Friday Games to Watch

2A #9 Alburnett (2-1) at 1A #1 North Linn (4-0)   The Lynx have won the last 14 meetings in this series, but Alburnett does usually give them a pretty good game, so this one should be interesting. The Pirates come into this one off of a one-point loss to Maquoketa Valley and will be looking to rebound, but heading to Troy Mills to play against the vaunted Lynx pressure is no easy task, especially for a team that has struggled at times to take care of the ball early this season. Alburnett is led by a pair of seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1751109' first='Braydon' last='Osborn'] (14.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='1751108' first='Jordan' last='Caton'] (11.3), neither of whom is shooting it from deep the way they are capable of quite yet this season. They'll need to get big games out of both of them if they want to keep pace here.   The Lynx are a juggernaut and they haven't slowed down this season, winning their first four games by an average score of 89-28. They are averaging 19 steals a game, and force a number of dead-ball turnovers as well with their constant pressure and the overwhelming speed they put on the floor. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (22.5, 9.0 rebounds) is off to a great start, stepping into more of a role that Tate Haughenbury played, finishing around the rim, controlling the glass, and protecting the paint. Pflughaupt is also a dangerous shooter, but hasn't been asked to stretch the floor much yet this season. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (21.0, 7.3 assists) may be the most dynamic player in 1A basketball, while [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'] (9.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] (8.5), and Jake Van Etten (7.3) have provided the Lynx with high quality minutes on both ends of the floor as well. This is a team that can comfortably go eight deep, and they are conditioned to play the type of up-tempo game that few small-school teams can keep up with.   2A #10 Aplington-Parkersburg (4-0) at 2A #4 Hudson (4-0)   Expect to see plenty of points in this one, as these teams played 81-75 and 79-71 games last season, both won by Aplington-Parkersburg. Both teams like to get up-and-down and are filled with dynamic scoring threats. A-P is led by their electric backcourt - seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (18.8, 4.5 assists, 48.0 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325268' first='Nick' last='Neuroth'] (11.5, 4.3 assists, 4.3 steals), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (14.3, 52.2 3P%). The Falcons are shooting over 40% from the 3-point line as a team and they love to play aggressive on the defensive end, averaging 14.5 steals a game. In addition to those three double-figure scorers, four others average between 4.0 and 8.0 points a game, giving them a number of scoring threats and plenty of depth.   Hudson has been dominant in their first four games, winning by an average of 32 points a game. The Pirates have three double-figure scorers of their own in [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (21.8, 9.8 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (10.3), and Kiean Crile (10.0, 44.4 3P%), with five others averaging between 3.5 and 7.8 points a game. Davis is a skilled 6-4/6-5 wing who can create shots for himself, dominate the glass, and defend multiple positions, while Ugrin, Crile, and [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'] are all viable perimeter scoring threats. [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (7.3, 5.8 assists) is the straw that stirs the drink for this group, and this is a team that will be hungry to taste some success against the Falcons, having dropped the last six meetings in the series. This one likely comes down to how successful Davis can be against a smaller A-P team.   4A #9 Linn-Mar (2-0) at 3A #10 Xavier (3-0)   A fun rivalry game in the MVC featuring a pair of young, talented teams that are off to great starts - one expected, one a little unexpected. Linn-Mar's 2-0 start isn't necessarily a surprise, but they have played a tricky schedule early on, going on the road to beat both Bettendorf and Waukee. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381412' first='Davis' last='Kern'] (20.5, 3.0 blocks) has been sensational early on, shooting 76% from the floor, 5-8 from 3, and protecting the paint at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id='1514455' first='Mason' last='Matson'] (12.5, 3.0 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1587751' first='Owen' last='Havlik'] (9.0, 4.5 assists) have been really solid in the backcourt, while [player_tooltip player_id='1484413' first='Payson' last='Nietert'] (7.5, 8.5 rebounds) is struggling early as a shooter but finding other ways to impact the game. Does Xavier have an answer for Kern?   