Class 2A - [/URL]District 1[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District One
Akron-Westfield
Central Lyon, Rock Rapids
Hinton
Sioux Center
Unity Christian, Orange City
West Lyon, Inwood
West Sioux, Hawarden
Western Christian, Hull
How
did District 1 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
With five teams currently and potentially six having a shot at making it to
the substate final, it will not be an easy road for the teams in this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*Youth has been making an impact in the Akron-Westfield lineup as the team
boasts a sophomore and a freshman as their top two scorers. Obviously when
you have that many young players making an impact, it is not an easy road for
the team and they have obviously been taking their lumps. But down the
road, this definitely could be a team to keep an eye out for.
*Central Lyon, Rock Rapids has been through some struggles this year but they
appear to be playing their best basketball of the season. The team has won
three of their last four against some good competition and that could really pay
dividends down the road. This is definitely a junior laden team that has
played in some huge sporting events over the last six months.
*Hinton is one team that started out under the radar and still remains that way
today. The Blackhawks currently boast an impressive 12-2 record and have
lost only once since the holiday break. The duo of Adam and Nate Freed
have combined to average nearly 35 points per game.
*When Sioux Center losses, they do it in back to back fashion. And that is
why the team has lost four games this year. But even though the record is
not as good as others in this district, playing against some very tough
competition every night will definitely prepare them for the playoffs.
*Unity Christian, Orange City has continued to build on their basketball program
and has yet another shot at making the State tournament. The Knights were
up and down early but have really hit their stride and have not lost since
before the holidays. Like always, their offensive attack is extremely
balanced. It is tough for opponents to focus on five players that average
seven points or more.
*West Lyon, Inwood is sitting just about the .500 mark but that record has a lot
to do with their competition. Against Sioux Center, Boyden Hull, and other
top programs this team has done their best to compete. And considering
their record, they have not done a bad job to this point. Lance Van Roekel
is one of the most explosive scorers in this district.
*Who would have guessed that at this point in the season, West Sioux, Hawarden
is currently undefeated and rated as one of the best teams in Class 2A?
The problem is that many people question the schedule that they have been
playing. They were able to get a hard fought win over Unity Christian but
few other games will help them for the playoffs. Keep an eye on the trio
of Chase Vander Feen, Jerod Reinking, and Brice Buryanek. They are
athletic and can score.
*Western Christian, Hull may be on a current two game skid but they are talented
and tradition rich once again this season. The team has played some top
competition and played every opponent tough. Their 8-5 record may not be
overly impressive but this is a team to watch out for. They are loaded
with younger players and will be dangerously good over the next three years.
Sleeper Team: Western Christian
The team is always talented and if they get a break, could be playing for a
State title.
District Champions: Sioux Center
This will definitely will be a controversial pick but Sioux Center is talented,
experienced, and well coached. That plus their tough schedule will
definitely prepare them for a deep postseason run.
Predictions:
1.) Sioux Center
2.) West Sioux, Hawarden
3.) Unity Christian, Orange City
4.) Western Christian, Hull
5.) Hinton
6.) West Lyon, Inwood
7.) Central Lyon, Rock Rapids
8.) Akron-Westfield
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - [/URL]District 2
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Two
Cherokee, Washington
Estherville Lincoln Central
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
Okoboji, Milford
Sheldon
Sibley-Ocheyedan
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids
South O’Brien, Paullina
How
did District 2 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Considering all of the outstanding teams in District 1, this district pales
in comparison. And Sheldon could be the team that benefits most from the
pairings.
Team Breakdowns:
*With only three wins on the year, Cherokee, Washington has not been having
the type of success that they had hoped for. But considering their last
four games were against Western Christian, Emmetsburg, Alta, and LeMars, things
have to get easier for the Braves. Cory Ege and Michael Boothby will be
trying to pick up their game throughout the rest of the winter.
*Unfortunately for Estherville Lincoln Central, their success on the football
field could not carry over to the basketball court. The Midgets did
recently pull off a big win against Storm Lake but have struggled for much of
the way. The team has a very balanced attack and their youth will help
down the road.
*Sporadic would be the best word to describe Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. The
Hawks have won seven games this year but have only one winning streak of two
games and continue to alternate victories with losses. That type of play
will not allow them to get far in the postseason. As for individual
players, Jon Walburg is one of the best players in the Class of 2007 if he can
stay focused.
*With their only win this year coming against Class 1A opponent Harris-Lake
Park, the ball has not been bouncing the way of Okoboji, Milford much this year.
What has not helped is their schedule loaded with talented teams.
*On paper, there is no doubt that Sheldon is the definite favorite in this
district. They have a lot of talent and have only lost one game this
winter. And with they will get a chance to avenge that loss to Emmetsburg
early next month. Stephen Kirschbaum has been dominating the scoring while
putting up over twenty points per game but Justin Kuiper, David Doely, and Matt
DeJong have all proven to be scoring threats.
*By far the best win this year for Sibley-Ocheyedan has been a four point
victory against defending Class 1A champion George-Little Rock. The
problem is that they have only won two other games and both were against
Okoboji. This is a very young team and that youth will get better with the
varsity experience.
*Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids has been taking care of business this year on the
court and has raced off to a 9-4 start. But the Rebels must prove that
they are for real against top competition. Their schedule has been against
mostly 1A teams and that could come back and haunt them in the playoffs.
*South O’Brien, Paullina is definitely a team of streaks. They have gone
from winning four of five to losing six of seven. And the unfortunate
thing is that they are in the midst of that losing streak. Leading scorers
Andy Puhrmann and Brennen Triplett must focus on turning things around during
the rest of the year.
Sleeper Team: H-M-S
Jon Walburg and company are extremely talented. They must now prove they
can put it together for more than one game.
District Champions: Sheldon
The Orabs are too talented and focused to lose before the substate finale.
Predictions:
1.) Sheldon
2.) Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
3.) Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids
4.) Cherokee, Washington
5.) South O’Brien, Paullina
6.) Estherville Lincoln Central
7.) Sibley-Ocheyedan
8.) Okoboji, Milford
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Three
Belmond-Klemme
Clarion-Goldfield
Eagle Grove
Emmetsburg
Garner-Hayfield
Manson Northwest Webster
North Iowa, Buffalo Center
Pocahontas Area
How
did District 3 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Emmetsburg and Garner-Hayfield have combined for only three losses on the
year and appear to be the odds on favorite to battle for the district title.
But with Pocahontas Area and others, don't expect the top two teams to advance
in the postseason easily.
Team Breakdowns:
*The positive for Belmond-Klemme is that they have won both of their games
since the holiday break and were able to avenge one of their early losses.
That shows that the Broncos have gotten better throughout the season and are
making progress. The problem is that their two victories have come against
Class 1A opponents. With this district, that may not bode well for the
team.
*Clarion-Goldfield won their first game, lost thirteen straight, and pulled out
a victory over Belmond-Klemme on Saturday. They play a brutal schedule in
the North Central conference against teams like Humboldt, St. Edmond, Clear
Lake, and many other bigger schools. It may not show in their record but
that competition could help the Cowboys pull off a surprise or two in the
playoffs.
*Eagle Grove is a young team playing against some good competition in the North
Central but that has not stopped them from competing every night. The team
is very balanced scoring, led by junior Jon Morris, but have been unable to pull
off any real conference shockers. The Eagles have given opponents tough
games, but it appears Morris and company have only been able to win games they
were expected to. If they want any chance in the postseason, Eagle Grove
will have to shock the state against Emmetsburg or Garner-Hayfield.
*Speaking of Emmetsburg, they are definitely the favorite to get to the substate
finale out of this district. The E-Hawks lost their first game of the year
but have reeled off fourteen straight wins since that game. This team
senior laden and these players had a chance to get to Des Moines as sophomores.
Now that they are in their final year at the high school level, Emmetsburg will
be focused on getting to State and making a run at taking home a trophy.
*They may have been upset over the weekend against Lake Mills but that does not
take away from what Garner-Hayfield has accomplished this year. They are
one of the biggest surprises in Class 2A with their 14-2 record and Nick Stromer
has made a name for himself as one of the elite players in the Class of 2009.
This sophomore is leading an older team by scoring nearing twenty points per
game. If the Cardinals want a shot to get to State, they must peak at the
end of the year to compete with an overly talented Emmetsburg team.
*If you could take away the six game losing streak that Manson Northwest Webster
had early in the year, they would be 7-4 overall and looking good. But
that stretch showed that they are vulnerable against quality competition.
The Cougars just did not have what it took to play with Rockwell City-Lytton,
Humboldt, Emmetsburg, and other top notch teams. That stretch would have
been tough for any team in Iowa but they appear to have bounced back.
Senior Toby Beneke is leading a balanced scoring attack that has a big game this
weekend against Southern Cal.
*North Iowa, Buffalo Center has been a pleasant surprise this year as they
currently boast a 9-6 record on the year. And the majority of losses this
year for the Bison have been close. That shows that this version of the
team is not getting blown out. North Iowa has six players that have proven
all year they can put points on the board. And that balance has given the
opposition fits all year.
*Since their huge upset in the season opener against Emmetsburg, Pocahontas Area
has been a very inconsistent team. They currently possess a 9-7 record but
their greatest win streak of the year is two games. The Indians have been
playing against top Class 1A teams but their team has struggled in these games.
If they hope for a playoff run, they must rekindle the magic they had in the
first game and start playing with a lot more consistency. Leading scorer
Ryan Baade has to pick up his game as well.
Sleeper Team: Garner-Hayfield
I really think that almost everyone looking at this district is sleeping on
Garner. They may have an outstanding record but still are the darkhorse
compared to the E-Hawks.
District Champions: Emmetsburg
This team is too talented and too experienced to be stopped before the State
tournament. It will give the seniors one last chance at a title.
Predictions:
Emmetsburg
Garner-Hayfield
Eagle Grove
Pocahontas Area
North Iowa, Buffalo Center
Manson Northwest Webster
Clarion-Goldfield
Belmond-Klemme
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Four
Gilbert
Jefferson-Scranton
Ogden
Prairie Valley, Gowrie
Roland-Story, Story City
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge
South Hamilton, Jewell
Southern Cal, Lake City
How
did District 4 do at the State tournament?
St. Edmond
Defeated Osage in the quarterfinals (61-50)
Defeated Northeast Gooselake in the semifinals (57-35)
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the finals (46-39)
Quick Overview:
This district is definitely loaded with outstanding players and that will
make for a great run towards Des Moines. The trio of favorites include
Roland Story, St. Edmond, and South Hamilton.
Team Breakdowns:
*Gilbert may have started the year off slow but the team has reeled off
three straight wins and have a big contest tonight against Bondurant-Farrar.
With many of the teams in this district from the same conference, most of the
teams will be rather familiar with one another. But will that help or help
Grant Ridpath and the Tigers?
*The success that
Jefferson-Scranton had on the football field has not been able to carry over to
the basketball court. They have been able to win five games but there have
some bad losses along the way. If the Rams hope to make an impact in this
district, Brian Waskow and Tim Kurth will need to pick up their play on both
ends of the floor.
*Ogden has one of the most talented individual athletes in this district with
James Chapline but the team has been very up and down. The positive for
the Bulldogs is that they have won four of seven games since the holiday break.
Ogden has a big few weeks coming up to see if they are really ready for a
postseason run. With Roland Story, Bondurant-Farrar, and Gilbert up next
in that order, the team will have their hands full.
*It really has showed this year how talented the senior class at
Prairie Valley, Gowrie was last year. This version of the team has been
struggling to put points on the board and that is obviously when looking at
their scores. The Warriors have lost all seven games since the holiday
break and need to tune up their offense is they hope to upset anyone in the
playoffs.
*With Jack Bruns in his third year starting on varsity,
Roland-Story, Story City has been having a great year. The junior class
has really stepped up this year for the team and has been vital in the 13-2
start that they are off to. And considering they lost twice by a combined
three points, the Norsemen are very close to be sitting with an undefeated
record at this point in the year.
*After opening the holiday break with two straight losses, it appears as if
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge is hitting their late season stride. Led by bigman
Andy Nagel, the youthfulness of the team has started playing their best
basketball of the season. The team has only one senior logging serious
minutes and that cost them early in the year. But it appears as if the
sophomores have become accustomed to the varsity level and will be tough to beat
down the stretch.
*South Hamilton, Jewell won one of the biggest games of the season recently with
a two point victory against Roland Story. That puts the team in serious
contention for the conference title and in a good spot for the postseason.
The Hawks have been led by the stellar play of Lee Knickerbocker and Brent
Johnson. This duo has combined to score nearly thirty points per game and
has been impressive thus far.
*With their success last basketball season and on the football field this fall,
I expected a lot out of
Southern Cal, Lake City. The problem is that the Mustangs have struggled
to really put things together and it shows in their inconsistent play this year.
It seems as if the team will win a big game and then struggle in their next two.
With Gavin Crandall and John Blessington leading the way, they are very talented
but haven't been able to click yet this year.
Sleeper Team: Roland Story
A recent two point loss to South Hamilton puts the revenge factor on their side
for the playoffs. And Jack Bruns is an outstanding basketball player.
District Champions: St Edmond
Like always, the Gaels are talented and well coached. They started the
year off slowly because they have three inexperienced sophomores getting major
playing time. But now that the end of the year is nearing, these players
are turning into varsity veterans.
Predictions:
1.)
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge
2.)
Roland-Story, Story City
3.)
South Hamilton, Jewell
4.)
Ogden
5.)
Southern Cal, Lake City
6.)
Gilbert
7.)
Jefferson-Scranton
8.)
Prairie Valley, Gowrie
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Five
AGWSR, Ackley
Hampton-Dumont
Lake Mills
Newman Catholic, Mason City
North Butler, Greene
Osage
Rockford
Saint Ansgar
How
did District 5 do at the State tournament?
North Butler
Lost to Bondurant-Farrar in the quarterfinals (49-37)
Osage
Lost to St. Edmond in the quarterfinals (61-50)
Quick Overview:
With North Butler in this district, they definitely are the odds on
favorite. No other team has really been able to make a substantial push
towards the top of the district although there are other teams to keep an eye
on.
Team Breakdowns:
*With all the talent that AGWSR, Ackley has had over the past years, it
eventually would have to rebuild. That finally has hit this season as the
Cougars have been taking their lumps against teams they have dominated in the
past. The scary thing about this team is that they appear to be much
better than their 4-10 record shows. AGWSR has played a lot of good teams
tough but have not been able to break through and pull off an upset.
*One advantage that Hampton-Dumont boasts for the playoffs is their tough
regular season schedule. The Bulldogs play some talented teams in the
North Central conference and have done a nice job to get to 10-7 at this point
in the year. With Kyle DeBoer leading the way, this team definitely has
the talent to make a run at North Butler. They lost by one when the two
teams played before the holiday break but could get another chance in the
postseason.
*Lake Mills was able to pull off a huge upset over Garner-Hayfield recently but
couldn't follow that up against Rockford. If this Bulldog is going to win
a huge game and then the next, that does not bode well for them doing any type
of damage in the playoffs. Offensively, this is a very balanced team led
by a strong junior class. If they can focus on getting better, this may
not be the year but watch out next season.
