Substate Preview: 4A-6

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-6.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1384080" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-6-1024x319.png" alt="" width="1024" height="319" /></a> [caption id="attachment_1166763" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jake-Walter1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1166763 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jake-Walter1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"][/caption] The favorite: Prairie has been one of the most improved teams in the state this year, rolling to a 15-6 record that includes quality wins over Johnston and Cedar Falls. Four of their six losses came by one or two points, so this is a team that was extremely close to putting together a special season. The Hawks are led by senior big man [player_tooltip player_id="682264" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"] (15.0, 5.9 rebounds), an Iowa State football commit who is a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"] (13.3, 3.9 assists) is the team’s top perimeter scoring threat, and while they were dealt a blow with a season-ending injury to [player_tooltip player_id="784979" first="Elijah" last="Ward"] (10.6), other players have stepped up in his absence, most notably juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1240063" first="Jack" last="Wagemester"] (7.4) and [player_tooltip player_id="1240079" first="Makelle" last="Taylor"] (4.7), and senior Dionte Fliss (4.8). Wagemester is the son of former Kirkwood coach Doug Wagemester and is a long lead guard who can handle it, pass, and is a high IQ defender. The Hawks are quick and athletic, and with Burkle and younger brother [player_tooltip player_id="1376680" first="Reid" last="Burkle"] (4.1, 4.1 rebounds), they have some physicality and strength in the paint as well. This is a well-built, balanced team that can win in the halfcourt or in an up-tempo game. [caption id="attachment_1287151" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/KJ-Lamonte-crop-4852x3186-1632152366.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1287151 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/KJ-Lamonte-crop-4852x3186-1632152366-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1171678" first="Kyle" last="Lamonte"][/caption] The biggest threat: Davenport North has won 11 out of 14 games since the holiday break, and the three losses each coming by single digits. The Wildcats are a quick, athletic team led by a pair of dynamic guards in senior [player_tooltip player_id="1200221" first="Michael" last="Lowery Jr"] (15.9) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171678" first="Kyle" last="Lamonte"] (12.9). Lowery is a good perimeter shooter (44.6%) who can also get to the rim, and Lamonte is an eye-popping athlete who is a terror in transition. Senior forward Cade Guinn (10.0, 7.9 rebounds) is undersized but provides some length, physicality, and rebounding, while sophomore wing TreVon Coney (6.3) and junior forward Nolan Mosier (6.2) have emerged as solid role players as well. The ’Cats are playing at a high level down the stretch and have the quickness on the perimeter to make Prairie uncomfortable if they meet in the substate final. [caption id="attachment_1287056" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Cameron-Fens-crop-1668x1095-1632148630.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1287056 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Cameron-Fens-crop-1668x1095-1632148630-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1055294" first="Cameron" last="Fens"][/caption] The dark horse: In senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1055294" first="Cameron" last="Fens"] (19.3, 11.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks), Hempstead has a dominant interior force on both ends of the floor. An athletic 6-10 rim protector and rim-runner, Fens has started to gain some interest from Iowa and has picked up a low-major offer from Western Illinois with his strong play. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962654" first="Kellen" last="Strohmeyer"] (14.5) is the team’s top perimeter scorer, and this is a senior-laden team with five seniors leading the team in scoring. They’ve posted some quality wins over Wahlert and Iowa City West, and have played Prairie tight when the Hawks were at full strength. They’ve won four of their last five games heading into the postseason and have a dominant force that teams in this substate will struggle to match up with. Players to watch 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682264" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"], Prairie 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962635" first="Jake" last="Walter"], Prairie 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1200221" first="Michael" last="Lowery Jr"], Davenport North 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171678" first="Kyle" last="Lamonte"], Davenport North 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1055294" first="Cameron" last="Fens"], Hempstead 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962654" first="Kellen" last="Strohmeyer"], Hempstead 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1376678" first="Jacob" last="Williams"], Senior 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171682" first="Caden" last="Wilkins"], Bettendorf 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158508" first="Jai" last="Jensen"], Clinton   <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> Prairie vs. Davenport North North has a tricky game just to get to this point against Hempstead, and the Mustangs are certainly capable of knocking off the ’Cats. We’ll send North through to the final on the strength of their quick guards, which could cause some trouble for the Hawks guards in the final. That said, the physicality, toughness, and depth of Prairie sends the Hawks to the state tournament for the first time since 1998.