Games of the Week (Week 2)
MONDAY (Dec. 9) Game of the night: 2A #9 Pella Christian at PCM Coming off a marathon, two-overtime win over Pella, Pella Christian travels to PCM on Monday night for the night’s top game. PCM is also off to a…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Dec. 9)
Game of the night: 2A #9 Pella Christian at PCM
Coming off a marathon, two-overtime win over Pella, Pella Christian travels to PCM on Monday night for the night’s top game. PCM is also off to a 2-0 start, and they’ve been leaning on their defense early on, holding teams to 39.5 points a game, which has helped overcome an offense that is shooting just 30.5% to start the season. They’ll have their hands full with an Eagles attack that is averaging 69.5 points a game, led by 6-9 big man Josh Van Gorp, who is averaging 26 points and 14 rebounds so far this season. With Van Gorp holding down the paint, and Dan Jungling, Ryan Vande Haar, Keean Cadwell, Jack Vermeer and Bryant Agre all capable scoring options on the perimeter, Pella Christian just has way too much firepower for a struggling PCM offense to keep up with. PCM will try to slow this thing down and grind it out, but it won’t be enough.
Our pick: Pella Christian 67, PCM 50
Others to monitor
MFL-Mar-Mac at Edgewood-Colesburg
Clear Lake at Mason City
Iowa Falls-Alden at Nevada
TUESDAY (Dec. 10)
Game of the night: 3A #2 Winterset at 3A #1 Norwalk
Bowen BornBy virtue of Oskaloosa’s loss last week, this is a #1 vs. #2 meeting in Class 3A. A rematch of a game last season that was dominated by Norwalk (85-60), you can get your running shoes out for this one, as two of the state’s most potent offenses clash.
Norwalk is headlined by Northern Iowa signee Bowen Born, the frontrunner for Mr. Basketball who is averaging 32 points a game and pacing an offense that scored 84.5 points a game in the first week of the season. Tyler Johnson and Scott Anderson have combined to go 13-19 from the arc to open the year, giving the Warriors a trio of dynamic scoring threats on the perimeter. Winterset will have their hands full trying to slow them down. The Huskies brought back nearly everyone from last year’s third place team in 3A, led by Easton Darling, who is averaging 23.5 points a game. They share the ball well, averaging 19.5 assists a game on an average of 26 made field goals, and they’ll need to have a balanced attack that limits turnovers to prevent Norwalk from exploding. Easier said than done.
Our pick: Norwalk 74, Winterset 64
Others to monitor
1A #1 Lake Mills at 1A #9 Bishop Garrigan
4A #8 Waterloo West at 4A #1 Cedar Falls
George-Little Rock at 2A #6 Boyden-Hull
4A #3 Iowa City West at Bettendorf
Glenwood at 3A #3 Denison-Schleswig
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln at LeMars
Prince of Peace at 2A #8 North Linn
North Scott at Pleasant Valley
Ballard at 3A #10 Pella
Charles City at New Hampton
4A #6 Ankeny Centennial at West Des Moines Valley
4A #2 Johnston at Waukee
Central City at Lisbon
Danville at Notre Dame
THURSDAY (Dec. 12)
Game of the night: OABCIG at East Sac County
Cooper DeJeanComing off a state championship football season, OABCIG scored a 62-56 win over Kingsley-Pierson in the opening week. Star Cooper DeJean dropped 38 points in that game, as the Falcons are breaking in an almost entirely new supporting cast around him. Things will get trickier when they travel to East Sac County on Thursday night. The Raiders are off to an impressive 2-0 start that includes a win over South Central Calhoun, the presumed favorite in their league. They’ve been carried by Camden Schroeder, who is averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and shooting 79% from the floor. They’re able to put eight solid players on the floor on a nightly basis, and that should come in handy against an OABCIG team that lacks depth to open the year. If they can find a way to “slow down” DeJean, they should win this one comfortably.
Our pick: East Sac County 62, OABCIG 50
Others to monitor
Algona at Forest City
Central Lyon at Boyden-Hull
Clear Creek-Amana at 3A #8 Grinnell
Spirit Lake at Newell-Fonda
FRIDAY (Dec. 13)
Game of the night: 1A #2 St. Mary’s, Remsen at 1A #4 South O’Brien
Spencer SchorgOn a night loaded with great games around the state, this top-5 battle in 1A stands out above the rest. St. Mary’s returned everyone from a team that finished third in 1A last season, but they’ve been dealing with some injuries to open the year, with two starters and a key role player on the bench. South O’Brien went 2-1 in the opening week, with the loss coming by a single point to a West Sioux team that is top 5 in 2A. The Wolverines are allowing just over 40 points a game so far this season, and star forward Jackson Louscher has been outstanding, averaging 19 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists so far. Tristan Wilson has 11 steals, and their 2-3 zone has been great. St. Mary’s is led by Spencer Schorg, but four players scored in double figures in their season opening win over MMCRU. That type of balance will come in handy against South O’Brien. The Hawks took two of the three meetings these teams had last year, and if they can grab a road win here, shorthanded, that’d give them a quick leg up in the league race.
Our pick: St. Mary’s 52, South O’Brien 50
Others to monitor
3A #2 Winterset at ADM
4A #7 Dowling Catholic at 4A #5 Ankeny
2A #7 Regina at 2A #1 Camanche
Wahlert Catholic at Dubuque Senior
Central City at 1A #5 Easton Valley
Pleasant Valley at 3A #5 Assumption
4A #8 Waterloo West vs. Bolingbrook (IL)
Lee’s Summit Christian Academy (MO) at 4A #1 Cedar Falls
3A #9 Oskaloosa at Dallas Center-Grimes
Clear Lake at Iowa Falls-Alden
Western Dubuque at 4A #9 Hempstead
East Sac County at Newell-Fonda
4A #6 Ankeny Centennial at 4A #2 Johnston
Turkey Valley at MFL-Mar-Mac
Bettendorf at North Scott
Gilbert at PCM
3A #1 Norwalk at 2A #9 Pella Christian
Edgewood-Colesburg at Prince of Peace
Decorah at Waverly-Shell Rock
Rock Valley at West Lyon
SATURDAY (Dec. 14)
Game of the night: 3A #3 Denison-Schleswig at 3A #7 Carroll
Goanar Biliew (Photo credit: KMALand.com)This is an intriguing non-conference tilt between a pair of top-10 teams in 3A, and a rematch of a game won by Denison-Schleswig last season, 74-69, in overtime. Standout big man Goanar Biliew went off for 31 points and 20 rebounds in that game for the Monarchs, and Carroll still doesn’t have anyone to slow him down, so expect to see another massive game from the 6-8 star. Carroll had a strong opening week, winning a pair of games by an average score of 73.5-32.5. Four players scored in double figures in their opening win, and with Karter Lein and Colby Vincent on the floor, the Tigers have a lot of shooting. They will need to be knocking down shots to keep pace with Denison-Schleswig and Biliew, who should have his way in the paint and on the glass. In a game of contrasting strengths, we’re giving the edge to the Monarchs and Biliew.
Our pick: Denison-Schleswig 68, Carroll 60
Others to monitor
1A #8 Alburnett at Ankeny Christian Academy
Algona at 1A #9 Bishop Garrigan
ADM at Gilbert
Western Christian at LeMars
Cedar Rapids Washington at 2A #2 Monticello
Bolingbrook (IL) at 4A #1 Cedar Falls
Lee’s Summit Christian Academy (MO) vs. 4A #8 Waterloo West
Ames at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
Keota at 1A #7 WACO