Power Score Top 3 Matchups This Week (Jan. 5)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 13 Knoxville (6-0) at No. 18 Pella (6-1), Monday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With an undefeated start to the year, including a five-point win over the reigning 3A state champion MOC-Floyd Valley, Knoxville looks like a serious threat in Iowa's second-largest class to start the year. With four different players averaging double-figures in scoring, the Panthers have a crew of weapons that can beat you in different ways, with all four standing between 5-foot-9 and 6-foot-3. The two top scorers for Knoxville are [player_tooltip player_id='2231637' first='Lincoln' last='Norris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2731843' first='Drake' last='Larson'], as Norris is putting up 19.2 points per contest with Larson at 18.8 PPG. Two high-level three-point shooters, Norris is shooting 44.7% from deep, while Larson is shooting 46.7%. Larson also averages a whopping 9.2 assists per game, with a <em>wild </em>assist-to-turnover ratio of 7.86. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing another team that's undefeated against all the competition in 3A and lower, Pella's only loss came to 4A Waukee. That, and they've got some top-tier scorers of their own. 6-foot-5 forward, [player_tooltip player_id='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] is averaging 20.1 PPG and 6.4 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'], who stands at 6-foot-3, is averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 4 Muscatine (6-0) at No. 10 Bettendorf (5-1), Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now to the 4A ranks, two eastern Iowa squads face off in the Quad Cities. Muscatine's best two wins came in the form of single-digit victories over North Scott and Pleasant Valley. With a three-headed monster in scoring, as a crew of 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 hoopers, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1517427' first='Talan' last='Becker']'s 16.5 PPG and 46.7% three-point shooting, having already made 32 triples so far this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1574870' first='Spencer' last='Biah'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2419783' first='Sam' last='Church'] aren't all that far behind, as Biah is averaging 13.7 PPG, and Church is at 10.3 PPG. Biah, one of the more physical players on the Muskie roster, leads his team in rebounds with 6.7 per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a early-season, ten-point win over Linn-Mar at home, Bettendorf hasn't put together a signature victory since December 2. Following an 18-point loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Conference Crossover in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, the Bulldogs could use a win over a program like Muscatine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everything on the offensive side of the ball starts with 6-foot junior guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'], who is averaging 20.9 PPG and 3.6 rebounds per contest, while shooting 41.3% from deep. Caden Gray is the second-leading scorer for the Bulldogs, who is averaging 10.7 PPG and 4.9 rebounds per game. . </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 16 St. Edmond (5-0) at No. 11 Clear Lake (4-0), Friday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With both teams coming off a Thursday night game, we'll get a back-to-back matchup between a top team in 1A and 3A runners-up. The night before, Clear Lake faces Waverly-Shell Rock (3-3) and St. Edmond takes on a rescheduled game from December 11 against South Hamilton (0-8). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Led by the No. 6 scorer in all classes and the No. 2 scorer in 1A, [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'], the Gaels are one of the top scoring teams in the state. Averaging 28 PPG and 9.4 rebounds per game, the 6-foot-5 Horn should be in the running for Iowa's Mr. Basketball. [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] are critical pieces for St. Edmond, as well, as Bargfrede averages 13.4 PPG and Koopman puts up 9.4 PPG to go with a team-leading 10.4 rebounds per game, despite standing at just 6-foot-2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning key pieces from last season's run to the state title game, junior multisport star, [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] is leading the way in scoring for the Lions, averaging 18.8 PPG and 4.5 rebounds per contest. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2389820' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'] is putting up 12.5 points and six rebounds per game. With three of their four wins coming by 30 or more points, it will be interesting to see how the Lions handle the Gaels on Friday night at Clear Lake. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->