Game Report: Bettendorf vs. Prairie

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CEDAR RAPIDS -- A second half surge helped lift Prairie past Bettendorf, 72-60, on Friday night, sending the Hawks into Tuesday night's substate final, where they'll travel northeast to Dubuque Senior for a trip to the Class 4A state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prairie came out of the gates hot, jumping out to a 14-4 lead and holding a 20-11 edge after the first quarter. For a little while, it looked like the Hawks may just run away with this one, but you knew that a Bettendorf team returning four key contributors from a state semifinalist team wasn't going to go quietly. The Bulldogs responded with a big 25-13 second quarter to take a 36-33 lead into the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks made a concerted effort to get downhill to open up the third quarter, getting to the rim for bucket after bucket to re-take control of the game, and then [player_tooltip player_id='2397337' first='Jace' last='McDermott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2731874' first='David' last='Fason'] took over the game in the final period, putting the nail into Bettendorf's coffin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fason led five Hawks in double figures with 15 points. He also had 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and played really good defense throughout the night. [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2023719' first='Will' last='Wehr'] each had 14, [player_tooltip player_id='1951800' first='Devin' last='Ikeda'] chipped in 13, and [player_tooltip player_id='2397337' first='Jace' last='McDermott'] had 12, hitting three huge 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1951786' first='Ben' last='Kerkhoff'] led Bettendorf with 27 points in his final high school game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Team</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>1Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>2Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>3Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>4Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Bettendorf</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">11</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">25</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">15</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">60</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Prairie</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">20</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">13</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">18</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">21</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">72</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bettendorf:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1951786' first='Ben' last='Kerkhoff'] 27, [player_tooltip player_id='2397255' first='Cole' last='Odefey'] 17, [player_tooltip player_id='1484416' first='Amari' last='Washington'] 11, Justin Gordon 3, [player_tooltip player_id='2511528' first='Jackson' last='Laver'] 2<br><strong>Prairie: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2731874' first='David' last='Fason'] 15, [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] 14, [player_tooltip player_id='2023719' first='Will' last='Wehr'] 14, [player_tooltip player_id='1951800' first='Devin' last='Ikeda'] 13, [player_tooltip player_id='2397337' first='Jace' last='McDermott'] 12, [player_tooltip player_id='2419791' first='Austin' last='Joens'] 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2731874"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6ac9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong, physical guard who doesn't shy away from contact around the bucket, Fason's ability to create plays off the dribble for himself and his teammates was on full display throughout the Hawks' win. He sees the floor incredibly well and is a creative, skilled passer who always makes the right read and is willing to pass up his own good shot for a great shot for his teammate. He had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7-10 shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2023719"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6acfb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wehr comes off the bench to provide a major scoring spark for the Hawks, and he did just that in this one, knocking down a pair of 3s in the first 1:30 he was on the floor. He's a sharpshooter with a lightning-quick release off the catch, and he moves really well without the ball in his hands. He's a player who has really improved his ball-handling and shot creation over the last year, and he showed that in attacking the rim against hard closeouts after knocking down those early 3s. He finished with 14 points on 5-6 shooting (3-4 3P).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1951800"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6ad40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Hawk who has made huge strides over the last year, Ikeda was great as a low-post scorer in this one, finishing with 13 points on 6-7 shooting. The lefty has soft touch around the rim and great hands. He does a nice job establishing position, kicking out when he got stopped, and then getting a hard re-establish to bury his defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2397337"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6ad80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McDermott was really quiet in the first half, going 0-1 from the floor, but made some massive shots in the second half, including going 3-4 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter. He's a confident shooter with a quick release off the catch, and he's always ready to fire. He's a good team defender who rotates well, moves his feet, and uses his length to impact the game on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419754"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6adc0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I love watching Alexander play. A long, lanky guard who handles it well, absorbs contact around the rim and finishes through it, and is able to finish at really difficult angles around the rim, he's a crafty playmaker who sees the floor really well. He plays with pace and has really long strides that he uses to get by defenders. He had 14 points and 4 rebounds on 5-6 shooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1951786"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6adff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kerkhoff was the best player on the floor on Friday night, scoring 27 points on 9-18 shooting, including going 5-10 from 3-point range. A long wing with a pure stroke off the catch, he has really improved as a ball-handler and playmaker over the last year, creating quality looks off the dribble for himself and his teammates. In addition to his 27 points, he had 9 rebounds and a pair of assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2397255"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c2797b6ae3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong, physical, and athletic wing who pounds the glass on both ends of the floor, can bully his way to the rim for finishes, or knock down shots off the catch from deep, Odefey was really good in his final high school game. He had 17 points, shaking off a slow 0-5 start to finish 5-14 from the floor, to go with 8 rebounds. He's the type of two-way, physical wing who can really help a Division II program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->