After losing a lot of production to either graduation or transfer, Xavier was expected to take a bit of a step back this season, but they've been really good so far, racking up wins over Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock, and Mount Pleasant. Senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Tyler' last='Netolicky'] (16.3, 9.3 rebounds) has been really good in the paint despite facing constant junk defense looks, while [player_tooltip player_id='2325576' first='Dominic' last='D'Amico'] (11.0), a fellow senior, has been the team's best perimeter shooter so far. Long-term, their best shooter figures to be sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (10.0), a solid all-around guard who can do a bit of everything. He has struggled with his shot so far, but is the type of pure shooter who can have a breakout 7-10 3P game at any point in time. The Saints' backcourt of Murray, [player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] (8.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='2204878' first='Kaleb' last='Wilgenbusch'] (7.0) is young (Murray, Pino sophomores; Wilgenbush a junior) and fairly inexperienced, and in this rivalry game, they'll need to remain poised and composed.   Kee (4-0) at North Fayette Valley (4-0)   This is an interesting game because it'll give us a better idea of just how good this Kee team could be this season. The Hawks were just 7-15 last season but brought back a lot of production from that team and have opened the year by winning their first four games, including an impressive win over MFL MarMac. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'] (19.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (18.8, 5.5 assists) have been fantastic to open the year, scoring efficiently from all three levels and getting their teammates involved at a high clip.   On the other side of the floor, junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1951832' first='Cael' last='Reichter'] (28.0, 14.3 rebounds) has been one of the most dominant players in the state early this season. An athletic and versatile 6-6 big man, he runs the floor well, is a dominant rebounder, capable passer, fantastic finisher, and a dominant rim protector. Kee will have a very difficult time matching up with him, and it will be interesting to see if they just let Reichter "get his" and try to take away the rest of the TigerHawks scoring options.   2A #7 Monticello (3-0) at 1A #10 Bellevue (5-0)   Monticello had won 17 straight meetings in this series before the Comets swept them last season, perhaps an indication that this could become a real rivalry. The Panthers are led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1171677' first='Preston' last='Ries'] (28.0, 12.0 rebounds), who has been absolutely dominant so far this season, shooting 50% from the floor and getting to the free-throw line at a high clip. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765541' first='Conley' last='Schauf'] (14.0) has emerged as a reliable secondary scorer on the perimeter, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (12.7) is a versatile all-around player who can defend multiple positions, create looks for his teammates, and score on his own.   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1751111' first='Hunter' last='Putman'] (17.5) leads Bellevue, but he's joined by a trio of talented sophomores will will make life difficult for opposing RVC teams for the next three years in [player_tooltip player_id='2413487' first='Spencer' last='Abbott'] (15.5), [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (11.8, 5.3 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2413480' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (10.8, 7.5 rebounds). Casel is a talented lead guard who puts his teammates in great positions to succeed, while Putman is a dynamic three-level scorer. Abbott, DeShaw, and senior Dalton Clasen (6.5, 9.5 rebounds) will have their hands full trying to keep Ries out of the paint and off the glass in this one, but a Bellevue win here would put the rest of the state on notice that this team is for real.   Other notable games 2A #1 Pella Christian (3-0) at Norwalk (2-1) Bettendorf (1-1) at 4A #3 Pleasant Valley (1-0) 1A #5 Marquette Catholic (4-0) at Prince of Peace (2-1) Waterloo West (1-0) at 4A #7 Cedar Falls (1-0) 4A #1 Valley (3-0) at Centennial (2-1) Ames (2-1) at Ankeny (2-1) West Lyon (4-0) at 3A #8 MOC-Floyd Valley (4-0) Bondurant-Farrar (1-1) at ADM (2-1) Waukee (3-1) at 4A #6 Dowling Catholic (2-2) Woodward-Granger (3-1) at 1A #3 Madrid (4-0) 1A #4 Lynnville-Sully (4-0) at North Mahaska (3-1)

2A #9 Alburnett (2-1) at 1A #1 North Linn (4-0)