*Newman Catholic, Mason City has won their last three games and that has moved
the team to .500 at 8-8. They have had some big wins but some of their
losses have been ugly. Scoring wise, John Bothwell has been putting up All
State type numbers. He is scoring nearly twenty points per game and
hitting some tough shots. He will need to continue that stellar play if
the team wants a chance at surprising teams in the playoffs.
*One big reason that North Butler, Greene is tough to beat is that all five of
their starters have proven they can score. That is very difficult to
defend because normally at the Class 2A level, most teams have at least one or
two players who struggle to put points on the board. Transfers from
Wisconsin, Jalaal Madyun and Jarael Madyun, have really fit in well and are
putting up around twenty points per game between them. And also don't
sleep on Jacey Heuer. This senior is talented and versatile.
*Osage was able to make the State tournament last year but has not been able to
find the consistency that they showed last year. The Green Devils started
the year 4-1 but currently are .500 and have lost three of four. The
senior class last year was talented for Osage but if this team can focus and
pull it together, they could make some noise in the playoffs. But right
now, that is a big if.
*Rockford has been a very pleasant surprise this year and won rather large games
recently against Lake Mills, Riceville, and Nashua-Plainfield. That shows
the Warriors could mean business in the playoffs but they have struggled head to
head against North Butler. Rockford lost both games by a combined 46
points. The trio of Levi Winters, Chris Engels, and Brandon Wood are
scoring over forty five points per game and definitely have some serious ability
on the court.
*Saint Ansgar gave North Butler a tougher game than many expected earlier this
year when they lost by four. The Saints will get a chance to pull off the
upset this week but this might be another situation where the team is a year
away. Leading scorers Brendan Ehlke and Logan Cimmiyotti are in their
junior and sophomore years so they will only get better over the next year.
The problem is that for now, they may take a few lumps but the talent is
definitely up and coming.
Sleeper Team:
Hampton-Dumont
The fact that they gave North Butler such a tough game earlier in the year and
that they play in an unfamiliar conference could give them an advantage in the
postseason.
District Champions: North Butler
After recently suffering their first loss of the year, North Butler came back
with vengeance. If they can play that focused the rest of the year, this
district better watch out.
Predictions:
1.)
North Butler, Greene
2.)
Hampton-Dumont
3.)
Rockford
4.)
Lake Mills
5.)
Saint Ansgar
6.)
Newman Catholic, Mason City
7.)
Osage
8.) AGWSR, Ackley
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Six
Aplington-Parkersburg
BCLUW, Conrad
Dike-New Hartford
East Marshall, LeGrand
Eldora-New Providence
Gladbrook Reinbeck
Grundy Center
Iowa Falls-Alden
How
did District 6 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
With a 17-0 record, there really is no doubt that on paper
Gladbrook-Reinbeck is the favorite in this district. There are some teams
that will give them competition but the early favorite is the Rebels.
Team Breakdowns:
*With their recent win over Jesup, Aplington-Parkersburg boasted their
record against them to 2-0. The problem is that the Falcons are 0-15
against other competition and have been having struggles putting points on the
board. And considering they have a tough schedule in the NICL East, things
are not easy on a weekly basis.
*BCLUW, Conrad also has had their downs this year and have limped to a 2-12
record overall. This team has some issues because there are so few juniors
on the squad that they are relying on seniors and sophomores. Luke Higgins
is leading the team in scoring at around eleven points per game but the Comets
have yet to play their best basketball of the season.
*Dike-New Hartford has one of the best players within the district in Tigh
Bakker but the team has not been able to really get over the .500 mark.
They have competitive this year in most games but against the top teams in
conference like Wapsie Valley or NU High, the Wolverines have not been able to
pull off an upset. They definitely need to prove they can beat a top tier
team if they want any considering to advance in the playoffs.
*One team that has been playing good basketball as of late has been East Marshall, LeGrand.
They have won six of seven games and their only loss was to Denver on the road
by two points. Despite having a senior laden team, junior Walker Seim has
been leading a very balanced offense in scoring. The Mustangs have four
very winnable games to finish out the regular season. If they can get
victories in all four, the team will definitely go into the postseason with
momentum on their side.
*In their recent win against BCLUW, Eldora-New Providence was able to notch
their largest offensive output of the season with 66 points. That might
not be much to some teams but the Tigers have had trouble putting points on the
board, especially recently. That recent win did break their eight game
losing streak and there is potential for more down the stretch. It will
just depend on how Garrett Ramsey and their solid junior class does.
*Considering that Gladbrook Reinbeck has been one of the surprise teams with
their undefeated record, the strange thing is that they have not had any close
games. Even against good teams like Wapsie Valley or NU High, the Rebels
have taken care of business and been able to pull out big victories. The
team has four regular season games to finish things up without a loss. But
if they really want to be remembered, they must come to play in the postseason
when things will get tough.
*One setback that occurred for Grundy Center was when one of their best players
moved in the fall. But instead of using that or the inexperience in their
lineup as an excuse, the Spartans have gone out and played hard every night.
Leading the scoring for this team is Trevor Hook. He may be only putting
up 12.1 points per game but he is a freshman. If this team can keep
working and remain focused, they could be a darkhorse for the postseason.
*Iowa Falls-Alden has had their hands full all year against some very talented
teams in their conference. The Cadets have only been able to muster five
wins on the year but playing against Humboldt, Clear Lake, and other bigger
teams will only help Turrell Foster and his teammates when the postseason gets
underway. Iowa Falls has a tough schedule down the stretch but their game
against Hampton-Dumont will show if they are ready to surprise some people in
the playoffs.
Sleeper Team: Grundy Center
With a freshman leading the team in scoring, he will only get better with the
more practices he gets under his belt.
District Champions: Gladbrook-Reinbeck
This team is still a shock to me but they have taken care of business night in
and night out. We will see if they are for real in the playoffs when the
scores will get closer.
Predictions:
1.) Gladbrook Reinbeck
2.)
Grundy Center
3.)
East Marshall, LeGrand
4.)
Iowa Falls-Alden
5.)
Dike-New Hartford
6.)
Eldora-New Providence
7.)
BCLUW, Conrad
8.) Aplington-Parkersburg
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Seven
Beckman, Dyersville
Central, Elkader
Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg
Edgewood-Colesburg
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
MFL MarMac
North Fayette, West Union
Starmont
How
did District 7 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
There are a lot of teams hovering around the .500 mark but the two squads to
keep an eye on in the playoffs are Maquoketa Valley and North Fayette.
Both have far exceeded expectations so far this year with an impressive run.
Team Breakdowns:
*Senior Adam Manternach has been the leading scorer for Beckman, Dyersville
this year but his thirteen points per game have not helped this team avoid their
inconsistent play. They have been 4-4 over the last eight games but that
has included two straight wins, four straight losses, and now two straight wins
heading into their game against West Delaware. If the Blazers want a
chance at making it to State, they must come to play every night.
*After starting the year 6-2, Central, Elkader has had troubles putting points
on the board and that has played a role in their recent three game losing
streak. Their high output over those games is only forty points and that
has really hurt the team. With a struggling Elgin Valley team on the
schedule this weekend, Central Elkader has a chance to get some momentum going
if they can prove they can score.
*Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg will look one game like they have a chance to make
some noise in the playoffs and the next they will struggle against a team they
should beat. Considering this is a senior laden team, the Eagles are a
very hard team to predict. Travis White and his teammates have a nice
balance scoring wise but they need to take things one game at a time. If
they can do that, a favorable schedule down the stretch could show that this
really is a team with postseason potential.
*Edgewood-Colesburg is another team that has been struggling to really distance
themselves from the .500 mark. Sitting at 8-7 currently, the Vikings are
another team that has had trouble putting points on the board lately. In
their last three games, they have been held to 30, 46, and 38 while going 1-2
over that period. This team appears to play their best basketball when
they can score in the high forties and above. They are 7-1 when they can
accomplish that.
*Although they may not have the oldest team in this district, Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
has been playing some great basketball. Adam Koopmann and the Wildcats sit
at 11-5 and have had some very impressive stretches of wins on the year.
Their two most recent wins have been against solid competition in Monticello and
Edgewood-Colesburg. If they can sustain that success, this will definitely
be a team that has a chance to win the district title.
*MFL MarMac started the season with a huge upset over Decorah but have not been
able to continue that success consistently. That may have a lot to do with
the fact that they are playing a lot of younger athletes and freshman Collin
Thompson is their second leading scorer on the year. The future is bright
for the Bulldogs but they may have to wait this year.
*Like Maquoketa Valley, North Fayette, West Union has been another team playing
above preseason expectations. And considering many know them because of
their outstanding football program, the Hawks are showing they can play
basketball as well. A lot of the athletes who helped the football team are
playing basketball and have helped in their current five game win streak.
This team has the potential to win this district.
*Starmont is the only team that is really under the .500 mark in this district
but that is not a surprise when you find out how young they are. Only one
senior is on the team and five juniors and a sophomore are among the leaders
scorers for the Stars. Starmont did pull off a big win against
Edgewood-Colesburg before the holiday break but was unable to use that momentum
to win more games.
Sleeper Team: Beckman, Dyersville
The Blazers have a deep basketball tradition but can they finally break out of
their struggles and make some noise in this district?
District Champions: Maquoketa Valley
Maquoketa Valley gets the nod over North Fayette because of their schedule.
That will really help them for the postseason.
Predictions:
1.)
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
2.)
North Fayette, West Union
3.) Beckman, Dyersville
4.)
Edgewood-Colesburg
5.)
Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg
6.)
MFL MarMac
7.)
Central, Elkader
8.)
Starmont
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Eight
Columbus Catholic, Waterloo
Denver
Hudson
Jesup
Nashua-Plainfield
South Winneshiek, Calmar
Sumner-Fredericksburg
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction
How
did District 8 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Outside if Jesup, this district is loaded and every game will be tough.
Nashua-Plainfield has the marquee player of this district but that does not mean
it will be an easy run for the Huskies.
Team Breakdowns:
*With a junior laden team, Columbus Catholic, Waterloo has been up and down
all season. They have been on many winning streaks and losing streaks
since starting the year 4-0 but won their most recent game against Independence.
Tim Kelly and Juston Meier have made some huge strides heading into the season
and their impact is obvious.
*Denver may have lost a Division I basketball player last year but this version
of the team is still having a lot of success on the court. The offense is
much more balanced with their leading scorer averaging around twelve points.
Spreading the ball between players makes it much more difficult for the
opposition to key on players. The Cyclones have won three straight but
have a tough game against Wapsie Valley next.
*Hudson is another team fighting to stay around the .500 mark but they have been
playing their best basketball of the year as of late. The Pirates have won
five of six and their only loss was against the above mentioned Denver. If
they can continue that exceptional play over the last two weeks of the year,
Hudson has the potential to be a darkhorse team in this district.
*Jesup won their only game of the season over a Hudson team that was struggling.
Joe Rohlfsen has been leading the team in scoring for a team that lacks numbers
in the senior class. That is not an excuse but a tough schedule and a
struggle to put points on the board have made things tough for the J-Hawks.
*Nashua-Plainfield has the firepower to not only win this district but make a
run at the State tournament. The problem is which Husky team will show up?
They lost a Northwood-Kensett team by ten and beat them ten days later by 35.
In between that stretch, they also fell to a Rockford team. Alex Kramer
has shown once again that he is one of the best players in Iowa but he needs to
go to battle every night and not see his team lose games they are expected to
win.
*With some struggles early in the year, South Winneshiek, Calmar has put
together a three game winning streak. And with three winnable games down
the stretch, the Warriors could go into the playoffs only one game under .500
and will some serious momentum. Mark Lensing has been putting up the most
points this year but a number of teammates have also stepped up their game.
*Even though Adam Baier and Jake Mohling have been leading the team in the
scoring column, Sumner-Fredericksburg has shown that they have five players
capable of putting up points on any given night. Few teams at the Class 2A
level have that so it is a definite advantage for the Cougars.
*In conference play, Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction has been a very tough team
to beat with an 11-3 record. This team appears to be playing their best
basketball when they can score in the mid-fifties and play the kind of defense
that they have been working hard to achieve. If they can get that, the
Trojans are a tough team to beat.
Sleeper Team:
Denver
Even without a superstar, Denver has the balanced attack that could be tough to
slow down in the playoffs.
District Champions:
Nashua-Plainfield
If Nashua-Plainfield can come to play every night in the playoffs, they should
win this district title. If they expect a win without working, the Huskies
could fall victim to an upset.
Predictions:
1.)
Nashua-Plainfield
2.) Sumner-Fredericksburg
3.)
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction
4.)
Denver
5.) Columbus Catholic, Waterloo
6.)
Hudson
7.)
South Winneshiek, Calmar
8.)
Jesup
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 9[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Nine
Alburnett
Cascade, Western Dubuque
Center Point-Urbana
Monticello
North Cedar, Stanwood
North-Linn, Troy Mills
Solon
Union, LaPorte City
How
did District 9 do at the State tournament?
Solon
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the quarterfinals (55-47)
Quick Overview:
With only one team under .500 and three teams that have been ranked at times
over the past two weeks, this district is loaded. It will be a tough test
for any of the teams hoping to make a run.
Team Breakdowns:
*In mid-January, Alburnett was sitting at 6-6 and struggling on the court.
But six wins later and the team is 12-6 and playing their best basketball of the
year. That resurgence could make it very possible that the Pirates will go
into the playoffs with a nine game winning streak. This is a senior laden
team that gets after it defensively and spreads the ball around offensively.
That combination has really worked for them lately.
*Cascade, Western Dubuque is one team that recently made their first appearance
in the IowaPreps.com Class 2A rankings because of their 15-2 start on the
basketball court. That record is outstanding but few are giving them a
chance in this loaded district. Their last loss was in early January but
they have also avenged an early loss to Maquoketa Valley. The Cougars have
also shown they can win high scoring games as well as ones where the opponents
slows it down.
*Since the holiday break, Center Point-Urbana has been unable to play consistent
basketball. They win two, loss two, win one, lose one, and just have a
difficult time getting on any type of an extended winning streak. The
Stormin' Pointers are limited on the number of seniors who really contribute and
that inexperience plays a part in the inconsistent nature of the team.
Their record may not show it but they have won both their games against
Alburnett.
*Monticello has had two impressive win streaks of five and six games this year.
But outside of those runs, the team is only 1-5 overall. The Panthers have
done a nice job of taking care of the games they are expected to win. But
with the postseason rapidly approaching, they must prove they can play with
teams like Solon, Cascade, Union, and others within this district.
*Yes, North Cedar, Stanwood has lost two of their last three games but they
still are 14-3 on the year and playing some good basketball. They were
able to end the losing streak to a solid Bellevue team but need to get some
momentum heading into the playoffs. The one knock against the Knights is
their schedule. Is playing in the Big East enough to prepare them for
these 2A opponents?
