STATE TOURNAMENT: Tuesday Preview
2A Quarterfinal: #4 Camanche (21-3) vs. #5 Monticello (21-2), 9:30 am
Analysis: This is the third meeting this season between these River Valley Conference rivals. Camanche won the first meeting, 77-55, at home, while Monticello took the rematch, 49-45.
This one should come down to which team is able to dictate the tempo this game is played at. Camanche has the fifth highest scoring offense in 2A, averaging 70.4 points a game, while Monticello is a dominant defensive team, ranking second in the class at just 37.8 points a game.
Led by Caleb Delzell Caleb Delzell 6'8" | SF Camanche | 2020 State IA , Cameron Soenksen Cameron Soenksen 6'2" | SG Camanche | 2020 State IA and LJ Henderson LJ Henderson 6'2" | SG Camanche | 2020 State IA , Camanche has arguably the most talented starting five in 2A. Delzell, Soenksen and Jordan Lawrence Jordan Lawrence 5'9" | PG Camanche | 2021 State IA can all really shoot it, and they share the ball really well, dishing out 397 assists against 213 turnovers as a team. The key in this one for the Indians may be the defensive ability of guard Jordan Lawrence Jordan Lawrence 5'9" | PG Camanche | 2021 State IA . He locked Monticello guard Tate Petersen down in the first meeting, making the freshman extremely uncomfortable with his full-court pressure. Petersen was much better in the second meeting.
Monticello is led by junior forward Justin Recker Justin Recker 6'6" | PF Monticello | 2021 State IA , a 6-5 forward who does a majority of his damage around the rim but can step out and knock down jumpers. Luke Lambert and Tate Petersen are going to be the keys for the Panthers in this game – they need to handle the athleticism and pressure that Camanche will throw at them. As long as they limit turnovers and prevent the Indians from easy transition buckets, they’ll be in fine shape.
Players to watch
Camanche:
Caleb Delzell
Caleb
Delzell
6'8" | SF
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 58.8 FG%),
Cameron Soenksen
Cameron
Soenksen
6'2" | SG
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(14.0 points, 55 3PM, 42.0 3P%),
LJ Henderson
LJ
Henderson
6'2" | SG
Camanche | 2020
State
IA
(11.7 points, 74 assists, 58.6 FG%),
Jordan Lawrence
Jordan
Lawrence
5'9" | PG
Camanche | 2021
State
IA
(8.9 points, 56 assists, 43 steals)
Monticello:
Justin Recker
Justin
Recker
6'6" | PF
Monticello | 2021
State
IA
(17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 75 assists, 64.4 FG%), Luke Lambert (10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 103 assists), Tate Petersen (9.8 points, 49 3PM, 43.4 3P%)
Our pick: Camanche 52, Monticello 46
Born
3A Quarterfinal: #1 Norwalk (21-3) vs. #8 Harlan (18-6), 11:15 am
Analysis: Future UNI Panther guard Bowen Born Bowen Born 5'11" | PG Norwalk | 2020 State #401 Nation IA is having a historic season for Norwalk, and is ready to cap off an outstanding high school career with a state title. The road starts against Harlan on Tuesday morning.
Born is averaging 37.5 points a game with 56-43-87 shooting splits, while also leading the Warriors with 96 assists. His 900 points this season ranks fifth on the single-season scoring list, and he’s on pace to break the single-season record held by Brooks McKowen (1,002 points). He’s not alone, however. Tyler Johnson is a great 3-point shooter with good size at 6-4, while Scott Anderson has knocked down over 40% of his 3s as well. The Warriors have six players averaging between 2.3 and 5.7 points a game behind Born and Johnson, which may not seem great, but it just means that someone different is the one stepping up on a nightly basis to complement that high scoring duo.
Harlan coach Mitch Osborn is 16-2 in quarterfinal games at State, so expect his Cyclones to be well-prepared with a gameplan to slow Born down. They’ve got a trio of double figure scorers in Connor Bruck, Michael Heithoff and Johnathan Monson, but they can’t afford to try and play a quick game here. They’ll need to try to grind this one out if they want to stay with the explosive Warriors.
Players to watch
Norwalk:
Bowen Born
Bowen
Born
5'11" | PG
Norwalk | 2020
State
#401
Nation
IA
(37.5 points, 96 assists, 52 steals, 55.9 FG%, 101 3PM, 42.8 3P%, 199-229 FT, 86.9 FT%), Tyler Johnson (14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 46.4 3P%)
Harlan: Connor Bruck (17.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 53.4 FG%, 48.6 3P%, 82.8 FT%), Michael Heithoff (11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 51.6 FG%), Johnathan Monson (11.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 70 assists)
Our pick: Norwalk 76, Harlan 60
Drew
3A Quarterfinal: #4 Center Point-Urbana (18-6) vs. #5 Ballard (18-6), 1:00 pm
Analysis: This is an interesting contrast, as Center Point-Urbana brings 3A’s top defensive team (allowing 41.1 points a game), and Ballard is the fourth highest scoring team (68.8 points a game).
