Class 4A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: Kennedy (23-0)<br></span>About the Cougars: </strong>The Cougars have been absolutely dominant this season, entering the tournament undefeated and with the #1 scoring offense and defense in the state. They're putting up 77.7 points a game, allowing just 42.0, and have had just two games decided by single digits this season. They survived a serious scare from North Scott in the substate final, winning 57-55, and will be looking to make some noise in Des Moines after being upset in the quarterfinals last year. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381415' first='Trey' last='McKowen'] (13.5, 4.1 assists, 2.6 steals, 40.2 3P%) leads a very balanced offensive attack that features five players averaging at least 8.8 points a game, and another five averaging between 3.4 and 5.3 a night. While the rotation will almost certainly tighten up a bit in the tournament, the Cougars can go deep with a number of different looks that they can throw at teams. [player_tooltip player_id='1171667' first='Joseph' last='Bean'] (12.9, 39.8 3P%), a Xavier transfer, has given them a steady presence in the backcourt after playing for the 3A championship with the Saints last year, and [player_tooltip player_id='1171679' first='Micah' last='Schlaak'] (10.7, 41.0 3P%) is a versatile 6-6/6-7 forward who can score inside and out as well as protect the paint defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='1288851' first='Trevan' last='Krumrei'] (10.2, 45.2 3P%) is a long wing shooter, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325410' first='Griffin' last='Gerdes'] (5.3) has been extremely reliable off the bench as a two-way guard who limits mistakes, plays good defense, and knocks down his open looks. That's a lot of talent, but the most important player on the roster is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171687' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'] (8.8, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.0 steals). A hyper-athletic 6-2 guard who can guard one through five, create off the dribble, and score in the mid-range. His versatility really makes Kennedy go on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Jon McKowen is one of the best defensive coaches in the state, and he'll always have a good game plan drawn up. The Cougars can throw a ton of different defensive looks at you, and with their great balance and depth on the offensive end, they have a better chance to overcome an off night from a player than they did last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: Valley (18-5)<br></span>About the Tigers: </strong>The defending champions are back for more after an up-and-down year that has featured injuries to their two best players - [player_tooltip player_id='1381422' first='Curtis' last='Stinson Jr'] (19.8, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] (15.8, 3.1 assists). Robinson missed the pre-holiday break portion of the schedule recovering from a shoulder injury, and shortly after he returned, Stinson missed a few weeks with a leg injury. Then Robinson turned his ankle in the substate final, and his health is a bit of a question heading into the week. If Stinson and Robinson are both healthy, this is still the best team in the state. Those two are dynamic playmakers with the ball in their hands who are capable of taking over the game on either end of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'] (10.5) is a long, athletic wing defender, as is Des Moines North transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] (10.5), while [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak'] (10.0, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) protects the rim and finishes at the bucket and [player_tooltip player_id='1759897' first='Kyle' last='Cason'] (9.5, 34.3 3P%) is the glue guy who does a bit of everything. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They proved last year, largely with the same roster, that once the bright lights hit, they hit another level. This is the most talented team in the state, and if they're healthy, they're probably the team to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: Cedar Falls (20-3)<br></span>About the Tigers:</strong> Cedar Falls has lost three games this season by a combined 12 points, and two of those losses came to state tournament teams (Kennedy by 4, Assumption by 6), and the other came to Iowa City West, a substate finalist, by 2. The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the state, having won 14 of their last 15 games, and entering the tournament on a nine-game winning streak. A deep and balanced team, ten players average at least 3.1 points a game, giving them depth that is unmatched by any other team in the field. They're led by sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765553' first='William' last='Gerdes'] (12.0, 70.8 FG%), a 6-8 big who holds an offer from Nebraska. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1199979' first='Anthony' last='Galvin'] (11.3, 36.4 3P%) is a true point guard who likes to create for his teammates and shoots it well off the dribble, while senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1171693' first='Cade' last='Courbat'] (11.0, 1.5 blocks) is a really good defender who can defend one through five. A deep, talented, and complementary team, few teams have been playing better than Cedar Falls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Coach Ryan Schultz has won a pair of state titles and knows what it takes to win at this level and in this setting. This team is playing at an incredible level and with their depth, they have a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: Senior (21-2)<br></span>About the Rams:</strong> The Rams are a bit of a throwback team, playing through their big men - [player_tooltip player_id='1376678' first='Jacob' last='Williams'] (16.6, 8.4 rebounds, 63.8 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1172887' first='Tevin' last='Schultz'] (14.8, 60.1 FG%). Williams is an athletic lefty who can score inside and out, protect the paint, and he has really improved as a shot creator off the dribble over the last year, while Schultz is a stretch-4 who is burying 36% of his 3-point attempts. Those two are the only ones averaging in double-figures, but this is a pretty deep team, with five others averaging between 4.5 and 6.9 points a game. [player_tooltip player_id='1765536' first='Cooper' last='Porter'] (6.9, 50.