*North-Linn, Troy Mills is the only team in this district currently under the
.500 mark. That just shows how deep this district is. But the Lynx
will be hoping to prove doubters wrong as they play the role of the darkhorse.
They have been unable to beat anyone in this district but did win three straight
in the middle of the year.
*Since Solon lost the season opener to Mount Vernon, the Spartans have refocused
and have been blowing teams out since. The team has one of the best guard
trios in Iowa with Matt Lesan, Matt Morrison, and Ben Weeks leading the way.
They are combined to score over forty five points per game and each one is
capable for going off on a nightly basis. If they can win their final
three games, they will go into the playoffs with a twenty game win streak.
Now that is what I talk about with momentum.
*Lucky for Union, LaPorte City is that there are no teams from Cedar Falls in
this district. Teams from that city are the only ones to beat them this
year as all three losses have come against Cedar Falls or NU High. As for
the team, the Knights are very young. But that youth has really started to
pay off this season as the team is 16-3 and playing great basketball. If
the team can pull it together and play their type of basketball, they will be
tough to watch. But that youth may also be a year away.
Sleeper Team: Union, LaPorte City
Union is talented, athletic, and young. Will that youth help them or hurt
them this season?
District Champions: Solon
This Spartans team was happy to make State last year. Now they want to win
games in Des Moines.
Predictions:
1.)
Solon
2.)
Union, LaPorte City
3.)
Cascade, Western Dubuque
4.)
North Cedar, Stanwood
5.)
Monticello
6.)
Center Point-Urbana
7.) Alburnett
8.)
North-Linn, Troy Mills
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 10[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Ten
Assumption, Davenport
Bellevue
Camanche
Durant
Northeast Gooselake
Tipton
West Branch
Wilton
How
did District 10 do at the State tournament?
Northeast Gooselake
Defeated Battle Creek-Ida Grove in the quarterfinals (62-61)
Lost to St. Edmond in the semifinals (57-35)
Lost to Bondurant-Farrar in the consolation game (63-46)
Quick Overview:
There are a lot of talented teams that play in smaller conferences but one
to keep an eye on is Davenport Assumption. The Knights playing in the MAC
conference will help them for this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*The Davenport Assumption basketball dominance was stopped last year by an
amazing Durant comeback. This season with a coach in his second year, the
Knights hopefully will have learned from their struggles in the playoffs.
The team is currently 7-9 and in the midst of a five game losing streak.
That does not bode well for any team wanting to fight for a district title but
their games have come against teams like Davenport Central and Iowa City High.
*Bellevue is another one of those teams that have not been able to really get
over the hump and win big games. Their losses have come against good teams
like Andrew, North Cedar, Marquette and other top teams but the Comets have not
been able to sustain that play over a long stretch. They currently sit two
games above the .500 mark but do have a winnable game this week against Olin.
*Camanche has had their struggles on the court this year as they have only
accumulated five wins. The Indians obviously are playing against sound
competition but that has not helped their record any. Colton Hilgendorf is
the leading scorer for a team that has a very balanced attack offensively.
*Since starting the year 4-0, Durant has been unable to put anything greatest
than a three game win streak together. They currently sit at 11-6 and have
some of the best athletes in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference. Jake Soy
and Jamey Meyer have combined to score nearly forty points per game and have
been fixtures in the lineup for quite sometime. But will those two have
help in the playoffs?
*Ranking Northeast Gooselake is a difficult thing to do in this district for one
big reason. Would you take a team that is 7-9 playing in the MAC
Conference or a team that is 13-3 playing in the Big East? For his final
season of prep hoops, guard Dylan Diedrich has been putting up some amazing
numbers and is one of the best scorers in Iowa. The team does have some
other players who are capable of scoring but Diedrich makes this team go.
*If you can somehow take out their games against Solon, Tipton would stand at
14-0 and be among the top teams in 2A. Even with those two losses to the
Spartans, the Tigers are playing some great basketball this year. Mike and
Mark Lafrenz have really made some strides this season and it is obvious in
their game. Also don't forget about Nick Ohrt. This trio is scoring
over forty five points per game and can score in a variety of ways.
*Even with future Northern Iowa Panther Caleb Walter back in the lineup, West Branch
has yet to find the consistent play that they had last winter. Walter and
Michael Murphy have been doing a lot of the scoring for this senior laden Bears
team but their longest win streak of the year is three games. The
competition is tough against teams in the EIHC but that is no excuse. The
schedule closes out with Solon and Durant so things will not be easy.
*With a new coach at the helm and the graduation of a lot of talented athletes, Wilton
has been unable to have much success on the basketball court. The Beavers
have been able to win three conference games this year but most can be
considered upsets. The team faces off tonight against Williamsburg, a team
that was one of those wins. Will they be able to get the season sweep?
Sleeper Team: Northeast Gooselake
If Dylan Diedrich is knocking down this jumpers, watch out. He will shoot
it from anywhere on the court.
District Champions: Tipton
This could be a great battle if Tipton and Assumption play. But even with
a junior laden team, a lot of the Tiger players are varsity veterans by now.
Predictions:
1.)
Tipton
2.) Assumption, Davenport
3.)
Northeast Gooselake
4.)
Durant
5.)
West Branch
6.)
Bellevue
7.)
Wilton
8.)
Camanche
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 11[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Eleven
Belle Plaine
Columbus, Columbus Junction
Iowa Valley, Marengo
Louisa-Muscatine
Mediapolis
Mid-Prairie, Wellman
Regina, Iowa City
Wapello
How
did District 11 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
The strange thing about this district is that although there are some decent
teams, no one really stands out among the others. Lousia-Muscatine has the
best record and they are only three games above the .500 mark.
Team Breakdowns:
*Belle Plaine has really been unable to turn the corner and be successful
this year. They have done a nice job in some games but that consistency
has not existed during the entire year. Their signature win this year was
against a good 1A team in HLV. During their final three regular season
games, Justin Janss and Tate Demeulenaere must step up their game and finish
strong.
*Right after the holiday break, Columbus, Columbus Junction put together a three
game win streak and it was obvious that they were playing their best basketball
of the year. But the Wildcats have only been able to win one game since
and that was against a struggling team in 1A. Unless they can get back to
the way they played after the break, this team could be one and done in the
playoffs.
*Iowa Valley, Marengo started the season right with a win over North Mahsaka and
a 4-1 record. Since that quick beginning, the team has been unable to
maintain that success. The Tigers and leading scorer Tyler Olson sit at
10-8 and have the second best record in this district. But will that mean
they can make a postseason run? In this district, anything can happen.
*If you would have told me that Louisa-Muscatine may come into the postseason
with the best record in this district, I personally would not have believed you.
But the Falcons have been playing some good basketball and that has translated
into wins on the court. If they can replicate the success they had against
teams like Lone Tree, WACO, and others, they may have what it takes to make a
run at the district title.
*Mediapolis started the year quick with a 4-1 start and that included a thirty
one point win over Louisa-Muscatine. But then the team hit the skids and
they lost their next six and really have been able to bounce back since.
The Bulldogs are definitely a team to keep an eye on because they have surprised
some people. And if they can catch an opponent overlooking them, don't be
surprise if the result is an upset win.
*Just like basically every team in this district, Mid-Prairie, Wellman has gone
through good stretches and bad stretches. The Golden Hawks won seven of
nine games early on but have lost six of seven as of late. Kyle Graber and
Darian Patterson have combined to put up nearly thirty points per game but that
has not been enough to get them out of the current funk they are in. A
tough schedule down the stretch will not make turning things around easy.
*Regina, Iowa City has not had the season they hoped in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye
Conference this winter. Zach O'Connell has been having a fantastic season
while putting up nearly twenty points per game. The problem is outside of
this talented junior, the team has been struggling to put points on the board.
That has been a major factor in their struggles this year.
*Wapello started the season out in a strange fashion. They lost two, won
six, lost four, and won. Up until recently, they would either win or loss
in long stretches. The Indians will need to find a way to play ball the
way they did during that long win streak. If they can, Davis Spielbauer
and his teammates could surprise some people.
Sleeper Team:
Regina, Iowa City
If O'Connell is hitting and his teammates can step up, the Regals have the
talent to make a run in this district that has so many question marks.
District Champions: Mid-Prairie
In a situation where there are so many question marks, I have to go with
tradition and coaching. Mid-Prairie has that advantage over the other
schools.
Predictions:
Mid-Prairie, Wellman
Louisa-Muscatine
Regina, Iowa City
Wapello
Iowa Valley, Marengo
Mediapolis
Belle Plaine
Columbus, Columbus Junction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 12[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Twelve
B-G-M, Brooklyn
Central Lee, Donnellson
Danville
Eddyville-Blakesburg
Montezuma
Pekin
Sigourney
Van Buren, Keosauqua
West Burlington
How
did District 12 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
On paper, this appears to to be a three team race with Montezuma, Pekin, and
Van Buren.
Team Breakdowns:
*When looking at the B-G-M, Brooklyn roster, this team has one of the
strangest lineup of players from all different grades. With a total of six
seniors, juniors, and sophomores, the freshman class has had to contribute more
than initially planned. This will be a huge help for Jordan Hoensee and
the other players in the Class of 2010 but is a part of the reason that the team
has been struggling on the court. They did get a win over English Valleys
and lost to Sigourney by two.
*Central Lee, Donnellson may only be 10-10 overall but this is a team with a
very bright future. Sophomore Brett Azinger has really stepped up for the
Hawks and has poured in over twenty points per game for the team.
Production has also come out of Wes McGraw, Trevor Pezley, and freshman Brad
Vogel. The team has worked hard this year and made it to the .500 mark.
If they can continue to improve over the off-season, this team will be tough to
beat.
*Since Danville went on the run led by Jake Wenig a few years back that resulted
in two State titles in three years, the team has been able to get over the hump
and return to State. But head coach Ken Laffoon has kept this team
competitive year in and year out so there is always a chance they could shock
someone in the playoffs.
*Eddyville-Blakesburg is another team forced to play younger players at the
varsity level because of the makeup of their team. I am a big believer in
that the more varsity experience a player gets, the better he will be down the
road. But this team is taking their lumps now as they struggle to put
points on the board. Playing a tough in the South Central conference has
not made things any easier.
*With a senior laden team, Montezuma has all the pieces to make a serious run at
the State tournament. The Braves have only lost three games this year and
they were by a combined 14 points, which includes avenging an early season loss
to North Mahaska earlier this week. Lee Schroeder is a load to stop inside
but don't forget about PJ Mahaffey. If he is knocking down the outside
jumper, teams will struggle to beat Montezuma.
*After starting the year 5-0, Pekin has been up and down in the win column.
There have been some tough games along the way for the Panthers but youth may
have something to do with it. Leading scorer Jordan Sathoff, who is
putting up over twenty points per game, is only a junior. Sophomore Cody
Millikin is second in scoring and freshman Trenton Northup is fourth. That
youth may be playing a large part of their struggles now but with the talent
this team has, watch out.
*Two of the four games that Sigourney has won this year has been against English
Valleys but the team was able to win recently against BGM. But with a
difficult three game schedule down the stretch, it will be tough not to go into
the postseason on a three game slide. Scotty Appleget and Blaine Mateer
have combined to score nearly twenty five points between them and are the most
dangerous scorers on the squad.
*Despite having a 14-5 record overall, Van Buren, Keosauqua is definitely a team
that is under the radar. The Warriors have had success on the basketball
court because of their balanced attack offensively. With five players
averaging between 13.3 and 9.8 points per game, they can put a scorer on the
court at every position. That type of flexibility is something that is
rare at the Class 2A level.
*West Burlington may only be 7-9 overall but they have ripped off four straight
wins, including one against Danville. The Falcons definitely have some
momentum heading into their final four games of the year. If they can find
a way to sustain it during three very winnable games, this team could play the
role of a dark horse in the playoffs.
Sleeper Team:
Pekin
A young team like this gets better everyday in practice if they keep working.
That could pay off greatly down the road.
District Champions: Montezuma
The team has taken to a new coach and because it is so senior laden, they are
focused on making State.
Predictions:
1.) Montezuma
2.)
Van Buren, Keosauqua
3.)
Pekin
4.)
Central Lee, Donnellson
5.)
West Burlington
6.)
Danville
7.)
Sigourney
8.) B-G-M, Brooklyn
9.) Eddyville-Blakesburg
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 13[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Thirteen
Bondurant-Farrar
Colfax-Mingo
Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
North Polk, Alleman
PCM, Monroe
Pella Christian
Pleasantville
West Marshall, State Center
How
did District 13 do at the State tournament?
Bondurant-Farrar
Defeated North Butler in the quarterfinals (49-37)
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the semifinals (53-42)
Defeated Northeast Gooselake in the consolation game (63-46)
Quick Overview:
There are some good teams in this district but unless Pella Christian is
looking ahead to the substate final and a team raises their game a great deal,
it will be tough stopping the Eagles.
Team Breakdowns:
*Even without Kerwin Dunham and a talented senior class, Bondurant-Farrar
has been playing some good basketball this winter. The senior class, which
received little attention last year, has really stepped up and played a major
role in the success. Last year there role was to pass and play defense.
This season, things have changed and they are making the most of the
opportunities.
*Colfax-Mingo started the year 3-0 but really has not been able to play with the
consistency that they had hoped for before the year. The Tigerhawks have
won their last two games, which is their second longest win streak of the
season, and there are three winnable games down the stretch. If they can
get into the playoffs with a five game win streak, they could advance.
*Because of the conference that they are in, Josh Garrison and Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
has been having some major problems winning games this year. The team has
lost twelve of their last thirteen games and been having some major problems
putting points on the board. If they can't score in the regular season, it
will be even tougher in the playoffs.
*If you could take a four game losing streak out of the season for North Polk, Alleman
where the ball was not bouncing their way, they would be 10-4 and considered a
serious threat in this district. But that losing streak for the Comets
showed opponents that they are vulnerable and have trouble at times. This
is a very veteran team led by Adam Carr, who has been putting up big numbers.
*It doesn't matter what year it is, PCM, Monroe will always be competitive on
the basketball court. The Mustangs don't have the firepower to make a run
at a State title but they have done a solid job this year. Over the last
three games, the team has won all of them and that includes getting a victory
against North Polk. Brad Norwood has been leading a balanced attack
offensively.
*After losing all five starters to graduation last year, Pella Christian is 18-1
and loaded for a State title run. The scary part about this team is that
their top leading scorers are a junior, sophomore, and sophomore. The
Eagles are another team that is very balanced offensively and they flat out know
how to make plays on the court. If they don't look ahead to possibly
playing Nodaway Valley in the substate finale, they will be district champions.
*Pleasantville has shown during the year that Doug Persoon, Chase Williams, and
Matt Stubbs have the ability to put points up on the board. The problem is
that outside of this trio, the Trojans have not found anyone able to really step
up and make an impact in the scoring column consistently. They has hurt
them as the team has lost many games while only scoring in the forties.
*With an eight game winning streak under their belt earlier this year, West Marshall, State Center
is definitely a team to consider as a darkhorse in this district. Tyler
Rabey and Tyler Shipley have both been playing a huge role in the success that
the team is having. And with games left against Roland Story and
Bondurant-Farrar, the Trojans can show if they are for real or not.
