STATE TOURNAMENT: Class 2A + 4A Semifinal Standouts

What else can be said about Gerdes as this point? The future Northern Iowa forward shot 11-16 from the floor and his field goal percentage on the season went DOWN. That's how efficient he has been this season, how dominant he has been this season, and he has Cedar Falls on the verge of a third state title since 2018. He got Charlie Crane into early foul trouble with his relentless attacking of the rim, and that opened things up for everyone else. He finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the Tigers' win over Dowling Catholic.     The 6-5 junior wing was really good for the Dragons in their semifinal win over Waukee, with his biggest shot coming with just 2:45 left in the game, a huge catch-and-shoot 3 that pushed Johnston's lead back up to five points and ended a 6:25 scoreless drought. He's a rangy, athletic wing who is capable of spacing the floor and shooting it a high clip. He was really active on the glass against the bigger Warriors, giving the Dragons a needed presence in that facet of the game. He finished with 16 points (5-8 FG, 4-7 3P, 2-2 FT), 7 rebounds, and a block.     Daye scored 17 points on 5-7 shooting (2-2 3P, 5-6 FT) with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal, helping continue Johnston's run through the 4A bracket. He plays with pace, has a great feel for the game, and is a fantastic athlete who competes on the glass on both ends of the floor. He plays bigger than his listed 6-0 size with his bounce and length.       Hanson was one of the bright spots for Waukee in their semifinal loss to Johnston, scoring 12 points on 5-7 shooting to go with 10 rebounds. A lanky 6-4/6-5 wing who can elevate and snatch rebounds out of nowhere, he's an intriguing blend of size, length, athleticism, and raw potential.     Lovely nearly carried Treynor into the 2A title game, routinely hitting huge shots from 3 to keep the Cardinals in striking distance. He was going shot-for-shot with Clair and Schon throughout the second half, seemingly gaining more confidence with each one. He can be a streaky shooter, but he has proven time and time again throughout his career that he's a player who steps up in Treynor's biggest games, and he did just that again, scoring 26 points on 9-20 shooting, including going 6-8 from 3.     Clair was dominant against Treynor, scoring 27 points on 11-15 shooting, including going 3-4 from behind the arc. The 6-6 big man is a highly skilled offensive player with great footwork and soft touch around the rim, the ability to step out and space the floor, and he passes it really well out of the high post when the Knights play through him there. His full offensive arsenal was on display against the Cardinals, helping lift Kuemper into the 2A title game.     Schon was awesome in the third quarter of the Knights narrow win over Treynor, taking over the game in that period and helping Kuemper grab the lead. He's fearless when attacking the rim and has soft touch with either hand and fantastic footwork that he uses to create a tiny bit of additional space. He's a strong guard who loves to play downhill and use his strength and skill level to his advantage. He finished with 15 points on 7-9 shooting with 4 rebounds and 4 steals.     Regina didn't have many bright spots on Thursday night, but the 6-9 Wade played well, scoring 21 points on 10-14 shooting to go with 7 rebounds. He's a mobile, lanky forward who runs the floor extremely well, and he showed some toughness around the rim, scoring through contact on a few different occasions. He showed good footwork on his post touches and did a nice job keeping the ball high. He already holds offers from Drake and Northern Iowa, and he's about to head into a big 16U summer for him.     Bosma was scorching hot from the 3-point line in Unity Christian's blowout win over Regina, scoring 27 points on 9-15 shooting (9-13 3P). He has been a consistent threat for the Knights for the last three years and was bound and determined to prevent Unity from losing in the semifinals for a third straight year. His quick trigger off the catch and his off-ball movement make him really difficult to defend, and when he makes the first few, he's probably going to knock down a few more. If he gets in the zone, good luck.