Experienced Little Cyclones Itching for Revenge in 4A-2

<!-- wp:image {"id":3511258,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-20-at-8.15.06-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-20-at-8.15.06-PM.png?w=618" alt="" class="wp-image-3511258" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Ames</strong> did what Ames does this year, win a ton of games, suffocate teams defensively, and earn a top seed in substate play. The Little Cyclones once again have the top scoring defense in 4A, allowing just 40.5 points per game, and they've held teams under 35 points on six different occasions. Despite losing standout rim protector [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] to a season-ending injury, they've just kept playing elite defense and forcing teams into bad shots on seemingly every possession. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (13.4) is the team's leader in scoring and assists, and the offense will go as he does. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='3255125' first='Brandon' last='Johnson'] (10.0, 7.2 rebounds) is a good athlete, physical with soft hands, and is a very efficient scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='3255120' first='Max' last='Burgason-Sutton'] (5.6), [player_tooltip player_id='3255118' first='DJ' last='Bijiek'] (5.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2868557' first='Kuach' last='Kuach'] (5.1), and [player_tooltip player_id='2906523' first='Benjamin' last='Weiss'] (4.0) are all capable of scoring 10 on any given night. Vance Downs just wins games, and despite losing to Urbandale earlier this year at home, given the easier path to the substate final, Ames is the favorite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Urbandale</strong> has been good this season, posting quality wins over Johnston, Ames, and Ankeny (twice). The J-Hawks are big, pretty much going 6-4/6-5 across the board in their starting lineup, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1978111' first='Jake' last='Pargeon'] (17.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1978101' first='Quentin' last='Teeter'] (17.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1950542' first='Davis' last='Hardersen'] (14.5). With everyone in the lineup pretty much being the same size, they're able to play some switching defenses that can frustrate teams, and nearly all of them will have a size advantage on their matchup. They've already gone up to Ames and beaten the Little Cyclones once, and that was with a healthy Dau in the lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>A very young <strong>Ankeny Centennial</strong> team has improved as the season has progressed, winning three of their last four heading into postseason play, with the lone loss being a 7-point loss to Ames. Having gone through the gauntlet of the CIML, the Jaguars are battle tested, and they'll be anxious to get a third shot at Urbandale in the semifinals. They're led by a pair of juniors - [player_tooltip player_id='2530483' first='Hunter' last='Runchey'] (11.) and Luke Mitchell (10.6) - and a pair of sophomores - [player_tooltip player_id='2519258' first='Keaton' last='Kasperbauer'] (10.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2520083' first='McClain' last='Gorsh'] (7.0). Sometimes youth can be a benefit in postseason play, too naive to understand the magnitude of the moment. Maybe the Jags can get hot and put a scare into Urbandale? If so, they know they can play with Ames also.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255125' first='Brandon' last='Johnson'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978111' first='Jake' last='Pargeon'] (Urbandale)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978101' first='Quentin' last='Teeter'] (Urbandale)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1950542' first='Davis' last='Hardersen'] (Urbandale)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530483' first='Hunter' last='Runchey'] (Centennial)<br>2027 Luke Mitchell (Centennial)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2519258' first='Keaton' last='Kasperbauer'] (Centennial)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2204885' first='Marcele' last='Whitner'] (Mason City)<br>2027 Owen Rickers (Mason City)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906539' first='Jameer' last='Falls'] (Mason City)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420800' first='Zion' last='Cook-Berns'] (Waterloo West)<br>2029 Pernell Grover (Waterloo West)<br>2028 Oliver Beckman (Waterloo West)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Urbandale at Ames</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know that Urbandale has already gone up to Ames and beaten the Little Cyclones, but bet against Vance Downs in the postseason at your own peril. He finds a way to grind this game to a halt, smother the J-Hawks, and pull out another low-scoring win to send <strong>Ames</strong> back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->