Sleeper Team: Bondurant-Farrar
With the success they are having this year, the Bluejays have not missed a beat
and the senior class has adjusted well to their new roles.
District Champions: Pella Christian
Too talented, too deep, and too well coached. Like I said before, the only
thing that may stop them is looking ahead to Nodaway Valley.
Predictions:
1.)
Pella Christian
2.)
West Marshall, State Center
3.) Bondurant-Farrar
4.)
PCM, Monroe
5.)
North Polk, Alleman
6.)
Colfax-Mingo
7.)
Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
8.)
Pleasantville
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 14[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Fourteen
Central Decatur, Leon
Interstate 35, Truro
Mount Ayr
Nodaway Valley
Panorama, Panora
Wayne, Corydon
Woodward-Granger
West Central Valley, Stuart
How
did District 14 do at the State tournament?
Nodaway Valley
Defeated Solon in the quarterfinals (55-47)
Defeated Bondurant-Farrar in the semifinals (53-42)
Defeated St. Edmond in the championship game (46-39)
Quick Overview:
When the defending champions are in the district and undefeated, they would
likely be an early choice as the favorites.
Team Breakdowns:
*With junior Logan Hullinger leading the way in the scoring column, Central Decatur, Leon
sits one game above the .500 mark. If they can take down Lamoni in the
season finale, the Cardinals could go into the playoffs with a three game win
streak, which would be their best of the year.
*Interstate 35, Truro has had some impressive win streaks this year and can be
considered one of the favorites not named Nodaway Valley. But their recent
loss to Lenox ended a streak of four straight victories and things don't get
easier in the finale against Earlham. It won't be easy but this may end up
being the Wolverines toughest competitor.
*Mount Ayr has been a mixture of sophomores and seniors for most of the year but
they have been unable to find the type of consistency that they need to make a
playoff run. The positives are that this team is balanced offensively and
currently is on a three game win streak. Will that be enough to be a
surprise?
*With a team that is loaded with experience and has just been pasting opponents, Nodaway Valley
is not only the favorite for the district title but also the State title.
The Wolverines took home the title last year and may even be better this time
around. Only one thing can stop them in this district. That is if
they look too far ahead to #3 Pella Christian, who should be awaiting them in
the substate final. One team will be sent home that shouldn't be.
*Panorama, Panora has not been able to get over the .500 mark after a slow start
to the year but a lot of that has to do with inexperience. With only one
senior in their lineup and many freshman and sophomores, the Panthers are young
but could be building towards the future. The problem is the payoff will
likely be down the road.
*After an impressive 8-0 run to start the year, Wayne, Corydon has been
surprisingly inconsistent and have been unable to return to the success that
they had early on. The trio of Levi Jaeckel, Kole Foster, Turner Devore,
and Trevor Devore have been doing most of the scoring for the team and have
really helped this team. But they must come together if they have any shot
at taking down #1.
*Although their two wins did come in back to back games, Woodward-Granger has
limped to a 2-17 record on the year. Senior Ben Heasley has been pouring
in over twenty points per game but that has not helped the team win more games.
If he can involve others around him, that may help the offense put more points
on the board.
*Another team that got off to a quick start this year is West Central Valley, Stuart.
They began 5-0 but have lost twelve of thirteen games and have lost the
confidence from their early season run. Part of the reason is that the
team does play in a difficult conference but they need to get back to playing
like they did early.
Sleeper Team:
Panorama, Panora
They are young and getting better but this is not the district to make a
surprise run in.
District Champions:
Nodaway Valley
If things go as they did in the regular season,
Nodaway Valley will walk away with the district title.
Predictions:
1.)
Nodaway Valley
2.)
Interstate 35, Truro
3.)
Wayne, Corydon
4.)
Panorama, Panora
5.)
Mount Ayr
6.)
West Central Valley, Stuart
7.) Central Decatur, Leon
8.)
Woodward-Granger
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 15[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Fifteen
Audubon
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
Logan-Magnolia
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto
Missouri Valley
Tri-Center, Neola
Underwood
How
did District 15 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
The obvious favorite in this district is Audubon. They have only lost
once and have been dominant this year.
Team Breakdowns:
*When a team can prove they have five players who can all score at the Class
2A level, that usually means success. Audubon has done that all year and
that has been a huge factor in the team only losing one game on the year.
Stefan Petersen has been leading the team in scoring at over sixteen points per
game and has been huge all year. The Wheelers did show they were beatable
recently against IKM but have bounced back with two victories.
*With Eric Hanson leading the way, Battle Creek-Ida Grove has done a nice job on
the court all year. Hanson has been putting up over twenty points per game
this year for a team that is seriously lacking in seniors. This may not be
the year but the Falcons have a number of juniors and sophomores who are getting
serious varsity playing time. That will definitely pay off down the road.
*One huge advantage that Kuemper Catholic, Carroll has over a lot of teams in
this class is that they play in the Hawkeye Ten. Going against teams like
Harlan, Creston, and many other talented squads helps this team get battled
tested before the postseason. The Knights have won their last three
straight games and that is their longest win streak of the year. Can they
head into the playoffs with four straight victories?
*Logan-Magnolia had another outstanding year on the football field but that
success has not carried over to basketball. The Panthers have been
inconsistent all year and that is why the team only boasts a 6-13 record.
Throughout the entire year, this team has failed to win back to back games.
*Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto has been a team of streaks. From winning two,
losing four, and winning four, the Rams have been up and down all year.
They are currently on a two game win streak and if they can take down Sergeant
Bluff-Luton in the regular season finale, they will have momentum heading into
the playoffs.
*Missouri Valley has some impressive wins on the year this winter but have been
unable to take down some of the big boys that they have played. The trio
of John Lorenzen, Nick Pleas, and Jared York have combined to average over
thirty points per game and appear to be the most consistent scorers on the team.
The Big Reds have two winnable games left this week that will help them for the
postseason.
*If you could somehow take Audubon off of the Tri-Center, Neola, they would be
17-0 on the year. For whatever reason, Audubon has been their kryptonite
and handed the Trojans all three of their losses this year. I have heard
the term you can't beat a good team three times but how about four times?
Juniors Kurt Spomer and Monte Larson are pouring in over thirty points per game
and have really stepped up their game this year.
*Underwood has had a rough season and have only been able to win three games on
the year. Sophomore Mitch Masker has been leading the team in scoring but
the problems have come up offensively. They have not had the firepower
needed to stay with some of the talented teams they have played.
Sleeper Team:
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
That youth makes them a definite sleeper team to keep an eye out for.
District Champions: Audubon
With only one loss, Audubon appears to be the team to beat in this district.
Predictions:
1.) Audubon
2.)
Tri-Center, Neola
3.)
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
4.)
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
5.)
Missouri Valley
6.)
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto
7.)
Logan-Magnolia
8.)
Underwood
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 16[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Sixteen
Clarinda Academy
Corning
Griswold
Red Oak
Riverside, Oakland
Shenandoah
St. Albert, Council Bluffs
Treynor
How
did District 16 do at the State tournament?
Treynor
Lost to George-Little Rock in the quarterfinals (49-39)
Quick Overview:
With only one team not hovering near the .500 mark, Council Bluffs St.
Albert is the obvious favorite to get out of this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*Clarinda Academy is another one of those teams loaded with younger players
making an impact at the varsity level. Sophomore Pono Watson is leading
the team in scoring but they boast three freshman among their top five scorers.
The Eagles have been fighting to get over the .500 since starting the year slow
but have three games left down the stretch to do so.
*Corning also has a sophomore leading the team in scoring with Michael Webb
putting up around fourteen points per contest. Only two seniors have made
a heavy impact in the scoring column this year. That lack of experience
veterans has hurt the team as they sit two games below .500. This may not
be the year for the Red Raiders but they are a team to keep an eye on in the
future.
*Because of their struggles, Griswold has tried a number of players at the
varsity level. Senior James Nichols has averaged nearly ten points per
game but the team has failed to put many points on the board. The Tigers
have only won two games all year and may have their hands full in the playoffs.
*Red Oak is normally loaded with standout athletes and this year is no
different. But against teams in the Hawkeye Ten, they have been up and
down after starting the year 4-0. The Tigers need to break their current
two game skid before the postseason gets underway next week.
*Despite having already won eight games this year, the longest win streak of the
year for Riverside, Oakland has been two games. They have spent most of
the season trading wins for losses and that is why they are currently 8-12.
The Bulldogs play a good Bedford team on the road in their last regular season
game.
*With their only win coming against an out of state opponent, Shenandoah has
been unable to accomplish what they hoped to do this year on the basketball
court. The Mustangs have struggled against some of the top teams in their
conference but that is not a surprise. The Hawkeye Ten is a conference
loaded with potential State teams.
*St. Albert, Council Bluffs has an experienced team that may have the pieces to
finally make a run at Des Moines. Junior Marc Baumert has expanded his
game this year and is even tougher to stop. Even without a conference,
this team is currently the favorite to take the district title. If they
can focus on the prize, they have the talent to take it home.
*While making the jump up to Class 2A and having a coaching change along the
way, Treynor has not had the success that they had hoped for on the basketball
court. Bigman Brad Von Weihe and Tanner Frain have been leading the team
in scoring but this is another squad that has a lot of youth seeing varsity
action.
Sleeper Team: Red Oak
The conference they play in is loaded and could prepare them for a shocking run
in the playoffs.
District Champions: St. Albert
With the athleticism and skill of this team, the Falcons will likely take home
the district title.
Predictions:
1.)
St. Albert, Council Bluffs
2.)
Red Oak
3.)
Treynor
4.)
Corning
5.)
Riverside, Oakland
6.)
Clarinda Academy
7.)
Griswold
8.)
Shenandoah
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A State Tournament Predictions[/URL]
Substate 1 - Sioux Center (13-7) vs. Sheldon (16-3)
Game Breakdown: Despite the records, this is a tough game to predict.
Now Sheldon does have an advantage in talent and the best player on the court in
senior Stephen Kirschbaum. But this game has been kryptonite over the past
few years, even without Emmetsburg as their opponent. Sioux Center won the
State title a few years back but have not been able to get back to Des Moines.
The Warriors also have been playing tough competition all year in the Siouxland
conference. Sheldon has lost two of their three games but both were
against two rated teams in LeMars and Emmetsburg.
Prediction: Sheldon 65, Sioux Center 60
Difference in the game: If Sheldon finally can break through and get to
State it will because Stephen Kirschbaum stepped up his game at just the right
time. He is will be the difference maker in this one.
Substate 2 - Emmetsburg (17-2) vs. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (16-4)
Game Breakdown: In one corner, you have an Emmetsburg team that is senior
laden and has State tournament experience when they made it to Des Moines as
sophomores. For most of the E-Hawks, this is their last chance at getting
to State so they will want nothing more than to get another change to stay the
week playing hoops. St. Edmond, in the other corner, is a much different
team. They lost in the title game last year and returned only one starter.
But that player, Andy Nagel, is among the best in Iowa and the Gaels have really
grown up a lot lately. Three sophomores among their top five scorers was
rough early but they have really developed late in the year.
Prediction: Fort Dodge St. Edmond 52, Emmetsburg 49
Difference in the game: The difference is the big game experience and
coaching of St. Edmond. They have been fighting for a berth to State many
times and it is a surprise if they are not this deep in the postseason.
Really a difficult game to call.
Substate 3 - North Butler (18-3) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (19-0)
Game Breakdown: Gladbrook-Reinbeck is only two games away from finishing
the one of the most surprising undefeated regular season runs in recent memory.
The Rebels, not known as a basketball school, have been winning games against
good teams all year and that will help them in the playoffs. North Butler
made it to Des Moines last year and few expected them to get this deep in the
playoffs. But with two important transfers, the Bearcats have not missed a
beat. The only problem is that they have been 3-3 over their last six
games and that includes losing two of their last three. That is not the
momentum any team wants going into the playoffs.
Prediction: Gladbrook-Reinbeck 47, North Butler 45
Difference in the game: Another tough game to call but I have been
underrating Gladbrook-Reinbeck all year. They may finally get their time
to show to Iowa how good they are at State.
Substate 4 - Maquoketa Valley (13-6) vs. Nashua-Plainfield (16-4)
Game Breakdown: These two teams have had good seasons but many will question
this substate because of many top rated teams will be facing off in this round
of the playoffs. Maquoketa Valley has done a nice job this season and
really has exceeded expectations. The Wildcats have done a nice job this
year in shutting teams down offensively and must step up if they want to do it
in this game. Nashua-Plainfield, led by Alex Kramer, has reeled over four
straight wins and will be primed for a run at the State tournament. The
Huskies have had some outstanding teams over the past few years and none have
made it to State. This may finally be the year.
Prediction: Nashua-Plainfield 53, Maquoketa Valley 45
Difference in the game: Alex Kramer will be the difference in this game.
He is finally a senior and wants to play in Des Moines.
Substate 5 - Solon (19-1) vs. Tipton (15-4)
Game Breakdown: The third time is the charm for Tipton, right? Over
the first sixteen games of the year, the Tigers lost two and both were against
Solon. The problem is that the team has since lost two straight to teams
they beat earlier in the year (Mount Vernon and Mid-Prairie). This Tipton
is likely a year away from making some real noise at State. Solon on the
other hand may be primed for a week in Des Moines. Matt Lesan is finally a
senior and has been a main reason why the Spartans have won nineteen straight
contests. A;sp don't forget about the sophomore combination of Matt
Morrison and Ben Weeks.
Prediction: Solon 58, Tipton 50
Difference in the game: The Spartans have played well against Tipton and
will be on a mission once the playoffs get underway.
Substate 6 - Mid-Prairie (10-10) vs. Montezuma (16-3)
Game Breakdown: The biggest thing about this game is which Mid-Prairie team
will come? The one that lost two games against Williamsburg and Durant or
the one that beat a good Tipton team by double digits? That will determine
if the Golden Hawks and Coach Don Showalter have a serious shot at making the
State tournament. Montezuma is a senior laden team that has appeared to be
on a mission all year. Lee Schroeder and his teammates have won ten of
their last eleven games. This fall on the football field, they proved that
they can win big games and that has carried over to the basketball season.
Prediction: Montezuma 54, Mid-Prairie 44
Difference in the game: Montezuma is too experienced and too determined
to be held back from making it to Des Moines.
Substate 7 - Pella Christian (18-1) vs. Nodaway Valley (19-0)
Game Breakdown: Why do we need another AGWSR vs. St. Edmond before the State
tournament? This game (As well as the one just mentioned) is yet another
reason why they should come out with the district pairings after the teams start
play part of their schedule. I won't be holding my breath for this to
change but it really should be. This game is going to be huge. Pella
Christian lost all five starters and seem to be even better this year.
They are a young team and that youth is the only real question mark I have about
them. Nodaway Valley on the other hand has two starters back from the
State championship team last year and are unblemished this year. Not only
that, they have been pummeling teams all year. The Wolverines have gone
over the 100 mark four times and their closest game of the year has been eleven
points.