Following an 0-2 start to the season, CPU has gone 18-4. They outlasted Marion in a triple overtime game to get here, and they’ve had role players like Alex Wade and Trey Johannes really step up their play down the stretch. This group starts with 6-5 forward Kole Tupa Kole Tupa 6'4" | SF Center Point-Urbana | 2020 State IA , who does a little bit of everything on the floor. He doesn’t lead the team in assists, but they do play through him. He’s a good passer who sees the floor well and rebounds at a high level. He’ll be tasked with keeping 6-6 Connor Drew Connor Drew 6'6" | PF Ballard | 2021 State IA and 6-5 Kale Krogh off the glass, easier said than done.
Drew is a talented combo forward who can score inside and out, and will be the best player on the floor. The key for Ballard will be the play of point guard Mason Murphy, who leads the team with 132 assists. He’ll need to protect the ball against a CPU team that doesn’t mind throwing some pressure at teams. Ballard is the team that has the higher ceiling, but this game is truly a toss-up.
Players to watch
Center Point-Urbana:
Kole Tupa
Kole
Tupa
6'4" | SF
Center Point-Urbana | 2020
State
IA
(14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 57.5 FG%), Caleb Andrews (9.4 points), Trey Johannes (7.5 points, 59.8 FG%), Alex Wade (4.9 points, 79 assists)
Ballard:
Connor Drew
Connor
Drew
6'6" | PF
Ballard | 2021
State
IA
(18.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 52.5 FG%, 40.4 3P%), Ashton Hermann (15.8 points, 66 steals), Mason Murphy (7.0 points, 132 assists), Kale Krogh (7.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 45 blocks)
Our pick: Ballard 60, Center Point-Urbana 57
Kutcher
3A Quarterfinal: #2 Mount Vernon vs. #7 Clear Creek-Amana (19-5), 2:45 pm
Analysis: These WaMaC foes met way back during the first week of the season, a 69-52 Mount Vernon win. CCA has gone 19-3 since that game, and should provide a much stiffer challenge this time around.
Mount Vernon is led by junior guard Keaton Kutcher Keaton Kutcher 6'2" | SG Mount Vernon | 2021 State IA . Kutcher is one of the best shooters in the state, and knocked down a game-winner to beat Central DeWitt to get to State. He holds an offer from Western Illinois, and is the type of player who can get red hot and put up 15 in a quarter. His sidekick is 6-3 slashing wing Noah Erickson. Erickson has great length and isn’t much of a shooter, but he excels at getting to the rim for finishes. Derek Jordan, at 6-8, provides the ‘Stangs with plenty of size in the paint, and he’ll need to be physical with CCA’s TJ Bollers TJ Bollers 6'5" | PF Clear-Creek-Amana | 2021 IA .
Bollers changed the substate final win over Assumption when he was able to stay out of foul trouble in the second half. A coveted defensive end recruit, he’s also a defensive dynamo on the hardwood. A big, strong, physical forward, he changes games inside the paint with his length and athleticism. The Clippers play an entertaining style of drive-and-kick basketball, with a number of players who can handle the ball, shoot it and pass it. Tyler Schrepfer and Nick O’Connor in particular will be keys in this game. Teams have struggled to shoot from 3 so far at Wells Fargo, but they’ll need to make some shots if CCA wants their dream season to continue.
Players to watch
Mount Vernon:
Keaton Kutcher
Keaton
Kutcher
6'2" | SG
Mount Vernon | 2021
State
IA
(20.0 points, 80 assists, 75 3PM, 52 steals), Noah Erickson (13.9 points, 57.1 FG%), Derek Jordan (9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 70.4 FG%)
Clear Creek-Amana:
Christian Withrow
Christian
Withrow
6'1" | CG
Clear Creek-Amana | 2021
State
IA
(15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 53.6 FG%), Tyler Schrepfer (11.5 points, 74 assists, 57 3PM, 45.2 3P%), Nick O’Connor (11.1 points, 53 3PM, 41.4 3P%),
TJ Bollers
TJ
Bollers
6'5" | PF
Clear-Creek-Amana | 2021
IA
(6.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 48 blocks)
Our pick: Mount Vernon 59, Clear Creek-Amana 52
3A Quarterfinal: #3 Pella (19-5) vs. #6 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (14-10), 4:30 pm
Analysis: Pella has the highest scoring offense in 3A, putting up 77.5 points a game, while Sergeant Bluff-Luton has a ton of length they can throw at the Pella scorers.
The Warriors go 6-7, 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 and 6-8 across their starting lineup, giving them a lot of size and length. The question will be whether Pella is too quick for them, which was the issue in SB-L’s quarterfinal loss to Winterset last year. Logan Shetterly Logan Shetterly 5'11" | PG Pella | 2020 State IA paces the high-powered attack, leading three who average in double figures (Treyton Sturgeon, John Oltman). The Dutch lead the 3A field in 3-pointers made with 225, so expect to see shots flying up left and right.
For Sergeant Bluff-Luton, they’ll go as 6-8 Daniel Wright Daniel Wright 6'8" | PF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2020 State IA goes. The future Wisconsin quarterback leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Deric Fitzgerald is the team’s top perimeter scoring threat, making a team-high 48 3s at a 44.4% clip. SB-L plays in the 4A Missouri River Conference against teams who like to get out and go, so they shouldn’t be intimidated by the pace.
