Saturday’s Games to Watch

DeVries

Tony Roe January 1, 2021 @ 12:00 PM

In the first meeting, seniors Michael Duax Michael Duax 6'5" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA and Jamari Smith Jamari Smith 6'4" | SF Hempstead | 2021 State IA each scored 27 points for Hempstead. Duax, a Northern Iowa signee, is averaging 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals on the year. Smith is averaging 13.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He has struggled from the arc since the opening win and will be looking to get back on track. Hempstead is shooting just 22.4% from 3 as a team, a number that shouldn’t continue for too long.

Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , a Texas signee, scored 20 points for Assumption in the opening loss, his first game with the Knights after transferring from Davenport Central. The Knights have won four straight games following that loss, including strong wins over Pleasant Valley and North Scott. Ellis (16.4) is leading the team in scoring, but junior wing Noah Mack Noah Mack 6'0" | SG Assumption | 2022 State IA (13.5) and senior guard Dayne Hodge Dayne Hodge 5'11" | PG Assumption | 2021 State IA (12.0) have been really strong as well this year.

4A #1 Waukee (1-0) at 2A #6 Aplington-Parkersburg (7-1)

After playing just one game before the holiday break due to virtual learning, Waukee was looking to pick up some extra games, and Aplington-Parkersburg stepped up to host the Warriors. Former college roommates Justin Ohl (Waukee) and Aaron Thomas (A-P) worked together to get this game put together. The Falcons aren’t going to back down here, but they will be overmatched by the overwhelming size and talent that Waukee will put on the floor.

A-P is off to a strong start, with their balanced attack leading to a nice 7-1 mark at the break. Three players are averaging in double figures, led by senior Owen Thomas Owen Thomas 6'4" | SF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (12.9). Garrett Hempen (12.8, 42.1 3P%) and Josh Haan Josh Haan 6'6" | PF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (11.5) are also averaging in double-figures, while Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA (9.1), Gavin Thomas (7.6), Christian Haugstad Christian Haugstad 6'7" | C Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA (9.6) and Elijah Switzer (8.0) are all good scoring threats as well.

Waukee dominated their opener against 4A defending champion Ankeny, 65-28, with four players scoring in double figures - Tucker DeVries Tucker DeVries 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #123 Nation IA (14), Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA (14), Omaha Biliew Omaha Biliew 6'8" | SF Link Academy | 2023 #14 Nation FL (15) and Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA (10). The Warriors have the most talented roster we’ve seen in the state since the Ames teams that had Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott, and A-P will have their hands full trying to defend this huge, talented group.

Ankeny Christian Academy (5-2) at 2A #2 Denver (7-0)

This is an interesting non-conference game to re-open play, with ACA making the 2+ hour trip to Denver to face a high-powered Cyclones attack. The Eagles have some weapons themselves on the offensive end, led by senior wing Cale Leever Cale Leever 5'9" | SG Ankeny Christian Academy | 2021 State IA (16.1), a versatile scorer who can get the job done inside and out. Junior lead guard Malachi Johnson Malachi Johnson 5'9" | PG Ankeny Christian Academy | 2022 State IA (7.4) is the straw that stirs the drink for ACA, a heady lead guard who limits turnovers and gets others involved at a high level. They’ve gotten good perimeter shooting early from senior Matthew Voll Matthew Voll 6'3" | PF Ankeny Christian Academy | 2021 State IA (8.6, 43.8 3P%) and junior Ben McDermott (10.7, 45.2%), and those two will need to knock down some shots if they want to keep pace with Denver.

Denver is averaging 82.6 points a game so far this season, and beating teams by an average of 32.7 points. They’re led by their "Big Three" of seniors Isaac Besh Isaac Besh 5'10" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (17.3), Bryce Phelps Bryce Phelps 6'2" | PG Denver | 2021 State IA (18.7), and Kyler Matthias Kyler Matthias 6'2" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (15.4). That trio has been playing together on varsity since they were freshmen, building towards this season. Each of them are capable ball-handlers and decision-makers, and they can each fill it up from distance as well. Caylor Hoffer Caylor Hoffer 5'11" | SG Denver | 2022 State IA (11.6) and Will Curtis (9.9) are good scoring threats as well, giving this group a ton of balance. You can’t just focus on slowing down one player.