Games of the Week (Week 8)
MONDAY (Jan. 27) Game of the night: 1A #6 Martensdale-St. Mary’s (13-1) at 3A #6 Winterset (9-3) Easton Darling Give credit to both of these teams for this game happening. Martensdale-St. Mary’s plays in (arguably) the worst conference in the…
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Continue ReadingMONDAY (Jan. 27)
Game of the night: 1A #6 Martensdale-St. Mary’s (13-1) at 3A #6 Winterset (9-3)
Easton DarlingGive credit to both of these teams for this game happening. Martensdale-St. Mary’s plays in (arguably) the worst conference in the state, and they know they need to test themselves against bigger competition before the postseason starts, and they’re doing just that with this game. They’ve also beaten 3A Webster City and have a game scheduled against 3A Knoxville later this season. With 6-10 big man Isaac Gavin (13.3) in the paint, and a pair of solid 6-3 wings on the perimeter in Carson Elbert (12.5) and Trey Baker (17.4), the Blue Devils have pretty good size and length, especially at the 1A level. The straw that stirs the drink is Jack Franey (8.9), a high-level point guard who has dished out 99 assists against just 26 turnovers this year. He’ll have his hands full with a Winterset team that is loaded with quality guards, most notably lefty senior Easton Darling (26.6), one of the state’s top scoring threats. Look for Darling, Dawson Forgy (9.3) and Hunter Farr (8.7) to try and apply some pressure on that Martensdale guards, taking advantage of their quickness and athleticism. This game will help the Blue Devils in the long run, but it’s Winterset and Darling who should come away with the win.
Our pick: Winterset 72, Martensdale-St. Mary’s 60
Others to monitor
2A #8 Dyersville Beckman at Clear Creek-Amana
Ames at Johnston
Central DeWitt at 3A #3 Marion
TUESDAY (Jan. 28)
Game of the night: 4A #4 Ankeny Centennial (13-1) at 4A #3 Waukee (10-1)
Tucker DeVriesFew teams in the state have been hotter than Centennial, who have won their last seven games by an average of 23.1 points a night. The Jaguars are riding a dominant defense that ranks 5th in 4A, allowing just 47.4 points a game. They’ve got great size with a pair of 6-8 forwards, Cody McCullough (12.6) and Micah Johnson (11.9), who can control the glass and protect the paint, while guard Jaron Crews (15.5) has emerged as a high-level scorer for them. They’ll need to find a way to slow down Waukee’s high-powered duo of junior wings, Tucker DeVries (22.3) and Payton Sandfort (19.8). Both possess excellent size and length at 6-6/6-7, so it’ll be key for Centennial to contest their shots. The Warriors were knocked off by Valley on Friday night, 77-72 in overtime, handing them their first loss of the season, and they’ll need to get more production out of the non-DeVries/Sandfort players if they want to avoid going on a losing streak. We think they’ll get some more out of guys like Wyatt Heston here, and come away with a key home win.
Our pick: Waukee 68, Centennial 64
Others to monitor
Central DeWitt at 2A #8 Dyersville Beckman
Southeast Polk at Des Moines North
Harlan at Denison-Schleswig
Liberty at 4A #10 Hempstead
2A #5 Van Meter at Mount Ayr
2A #2 Camanche at North Cedar
Pella Christian at 3A #1 Norwalk
Indianola at 3A #4 Pella
Alburnett at 1A #10 Springville
THURSDAY (Jan. 30)
Game of the night: Albia (11-2) at Knoxville (10-3)
Kieren Nichols (Photo credit: Knoxville Journal Express)The South Central Conference is going to be decided within a week, as Albia and Knoxville play a pair of games within five days. Albia enters the week with an 8-1 record against league foes, while Knoxville is 7-0. A Panthers sweep would wrap the league title up, and they’re likely favored to do so (BC Moore’s power rankings system has them as a 7-point favorite here, and 4.5-point favorite in Albia next week). The Panthers are led by high-scoring guard Kieren Nichols, who is averaging 27.2 points a game and shooting 42.5% from behind the arc. He’s a quick guard who gets to the bucket and finishes, and he’s clearly a threat to pull up and shoot it as well. The addition of wing scorer Spencer Hixson (14.4), a Des Moines Christian transfer, has been huge for Knoxville, giving them some size and scoring ability alongside Nichols. Albia counters with a team led by 6-4 point guard Blake Chance (15.0), who leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Brayden Messamaker (10.7) gives them some perimeter shooting, but they’ll need to find a way to slow down Nichols if they want to steal a road win here and keep their league title hopes alive. Easier said than done. These teams split their meetings last year, but Nichols averaged 21.5 points on 57% shooting. He’s better now.