Players to watch
Pella:
Logan Shetterly
Logan
Shetterly
5'11" | PG
Pella | 2020
State
IA
(19.3 points, 118 assists, 52 steals), Treyton Sturgeon (15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 50.8 FG%), John Oltman (12.8 points, 79 3PM)
Sergeant Bluff-Luton:
Daniel Wright
Daniel
Wright
6'8" | PF
Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2020
State
IA
(14.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 86 assists),
Jake Layman
Jake
Layman
6'7" | SF
Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021
State
IA
(11.0 points), Deric Fitzgerald (10.4 points, 44.4 3P%)
Our pick: Pella 68, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 60
DeVries
4A Quarterfinal: #4 Waukee (21-2) vs. #5 North Scott (22-1), 6:30 pm
Analysis: Something’s got to give in this one – the field’s top scoring offense in Waukee, averaging 71.7 points a game, against the top scoring defense in North Scott, allowing just 39.3 points a game.
The Warriors are led by two of the best shooters in the state in 6-7 Tucker DeVries Tucker DeVries 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #123 Nation IA and 6-7 Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA , who have combined to make 136 3s on the season at a 48% clip. Pryce Sandfort and Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA are also great shooters, making a combined 97 3s, and as a team Waukee shoots 45.4% from the arc. It’ll be interesting to see how their shooting adjusts to Wells Fargo, where teams have really struggled to shoot so far.
North Scott is led by future UNI Panther forward Ty Anderson Ty Anderson 6'7" | PF North Scott | 2020 State #457 Nation IA , an athletic forward who can control the glass and score from all three levels. Sam Kilburg Sam Kilburg 6'0" | PG North Scott | 2020 State IA and Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA provide some much needed shooting, but the Lancers will go as their defense goes. This is a group that likes to grind games out, using their physicality and discipline on defense to frustrate teams.
Players to watch
Waukee:
Tucker DeVries
Tucker
DeVries
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#123
Nation
IA
(21.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 113 assists, 57.4 FG%, 73 3PM, 50.0 3P%),
Payton Sandfort
Payton
Sandfort
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#138
Nation
IA
(19.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 63 3PM, 46.0 3P%)
North Scott:
Ty Anderson
Ty
Anderson
6'7" | PF
North Scott | 2020
State
#457
Nation
IA
(18.5 pints, 9.4 rebounds, 57.0 FG%),
Sam Kilburg
Sam
Kilburg
6'0" | PG
North Scott | 2020
State
IA
(15.1 points, 57 3PM, 46.7 3P%, 83 assists),
Landon Eiland
Landon
Eiland
6'4" | SF
North Scott | 2021
State
IA
(8.3 points, 43 3PM)
Our pick: Waukee 62, North Scott 56
McCullough
4A Quarterfinal: #1 Ankeny Centennial (23-1) vs. #8 Davenport North (16-8), 8:15 pm
Analysis: New coach Marc Polite has done a great job with Davenport North this season, and the Wildcats shocked Dubuque Senior to reach State for the first time since 2003. They’ll have their hands full, however, with the overwhelming size that Centennial can throw at them.
Centennial has one of the best scoring offenses and defenses in 4A, with a balanced lineup that has all five starters averaging at least 7.5 points a game. They’re led by the 6-8 duo of Cody McCullough Cody McCullough 6'7" | PF Ankeny Centennial | 2020 State IA and Micah Johnson Micah Johnson 6'7" | SF Ankeny Centennial | 2020 State IA , a pair of Division II signees who dominate the glass on a nightly basis. Speedy guard Jaron Crews, an Ankeny transfer, has added another dimension to their balanced attack, while Colin McAleer is a knockdown shooter who benefits from the attention paid to Johnson, McCullough and Crews.
North is led by the athletic junior wing combination of Jayden Houston Jayden Houston 6'3" | SF Davenport North | 2021 State IA and Quincy Wiseman Quincy Wiseman 6'3" | SF Davernport North | 2021 State IA . Houston is built like a truck and can get into the paint, while Wiseman pairs with Sam Wellman Sam Wellman 6'0" | CG Davenport North | 2020 State IA to give the ‘Cats some perimeter shooting. They’ll need to rebound well as a team if they want to stay in this game against a big, physical and talented Jaguars team.
Players to watch
Ankeny Centennial:
Cody McCullough
Cody
McCullough
6'7" | PF
Ankeny Centennial | 2020
State
IA
(13.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, 70.6 FG%, 59 blocks), Jaron Crews (13.7 points, 111 assists),
Micah Johnson
Micah
Johnson
6'7" | SF
Ankeny Centennial | 2020
State
IA
(12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 57.5 FG%)
Davenport North:
Jayden Houston
Jayden
Houston
6'3" | SF
Davenport North | 2021
State
IA
(17.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 56.2 FG%),
Quincy Wiseman
Quincy
Wiseman
6'3" | SF
Davernport North | 2021
State
IA
(14.3 points, 75 assists)
Our pick: Centennial 70, North 56