Tuesday's Top Games - Prep Hoops

4A #2 Waukee (3-0) at 4A #1 Waukee Northwest (2-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408.png"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408-300x197.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1356612"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Sean Bock <a href="https://247sports.com/player/pryce-sandfort-46097292/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">247Sports</a></figcaption></figure>   The two meetings between these crosstown rivals were already going to be huge games this season, then Omaha Biliew moved back to Waukee, and these games became enormous. The top two teams in the state will take the court at Northwest tonight, featuring the top two players in the state, and the winner will have cemented themselves as THE team to beat in Class 4A.   Waukee was impressive in the opening week, winning their three games by an average of 20.3 points a game and doing so with pretty strong efficiency numbers, posting 50-39-71 shooting splits. Omaha Biliew (22.7, 12.3 rebounds) has returned to Iowa in a big way, posting highlight-reel plays on both ends of the floor for the Warriors. The top-10 national recruit who is headed to Iowa State is an athletic freak capable of taking over the game at any point in time. [player_tooltip player_id='1171683' first='Mason' last='Costello'] (12.3, 41.7 3P%) has provided some perimeter shooting and scoring, while [player_tooltip player_id='1167685' first='Vance' last='Peiffer'] (11.3, 4.0 blocks) has been dominant in the paint on both ends of the floor. This Waukee team is deep, talented, and filled with experienced players who aren't going to shy away from Northwest.   Northwest has been playing a bit shorthanded early on, but still went through the opening week unblemished with a pair of quality wins, including an impressive defensive performance in their win over #4 Valley. Future Iowa wing [player_tooltip player_id='956868' first='Pryce' last='Sandfort'] (22.5, 16.5 rebounds, 5.0 blocks) has been a man-possessed early in the year on both ends of the floor and his matchup with Biliew will be worth 10 times the price of admission alone. [player_tooltip player_id='956887' first='Cade' last='Kelderman'] (12.0) is a steadying presence in the backcourt, and [player_tooltip player_id='1751176' first='Andrew' last='Cose'] (12.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1240092' first='Henry' last='Manning'] (8.5), and [player_tooltip player_id='1381421' first='Nitish' last='Sankaranthi'] (7.0) have gotten off to solid starts as well this season. The Wolves won't go as deep into their bench as Waukee, which could be advantage Warriors in what figures to be an emotionally charged game.   3A #9 Williamsburg (0-0) vs. 3A #1 Xavier (2-0) [at Coe College]   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Aidan-Yamilkoski-crop-3226x2118-1652846577.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Aidan-Yamilkoski-crop-3226x2118-1652846577-300x197.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1458739"/></a></figure>   This is an interesting non-conference game in 3A being played at a neutral site in Cedar Rapids at Coe College, which will give both teams some experience playing in a larger venue come postseason play.   Xavier came into the season with high expectations and the Saints have played well early, rising a few spots to the top-ranked team in 3A heading into this contest. They're a high-powered offensive attack that is averaging 75.5 points a game with impressive 54-45-58 shooting splits as a team. Four players are averaging between 15.0 and 17.5 points a game so far in [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Tyler' last='Netolicky'] (17.5, 11.0 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='1367451' first='Josef' last='Lemker'] (16.5), [player_tooltip player_id='1171667' first='Joseph' last='Bean'] (16.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1167689' first='Aidan' last='Yamilkoski'] (15.0). The emergence of Netolicky and Lemker as reliable scoring threats has been huge for the Saints early on. We knew that Bean and Yamilkoski could fill it up, but if the other two are going to give Xavier this type of production and efficiency all year, watch out 3A.   This will be the season debut for Williamsburg, who didn't schedule a game in the opening week of the season, anticipating another long postseason run in football. [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (15.3 points a game last season) is the team's headliner, but this is a Raiders team that brings back seven key rotation pieces and should be able to comfortably go fairly deep into their bench this season. Weisskopf is a tremendous athlete who has committed to play football at Iowa and provides a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1426814' first='Ethan' last='Harman'] (9.8) provides some shooting and length on the perimeter, and four other returnees averaged at least 4.9 points a game, giving them a number of threats.   2A #3 Central Lyon (2-0) at MOC-Floyd Valley (3-0)   Central Lyon has won four straight meetings between these Siouxland Conference rivals. These two teams figure to be the top two teams in the league this season, so this game is vital for grabbing control of the league early on.   