Class 1A District Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top Three District Semifinal Games</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gladbrook-Reinbeck (9-13) at South Winneshiek (19-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh off an upset win over Dunkerton in the quarterfinals, Gladbrook-Reinbeck is looking to continue that momentum and reach the district final with another upset win. Per BC Moore's power rankings system, the Rebels have played the second most difficult schedule in 1A this season, so they won't be intimidated going up to Calmar to face the Warriors. Senior guards Trevor Mathern (14.2) and Hudson Clark (12.6) are both experienced players who have played in a lot of big games over the last few years for the Rebels and will be leaned upon heavily here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For South Winneshiek, it's their big trio of seniors – [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (17.8, 7.1 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (15.2, 5.2 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (14.6, 5.0 assists), and sophomore Jordan Einck (10.1). The Warriors have been building towards this season for the last several years and will most certainly be amped up here. With their multitude of different ball-handlers, they shouldn't struggle too much with any sort of pressure Gladbrook-Reinbeck throws at them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Don Bosco (15-7) at Baxter (18-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be an interesting contrast between the size and physicality of Don Bosco and the elite perimeter scoring of Baxter. Don Bosco is led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (15.0, 12.5 rebounds), who is one of the best rebounders in the state. He'll be able to control the glass on both ends of the floor here, and if Baxter can't limit the second chances, he'll be able to clean up and feast in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (11.8, 6.5 rebounds) is no slouch on the glass either, and if that duo combines to pull down 10 offensive rebounds (they combine to average 6.8, so not unheard of), they could pull off this upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baxter, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (30.4, 9.0 rebounds), will have their hands full in the paint and will need to get some contributions from someone else tonight. Dee is one of the state's elite scorers, capable of filling it up from anywhere on the floor. He's a high-level shooter and has really, really improved as a playmaker and shot creator. He rebounds really well from his perimeter spot, using his length and athleticism to compete on the glass, but the Bolts will need someone else to step up and help control the glass in this one. Dee will be the best player on the floor here and that should carry the Bolts through, but this could be one of the tighter 1A games tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keota (15-6) at Hillcrest Academy (19-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This teams played a little over a month ago, a 59-44 Keota home win. In that matchup, the Eagles were able to hold Hillcrest Academy to just 33.3% shooting, and they won the rebounding battle by seven, 31-24. That was also an otherworldly performance from Keota from the 3-point line, going 10-23 from the arc (43.5%), while they're a 28.1% 3-point shooting team on the season, averaging about six made 3s per game. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (15.5, 5.2 assists) and Jackson Vittetoe (13.6, 5.0 assists), and junior Porter Cave (11.1) are all reliable scoring threats who are able to score in bunches, but they're all better getting to the rim than shooting it from distance. I would anticipate Hillcrest packing it in and daring the Eagles to beat them from 3 again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hillcrest Academy counters with their own trio of double-figure scorers – junior [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (17.1), senior [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (14.9, 7.6 assists), and sophomore Gibson Scott (13.8, 7.2 rebounds). Miller's ability to control the game as a playmaker and scorer should be on full display here. He didn't have a good game against Keota in the regular season, shooting just 6-18, and he'll be anxious to put on a better show this time around. I anticipate some 3-point variance working in the Ravens' favor tonight and they advance to the district final with a big effort from Miller and Bailey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Picking all 32 Games<br></span>District 1: MMCRU over Woodbury Central, South O'Brien over Sibley-Ocheyedan<br>District 2: Belmond-Klemme over West Fork, Newman Catholic over North Union<br>District 3: Bishop Garrigan over Saint Ansgar, Nashua-Plainfield over Janesville<br>District 4: Wapsie Valley over Turkey Valley, South Winneshiek over Gladbrook-Reinbeck<br>District 5: Bellevue over Central Elkader, Maquoketa Valley over Edgewood-Colesburg<br>District 6: East Marshall over North Tama, Baxter over Don Bosco<br>District 7: Lynnville-Sully over Moravia, Montezuma over Sigourney<br>District 8: Marquette Catholic over Cedar Valley Christian, Springville over Easton Valley<br>District 9: Notre Dame over Danville, Pekin over Holy Trinity Catholic<br>District 10: Calamus-Wheatland over Iowa Valley, Hillcrest Academy over Keota<br>District 11: Madrid over Central Decatur, Mount Ayr over Martensdale-St Marys<br>District 12: St. Albert over Boyer Valley, Woodbine over AHSTW<br>District 13: Southwest Valley over Riverside, Bedford over Fremont-Mills<br>District 14: St. Edmond over Earlham, Ankeny Christian over Southeast Warren<br>District 15: Coon Rapids-Bayard over ACGC, IKM-Manning over Audubon<br>District 16: Boyden-Hull over Lawton-Bronson, Gehlen Catholic over Kingsley-Pierson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->