Prediction: Pella Christian 49, Nodaway Valley 48
Difference in the game: I hate betting against the defending champions
but I am one who takes the schedules into account for games like these.
The Wolverines proved me wrong last year but that will be tough to do again.
This is going to be a classic.
Substate 8 - Audubon (18-1) vs. Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-5)
Game Breakdown: Because St. Albert is not in a conference, they have to play
a lot of their games in Nebraska to make sure they get to play enough
basketball. That makes it difficult to judge the Falcons team because
those out of state opponents are unfamiliar to those in Iowa. The team is
led by Marc Baumert and he is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2008.
Audubon has really turned things around on the court this year and the time they
put in during the off-season has really paid off. With Stefan Petersen
leading the way, the Wheelers will be punching their ticket to State.
Prediction: Audubon 55, St. Albert 51
Difference in the game: Audubon used their loss against IKM to help
refocus on getting to State.
If these predictions turn out to be true, here are the eight State
tournament teams:
Sheldon
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Nashua-Plainfield
Solon
Montezuma
Pella Christian
Audubon
Agree/disagree with the picks? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 2/12 8:51 PM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District One
Akron-Westfield
Central Lyon, Rock Rapids
Hinton
Sioux Center
Unity Christian, Orange City
West Lyon, Inwood
West Sioux, Hawarden
Western Christian, Hull
How
did District 1 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
With five teams currently and potentially six having a shot at making it to
the substate final, it will not be an easy road for the teams in this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*Youth has been making an impact in the Akron-Westfield lineup as the team
boasts a sophomore and a freshman as their top two scorers. Obviously when
you have that many young players making an impact, it is not an easy road for
the team and they have obviously been taking their lumps. But down the
road, this definitely could be a team to keep an eye out for.
*Central Lyon, Rock Rapids has been through some struggles this year but they
appear to be playing their best basketball of the season. The team has won
three of their last four against some good competition and that could really pay
dividends down the road. This is definitely a junior laden team that has
played in some huge sporting events over the last six months.
*Hinton is one team that started out under the radar and still remains that way
today. The Blackhawks currently boast an impressive 12-2 record and have
lost only once since the holiday break. The duo of Adam and Nate Freed
have combined to average nearly 35 points per game.
*When Sioux Center losses, they do it in back to back fashion. And that is
why the team has lost four games this year. But even though the record is
not as good as others in this district, playing against some very tough
competition every night will definitely prepare them for the playoffs.
*Unity Christian, Orange City has continued to build on their basketball program
and has yet another shot at making the State tournament. The Knights were
up and down early but have really hit their stride and have not lost since
before the holidays. Like always, their offensive attack is extremely
balanced. It is tough for opponents to focus on five players that average
seven points or more.
*West Lyon, Inwood is sitting just about the .500 mark but that record has a lot
to do with their competition. Against Sioux Center, Boyden Hull, and other
top programs this team has done their best to compete. And considering
their record, they have not done a bad job to this point. Lance Van Roekel
is one of the most explosive scorers in this district.
*Who would have guessed that at this point in the season, West Sioux, Hawarden
is currently undefeated and rated as one of the best teams in Class 2A?
The problem is that many people question the schedule that they have been
playing. They were able to get a hard fought win over Unity Christian but
few other games will help them for the playoffs. Keep an eye on the trio
of Chase Vander Feen, Jerod Reinking, and Brice Buryanek. They are
athletic and can score.
*Western Christian, Hull may be on a current two game skid but they are talented
and tradition rich once again this season. The team has played some top
competition and played every opponent tough. Their 8-5 record may not be
overly impressive but this is a team to watch out for. They are loaded
with younger players and will be dangerously good over the next three years.
Sleeper Team: Western Christian
The team is always talented and if they get a break, could be playing for a
State title.
District Champions: Sioux Center
This will definitely will be a controversial pick but Sioux Center is talented,
experienced, and well coached. That plus their tough schedule will
definitely prepare them for a deep postseason run.
Predictions:
1.) Sioux Center
2.) West Sioux, Hawarden
3.) Unity Christian, Orange City
4.) Western Christian, Hull
5.) Hinton
6.) West Lyon, Inwood
7.) Central Lyon, Rock Rapids
8.) Akron-Westfield
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - [/URL]District 2
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Two
Cherokee, Washington
Estherville Lincoln Central
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
Okoboji, Milford
Sheldon
Sibley-Ocheyedan
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids
South O’Brien, Paullina
How
did District 2 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Considering all of the outstanding teams in District 1, this district pales
in comparison. And Sheldon could be the team that benefits most from the
pairings.
Team Breakdowns:
*With only three wins on the year, Cherokee, Washington has not been having
the type of success that they had hoped for. But considering their last
four games were against Western Christian, Emmetsburg, Alta, and LeMars, things
have to get easier for the Braves. Cory Ege and Michael Boothby will be
trying to pick up their game throughout the rest of the winter.
*Unfortunately for Estherville Lincoln Central, their success on the football
field could not carry over to the basketball court. The Midgets did
recently pull off a big win against Storm Lake but have struggled for much of
the way. The team has a very balanced attack and their youth will help
down the road.
*Sporadic would be the best word to describe Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. The
Hawks have won seven games this year but have only one winning streak of two
games and continue to alternate victories with losses. That type of play
will not allow them to get far in the postseason. As for individual
players, Jon Walburg is one of the best players in the Class of 2007 if he can
stay focused.
*With their only win this year coming against Class 1A opponent Harris-Lake
Park, the ball has not been bouncing the way of Okoboji, Milford much this year.
What has not helped is their schedule loaded with talented teams.
*On paper, there is no doubt that Sheldon is the definite favorite in this
district. They have a lot of talent and have only lost one game this
winter. And with they will get a chance to avenge that loss to Emmetsburg
early next month. Stephen Kirschbaum has been dominating the scoring while
putting up over twenty points per game but Justin Kuiper, David Doely, and Matt
DeJong have all proven to be scoring threats.
*By far the best win this year for Sibley-Ocheyedan has been a four point
victory against defending Class 1A champion George-Little Rock. The
problem is that they have only won two other games and both were against
Okoboji. This is a very young team and that youth will get better with the
varsity experience.
*Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids has been taking care of business this year on the
court and has raced off to a 9-4 start. But the Rebels must prove that
they are for real against top competition. Their schedule has been against
mostly 1A teams and that could come back and haunt them in the playoffs.
*South O’Brien, Paullina is definitely a team of streaks. They have gone
from winning four of five to losing six of seven. And the unfortunate
thing is that they are in the midst of that losing streak. Leading scorers
Andy Puhrmann and Brennen Triplett must focus on turning things around during
the rest of the year.
Sleeper Team: H-M-S
Jon Walburg and company are extremely talented. They must now prove they
can put it together for more than one game.
District Champions: Sheldon
The Orabs are too talented and focused to lose before the substate finale.
Predictions:
1.) Sheldon
2.) Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
3.) Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids
4.) Cherokee, Washington
5.) South O’Brien, Paullina
6.) Estherville Lincoln Central
7.) Sibley-Ocheyedan
8.) Okoboji, Milford
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Three
Belmond-Klemme
Clarion-Goldfield
Eagle Grove
Emmetsburg
Garner-Hayfield
Manson Northwest Webster
North Iowa, Buffalo Center
Pocahontas Area
How
did District 3 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Emmetsburg and Garner-Hayfield have combined for only three losses on the
year and appear to be the odds on favorite to battle for the district title.
But with Pocahontas Area and others, don't expect the top two teams to advance
in the postseason easily.
Team Breakdowns:
*The positive for Belmond-Klemme is that they have won both of their games
since the holiday break and were able to avenge one of their early losses.
That shows that the Broncos have gotten better throughout the season and are
making progress. The problem is that their two victories have come against
Class 1A opponents. With this district, that may not bode well for the
team.
*Clarion-Goldfield won their first game, lost thirteen straight, and pulled out
a victory over Belmond-Klemme on Saturday. They play a brutal schedule in
the North Central conference against teams like Humboldt, St. Edmond, Clear
Lake, and many other bigger schools. It may not show in their record but
that competition could help the Cowboys pull off a surprise or two in the
playoffs.
*Eagle Grove is a young team playing against some good competition in the North
Central but that has not stopped them from competing every night. The team
is very balanced scoring, led by junior Jon Morris, but have been unable to pull
off any real conference shockers. The Eagles have given opponents tough
games, but it appears Morris and company have only been able to win games they
were expected to. If they want any chance in the postseason, Eagle Grove
will have to shock the state against Emmetsburg or Garner-Hayfield.
*Speaking of Emmetsburg, they are definitely the favorite to get to the substate
finale out of this district. The E-Hawks lost their first game of the year
but have reeled off fourteen straight wins since that game. This team
senior laden and these players had a chance to get to Des Moines as sophomores.
Now that they are in their final year at the high school level, Emmetsburg will
be focused on getting to State and making a run at taking home a trophy.
*They may have been upset over the weekend against Lake Mills but that does not
take away from what Garner-Hayfield has accomplished this year. They are
one of the biggest surprises in Class 2A with their 14-2 record and Nick Stromer
has made a name for himself as one of the elite players in the Class of 2009.
This sophomore is leading an older team by scoring nearing twenty points per
game. If the Cardinals want a shot to get to State, they must peak at the
end of the year to compete with an overly talented Emmetsburg team.
*If you could take away the six game losing streak that Manson Northwest Webster
had early in the year, they would be 7-4 overall and looking good. But
that stretch showed that they are vulnerable against quality competition.
The Cougars just did not have what it took to play with Rockwell City-Lytton,
Humboldt, Emmetsburg, and other top notch teams. That stretch would have
been tough for any team in Iowa but they appear to have bounced back.
Senior Toby Beneke is leading a balanced scoring attack that has a big game this
weekend against Southern Cal.
*North Iowa, Buffalo Center has been a pleasant surprise this year as they
currently boast a 9-6 record on the year. And the majority of losses this
year for the Bison have been close. That shows that this version of the
team is not getting blown out. North Iowa has six players that have proven
all year they can put points on the board. And that balance has given the
opposition fits all year.
*Since their huge upset in the season opener against Emmetsburg, Pocahontas Area
has been a very inconsistent team. They currently possess a 9-7 record but
their greatest win streak of the year is two games. The Indians have been
playing against top Class 1A teams but their team has struggled in these games.
If they hope for a playoff run, they must rekindle the magic they had in the
first game and start playing with a lot more consistency. Leading scorer
Ryan Baade has to pick up his game as well.
Sleeper Team: Garner-Hayfield
I really think that almost everyone looking at this district is sleeping on
Garner. They may have an outstanding record but still are the darkhorse
compared to the E-Hawks.
District Champions: Emmetsburg
This team is too talented and too experienced to be stopped before the State
tournament. It will give the seniors one last chance at a title.
Predictions:
Emmetsburg
Garner-Hayfield
Eagle Grove
Pocahontas Area
North Iowa, Buffalo Center
Manson Northwest Webster
Clarion-Goldfield
Belmond-Klemme
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Four
Gilbert
Jefferson-Scranton
Ogden
Prairie Valley, Gowrie
Roland-Story, Story City
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge
South Hamilton, Jewell
Southern Cal, Lake City
How
did District 4 do at the State tournament?
St. Edmond
Defeated Osage in the quarterfinals (61-50)
Defeated Northeast Gooselake in the semifinals (57-35)
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the finals (46-39)
Quick Overview:
This district is definitely loaded with outstanding players and that will
make for a great run towards Des Moines. The trio of favorites include
Roland Story, St. Edmond, and South Hamilton.
Team Breakdowns:
*Gilbert may have started the year off slow but the team has reeled off
three straight wins and have a big contest tonight against Bondurant-Farrar.
With many of the teams in this district from the same conference, most of the
teams will be rather familiar with one another. But will that help or help
Grant Ridpath and the Tigers?
*The success that
Jefferson-Scranton had on the football field has not been able to carry over to
the basketball court. They have been able to win five games but there have
some bad losses along the way. If the Rams hope to make an impact in this
district, Brian Waskow and Tim Kurth will need to pick up their play on both
ends of the floor.
*Ogden has one of the most talented individual athletes in this district with
James Chapline but the team has been very up and down. The positive for
the Bulldogs is that they have won four of seven games since the holiday break.
Ogden has a big few weeks coming up to see if they are really ready for a
postseason run. With Roland Story, Bondurant-Farrar, and Gilbert up next
in that order, the team will have their hands full.
*It really has showed this year how talented the senior class at
Prairie Valley, Gowrie was last year. This version of the team has been
struggling to put points on the board and that is obviously when looking at
their scores. The Warriors have lost all seven games since the holiday
break and need to tune up their offense is they hope to upset anyone in the
playoffs.
*With Jack Bruns in his third year starting on varsity,
Roland-Story, Story City has been having a great year. The junior class
has really stepped up this year for the team and has been vital in the 13-2
start that they are off to. And considering they lost twice by a combined
three points, the Norsemen are very close to be sitting with an undefeated
record at this point in the year.
*After opening the holiday break with two straight losses, it appears as if
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge is hitting their late season stride. Led by bigman
Andy Nagel, the youthfulness of the team has started playing their best
basketball of the season. The team has only one senior logging serious
minutes and that cost them early in the year. But it appears as if the
sophomores have become accustomed to the varsity level and will be tough to beat
down the stretch.
*South Hamilton, Jewell won one of the biggest games of the season recently with
a two point victory against Roland Story. That puts the team in serious
contention for the conference title and in a good spot for the postseason.
The Hawks have been led by the stellar play of Lee Knickerbocker and Brent
Johnson. This duo has combined to score nearly thirty points per game and
has been impressive thus far.
*With their success last basketball season and on the football field this fall,
I expected a lot out of
Southern Cal, Lake City. The problem is that the Mustangs have struggled
to really put things together and it shows in their inconsistent play this year.
It seems as if the team will win a big game and then struggle in their next two.
With Gavin Crandall and John Blessington leading the way, they are very talented
but haven't been able to click yet this year.
Sleeper Team: Roland Story
A recent two point loss to South Hamilton puts the revenge factor on their side
for the playoffs. And Jack Bruns is an outstanding basketball player.
District Champions: St Edmond
Like always, the Gaels are talented and well coached. They started the
year off slowly because they have three inexperienced sophomores getting major
playing time. But now that the end of the year is nearing, these players
are turning into varsity veterans.
Predictions:
1.)
St. Edmond, Fort Dodge
2.)
Roland-Story, Story City
3.)
South Hamilton, Jewell
4.)
Ogden
5.)
Southern Cal, Lake City
6.)
Gilbert
7.)
Jefferson-Scranton
8.)
Prairie Valley, Gowrie
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Five
AGWSR, Ackley
Hampton-Dumont
Lake Mills
Newman Catholic, Mason City
North Butler, Greene
Osage
Rockford
Saint Ansgar
How
did District 5 do at the State tournament?
