Substate Preview: 4A-7

<!-- wp:image {"id":2348306,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-7.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-7.png?w=608" alt="" class="wp-image-2348306" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>Like their crosstown rivals Northwest, nobody quite knew what to expect from <strong>Waukee </strong>this season after losing four starters from a state semifinalist. But the Warriors have shown just how deep and strong this program is this season, grabbing a #1 seed and posting a ton of high quality wins this season. Their resume includes wins over Ankeny (twice), Northwest (twice), Dowling Catholic, Centennial (twice), Johnston, and Valley. [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'] (17.9), the lone returning starter, has been fantastic for the Warriors, leading the team in scoring, serving as a high-level playmaker, and he's been pretty solid defensively as well. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] (13.2, 9.7 rebounds) is one of the best 2026s in the state, a 6-8/6-9 mobile big man who can switch, protect the rim, and finish at the bucket effectively. [player_tooltip player_id='1476969' first='Owen' last='Schipper'] (9.5, 7.0 rebounds) has been really good on the glass and can stretch the floor, and the Warriors are able to put four really athletic playmakers and defenders on the wing in [player_tooltip player_id='1476990' first='Jaden' last='Rogers'] (8.4), [player_tooltip player_id='1476941' first='Deion' last='Kinnetz-Jenkins'] (7.9), JaiShon White (6.2), and [player_tooltip player_id='1171657' first='Keysean' last='Moore'] (3.5). A deep, athletic team with some size and length to throw at opposing teams, and a player who can take over a game offensively in Costello, Waukee is going to be tough to beat in this substate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Dallas Center-Grimes</strong> is 13-1 since the holiday break, with their lone loss coming to a really good Waukee Northwest team. There may be some who question the Mustangs, given that they play in the Little Hawkeye Conference, a largely 3A league, but they've beaten Ankeny and Ames this season, and had very competitive losses against Johnston and Northwest. A veteran team led by five seniors and a junior, this is a really well built, balanced team with a number of players who complement each other well. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476975' first='Jackson' last='Green'] (16.2, 41.4 3P%) has been fantastic as a three-level scorer, efficiently filling it up with his ability to shoot off the dribble and the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (15.9, 8.1 rebounds, 64.5 FG%) is a bouncy 6-6/6-7 forward who can protect the rim and finish above it with authority, while [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (12.6, 3.0 assists) is a versatile scorer who can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end. Those are the three stars, but three others - [player_tooltip player_id='2377294' first='Brogan' last='Fuller'] (6.5, 58.0 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (6.1, 4.3 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='1178729' first='Jaden' last='Jones'] (5.5, 4.9 assists) - fill their roles very well and are able to get good looks for their teammates and score themselves when the opportunity presents itself. Few teams in the state are playing as well as DCG is at this point, and they're going to be really tough to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Council Bluffs Lincoln</strong> was dealt a blow with the injury to [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'] (14.7, 10.6 rebounds), their top big man and rebounder, who has missed the last five games of the season for the Lynx. Without him, they don't have a ton of traditional size, and they'll need to make a concerted effort to rebound on both ends of the floor. That said, they do still have two big scorers in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1376689' first='Cole' last='Arnold'] (21.1, 41.7 3P%) and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759908' first='Etienne' last='Higgins'] (12.0, 40.0 3P%), and if that tandem, which has made 104 3-pointers this season combined, is knocking down shots, they can still be very dangerous here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'], Waukee<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'], Waukee<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476969' first='Owen' last='Schipper'], Waukee<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476990' first='Jaden' last='Rogers'], Waukee<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476975' first='Jackson' last='Green'], Dallas Center-Grimes<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'], Dallas Center-Grimes<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'], Dallas Center-Grimes<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376689' first='Cole' last='Arnold'], Council Bluffs Lincoln<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'], Council Bluffs Lincoln<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759908' first='Etienne' last='Higgins'], Council Bluffs Lincoln<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288891' first='Bode' last='Goodman'], Southeast Polk<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476966' first='Jaxen' last='Barton'], Southeast Polk<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413554' first='Kyle' last='Smith'], Marshalltown<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751107' first='Treshaun' last='Brooks'], Marshalltown<br>2024 Shamar Harrell, Sioux City West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukee vs. Dallas Center-Grimes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dallas Center-Grimes is certainly not going to be an easy out here, an athletic team filled with great players who complement each other well. That said, Waukee has shown throughout the course of the season that they can beat just about anyone. Cahill is an advantage against most teams for DCG, but with Jacobson and Schipper controlling the paint for the Warriors, his presence is offset a bit. [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'] is the best player on the floor, and <strong>Waukee</strong> heads back to the state tournament in a really fun game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->