Thursday (1/8) Games to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Earlham (7-1) at 1A #8 Coon Rapids-Bayard (7-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlham, under new head coach Austin Ash, has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the state this season. The Cardinals have taken on their coach's identity, averaging nearly 27 3-point attempts per game, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2479688' first='Griffin' last='Messer']. Messer is averaging 15.5 points per game and is shooting over 37% from the 3-point line. Junior lead guard Blake Reynolds (12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists) has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Cards, leading the team in assists, but he'll need to value the ball (4.2 turnovers per game). Finding Messer and chasing him off the 3-point line will be key for Coon Rapids-Bayard, a team that has the length to make life difficult for a smaller Earlham team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coon Rapids-Bayard has been one of the top teams in 1A over the last few years, led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'], averaging 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game. A 6-4/6-5 combo forward who can do it all, Earlham will have a really difficult time containing him. His younger brother, [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'], a junior, is contributing 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, to boot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Falls Christian (SD) at 2A #1 Unity Christian</strong> <strong>(8-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranked team in South Dakota heads to Orange City to take on the top-ranked team in Class 2A in a massive matchup. Sioux Falls Christian is loaded, with the top-ranked players in South Dakota's 2027 class, combo guard Brant Wassenaar, and 2028 class, center Ryan Dieleman, as well as a pair of top-10 players in the 2026 class in 6-4 guard Cooper Goodbary and 6-1 lead guard Carson Nickles. The 6-9 Dieleman is going to be really difficult for Unity Christian, who doesn't have anyone in their rotation over 6-4. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The strength of Unity Christian lies in their backcourt, senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (20.6 points, 50.5 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.6, 54.4 FG%) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (15.2, 47.1 3P%). Bosma and Winterfeld are both fantastic shooting threats, each shooting over 47% from the 3-point line, and Wieringa is as tough and athletic as they come in the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'], a 6-4 junior forward, is going to be faced with a tall (literally) task in Dieleman. Expect the Knights to throw some junk defense looks at Sioux Falls Christian in an effort to get them off balance a bit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Mills (5-2) at 1A #7 Bishop Garrigan (6-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has been a fun rivalry in the Top of Iowa Conference over the last decade or so, and while Lake Mills has taken a bit of a step back this year, the Bulldogs are still formidable and will give Bishop Garrigan all they can handle here. Lake Mills is led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731844' first='Nash' last='Delger'], averaging 18.1 points and 6.0 assists per game. He has stepped into a starring role and been really good so far in his senior year as a scorer and playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='2845971' first='Lucas' last='Helgeland'] is a fantastic shooter, burying 50% of his 3-point attempts on the season, while Lane Helgeland is contributing 12.1 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Garrigan's lone loss this season came at the hands of 2A power Western Christian, in a game that the Golden Bears controlled for a majority of the game. The athleticism and tenaciousness on the glass of senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (18.0 points, 12.3 rebounds) has paced this group so far this season, while guards [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (17.6, 4.6 assists), [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (11.7, 6.0 assists), and Tate Foertsch (9.1, 4.1 assists) have all been really good as well as both scorers and playmakers. Thomas' ability to dominate the glass is the key in this one and will need to be the focal point for Lake Mills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A #2 Clear Lake (4-0) at Waverly-Shell Rock (4-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This isn't your typical Waverly-Shell Rock team, but this is still one of the toughest remaining tests on Clear Lake's schedule. The Lions are paced by [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'], averaging 18.8 points per game on 52-55-77 shooting splits. [player_tooltip player_id='2389820' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] dishes out six assists per game and is one of the best pure point guards in the state. He and [player_tooltip player_id='2389849' first='Luke' last='Fuhrman'], also dishing out six assists per game, give the Lions a pair of dynamic playmakers who love to get their high-powered teammates involved. The Lions bring constant pressure on the defensive end, using their speed, athleticism, and depth to their advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charles City transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2906399' first='Henry' last='Ruzicka'] leads Waverly-Shell Rock in scoring at 12.7 points per game. He has given them another dimension on the wing, capable of creating shots off the dribble or shooting it off the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='2886796' first='Preston' last='Baumhover'] (11.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2886803' first='Brady' last='Bodensteiner'] (6.6) have been calming presences in the backcourt, while sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2523910' first='Jayden' last='Stephens'] (7.6 points, 4.6 assists) is the best long-term prospect on the team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->