North Butler
Lost to Bondurant-Farrar in the quarterfinals (49-37)
Osage
Lost to St. Edmond in the quarterfinals (61-50)
Quick Overview:
With North Butler in this district, they definitely are the odds on
favorite. No other team has really been able to make a substantial push
towards the top of the district although there are other teams to keep an eye
on.
Team Breakdowns:
*With all the talent that AGWSR, Ackley has had over the past years, it
eventually would have to rebuild. That finally has hit this season as the
Cougars have been taking their lumps against teams they have dominated in the
past. The scary thing about this team is that they appear to be much
better than their 4-10 record shows. AGWSR has played a lot of good teams
tough but have not been able to break through and pull off an upset.
*One advantage that Hampton-Dumont boasts for the playoffs is their tough
regular season schedule. The Bulldogs play some talented teams in the
North Central conference and have done a nice job to get to 10-7 at this point
in the year. With Kyle DeBoer leading the way, this team definitely has
the talent to make a run at North Butler. They lost by one when the two
teams played before the holiday break but could get another chance in the
postseason.
*Lake Mills was able to pull off a huge upset over Garner-Hayfield recently but
couldn't follow that up against Rockford. If this Bulldog is going to win
a huge game and then the next, that does not bode well for them doing any type
of damage in the playoffs. Offensively, this is a very balanced team led
by a strong junior class. If they can focus on getting better, this may
not be the year but watch out next season.
*Newman Catholic, Mason City has won their last three games and that has moved
the team to .500 at 8-8. They have had some big wins but some of their
losses have been ugly. Scoring wise, John Bothwell has been putting up All
State type numbers. He is scoring nearly twenty points per game and
hitting some tough shots. He will need to continue that stellar play if
the team wants a chance at surprising teams in the playoffs.
*One big reason that North Butler, Greene is tough to beat is that all five of
their starters have proven they can score. That is very difficult to
defend because normally at the Class 2A level, most teams have at least one or
two players who struggle to put points on the board. Transfers from
Wisconsin, Jalaal Madyun and Jarael Madyun, have really fit in well and are
putting up around twenty points per game between them. And also don't
sleep on Jacey Heuer. This senior is talented and versatile.
*Osage was able to make the State tournament last year but has not been able to
find the consistency that they showed last year. The Green Devils started
the year 4-1 but currently are .500 and have lost three of four. The
senior class last year was talented for Osage but if this team can focus and
pull it together, they could make some noise in the playoffs. But right
now, that is a big if.
*Rockford has been a very pleasant surprise this year and won rather large games
recently against Lake Mills, Riceville, and Nashua-Plainfield. That shows
the Warriors could mean business in the playoffs but they have struggled head to
head against North Butler. Rockford lost both games by a combined 46
points. The trio of Levi Winters, Chris Engels, and Brandon Wood are
scoring over forty five points per game and definitely have some serious ability
on the court.
*Saint Ansgar gave North Butler a tougher game than many expected earlier this
year when they lost by four. The Saints will get a chance to pull off the
upset this week but this might be another situation where the team is a year
away. Leading scorers Brendan Ehlke and Logan Cimmiyotti are in their
junior and sophomore years so they will only get better over the next year.
The problem is that for now, they may take a few lumps but the talent is
definitely up and coming.
Sleeper Team:
Hampton-Dumont
The fact that they gave North Butler such a tough game earlier in the year and
that they play in an unfamiliar conference could give them an advantage in the
postseason.
District Champions: North Butler
After recently suffering their first loss of the year, North Butler came back
with vengeance. If they can play that focused the rest of the year, this
district better watch out.
Predictions:
1.)
North Butler, Greene
2.)
Hampton-Dumont
3.)
Rockford
4.)
Lake Mills
5.)
Saint Ansgar
6.)
Newman Catholic, Mason City
7.)
Osage
8.) AGWSR, Ackley
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Six
Aplington-Parkersburg
BCLUW, Conrad
Dike-New Hartford
East Marshall, LeGrand
Eldora-New Providence
Gladbrook Reinbeck
Grundy Center
Iowa Falls-Alden
How
did District 6 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
With a 17-0 record, there really is no doubt that on paper
Gladbrook-Reinbeck is the favorite in this district. There are some teams
that will give them competition but the early favorite is the Rebels.
Team Breakdowns:
*With their recent win over Jesup, Aplington-Parkersburg boasted their
record against them to 2-0. The problem is that the Falcons are 0-15
against other competition and have been having struggles putting points on the
board. And considering they have a tough schedule in the NICL East, things
are not easy on a weekly basis.
*BCLUW, Conrad also has had their downs this year and have limped to a 2-12
record overall. This team has some issues because there are so few juniors
on the squad that they are relying on seniors and sophomores. Luke Higgins
is leading the team in scoring at around eleven points per game but the Comets
have yet to play their best basketball of the season.
*Dike-New Hartford has one of the best players within the district in Tigh
Bakker but the team has not been able to really get over the .500 mark.
They have competitive this year in most games but against the top teams in
conference like Wapsie Valley or NU High, the Wolverines have not been able to
pull off an upset. They definitely need to prove they can beat a top tier
team if they want any considering to advance in the playoffs.
*One team that has been playing good basketball as of late has been East Marshall, LeGrand.
They have won six of seven games and their only loss was to Denver on the road
by two points. Despite having a senior laden team, junior Walker Seim has
been leading a very balanced offense in scoring. The Mustangs have four
very winnable games to finish out the regular season. If they can get
victories in all four, the team will definitely go into the postseason with
momentum on their side.
*In their recent win against BCLUW, Eldora-New Providence was able to notch
their largest offensive output of the season with 66 points. That might
not be much to some teams but the Tigers have had trouble putting points on the
board, especially recently. That recent win did break their eight game
losing streak and there is potential for more down the stretch. It will
just depend on how Garrett Ramsey and their solid junior class does.
*Considering that Gladbrook Reinbeck has been one of the surprise teams with
their undefeated record, the strange thing is that they have not had any close
games. Even against good teams like Wapsie Valley or NU High, the Rebels
have taken care of business and been able to pull out big victories. The
team has four regular season games to finish things up without a loss. But
if they really want to be remembered, they must come to play in the postseason
when things will get tough.
*One setback that occurred for Grundy Center was when one of their best players
moved in the fall. But instead of using that or the inexperience in their
lineup as an excuse, the Spartans have gone out and played hard every night.
Leading the scoring for this team is Trevor Hook. He may be only putting
up 12.1 points per game but he is a freshman. If this team can keep
working and remain focused, they could be a darkhorse for the postseason.
*Iowa Falls-Alden has had their hands full all year against some very talented
teams in their conference. The Cadets have only been able to muster five
wins on the year but playing against Humboldt, Clear Lake, and other bigger
teams will only help Turrell Foster and his teammates when the postseason gets
underway. Iowa Falls has a tough schedule down the stretch but their game
against Hampton-Dumont will show if they are ready to surprise some people in
the playoffs.
Sleeper Team: Grundy Center
With a freshman leading the team in scoring, he will only get better with the
more practices he gets under his belt.
District Champions: Gladbrook-Reinbeck
This team is still a shock to me but they have taken care of business night in
and night out. We will see if they are for real in the playoffs when the
scores will get closer.
Predictions:
1.) Gladbrook Reinbeck
2.)
Grundy Center
3.)
East Marshall, LeGrand
4.)
Iowa Falls-Alden
5.)
Dike-New Hartford
6.)
Eldora-New Providence
7.)
BCLUW, Conrad
8.) Aplington-Parkersburg
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Seven
Beckman, Dyersville
Central, Elkader
Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg
Edgewood-Colesburg
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
MFL MarMac
North Fayette, West Union
Starmont
How
did District 7 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
There are a lot of teams hovering around the .500 mark but the two squads to
keep an eye on in the playoffs are Maquoketa Valley and North Fayette.
Both have far exceeded expectations so far this year with an impressive run.
Team Breakdowns:
*Senior Adam Manternach has been the leading scorer for Beckman, Dyersville
this year but his thirteen points per game have not helped this team avoid their
inconsistent play. They have been 4-4 over the last eight games but that
has included two straight wins, four straight losses, and now two straight wins
heading into their game against West Delaware. If the Blazers want a
chance at making it to State, they must come to play every night.
*After starting the year 6-2, Central, Elkader has had troubles putting points
on the board and that has played a role in their recent three game losing
streak. Their high output over those games is only forty points and that
has really hurt the team. With a struggling Elgin Valley team on the
schedule this weekend, Central Elkader has a chance to get some momentum going
if they can prove they can score.
*Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg will look one game like they have a chance to make
some noise in the playoffs and the next they will struggle against a team they
should beat. Considering this is a senior laden team, the Eagles are a
very hard team to predict. Travis White and his teammates have a nice
balance scoring wise but they need to take things one game at a time. If
they can do that, a favorable schedule down the stretch could show that this
really is a team with postseason potential.
*Edgewood-Colesburg is another team that has been struggling to really distance
themselves from the .500 mark. Sitting at 8-7 currently, the Vikings are
another team that has had trouble putting points on the board lately. In
their last three games, they have been held to 30, 46, and 38 while going 1-2
over that period. This team appears to play their best basketball when
they can score in the high forties and above. They are 7-1 when they can
accomplish that.
*Although they may not have the oldest team in this district, Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
has been playing some great basketball. Adam Koopmann and the Wildcats sit
at 11-5 and have had some very impressive stretches of wins on the year.
Their two most recent wins have been against solid competition in Monticello and
Edgewood-Colesburg. If they can sustain that success, this will definitely
be a team that has a chance to win the district title.
*MFL MarMac started the season with a huge upset over Decorah but have not been
able to continue that success consistently. That may have a lot to do with
the fact that they are playing a lot of younger athletes and freshman Collin
Thompson is their second leading scorer on the year. The future is bright
for the Bulldogs but they may have to wait this year.
*Like Maquoketa Valley, North Fayette, West Union has been another team playing
above preseason expectations. And considering many know them because of
their outstanding football program, the Hawks are showing they can play
basketball as well. A lot of the athletes who helped the football team are
playing basketball and have helped in their current five game win streak.
This team has the potential to win this district.
*Starmont is the only team that is really under the .500 mark in this district
but that is not a surprise when you find out how young they are. Only one
senior is on the team and five juniors and a sophomore are among the leaders
scorers for the Stars. Starmont did pull off a big win against
Edgewood-Colesburg before the holiday break but was unable to use that momentum
to win more games.
Sleeper Team: Beckman, Dyersville
The Blazers have a deep basketball tradition but can they finally break out of
their struggles and make some noise in this district?
District Champions: Maquoketa Valley
Maquoketa Valley gets the nod over North Fayette because of their schedule.
That will really help them for the postseason.
Predictions:
1.)
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi
2.)
North Fayette, West Union
3.) Beckman, Dyersville
4.)
Edgewood-Colesburg
5.)
Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg
6.)
MFL MarMac
7.)
Central, Elkader
8.)
Starmont
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Eight
Columbus Catholic, Waterloo
Denver
Hudson
Jesup
Nashua-Plainfield
South Winneshiek, Calmar
Sumner-Fredericksburg
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction
How
did District 8 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Outside if Jesup, this district is loaded and every game will be tough.
Nashua-Plainfield has the marquee player of this district but that does not mean
it will be an easy run for the Huskies.
Team Breakdowns:
*With a junior laden team, Columbus Catholic, Waterloo has been up and down
all season. They have been on many winning streaks and losing streaks
since starting the year 4-0 but won their most recent game against Independence.
Tim Kelly and Juston Meier have made some huge strides heading into the season
and their impact is obvious.
*Denver may have lost a Division I basketball player last year but this version
of the team is still having a lot of success on the court. The offense is
much more balanced with their leading scorer averaging around twelve points.
Spreading the ball between players makes it much more difficult for the
opposition to key on players. The Cyclones have won three straight but
have a tough game against Wapsie Valley next.
*Hudson is another team fighting to stay around the .500 mark but they have been
playing their best basketball of the year as of late. The Pirates have won
five of six and their only loss was against the above mentioned Denver. If
they can continue that exceptional play over the last two weeks of the year,
Hudson has the potential to be a darkhorse team in this district.
*Jesup won their only game of the season over a Hudson team that was struggling.
Joe Rohlfsen has been leading the team in scoring for a team that lacks numbers
in the senior class. That is not an excuse but a tough schedule and a
struggle to put points on the board have made things tough for the J-Hawks.
*Nashua-Plainfield has the firepower to not only win this district but make a
run at the State tournament. The problem is which Husky team will show up?
They lost a Northwood-Kensett team by ten and beat them ten days later by 35.
In between that stretch, they also fell to a Rockford team. Alex Kramer
has shown once again that he is one of the best players in Iowa but he needs to
go to battle every night and not see his team lose games they are expected to
win.
*With some struggles early in the year, South Winneshiek, Calmar has put
together a three game winning streak. And with three winnable games down
the stretch, the Warriors could go into the playoffs only one game under .500
and will some serious momentum. Mark Lensing has been putting up the most
points this year but a number of teammates have also stepped up their game.
*Even though Adam Baier and Jake Mohling have been leading the team in the
scoring column, Sumner-Fredericksburg has shown that they have five players
capable of putting up points on any given night. Few teams at the Class 2A
level have that so it is a definite advantage for the Cougars.
*In conference play, Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction has been a very tough team
to beat with an 11-3 record. This team appears to be playing their best
basketball when they can score in the mid-fifties and play the kind of defense
that they have been working hard to achieve. If they can get that, the
Trojans are a tough team to beat.
Sleeper Team:
Denver
Even without a superstar, Denver has the balanced attack that could be tough to
slow down in the playoffs.
District Champions:
Nashua-Plainfield
If Nashua-Plainfield can come to play every night in the playoffs, they should
win this district title. If they expect a win without working, the Huskies
could fall victim to an upset.
Predictions:
1.)
Nashua-Plainfield
2.) Sumner-Fredericksburg
3.)
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction
4.)
Denver
5.) Columbus Catholic, Waterloo
6.)
Hudson
7.)
South Winneshiek, Calmar
8.)
Jesup
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 9[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Nine
Alburnett
Cascade, Western Dubuque
Center Point-Urbana
Monticello
North Cedar, Stanwood
North-Linn, Troy Mills
Solon
Union, LaPorte City
How
did District 9 do at the State tournament?
Solon
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the quarterfinals (55-47)
Quick Overview:
With only one team under .500 and three teams that have been ranked at times
over the past two weeks, this district is loaded. It will be a tough test
for any of the teams hoping to make a run.
Team Breakdowns:
*In mid-January, Alburnett was sitting at 6-6 and struggling on the court.
But six wins later and the team is 12-6 and playing their best basketball of the
year. That resurgence could make it very possible that the Pirates will go
into the playoffs with a nine game winning streak. This is a senior laden
team that gets after it defensively and spreads the ball around offensively.
That combination has really worked for them lately.
*Cascade, Western Dubuque is one team that recently made their first appearance
in the IowaPreps.com Class 2A rankings because of their 15-2 start on the
basketball court. That record is outstanding but few are giving them a
chance in this loaded district. Their last loss was in early January but
they have also avenged an early loss to Maquoketa Valley. The Cougars have
also shown they can win high scoring games as well as ones where the opponents
slows it down.
