Saturday Games to Watch

3A #5 Decorah (15-1) at Cascade (11-4)   Decorah has picked up a few high-level non-conference games, including this one, to help prepare them for postseason play coming up in a few weeks. In addition to this game, they'll play a neutral site game in Des Moines on Monday afternoon against Winterset. The high-powered Vikings lead 3A in scoring at 77.7 points a game, spurred by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1256304' first='Ben' last='Bockman'] (20.4), one of the most efficient scorers in the state. A 6-4/6-5 wing with a quick release on his jumper, Bockman is posting 55-52-70 shooting splits and has shown improvement as a passer and playmaker. The talented backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1171655' first='Treyton' last='McCain'] (10.8, 8.1 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1381408' first='Zach' last='Driscoll'] (10.9, 4.8 assists) gives them a pair of dynamic playmakers in the backcourt, each of whom are also capable of having explosive scoring nights. [player_tooltip player_id='1751170' first='Matthew' last='Bockman'] (9.8) provides scoring and playmaking off the bench, and sophomore big man Cael LaFrentz (15.8, 11.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) has been a revelation this season, emerging as a dominant interior presence on both ends of the floor.   Cascade will counter with an electric one-two punch of their own in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (22.0, 41.2 3P%) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1978108' first='Mick' last='Hoffman'] (15.5, 47.4 3P%), a pair of big-time scorers who are each capable of taking over a game in the blink of an eye. Against the bigger Vikings, [player_tooltip player_id='1405102' first='Nathan' last='Schockemoehl'] (8.7, 8.5 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398021' first='Will' last='Keeney'] (6.7) will be asked to hold down the painted area and compete on the glass. The Cougars can score in bunches, but it may behoove them to try and slow this one down a little bit, as few teams are capable of running with Decorah for 32 minutes.   1A #4 Winfield-Mt. Union (15-1) vs. 2A #10 West Burlington (15-0) [at Southeastern Community College]   These teams had their regular-season game a few weeks ago postponed because of the weather, but they're making up for it here, during the SEISC Shootout, pitting the top team in the North Division (Winfield-Mt. Union) against the top team in the South (West Burlington) against each other in a ranked-on-ranked matchup. Winfield-Mt. Union has been rolling along this season, with their lone loss coming to Illini Bluffs (IL), the #2 team in Illinois' Class 1A, and that loss came without star forward [player_tooltip player_id='1171697' first='Cam' last='Buffington'] (18.2, 4.6 assists) in the lineup, as he was recovering from a football injury. Buffington, headed to Iowa to play football, has been fantastic this season for the Wolves. He scores around the rim, pounds the glass, and has emerged as a reliable playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='1171698' first='Abram' last='Edwards'] (15.3, 11.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) is enjoying his best season as well, shooting 63% from the floor and using his size, length, and athleticism to impact the game on both ends. Like Buffington, Edwards will play college football, heading off to Army West Point next season. [player_tooltip player_id='1381409' first='Jake' last='Edwards'] (10.9, 41.2 3P%) and Carter Loyd (10.0) have been solid contributors as well this season for WMU.   West Burlington counters with a dynamic tandem of guards in junior [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (19.9, 50.0 FG%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'] (16.9, 50.6 FG%), a pair that is extremely difficult to slow down. Both are capable of playing with or without the ball in their hands, scoring from all three levels, and creating chaos on the defensive end with their quickness. [player_tooltip player_id='2397997' first='Quincy' last='Collins'] (14.7, 7.8 rebounds) is another quick, athletic guard who can put pressure on opposing teams with his speed and athleticism. This is an interesting contrast in styles, with the speed of West Burlington running into the size, strength, and physicality of Winfield-Mt. Union.   