Our pick: Knoxville 63, Albia 57
Others to monitor
1A #2 Montezuma at PCM
2A #1 West Sioux at West Lyon
FRIDAY (Jan. 31)
Game of the night: 3A #1 Norwalk (11-2) at 3A #4 Pella (11-2)
Bowen BornIf you’re a fan of up-tempo basketball, get out to Pella on Friday night for this one. These are the top two scoring teams in 3A, with Norwalk averaging 74.2 points a game and Pella at 78.0 a night. The Dutch won the first meeting this season, 80-74, in Norwalk, so the Warriors will be looking for some revenge here. Norwalk senior guard Bowen Born (39.1) has been on an absolute tear during the Warriors’ seven-game winning streak following that loss to Pella. He’s averaging 41.4 points on 58-46-88 shooting splits and has been absolutely dominant. (He also scored 47 in the loss to Pella earlier this season.) The Dutch enter the week on a nine-game winning streak, the longest in 3A. They’ve got a more balanced approach, with four players averaging in double figures, led by Logan Shetterly (19.2), while Treyton Sturgeon (16.8) has been dominant in the paint for this group. Neither team is going to take their foot off the gas in this one, so it should be highly entertaining from start to finish. While Pella won the first meeting, we expect to see the Warriors get a bit of revenge here, with another outstanding Born performance leading the charge in what should be an outstanding game.
Our pick: Norwalk 77, Pella 74
Others to monitor
Dowling Catholic at 4A #4 Ankeny Centennial
West Lyon at 2A #7 Boyden-Hull
3A #6 Winterset at 3A #5 Carroll
3A #8 Mount Vernon at Central DeWitt
Rock Valley at 3A #7 MOC-Floyd Valley
Indianola at Pella Christian
4A #9 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln at Sergeant Bluff-Luton
3A #9 Gilbert at South Hamilton
4A #1 Cedar Falls at 4A #8 Waterloo West
SATURDAY (Feb. 1)
Game of the night: 2A #2 Camanche (10-1) at 4A #6 Senior (10-1)
Cooper MedingerSenior has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season around the state, climbing up to #6 in the 4A poll this week after losing just about everyone from the 4A runner-up squad of a year ago. They’re a much different looking team, playing a much different style, using their athleticism and length to throw a bunch of different presses and defensive looks at opponents, and it’s been working so far. They’re led by the athletic forward tandem of Kendrick Watkins-Hogue (11.5) and Daquon Lewis (10.2), while guard Cooper Medinger (10.1) has been the experienced, steadying influence for this group. Camanche suffered their first loss of the season over the weekend, dropping a game to an undefeated Indian Creek team from Illinois. The Indians have four players averaging in double figures, with a fifth just outside at 9.2 points a game. With the differing pressure looks that Senior will throw at Camanche, ball handling and decision making will be paramount for them. Even if the Indians don’t win here, it’ll be a great test for them and really prepare them for the 2A postseason, where they’ll be one of the top contenders to take home a State title.
Our pick: Senior 65, Camanche 58
Others to monitor
Don Bosco vs. Alburnett
St. Albert at 4A #9 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln
4A #10 Hempstead vs. Dowling Catholic
3A #8 Mount Vernon at Grinnell
New London at Highland
2A #6 Monticello at Regina