*Since the holiday break, Center Point-Urbana has been unable to play consistent
basketball. They win two, loss two, win one, lose one, and just have a
difficult time getting on any type of an extended winning streak. The
Stormin' Pointers are limited on the number of seniors who really contribute and
that inexperience plays a part in the inconsistent nature of the team.
Their record may not show it but they have won both their games against
Alburnett.
*Monticello has had two impressive win streaks of five and six games this year.
But outside of those runs, the team is only 1-5 overall. The Panthers have
done a nice job of taking care of the games they are expected to win. But
with the postseason rapidly approaching, they must prove they can play with
teams like Solon, Cascade, Union, and others within this district.
*Yes, North Cedar, Stanwood has lost two of their last three games but they
still are 14-3 on the year and playing some good basketball. They were
able to end the losing streak to a solid Bellevue team but need to get some
momentum heading into the playoffs. The one knock against the Knights is
their schedule. Is playing in the Big East enough to prepare them for
these 2A opponents?
*North-Linn, Troy Mills is the only team in this district currently under the
.500 mark. That just shows how deep this district is. But the Lynx
will be hoping to prove doubters wrong as they play the role of the darkhorse.
They have been unable to beat anyone in this district but did win three straight
in the middle of the year.
*Since Solon lost the season opener to Mount Vernon, the Spartans have refocused
and have been blowing teams out since. The team has one of the best guard
trios in Iowa with Matt Lesan, Matt Morrison, and Ben Weeks leading the way.
They are combined to score over forty five points per game and each one is
capable for going off on a nightly basis. If they can win their final
three games, they will go into the playoffs with a twenty game win streak.
Now that is what I talk about with momentum.
*Lucky for Union, LaPorte City is that there are no teams from Cedar Falls in
this district. Teams from that city are the only ones to beat them this
year as all three losses have come against Cedar Falls or NU High. As for
the team, the Knights are very young. But that youth has really started to
pay off this season as the team is 16-3 and playing great basketball. If
the team can pull it together and play their type of basketball, they will be
tough to watch. But that youth may also be a year away.
Sleeper Team: Union, LaPorte City
Union is talented, athletic, and young. Will that youth help them or hurt
them this season?
District Champions: Solon
This Spartans team was happy to make State last year. Now they want to win
games in Des Moines.
Predictions:
1.)
Solon
2.)
Union, LaPorte City
3.)
Cascade, Western Dubuque
4.)
North Cedar, Stanwood
5.)
Monticello
6.)
Center Point-Urbana
7.) Alburnett
8.)
North-Linn, Troy Mills
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 10[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Ten
Assumption, Davenport
Bellevue
Camanche
Durant
Northeast Gooselake
Tipton
West Branch
Wilton
How
did District 10 do at the State tournament?
Northeast Gooselake
Defeated Battle Creek-Ida Grove in the quarterfinals (62-61)
Lost to St. Edmond in the semifinals (57-35)
Lost to Bondurant-Farrar in the consolation game (63-46)
Quick Overview:
There are a lot of talented teams that play in smaller conferences but one
to keep an eye on is Davenport Assumption. The Knights playing in the MAC
conference will help them for this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*The Davenport Assumption basketball dominance was stopped last year by an
amazing Durant comeback. This season with a coach in his second year, the
Knights hopefully will have learned from their struggles in the playoffs.
The team is currently 7-9 and in the midst of a five game losing streak.
That does not bode well for any team wanting to fight for a district title but
their games have come against teams like Davenport Central and Iowa City High.
*Bellevue is another one of those teams that have not been able to really get
over the hump and win big games. Their losses have come against good teams
like Andrew, North Cedar, Marquette and other top teams but the Comets have not
been able to sustain that play over a long stretch. They currently sit two
games above the .500 mark but do have a winnable game this week against Olin.
*Camanche has had their struggles on the court this year as they have only
accumulated five wins. The Indians obviously are playing against sound
competition but that has not helped their record any. Colton Hilgendorf is
the leading scorer for a team that has a very balanced attack offensively.
*Since starting the year 4-0, Durant has been unable to put anything greatest
than a three game win streak together. They currently sit at 11-6 and have
some of the best athletes in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference. Jake Soy
and Jamey Meyer have combined to score nearly forty points per game and have
been fixtures in the lineup for quite sometime. But will those two have
help in the playoffs?
*Ranking Northeast Gooselake is a difficult thing to do in this district for one
big reason. Would you take a team that is 7-9 playing in the MAC
Conference or a team that is 13-3 playing in the Big East? For his final
season of prep hoops, guard Dylan Diedrich has been putting up some amazing
numbers and is one of the best scorers in Iowa. The team does have some
other players who are capable of scoring but Diedrich makes this team go.
*If you can somehow take out their games against Solon, Tipton would stand at
14-0 and be among the top teams in 2A. Even with those two losses to the
Spartans, the Tigers are playing some great basketball this year. Mike and
Mark Lafrenz have really made some strides this season and it is obvious in
their game. Also don't forget about Nick Ohrt. This trio is scoring
over forty five points per game and can score in a variety of ways.
*Even with future Northern Iowa Panther Caleb Walter back in the lineup, West Branch
has yet to find the consistent play that they had last winter. Walter and
Michael Murphy have been doing a lot of the scoring for this senior laden Bears
team but their longest win streak of the year is three games. The
competition is tough against teams in the EIHC but that is no excuse. The
schedule closes out with Solon and Durant so things will not be easy.
*With a new coach at the helm and the graduation of a lot of talented athletes, Wilton
has been unable to have much success on the basketball court. The Beavers
have been able to win three conference games this year but most can be
considered upsets. The team faces off tonight against Williamsburg, a team
that was one of those wins. Will they be able to get the season sweep?
Sleeper Team: Northeast Gooselake
If Dylan Diedrich is knocking down this jumpers, watch out. He will shoot
it from anywhere on the court.
District Champions: Tipton
This could be a great battle if Tipton and Assumption play. But even with
a junior laden team, a lot of the Tiger players are varsity veterans by now.
Predictions:
1.)
Tipton
2.) Assumption, Davenport
3.)
Northeast Gooselake
4.)
Durant
5.)
West Branch
6.)
Bellevue
7.)
Wilton
8.)
Camanche
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 11[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Eleven
Belle Plaine
Columbus, Columbus Junction
Iowa Valley, Marengo
Louisa-Muscatine
Mediapolis
Mid-Prairie, Wellman
Regina, Iowa City
Wapello
How
did District 11 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
The strange thing about this district is that although there are some decent
teams, no one really stands out among the others. Lousia-Muscatine has the
best record and they are only three games above the .500 mark.
Team Breakdowns:
*Belle Plaine has really been unable to turn the corner and be successful
this year. They have done a nice job in some games but that consistency
has not existed during the entire year. Their signature win this year was
against a good 1A team in HLV. During their final three regular season
games, Justin Janss and Tate Demeulenaere must step up their game and finish
strong.
*Right after the holiday break, Columbus, Columbus Junction put together a three
game win streak and it was obvious that they were playing their best basketball
of the year. But the Wildcats have only been able to win one game since
and that was against a struggling team in 1A. Unless they can get back to
the way they played after the break, this team could be one and done in the
playoffs.
*Iowa Valley, Marengo started the season right with a win over North Mahsaka and
a 4-1 record. Since that quick beginning, the team has been unable to
maintain that success. The Tigers and leading scorer Tyler Olson sit at
10-8 and have the second best record in this district. But will that mean
they can make a postseason run? In this district, anything can happen.
*If you would have told me that Louisa-Muscatine may come into the postseason
with the best record in this district, I personally would not have believed you.
But the Falcons have been playing some good basketball and that has translated
into wins on the court. If they can replicate the success they had against
teams like Lone Tree, WACO, and others, they may have what it takes to make a
run at the district title.
*Mediapolis started the year quick with a 4-1 start and that included a thirty
one point win over Louisa-Muscatine. But then the team hit the skids and
they lost their next six and really have been able to bounce back since.
The Bulldogs are definitely a team to keep an eye on because they have surprised
some people. And if they can catch an opponent overlooking them, don't be
surprise if the result is an upset win.
*Just like basically every team in this district, Mid-Prairie, Wellman has gone
through good stretches and bad stretches. The Golden Hawks won seven of
nine games early on but have lost six of seven as of late. Kyle Graber and
Darian Patterson have combined to put up nearly thirty points per game but that
has not been enough to get them out of the current funk they are in. A
tough schedule down the stretch will not make turning things around easy.
*Regina, Iowa City has not had the season they hoped in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye
Conference this winter. Zach O'Connell has been having a fantastic season
while putting up nearly twenty points per game. The problem is outside of
this talented junior, the team has been struggling to put points on the board.
That has been a major factor in their struggles this year.
*Wapello started the season out in a strange fashion. They lost two, won
six, lost four, and won. Up until recently, they would either win or loss
in long stretches. The Indians will need to find a way to play ball the
way they did during that long win streak. If they can, Davis Spielbauer
and his teammates could surprise some people.
Sleeper Team:
Regina, Iowa City
If O'Connell is hitting and his teammates can step up, the Regals have the
talent to make a run in this district that has so many question marks.
District Champions: Mid-Prairie
In a situation where there are so many question marks, I have to go with
tradition and coaching. Mid-Prairie has that advantage over the other
schools.
Predictions:
Mid-Prairie, Wellman
Louisa-Muscatine
Regina, Iowa City
Wapello
Iowa Valley, Marengo
Mediapolis
Belle Plaine
Columbus, Columbus Junction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 12[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Twelve
B-G-M, Brooklyn
Central Lee, Donnellson
Danville
Eddyville-Blakesburg
Montezuma
Pekin
Sigourney
Van Buren, Keosauqua
West Burlington
How
did District 12 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
On paper, this appears to to be a three team race with Montezuma, Pekin, and
Van Buren.
Team Breakdowns:
*When looking at the B-G-M, Brooklyn roster, this team has one of the
strangest lineup of players from all different grades. With a total of six
seniors, juniors, and sophomores, the freshman class has had to contribute more
than initially planned. This will be a huge help for Jordan Hoensee and
the other players in the Class of 2010 but is a part of the reason that the team
has been struggling on the court. They did get a win over English Valleys
and lost to Sigourney by two.
*Central Lee, Donnellson may only be 10-10 overall but this is a team with a
very bright future. Sophomore Brett Azinger has really stepped up for the
Hawks and has poured in over twenty points per game for the team.
Production has also come out of Wes McGraw, Trevor Pezley, and freshman Brad
Vogel. The team has worked hard this year and made it to the .500 mark.
If they can continue to improve over the off-season, this team will be tough to
beat.
*Since Danville went on the run led by Jake Wenig a few years back that resulted
in two State titles in three years, the team has been able to get over the hump
and return to State. But head coach Ken Laffoon has kept this team
competitive year in and year out so there is always a chance they could shock
someone in the playoffs.
*Eddyville-Blakesburg is another team forced to play younger players at the
varsity level because of the makeup of their team. I am a big believer in
that the more varsity experience a player gets, the better he will be down the
road. But this team is taking their lumps now as they struggle to put
points on the board. Playing a tough in the South Central conference has
not made things any easier.
*With a senior laden team, Montezuma has all the pieces to make a serious run at
the State tournament. The Braves have only lost three games this year and
they were by a combined 14 points, which includes avenging an early season loss
to North Mahaska earlier this week. Lee Schroeder is a load to stop inside
but don't forget about PJ Mahaffey. If he is knocking down the outside
jumper, teams will struggle to beat Montezuma.
*After starting the year 5-0, Pekin has been up and down in the win column.
There have been some tough games along the way for the Panthers but youth may
have something to do with it. Leading scorer Jordan Sathoff, who is
putting up over twenty points per game, is only a junior. Sophomore Cody
Millikin is second in scoring and freshman Trenton Northup is fourth. That
youth may be playing a large part of their struggles now but with the talent
this team has, watch out.
*Two of the four games that Sigourney has won this year has been against English
Valleys but the team was able to win recently against BGM. But with a
difficult three game schedule down the stretch, it will be tough not to go into
the postseason on a three game slide. Scotty Appleget and Blaine Mateer
have combined to score nearly twenty five points between them and are the most
dangerous scorers on the squad.
*Despite having a 14-5 record overall, Van Buren, Keosauqua is definitely a team
that is under the radar. The Warriors have had success on the basketball
court because of their balanced attack offensively. With five players
averaging between 13.3 and 9.8 points per game, they can put a scorer on the
court at every position. That type of flexibility is something that is
rare at the Class 2A level.
*West Burlington may only be 7-9 overall but they have ripped off four straight
wins, including one against Danville. The Falcons definitely have some
momentum heading into their final four games of the year. If they can find
a way to sustain it during three very winnable games, this team could play the
role of a dark horse in the playoffs.
Sleeper Team:
Pekin
A young team like this gets better everyday in practice if they keep working.
That could pay off greatly down the road.
District Champions: Montezuma
The team has taken to a new coach and because it is so senior laden, they are
focused on making State.
Predictions:
1.) Montezuma
2.)
Van Buren, Keosauqua
3.)
Pekin
4.)
Central Lee, Donnellson
5.)
West Burlington
6.)
Danville
7.)
Sigourney
8.) B-G-M, Brooklyn
9.) Eddyville-Blakesburg
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 13[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Thirteen
Bondurant-Farrar
Colfax-Mingo
Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
North Polk, Alleman
PCM, Monroe
Pella Christian
Pleasantville
West Marshall, State Center
How
did District 13 do at the State tournament?
Bondurant-Farrar
Defeated North Butler in the quarterfinals (49-37)
Lost to Nodaway Valley in the semifinals (53-42)
Defeated Northeast Gooselake in the consolation game (63-46)
Quick Overview:
There are some good teams in this district but unless Pella Christian is
looking ahead to the substate final and a team raises their game a great deal,
it will be tough stopping the Eagles.
Team Breakdowns:
*Even without Kerwin Dunham and a talented senior class, Bondurant-Farrar
has been playing some good basketball this winter. The senior class, which
received little attention last year, has really stepped up and played a major
role in the success. Last year there role was to pass and play defense.
This season, things have changed and they are making the most of the
opportunities.
*Colfax-Mingo started the year 3-0 but really has not been able to play with the
consistency that they had hoped for before the year. The Tigerhawks have
won their last two games, which is their second longest win streak of the
season, and there are three winnable games down the stretch. If they can
get into the playoffs with a five game win streak, they could advance.
*Because of the conference that they are in, Josh Garrison and Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
has been having some major problems winning games this year. The team has
lost twelve of their last thirteen games and been having some major problems
putting points on the board. If they can't score in the regular season, it
will be even tougher in the playoffs.
*If you could take a four game losing streak out of the season for North Polk, Alleman
where the ball was not bouncing their way, they would be 10-4 and considered a
serious threat in this district. But that losing streak for the Comets
showed opponents that they are vulnerable and have trouble at times. This
is a very veteran team led by Adam Carr, who has been putting up big numbers.
