyden-Hull (2-3)
North Fayette Valley (6-1) at MFL MarMac (3-2)