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765555' first='Drake' last='Medinger'] (5.3), a pair of sophomores, can provide some additional perimeter scoring in spurts. This is a long, athletic team that plays great defense and they're able to throw a lot of different looks at teams on that end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>A long, athletic team, Senior is one of the best defensive teams in the field, and they have the big men who can give teams problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: Ankeny (17-6)<br></span>About the Hawks: </strong>Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171660' first='Carson' last='Johnson'] (23.4, 3.6 assists) has been arguably the best player in the state this season. A skilled 6-0 guard who can create and shoot it off the dribble as well as anyone, he's posting 51-47-90 shooting splits and has had several explosive scoring games. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1977422' first='Rio' last='Aguirre'] (13.4, 42.9 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1171676' first='Lio' last='Aguirre'] (12.7, 6.4 rebounds) are really good pieces alongside Johnson, with Rio shooting it really well off the dribble and the catch, and Lio using his physicality to play downhill and get to the rim. They have a number of quality role players who fill in alongside those three, playing their roles on both ends of the floor and filling in the gaps. The Hawks hold four wins over teams in this tournament field (Johnston twice, Bettendorf, and Valley), as well as several other high-quality wins over the course of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>We saw Ankeny go on a title-winning run a few years ago behind the dynamic play of guard Braxton Bayless, and if anyone is going to go on a run like that, it's Johnson and the Hawks. He's the most dynamic individual player in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: Bettendorf (17-6)<br></span>About the Bulldogs: </strong>Behind the strong play of senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171682' first='Caden' last='Wilkins'] (18.5, 6.3 rebounds, 37.0 3P%) the 'Dogs have won 10 straight games entering the tournament. Wilkins, the top-ranked senior in the state, is a versatile three-level scorer who can create his own shot off the dribble or shoot it well off the catch, and he can drop 30 points in any given game. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1951786' first='Ben' last='Kerkhoff'] (10.1, 42.7 3P%) has emerged as a solid second scorer, a knockdown shooter off the catch with a pure stroke. Senior guard Tre'Von Coney (8.3, 4.7 assists), a Davenport North transfer, has given them some athleticism and playmaking in the backcourt, and they have some beef in the paint with the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1476936' first='Asher' last='Wade'] (8.0, 6.1 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1484416' first='Amari' last='Washington'] (4.7, 3.6 rebounds). This group is always good defensively, and they're going to be a tough, physical team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Wilkins is one of the best players in the state, and with his size and shotmaking, he can carry a team. They're playing really well right now, and they can carry that momentum into this tournament and go on a run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Johnston (14-9)<br></span>About the Dragons:</strong> In his first year at Johnston, Courtney Henderson has led the Dragons to the state tournament. He inherited a really talented roster, and gained the services of two talented transfers, but they got off to a slow start, trying to get acclimated to a new system and style of play, entering the holiday break with a 4-5 record. Since the break, they've played really good basketball, including a pair of tight postseason wins over Ames and Sioux City East to get here. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171658' first='Trovary' last='Cavil'] (14.6, 3.5 assists), a Des Moines Lincoln transfer, is having a great year as their lead guard, having his most efficient season by shooting nearly 48% from the field and 42% from 3. He's a skilled ball-handler who creates well off the dribble, has a really good mid-range game, and is a very reliable free-throw shooter (91.3%), a huge benefit in tight games. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1381420' first='Jalen' last='Richardson'] (10.4, 6.0 rebounds) is a bit of a Swiss Army knife on the defensive end, a lanky 6-4/6-5 wing who can defend one through five, and Marshalltown transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1476939' first='Dalen' last='Huston'] (8.7) gives them an explosive athlete who finishes above the rim and contributes on both ends. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] (7.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='1592892' first='Prestige' last='Taylor'] (5.7) give the Dragons some additional ball-handling and playmaking alongside Cavil. A Henderson-coached team is always going to be solid defensively, and it's going to be tough to score against them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>This is one of the best defensive teams in the field, and playing against them is no easy task. Cavil is the type of guard who can take over games over the course of the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: Dallas Center-Grimes (20-3)<br></span>About the Mustangs: </strong>In all honesty, I was a bit surprised to see DCG get the 8th seed in this tournament. Yes, they play in the Little Hawkeye Conference, which is a majority 3A league, but they hold a 16-point win over Ankeny and several other really good wins against quality teams. They've lost just once since the holiday break, a 10-point setback against Waukee Northwest, and enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (16.2, 8.1 rebounds, 63.9 FG%) is a bouncy 6-6/6-7 forward who finishes really well around the rim, protects the paint defensively, and controls the glass. [player_tooltip player_id='1476975' first='Jackson' last='Green'] (16.1, 41.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1171684' first='Jonathan' last='Howard'] (12.4, 35.8 3P%) are both really good shooters who move well without the ball in their hands, and the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (6.0, 4.3 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1178729' first='Jaden' last='Jones'] (5.3, 4.7 assists) does a good job setting everyone up. The 'Stangs only go about seven deep, but those seven are really good, and they play really well together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> Joel Rankin won a state tournament a few years ago, and while that was down in 3A, it's a good experience that he can carry into this 4A tournament with this group. Their top seven is really talented, they share the ball extremely well (21.0 assists a game), and they all fit together well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staff picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tony</span><br><strong>Quarterfinals: </strong>Kennedy, Ankeny, Valley, Cedar Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong> Kennedy, Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion: </strong>Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->