Substate Preview: 4A-1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2348290,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/4A-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/4A-1.png?w=613" alt="" class="wp-image-2348290" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> One of the most tradition-rich programs in the state, <strong>Sioux City East </strong>hasn't made the state tournament since 2019, but the Black Raiders have to be considered the favorite here to get back to Des Moines, entering the postseason on a 14-game winning streak behind an explosive offensive attack that averages 76.9 points a game. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1437607' first='Fitzgerald' last='Grant'] (15.2, 65.8 FG%) leads the team in scoring and steals, and has been remarkably efficient, getting to the rim whenever he wants off the dribble. Sophomore twins [player_tooltip player_id='1765550' first='Bilal' last='Yusuf'] (11.7, 52.8 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765551' first='Naef' last='Yusuf'] (7.9) are explosive athletes with great length on the perimeter, and junior forward Manasse Kasongo-Malu (10.1, 8.5 rebounds) gives them an athletic rim protector and rim-runner in the paint. Senior guard AJ Flemister (7.4, 3.3 assists) gives them a veteran presence in the backcourt, and he does a great job protecting the ball, posting a 2.69 assist-to-turnover ratio. East is often questioned because, frankly, many of the large schools playing in western Iowa haven't been very good of late, but they came over to Waukee and beat the Warriors by 15 on January 27, proving that they can compete with the big boys of the CIML. This is the team to beat in this substate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Under new coach Courtney Henderson, <strong>Johnston</strong> has had a bit of an up-and-down year, but this is a team with as much talent as any in this substate. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'] (14.9, 3.4 assists), a transfer from Des Moines Lincoln, is having his most efficient season, posting 49-42-91 shooting splits and showing command of the offensive attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1381420' first='Jalen' last='Richardson'] (10.2, 6.0 rebounds) is a versatile wing defender who can shut down opposing team's best players, and he's also a dynamic three-level scorer who can take over a game on the offensive end as a scorer or playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'] (8.6), a Marshalltown transfer, is a freak athlete as a combo forward, and young guards [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] (7.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='1592892' first='Prestige' last='Taylor'] (5.4) give the Dragons some additional playmaking and ball-handling in the backcourt. This team is quick, athletic, and plays great defense. If they are able to turn a substate final against East into more of a halfcourt battle, and limit transition opportunities for the up-tempo Black Raiders, they have a real chance to come out of this substate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Ames</strong> is once again one of the best defensive teams in the state, and that always makes them a dangerous team in a postseason setting. The Little Cyclones rank 2nd in the class in scoring defense, allowing just 42.1 points per game, and they've held an opponent to less than 40 points 11 times this season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476938' first='Jack' last='Wynter'] (15.0, 38.8 3P%) is the team's headliner on the offensive end. He's a skilled sharpshooter with a pure lefty stroke who has improved his ability to create off the dribble over the last few years. [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (12.1, 3.8 assists) is small, but he's tough, physical, and cat quick, and he's able to get to the rim as well as defend at a high level on the ball, and Hoover transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'] (8.4) gives them some more perimeter scoring and playmaking. The real difference maker for this group on the defensive end is sophomore big [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (4.8, 2.5 blocks), a long, athletic 6-8 forward with great timing and instincts as a shot blocker. He covers a ton of ground and is able to erase mistakes around the rim. Postseason games tend to be played a little slower, and Ames is very comfortable playing at a more deliberate pace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1437607' first='Fitzgerald' last='Grant'], Sioux City East<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765550' first='Bilal' last='Yusuf'], Sioux City East<br>2025 Manasse Kasongo-Malu, Sioux City East<br>2024 AJ Flemister, Sioux City East<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765551' first='Naef' last='Yusuf'], Sioux City East<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'], Johnston<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381420' first='Jalen' last='Richardson'], Johnston<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'], Johnston<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476938' first='Jack' last='Wynter'], Ames<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'], Ames<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'], Ames<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'], Ames<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874789' first='Wisdom' last='Fode'], Des Moines North<br>2025 Da'corion White, Des Moines North<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765514' first='Noah' last='Conley'], Sioux City North<br>2026 Kal Chamberlain, Sioux City North<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1238369' first='Zach' last='Hesse'], Sioux City North<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2204885' first='Marcele' last='Whitner'], Mason City<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731853' first='Ty' last='Sanchez-Evans'], Mason City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux City East vs. Johnston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team that prefers to play up-tempo against a team that would love to grind this one to a halt, this would be a very interesting substate final to watch. While Johnston has been really good defensively, they have struggled at times to score, and even if they are able to dictate the tempo, I'm not sure they have the firepower to keep pace with Sioux City East here. After a four-year absence, Ras Vanderloo and the <strong>Sioux City East Black Raiders</strong> are headed back to the state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->