STATE TOURNAMENT: Tuesday 1A Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standouts from the first day of the state tournament in Iowa's Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1977076"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b0ca7224ac2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The star for Woodbine all season, [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] was one of the primary reasons the Tigers looked like they may have had a chance to upset Fort Dodge St. Edmond in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tall, long scorer that can play with physicality thanks to his football background, the Gaels struggled to keep him out of the paint. On top of his ability to put the ball on the floor and finish over rim-protectors in the middle, Blum can step out and shoot it, too. Leading all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-19 shooting, Blum was forced to put up as many shots as possible in the second half, attempting to will Woodbine back into the game. Adding 11 rebounds, Blum finished with a double-double. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1907683"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b0ca7224b2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite what looked like an early injury in the first quarter of St. Edmond's matchup with Woodbine, [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] got going and provided all the firepower for the Gaels in their first round, 60-44 win over the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A mid-range machine and a monster on the offensive boards for put-backs, the senior wing finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, adding seven offensive rebounds. Also making his lone three-point attempts on the day, Horn's ability to shoot spread out the Woodbine defense and made it easier for teammates to attack the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2243086"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b0ca7224b77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clearly the most talented player on the floor in Bishop Garrigan's matchup with Marquette Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] is a silky smooth combo guard that serves as the initiator of the offense, and as the Golden Bears' top scoring option. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the ability to weave in and around the defense, finish over or under hand at the rim, and launch from deep, Joyce looks a step ahead of everyone else he shared the court with on Tuesday. Just selfish enough to play like the best player on the court, but also unselfish enough to not take bad shots, Joyce is among the best guards in Class 1A. He finished with 19 on Tuesday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1978106"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b0ca7224bb9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Where do we even start?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] is the class of the 1A state tournament, far and away. One could tell that in the first five minutes against Bellevue in the quarterfinals. Scoring at all three levels, Stephens did it all with ease for the Nikes, commanding every possession as the primary ball-handler <em>and </em>leading scorer. A knockdown shooter with the ability to get down hill and finish at the rim with the best of them, it feels almost impossible to stop a player the caliber of Stephens. He put up a monster 21 points in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Western Illinois signee put up 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, showing an understanding to not force up shots simply to get them up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having the Nikes looking like a title contender, the future Leatherneck put his team on his back in a way few can in the state. If Stephens doesn't earn team captain honors at the end of the tournament, one should be quite surprised. If he ends up at a higher level than in the Summit League in his college career, one shouldn't be surprised. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2731754"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b0ca7224bfa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The quintessential smalltown center that dominated the competition throughout his high school campaign, [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] has the size at 6-foot-4 to overlook the defense, the skill to score with soft touch and the IQ to make great passes for a big. A smooth mover in the paint that, if given a one-on-one matchup on the inside will score almost every time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high-level rebounder, too, Van Es isn't finesse, though he makes it look easy on offense. He boxes out and fights for boards with strength and physicality while also blocking shots. He finished with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, adding ten rebounds, four blocks and three steals against MMCRU. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->