Substate Preview: 4A-6

<!-- wp:image {"id":2348305,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-6.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-6.png?w=611" alt="" class="wp-image-2348305" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Cedar Falls</strong> has been really, really good this season and without a doubt earned that #1 seed. The Tigers have lost three times - to Kennedy, Iowa City West, and Assumption - by a combined 12 points, so this is a team who is truly just a few possessions in each game away from being unbeaten. Since the holiday break, they've hit another gear, as they battled injuries during the first part of the season to some of their standout players. Since the hiatus, they've gone 14-2 with an average point differential of +24.1. This is a balanced offensive team that is led by sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765553' first='William' last='Gerdes'] (12.1, 70.9 FG%), one of the top 2026s in the state. A lanky 6-8 forward with good footwork, soft touch, and several good moves on the block, Gerdes has been really good on both ends of the floor. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1199979' first='Anthony' last='Galvin'] (11.9, 38.3 3P%) is the team's most dangerous 3-point shooter, while [player_tooltip player_id='1171693' first='Cade' last='Courbat'] (10.5, 1.6 blocks) is a bouncy forward who can defend multiple positions and protect the rim. Nebraska offensive line recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1376677' first='Jake' last='Peters'] (9.4, 60.3 FG%) gives them some more size and strength in the paint, and they have several guards who also contribute in Logan Wroe (6.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1440273' first='Aiden' last='Heth'] (5.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1759953' first='Keegan' last='Steege'] (5.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1381423' first='Jordan' last='Townsend'] (4.7), [player_tooltip player_id='1777914' first='Jaydon' last='Kimbrough'] (4.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1765549' first='Leyton' last='Wolf'] (3.1). Simply put, this team very comfortably goes deep into their bench and has a wealth of options that they can use to play just about any style.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Most people around the state weren't quite sure what to expect from <strong>Waukee Northwest</strong> this season after the Wolves lost four starters to graduation off of a team that played for the state title. They got off to a slow start, going just 4-6 in their first 10 games as they tried to gel and find their groove, but they've taken off since. In their last 12 games of the year, they've gone 10-2 with a +14.3 point differential, a stretch that includes wins over Valley, Grand View Christian, Ankeny, Dallas Center-Grimes, Johnston, and Dowling Catholic. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376673' first='Grant' last='Tigges'] (14.3, 51.3 FG%), the lone returning starter, has led the team in scoring all year. He's playing a bit closer to the rim this season than he did as a sharpshooting off-ball guard last year, but he's still a weapon from deep who can stretch the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1288864' first='Luke' last='Hart'] (9.8, 4.0 assists) played sparingly last season as he battled Type 1 Diabetes, but he has been great in the starting lineup for the Wolves, giving them another shooter (39.1 3P%) and shot creator. [player_tooltip player_id='1951798' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] (6.9, 36.8 3P%) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2124066' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] (6.0, 42.4 3P%) provide some more shooting, while [player_tooltip player_id='2325550' first='Sandro' last='Bilic'] (6.0) comes off the bench to provide scoring from all three levels, posting 52-39-100 shooting splits. The real difference maker for this group, however, has been sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'] (6.6, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 blocks), who has been one of the best rim protectors in the state this season. He's a versatile 6-8 forward who can do a little bit of everything offensively, but it has been his defense that has turned the tables for this group. They'll get a test from Dowling in the semifinals, but those teams split this season, each winning on their home floor (Northwest 81-61 on February 6), and they'll get the rubber match at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Few teams in the state have posted the high-quality wins that <strong>Dowling Catholic</strong> has this season. The Maroons have wins over Centennial (twice), Waukee Northwest, Waukee, and Norwalk, and have played Valley very tough twice. This is not your typical #3 seed in a substate, this is a good, tough basketball team that is capable of beating anyone on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='1476967' first='Ridik' last='Meton'] (14.0) leads the team in scoring and he has the ability to do so from all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id='1378073' first='Joey' last='Coppola'] (13.0, 3.8 assists) is the team's top playmaker, a quick, smart guard who can put the ball on the floor and attack or knock down shots off both the dribble and the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='2325331' first='Joe' last='Broderick'] (11.7, 11.0 rebounds) has returned after missing last season with a knee injury and he has given the Maroons some toughness in the paint as well as a big body who can stretch the floor, opening up some space for Coppola, Meton, and [player_tooltip player_id='1171671' first='Ryan' last='Kleppe'] (9.8) to attack off the dribble. This is a tough, physical, athletic team that isn't going to back down from anyone. They know they can play with anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765553' first='William' last='Gerdes'], Cedar Falls<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1199979' first='Anthony' last='Galvin'], Cedar Falls<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171693' first='Cade' last='Courbat'], Cedar Falls<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376677' first='Jake' last='Peters'], Cedar Falls<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376673' first='Grant' last='Tigges'], Waukee Northwest<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288864' first='Luke' last='Hart'], Waukee Northwest<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'], Waukee Northwest<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2124066' first='Mack' last='Heitland'], Waukee Northwest<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476967' first='Ridik' last='Meton'], Dowling Catholic<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1378073' first='Joey' last='Coppola'], Dowling Catholic<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325331' first='Joe' last='Broderick'], Dowling Catholic<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171671' first='Ryan' last='Kleppe'], Dowling Catholic<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951797' first='Trae' last='Brown'], Ottumwa<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325471' first='Rahsha' last='Pope'], Ottumwa<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1738961' first='AJ' last='Wright'], City<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381427' first='Trey' last='Wright'], City<br>2024 Jamal Taylor, Des Moines East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Falls vs. Waukee Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These have been two of the best teams in the state over the last two months, and both are probably deserving state tournament teams. Does Northwest have the firepower to keep pace with Cedar Falls and their incredible depth of scorers? There is no doubt that top-to-bottom the CIML was a far superior league to the MVC this season, but we're going to side with the MVC team here, <strong>Cedar Falls</strong>, in what may be the best substate final in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->