2A #3 Hudson (16-1) at Aplington-Parkersburg (11-4)   Back on December 8, Hudson snapped a 6-game losing streak to the Falcons, picking up a 78-64 win behind 19 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] and 15 points and 17 rebounds from [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis']. The Pirates' lone loss this season has come against 3A power Decorah, and they're the only team in Class 2A to rank within the top 5 in both scoring offense (2nd, 75.1) and defense (5th, 44.7). Simply, they've been truly dominant. Davis (21.0, 10.8 rebounds) is the team's leader, but this is a veteran team filled with scoring threats. Ugrin (14.4, 46.8 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'] (9.6, 48.1 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (9.5, 5.8 assists), and Kiean Crile (7.4) have tremendous chemistry playing together, and they all complement each other well. Davis is largely an interior threat, using his bounce, length, and talent to finish around the bucket with ease, while the other four are more perimeter-oriented players who can each handle it, shoot it, and pass it.   Perennial power Aplington-Parkersburg had to deal with the injury to [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (17.9, 45.3 3P%) for a little over a month, missing six games (would've been more if not for the weather), but he's back in the lineup now and has pretty much picked up right where he left off. A skilled three-level scorer who can fill it up in bunches, he's extremely efficient, and he's a threat to drop 30+ (as he did in the first meeting) on any given night. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (16.8, 39.2 3P%) has been fantastic this season, and [player_tooltip player_id='2325268' first='Nick' last='Neuroth'] (10.2, 4.2 assists) is a talented lead guard who gets his teammates involved at a high clip. In total, seven players average at least 5.6 points a game for the Falcons, who love to get up and down.   2A #2 Western Christian (16-1) vs. 4A #4 Sioux City East (16-2) [at Sanford Pentagon]   These two perennial western Iowa powers met five times in six years back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but haven't faced off since 2011, so it's good to see them facing off again. This game will be played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the famous Sanford Pentagon. Western Christian has been rolling since a December 16 loss to South Dakota power Dakota Valley, rattling off 10 straight wins heading into this one, including some high-quality wins against out-of-state competition. The Wolfpack are led by a pair of skilled juniors in combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (20.6, 51.9 FG%) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (13.5, 40.6 3P%), giving them a pair of explosive scorers who can fill it up from all three levels. They have a number of good role players alongside that tandem and will always play a tough, disciplined, and efficient style of basketball.   Sioux City East's last loss came on the same day as Western Christian's a setback at the hands of Waukee Northwest. The Black Raiders have gone on a 10-game winning streak since that loss (current as of writing on Friday afternoon; they play Council Bluffs Lincoln Friday evening), riding an explosive, up-tempo offensive attack and swarming defense. They're averaging 76 points a game and have been extremely efficient, shooting over 52% from the floor as a team. [player_tooltip player_id='1437607' first='Fitzgerald' last='Grant'] (15.7, 67.1 FG%), an athletic, slashing guard who can create plays off the dribble for himself and his teammates, is the team's leading scorer, but this is a long, deep, and athletic team that comes at you in waves. Twin sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1765550' first='Bilal' last='Yusuf'] (12.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765551' first='Naef' last='Yusuf'] (7.3) utilize their length and athleticism to their advantage on both ends of the floor, and junior forward Manasse Kasongo-Malu (10.8, 8.7 rebounds) has been a dominant force in the paint on both ends. I would expect to see Western Christian try to pack it in the paint and force East to beat them from the perimeter, the one potential "weakness" of the offensive attack, but the overwhelming size and athleticism of the Black Raiders may be too much for Western to handle.   Other games to watch Council Bluffs Lincoln (12-4) at Heelan (11-5) Van Meter (10-7) at 2A #7 Pella Christian (13-4) Grand View Christian (9-8) at Charles City (9-7) 1A #7 Lynnville-Sully (18-1) at Baxter (13-3) WACO (13-4) vs. Holy Trinity Catholic (14-4) [Game played at Southeastern Community College] Ames (9-5) at Dowling Catholic (8-8) Bellevue (9-6) at 2A #5 Monticello (15-1)

3A #5 Decorah (15-1) at Cascade (11-4)