Thursday (12/15) Games to Watch

2A #6 Treynor (10-1) at 1A #6 Coon Rapids-Bayard (11-0)   If not for a second-half collapse against Tri-Center last week, this would be a battle between a pair of 11-0 teams. Treynor has rebounded nicely since the Tri-Center loss, beating Missouri Valley, Riverside, and Logan-Magnolia by a combined 85 points. The Cardinals are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'], averaging 16.2 points and 4.8 assists and headed towards another All-State selection. [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (9.5), [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (8.9), [player_tooltip player_id='2906551' first='Riley' last='Lauver'] (7.7), and Jude Mieska (6.2) are all viable scoring threats as well, and the Cardinals can comfortably go nine deep, an edge here against the Crusaders.   Coon Rapids-Bayard has rolled to an 11-0 start, with only two games decided by single digits so far, but the level of competition goes up significantly here, a game that will prepare them well for postseason play. The Crusaders are headlined by the Heydon brothers - senior [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (22.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (13.0, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists). The pair possess the type of size, length, and versatility that could give Treynor some problems. Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2906452' first='Caden' last='Oswald'] (9.1, 4.2 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2853857' first='Bryce' last='Lewis'] (8.3, 3.4 assists) give them a pair of reliable playmakers alongside the Heydon boys, and Gavin Heiderscheit (11.0), a senior guard, has emerged as a reliable tertiary scoring option for one of the best teams in 1A.   1A #9 Lynnville-Sully (11-0) at Ankeny Christian Academy (10-2)   What else is new for Lynnville-Sully? The Hawks are right back to winning a ton of games, using one of the best defenses in Class 1A to control contests on a nightly basis. They're allowing just 37.4 points per game so far this season, 5th in 1A, but they'll have their hands full with an ACA team that can score in bunches, averaging 73.8 a night. Senior guard Sawyer Veldhuizen (12.3) leads a balanced group for Lynnville-Sully, with seven players averaging between 5.6 and 12.3 points per game. This is a group that, despite not having any player on the roster listed taller than 6-4 is exceptional on the glass, averaging 39 rebounds a game, including 16 on the offensive end. Limiting second chance opportunities from [player_tooltip player_id='2886854' first='Dawson' last='James'], Cameyon James, and Jack Bowlin, among others, will be paramount for ACA's success.   Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2906492' first='Jed' last='Rood'] (14.4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3344417' first='Marcus' last='Pedersen'] (14.4) lead a potent Eagles' attack that sees three players averaging in double figures, and seven players averaging at least 6.4 points per contest. This is a group that has beaten up on weaker competition, with their ten wins coming by an average of 47 points per game. They've lost against the two best teams on the schedule - Pella Christian (70-52) and Madrid (66-58) - but playing those teams and this game should help them prepare for postseason play, as they really aren't tested much in Bluegrass play. Points will be tougher for ACA to come by against the Hawks' stout defense, but win or lose, this will be a positive experience for the Eagles.   2A #1 Unity Christian (10-1) at 2A #3 Western Christian (9-2)   This will be a massive game in Class 2A, giving us a better feel for just how good both of these teams are. Unity Christian's lone loss this season came last week against a Sioux Falls Christian team that may be good enough to win every class in Iowa except 4A this season. The Knights lost that game by 10 but showed that they are indeed for real. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (18.7, 4.0 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (13.1) lead a quartet of players averaging in double figures, joined by junior guard Keagan Winterfeld (14.6, 36.5 3P%) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (12.2, 8.8 rebounds). That foursome is currently the best in 2A, and the Wolfpack will have their hands full containing them, as each is capable of beating you in a number of ways.   Defending 2A champion Western Christian had a nine-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night with a loss to Lennox (SD). The Wolfpack have been playing their last five games without standout senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'], who is averaging north of 19 points per game. A 6-5 sharpshooter, his absence has been huge for this group, and will be even more noticeable against a Unity team that is the best in class at this point. However, the cupboard isn't bare for Western. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (18.5, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists) has been sensational since returning from an injury of his own, and he's the type of tough, athletic, smart guard who could give the Knights some problems. Western will need some big production out of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='3344376' first='Preston' last='Louters'] (11.8) and sophomore Toby Van Regenmorter (9.2) if they want to protect home court and upset the Knights.   1A #4 Bishop Garrigan (11-1) at Newman Catholic (10-1)   Bishop Garrigan snapped a five-game losing streak in this series with a 66-58 win last season, and they'll be looking to make it back-to-back wins in this fun parochial cross-division matchup in the Top of Iowa Conference. The Golden Bears' lone loss this season came at the hands of 2A powerhouse Western Christian, and they've won nine straight since that setback. They've been dominant on both ends of the floor, allowing just 44 points a game and winning games by an average of 23 points. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (16.7, 4.6 assists) is the headliner of the group, a versatile guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (15.4, 12.0 rebounds) is a force on the glass on both ends of the floor, and senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (13.7, 5.8 assists) and Tate Foertsch (9.4, 4.2 assists) give Garrigan a pair of reliable ball-handlers and playmakers.   Like Garrigan, Newman Catholic enters this game on a long winning streak. The Knights have won 10 straight following a season-opening loss to Osage, a loss that they avenged on Tuesday night. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2859058' first='Westly' last='Cole'] (21.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420772' first='Thomas' last='McGuire'] (15.2) lead the offensive attack. Both are capable of scoring inside and out in bunches and controlling the game with the ball in their hands. Senior role players Brady Martin and Lucas Nelson will be key here if Newman is going to pull the upset. The Knights will need to keep Thomas off the glass.   Other notable games Calamus-Wheatland (10-1) at North Linn (8-4) Center Point-Urbana (8-3) at Marion (6-4) Baxter (7-4) at Earlham (8-4) Northeast (8-4) at 1A #7 Marquette Catholic (10-1) Kingsley-Pierson (10-3) at Sioux Central (7-1) South Winneshiek (11-1) at Wapsie Valley (8-4)

2A #6 Treynor (10-1) at 1A #6 Coon Rapids-Bayard (11-0)