Thursday’s Games to Watch

Van Meter (10-3) at ACGC (11-3)

Van Meter has won the last 11 meetings in this series, and two of the Bulldogs three losses this year have come to 3A teams (Norwalk, Winterset). They’re led by a trio of double-figure scorers in juniors Chris Schreck Chris Schreck 5'10" | PG Van Meter | 2022 State IA (12.8), Casey Trudo (12.2) and Clark Fiala (11.3). The ’Dogs are traditionally a very strong defensive team, and they’ve been strong on that end of the floor again this year, allowing 48.1 points a game. 

ACGC has already won more games this year than they did last year (10), and the Chargers improvement can be tied to the marked improvement of Eli Kading (16.6), who has raised his scoring by nearly seven points a game and become much more efficient. Lucas Marsh (9.7, 9.5 rebounds) has given the Chargers a physical presence in the paint and they’ve been strong on the offensive glass as a whole, pulling down 11.4 offensive boards a game.

1A #10 Montezuma (13-2) at 2A #10 Albia (11-1)

This is a strong matchup between two of the hottest teams in the state right now. Montezuma has been dominant since the return of big man Eddie Burgess Eddie Burgess 6'4" | PF Montezuma | 2022 State IA , winning their last six games by an average of 34.5 points. The Braves are led by Truman State-signee Trey Shearer Trey Shearer 5'10" | PG Montezuma | 2021 State IA (29.2), who is second in the state in scoring. Fellow senior guard Cole Watts Cole Watts 5'10" | SG Montezuma | 2021 State IA (21.3, 49.5 3P%) has been a fantastic running mate alongside Shearer, and the return of Burgess (13.5, 11.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists) has been huge for this group. He’s the anchor of their 2-3 zone, their top rebounder, and a great passer as well.

Albia hasn’t lost since a season-opening setback against Grand View Christian, taking 11 straight by over 22 points a game. The Blue Demons are led by brothers Drew Chance (16.9) and older brother Blake Chance Blake Chance 6'4" | PG Albia | 2021 State IA (15.8). Blake is a long guard who stuffs the stat sheet, dishing out 6.1 assists and 2.1 steals in addition to his scoring, while Drew is a highly-efficient big man who provides some size and physicality in the paint. Brayden Messamaker Brayden Messamaker 6'1" | SG Albia | 2021 State IA (12.8, 39.0 3P%) and Jackson DeMoss (5.3, 47.6 3P%) are the team’s top perimeter shooting threats.

1A #6 West Fork (11-2) at 3A #8 Clear Lake (12-1)

This is another good non-conference game on Thursday night, with a pair of top-10 teams in their respective classes meeting. West Fork’s two losses have come to a 2A Dike-New Hartford team that has been ranked in the top-five for most of the year, and to a 3A Iowa Falls-Alden team. The Warhawks are led by the senior inside-out tandem of Jakob Washington Jakob Washington 6'2" | SF West Fork | 2021 State IA (10.5) and Kayden Ames Kayden Ames 6'1" | SG West Fork | 2021 State IA (16.8). Washington is an active, athletic forward who competes hard on the glass, while Ames is capable of making seven or eight 3s on any given night. Fellow seniors Cail Weaver Cail Weaver 6'0" | SG West Fork | 2021 State IA (10.0) and Joe Ingham (12.3) have really emerged as strong pieces for the Warhawks as well.

Clear Lake is on a 10-game winning streak and is playing some high-level basketball right now. Junior guard Carson Toebe Carson Toebe 6'3" | PG Clear Lake | 2022 State IA (18.0) is the team’s leading scorer, but senior forward Andrew Formanek Andrew Formanek 6'6" | PF Clear Lake | 2021 State IA (17.6, 13.7 rebounds) has been the most important player for the Lions. His ability to score inside and out, and dominate the glass, has been huge for this group. 

Decorah (11-4) at 2A #5 Denver (12-2)

This is an interesting non-conference tilt between a great defensive team in Decorah and a great offensive team in Denver. The Vikings are allowing just 47.9 points a game, good for 7th in 3A, while the Cyclones are averaging 79.5 points a game, which leads 2A. Deocrah has three players averaging in double figures in Joseph Bockman (13.3), Charles Robinson Charles Robinson 6'2" | SF Decorah | 2021 State IA (12.0), and Jacob Pipho (10.7). They’re great on the glass, pulling down nearly 15 offensive rebounds a game, using their quickness, physicality, and athleticism to beat the opposition to rebounds. They’re not a very efficient offensive team, shooting 39.3% from the floor and 24.8% from 3, so they’ll have to rely on their defense to slow this game down.

All five Denver starters average in double figures, led by their "Big Three" of Bryce Phelps Bryce Phelps 6'2" | PG Denver | 2021 State IA (16.8), Kyler Matthias Kyler Matthias 6'2" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (16.4), and Isaac Besh Isaac Besh 5'10" | CG Denver | 2021 State IA (15.2). They do a great job sharing the ball, dishing out over 18 assists a game and they protect it as well, with fewer than 10 turnovers a game. With the balance and versatility the Cyclones have, they’re really difficult to defend.

1A #9 Grand View Christian (12-1) at Roland-Story (11-1)

Grand View Christian has been really impressive this season, rolling through an independent schedule with their lone loss coming to 4A Ottumwa. Included in that slate are some impressive wins against Treynor, Albia, Meskwaki Settlement, and Knoxville, among others. The Thunder have four players averaging in double-figures, led by junior guard Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (20.0), a talented, slashing guard who can really fill it up. Josh Baucum (15.3) has been a revelation this year alongside Hammonds, emerging as a strong secondary scoring threat. Sophomore big man Daniel Tobiloba Daniel Tobiloba 7'0" | C Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA (10.3, 15.2 rebounds, 4.7 blocks) is a dominant force in the paint. The 6-10 big has a limited offensive skill set right now, but he rebounds at a high-level, runs the floor, and is the ultimate eraser on the back end of the Thunder defense. 

Roland-Story got off to an 11-0 start before a setback to a good Martensdale-St. Marys team. The Norsemen are led by senior guard Sam Skaar Sam Skaar 6'4" | SG Roland-Story | 2021 State IA (17.3), who is shooting 44.7% from behind the arc. Luke Patton (9.9. 41.2 3P%) is another solid perimeter shooting threat, and freshman Jonovan Wilkinson (9.8, 6.3 rebounds) has given them strong production as well. 

2A #6 Aplington-Parkersburg (11-2) at Grundy Center (11-2)

Aplington-Parkersburg has dominated this series, holding an 11-1 edge. The Falcons have been playing strong basketball of late, winning three straight by no fewer than 20 points since their loss to Denver. A deep and talented offensive team, four players average in double-figures, while three others are putting up at least 6.6 points a game. They shoot 40.4% from behind the arc as a team and are dishing out over 18 assists a game. Owen Thomas Owen Thomas 6'4" | SF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (13.2) is the team’s leading scorer, while Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA (12.9), Garrett Hempen (11.9), and Josh Haan Josh Haan 6'6" | PF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2021 State IA (10.4) all average in double-figures as well. Any of the four is a threat to score 20-25 points on a given night.

Grundy Center has been strong on both ends of the floor, getting good production out of junior guard Brayden Sawyer Brayden Sawyer 5'10" | SG Grundy Center | 2022 State IA (14.3) and senior forward Wes Willis (11.5). Sawyer has been fantastic, shooting 48.5% from behind the arc, while Willis has headlined a group that is pulling down 12 offensive boards a game.