MOC-Floyd Valley had a strong opening week, shooting 56.4% from the floor and putting up 77.7 points a game in three blowout wins. The Dutchmen are led by a trio of dynamic scoring threats in [player_tooltip player_id='1376686' first='Jesse' last='Van Kalsbeek'] (23.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1167713' first='Ayden' last='Klein'] (18.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1167726' first='Luke' last='Korver'] (15.5). All three are excellent perimeter shooters who can create their own shots or play without the ball in their hands.   Central Lyon hasn't put individual stats into Bound yet, but the Lions rolled in the opening week against Okoboji (78-43) and Sheldon (75-31). Future Iowa football player [player_tooltip player_id='1253020' first='Zach' last='Lutmer'] (19.7 points a game last season) is the headliner for the Lions, a dynamic two-way guard who can dominate games even when he isn't scoring. [player_tooltip player_id='1367399' first='Andrew' last='Austin'] (13.2) is a bouncy, athletic forward who can score inside and out, and they've gotten strong production out of some newcomers early on.   Van Meter (1-0) at 1A #6 ACGC (2-0)   This is a huge early season game in the West Central Conference, a league that Van Meter and Des Moines Christian have absolutely dominated in recent years. Upstart ACGC is attempting to take over control of the conference this year, and a win here would go a long way in establishing the Chargers as a viable threat. Easier said than done, however, as Van Meter has won 13 straight meetings against the Chargers.   Van Meter is always a solid defensive team filled with physical, athletic players, and this year looks to be no different, as they suffocated Interstate 35 in their opener in a 71-34 win. Six players scored at least eight points in that game, led by senior guard Carter Durflinger (16.0), one of the lone returnees with significant experience for the Bulldogs. Look for Durflinger and wing [player_tooltip player_id='1240069' first='Aydn' last='Netten'] (9.0) to play significant roles in this one as this is a major step up in competition for a number of new faces to varsity action.   ACGC had no problems lighting up the scoreboard in the opening week of the season, averaging 77 points a game in wins over Collins-Maxwell and Woodward-Granger. However, attacking the Van Meter defense is a significantly taller task than those two were. Four players are averaging double-figures in the early season for the Chargers - Brock Littler (20.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'] (15.5), [player_tooltip player_id='1367402' first='Ben' last='Marsh'] (14.0), and Anthony Solorzano (12.5). That type of balanced firepower is a major benefit and will make them difficult to defend all year long, but they have turned it over too much (16.5 turnovers a game) early on and that will need to tighten up against a stout Bulldogs' defense if the Chargers want to win and grab early control of the league.   WACO (2-0) at Winfield-Mt. Union (2-0)   These were two of the best defensive teams in Class 1A last season, and both are off to solid 2-0 starts in blowout wins. WACO has beaten Wapello and Holy Trinity Catholic by an average margin of 30.5 points, while WMU has topped Pekin and Louisa-Muscatine by an average of 28 points a game. These are the two best teams in the SEISC and this should be a defensive battle between a pair of teams filled with athletic, physical players who take pride in their ability to defend.   Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476982' first='Hunter' last='Hughes'] (24.0) has been stellar to open the year for the Warriors, posting 61-42-63 shooting splits in their first two wins and showing that he can be a menace on the defensive end, swiping 10 steals in their first two games. A dynamic three-level scorer with good size, he's a tough matchup for anyone with his ability to shoot it or get to the bucket. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1587378' first='Colton' last='Leichty'] (9.0) has been solid in the paint alongside senior Cody Graber (8.0), and the Warriors are able to comfortably go fairly deep into their bench, which could be beneficial in what figures to be a physical game with potentially a lot of fouls being called.   Leichty and Graber will have their hands full with WMU star [player_tooltip player_id='1171697' first='Cam' last='Buffington'] (25.5), an athletic, physical freak who has already committed to play football at Iowa but is a terror on the hardwood as well. Buffington is a big-time interior scoring presence who uses his strength and athleticism to dominate games on both ends of the floor. Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1171698' first='Abram' last='Edwards'] (11.0, 10.0 rebounds) is averaging a double-double and is a talented playmaking combo forward, while younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='1381409' first='Jake' last='Edwards'] (10.0) is the team's top perimeter shooting threat. Keeping Buffington off the offensive glass will be huge for WACO if they want to pick up a big road win here.

4A #2 Waukee (3-0) at 4A #1 Waukee Northwest (2-0)