*It doesn't matter what year it is, PCM, Monroe will always be competitive on
the basketball court. The Mustangs don't have the firepower to make a run
at a State title but they have done a solid job this year. Over the last
three games, the team has won all of them and that includes getting a victory
against North Polk. Brad Norwood has been leading a balanced attack
offensively.
*After losing all five starters to graduation last year, Pella Christian is 18-1
and loaded for a State title run. The scary part about this team is that
their top leading scorers are a junior, sophomore, and sophomore. The
Eagles are another team that is very balanced offensively and they flat out know
how to make plays on the court. If they don't look ahead to possibly
playing Nodaway Valley in the substate finale, they will be district champions.
*Pleasantville has shown during the year that Doug Persoon, Chase Williams, and
Matt Stubbs have the ability to put points up on the board. The problem is
that outside of this trio, the Trojans have not found anyone able to really step
up and make an impact in the scoring column consistently. They has hurt
them as the team has lost many games while only scoring in the forties.
*With an eight game winning streak under their belt earlier this year, West Marshall, State Center
is definitely a team to consider as a darkhorse in this district. Tyler
Rabey and Tyler Shipley have both been playing a huge role in the success that
the team is having. And with games left against Roland Story and
Bondurant-Farrar, the Trojans can show if they are for real or not.
Sleeper Team: Bondurant-Farrar
With the success they are having this year, the Bluejays have not missed a beat
and the senior class has adjusted well to their new roles.
District Champions: Pella Christian
Too talented, too deep, and too well coached. Like I said before, the only
thing that may stop them is looking ahead to Nodaway Valley.
Predictions:
1.)
Pella Christian
2.)
West Marshall, State Center
3.) Bondurant-Farrar
4.)
PCM, Monroe
5.)
North Polk, Alleman
6.)
Colfax-Mingo
7.)
Collins-Maxwell, C-M-B
8.)
Pleasantville
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 14[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Fourteen
Central Decatur, Leon
Interstate 35, Truro
Mount Ayr
Nodaway Valley
Panorama, Panora
Wayne, Corydon
Woodward-Granger
West Central Valley, Stuart
How
did District 14 do at the State tournament?
Nodaway Valley
Defeated Solon in the quarterfinals (55-47)
Defeated Bondurant-Farrar in the semifinals (53-42)
Defeated St. Edmond in the championship game (46-39)
Quick Overview:
When the defending champions are in the district and undefeated, they would
likely be an early choice as the favorites.
Team Breakdowns:
*With junior Logan Hullinger leading the way in the scoring column, Central Decatur, Leon
sits one game above the .500 mark. If they can take down Lamoni in the
season finale, the Cardinals could go into the playoffs with a three game win
streak, which would be their best of the year.
*Interstate 35, Truro has had some impressive win streaks this year and can be
considered one of the favorites not named Nodaway Valley. But their recent
loss to Lenox ended a streak of four straight victories and things don't get
easier in the finale against Earlham. It won't be easy but this may end up
being the Wolverines toughest competitor.
*Mount Ayr has been a mixture of sophomores and seniors for most of the year but
they have been unable to find the type of consistency that they need to make a
playoff run. The positives are that this team is balanced offensively and
currently is on a three game win streak. Will that be enough to be a
surprise?
*With a team that is loaded with experience and has just been pasting opponents, Nodaway Valley
is not only the favorite for the district title but also the State title.
The Wolverines took home the title last year and may even be better this time
around. Only one thing can stop them in this district. That is if
they look too far ahead to #3 Pella Christian, who should be awaiting them in
the substate final. One team will be sent home that shouldn't be.
*Panorama, Panora has not been able to get over the .500 mark after a slow start
to the year but a lot of that has to do with inexperience. With only one
senior in their lineup and many freshman and sophomores, the Panthers are young
but could be building towards the future. The problem is the payoff will
likely be down the road.
*After an impressive 8-0 run to start the year, Wayne, Corydon has been
surprisingly inconsistent and have been unable to return to the success that
they had early on. The trio of Levi Jaeckel, Kole Foster, Turner Devore,
and Trevor Devore have been doing most of the scoring for the team and have
really helped this team. But they must come together if they have any shot
at taking down #1.
*Although their two wins did come in back to back games, Woodward-Granger has
limped to a 2-17 record on the year. Senior Ben Heasley has been pouring
in over twenty points per game but that has not helped the team win more games.
If he can involve others around him, that may help the offense put more points
on the board.
*Another team that got off to a quick start this year is West Central Valley, Stuart.
They began 5-0 but have lost twelve of thirteen games and have lost the
confidence from their early season run. Part of the reason is that the
team does play in a difficult conference but they need to get back to playing
like they did early.
Sleeper Team:
Panorama, Panora
They are young and getting better but this is not the district to make a
surprise run in.
District Champions:
Nodaway Valley
If things go as they did in the regular season,
Nodaway Valley will walk away with the district title.
Predictions:
1.)
Nodaway Valley
2.)
Interstate 35, Truro
3.)
Wayne, Corydon
4.)
Panorama, Panora
5.)
Mount Ayr
6.)
West Central Valley, Stuart
7.) Central Decatur, Leon
8.)
Woodward-Granger
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 15[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Fifteen
Audubon
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
Logan-Magnolia
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto
Missouri Valley
Tri-Center, Neola
Underwood
How
did District 15 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
The obvious favorite in this district is Audubon. They have only lost
once and have been dominant this year.
Team Breakdowns:
*When a team can prove they have five players who can all score at the Class
2A level, that usually means success. Audubon has done that all year and
that has been a huge factor in the team only losing one game on the year.
Stefan Petersen has been leading the team in scoring at over sixteen points per
game and has been huge all year. The Wheelers did show they were beatable
recently against IKM but have bounced back with two victories.
*With Eric Hanson leading the way, Battle Creek-Ida Grove has done a nice job on
the court all year. Hanson has been putting up over twenty points per game
this year for a team that is seriously lacking in seniors. This may not be
the year but the Falcons have a number of juniors and sophomores who are getting
serious varsity playing time. That will definitely pay off down the road.
*One huge advantage that Kuemper Catholic, Carroll has over a lot of teams in
this class is that they play in the Hawkeye Ten. Going against teams like
Harlan, Creston, and many other talented squads helps this team get battled
tested before the postseason. The Knights have won their last three
straight games and that is their longest win streak of the year. Can they
head into the playoffs with four straight victories?
*Logan-Magnolia had another outstanding year on the football field but that
success has not carried over to basketball. The Panthers have been
inconsistent all year and that is why the team only boasts a 6-13 record.
Throughout the entire year, this team has failed to win back to back games.
*Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto has been a team of streaks. From winning two,
losing four, and winning four, the Rams have been up and down all year.
They are currently on a two game win streak and if they can take down Sergeant
Bluff-Luton in the regular season finale, they will have momentum heading into
the playoffs.
*Missouri Valley has some impressive wins on the year this winter but have been
unable to take down some of the big boys that they have played. The trio
of John Lorenzen, Nick Pleas, and Jared York have combined to average over
thirty points per game and appear to be the most consistent scorers on the team.
The Big Reds have two winnable games left this week that will help them for the
postseason.
*If you could somehow take Audubon off of the Tri-Center, Neola, they would be
17-0 on the year. For whatever reason, Audubon has been their kryptonite
and handed the Trojans all three of their losses this year. I have heard
the term you can't beat a good team three times but how about four times?
Juniors Kurt Spomer and Monte Larson are pouring in over thirty points per game
and have really stepped up their game this year.
*Underwood has had a rough season and have only been able to win three games on
the year. Sophomore Mitch Masker has been leading the team in scoring but
the problems have come up offensively. They have not had the firepower
needed to stay with some of the talented teams they have played.
Sleeper Team:
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
That youth makes them a definite sleeper team to keep an eye out for.
District Champions: Audubon
With only one loss, Audubon appears to be the team to beat in this district.
Predictions:
1.) Audubon
2.)
Tri-Center, Neola
3.)
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
4.)
Battle Creek-Ida Grove
5.)
Missouri Valley
6.)
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto
7.)
Logan-Magnolia
8.)
Underwood
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A - District 16[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in District Sixteen
Clarinda Academy
Corning
Griswold
Red Oak
Riverside, Oakland
Shenandoah
St. Albert, Council Bluffs
Treynor
How
did District 16 do at the State tournament?
Treynor
Lost to George-Little Rock in the quarterfinals (49-39)
Quick Overview:
With only one team not hovering near the .500 mark, Council Bluffs St.
Albert is the obvious favorite to get out of this district.
Team Breakdowns:
*Clarinda Academy is another one of those teams loaded with younger players
making an impact at the varsity level. Sophomore Pono Watson is leading
the team in scoring but they boast three freshman among their top five scorers.
The Eagles have been fighting to get over the .500 since starting the year slow
but have three games left down the stretch to do so.
*Corning also has a sophomore leading the team in scoring with Michael Webb
putting up around fourteen points per contest. Only two seniors have made
a heavy impact in the scoring column this year. That lack of experience
veterans has hurt the team as they sit two games below .500. This may not
be the year for the Red Raiders but they are a team to keep an eye on in the
future.
*Because of their struggles, Griswold has tried a number of players at the
varsity level. Senior James Nichols has averaged nearly ten points per
game but the team has failed to put many points on the board. The Tigers
have only won two games all year and may have their hands full in the playoffs.
*Red Oak is normally loaded with standout athletes and this year is no
different. But against teams in the Hawkeye Ten, they have been up and
down after starting the year 4-0. The Tigers need to break their current
two game skid before the postseason gets underway next week.
*Despite having already won eight games this year, the longest win streak of the
year for Riverside, Oakland has been two games. They have spent most of
the season trading wins for losses and that is why they are currently 8-12.
The Bulldogs play a good Bedford team on the road in their last regular season
game.
*With their only win coming against an out of state opponent, Shenandoah has
been unable to accomplish what they hoped to do this year on the basketball
court. The Mustangs have struggled against some of the top teams in their
conference but that is not a surprise. The Hawkeye Ten is a conference
loaded with potential State teams.
*St. Albert, Council Bluffs has an experienced team that may have the pieces to
finally make a run at Des Moines. Junior Marc Baumert has expanded his
game this year and is even tougher to stop. Even without a conference,
this team is currently the favorite to take the district title. If they
can focus on the prize, they have the talent to take it home.
*While making the jump up to Class 2A and having a coaching change along the
way, Treynor has not had the success that they had hoped for on the basketball
court. Bigman Brad Von Weihe and Tanner Frain have been leading the team
in scoring but this is another squad that has a lot of youth seeing varsity
action.
Sleeper Team: Red Oak
The conference they play in is loaded and could prepare them for a shocking run
in the playoffs.
District Champions: St. Albert
With the athleticism and skill of this team, the Falcons will likely take home
the district title.
Predictions:
1.)
St. Albert, Council Bluffs
2.)
Red Oak
3.)
Treynor
4.)
Corning
5.)
Riverside, Oakland
6.)
Clarinda Academy
7.)
Griswold
8.)
Shenandoah
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 2A State Tournament Predictions[/URL]
Substate 1 - Sioux Center (13-7) vs. Sheldon (16-3)
Game Breakdown: Despite the records, this is a tough game to predict.
Now Sheldon does have an advantage in talent and the best player on the court in
senior Stephen Kirschbaum. But this game has been kryptonite over the past
few years, even without Emmetsburg as their opponent. Sioux Center won the
State title a few years back but have not been able to get back to Des Moines.
The Warriors also have been playing tough competition all year in the Siouxland
conference. Sheldon has lost two of their three games but both were
against two rated teams in LeMars and Emmetsburg.
Prediction: Sheldon 65, Sioux Center 60
Difference in the game: If Sheldon finally can break through and get to
State it will because Stephen Kirschbaum stepped up his game at just the right
time. He is will be the difference maker in this one.
Substate 2 - Emmetsburg (17-2) vs. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (16-4)
Game Breakdown: In one corner, you have an Emmetsburg team that is senior
laden and has State tournament experience when they made it to Des Moines as
sophomores. For most of the E-Hawks, this is their last chance at getting
to State so they will want nothing more than to get another change to stay the
week playing hoops. St. Edmond, in the other corner, is a much different
team. They lost in the title game last year and returned only one starter.
But that player, Andy Nagel, is among the best in Iowa and the Gaels have really
grown up a lot lately. Three sophomores among their top five scorers was
rough early but they have really developed late in the year.
Prediction: Fort Dodge St. Edmond 52, Emmetsburg 49
Difference in the game: The difference is the big game experience and
coaching of St. Edmond. They have been fighting for a berth to State many
times and it is a surprise if they are not this deep in the postseason.
Really a difficult game to call.
Substate 3 - North Butler (18-3) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (19-0)
Game Breakdown: Gladbrook-Reinbeck is only two games away from finishing
the one of the most surprising undefeated regular season runs in recent memory.
The Rebels, not known as a basketball school, have been winning games against
good teams all year and that will help them in the playoffs. North Butler
made it to Des Moines last year and few expected them to get this deep in the
playoffs. But with two important transfers, the Bearcats have not missed a
beat. The only problem is that they have been 3-3 over their last six
games and that includes losing two of their last three. That is not the
momentum any team wants going into the playoffs.
Prediction: Gladbrook-Reinbeck 47, North Butler 45
Difference in the game: Another tough game to call but I have been
underrating Gladbrook-Reinbeck all year. They may finally get their time
to show to Iowa how good they are at State.
Substate 4 - Maquoketa Valley (13-6) vs. Nashua-Plainfield (16-4)
Game Breakdown: These two teams have had good seasons but many will question
this substate because of many top rated teams will be facing off in this round
of the playoffs. Maquoketa Valley has done a nice job this season and
really has exceeded expectations. The Wildcats have done a nice job this
year in shutting teams down offensively and must step up if they want to do it
in this game. Nashua-Plainfield, led by Alex Kramer, has reeled over four
straight wins and will be primed for a run at the State tournament. The
Huskies have had some outstanding teams over the past few years and none have
made it to State. This may finally be the year.
Prediction: Nashua-Plainfield 53, Maquoketa Valley 45
Difference in the game: Alex Kramer will be the difference in this game.
He is finally a senior and wants to play in Des Moines.
Substate 5 - Solon (19-1) vs. Tipton (15-4)
Game Breakdown: The third time is the charm for Tipton, right? Over
the first sixteen games of the year, the Tigers lost two and both were against
Solon. The problem is that the team has since lost two straight to teams
they beat earlier in the year (Mount Vernon and Mid-Prairie). This Tipton
is likely a year away from making some real noise at State. Solon on the
other hand may be primed for a week in Des Moines. Matt Lesan is finally a
senior and has been a main reason why the Spartans have won nineteen straight
contests. A;sp don't forget about the sophomore combination of Matt
Morrison and Ben Weeks.
Prediction: Solon 58, Tipton 50
Difference in the game: The Spartans have played well against Tipton and
will be on a mission once the playoffs get underway.
Substate 6 - Mid-Prairie (10-10) vs. Montezuma (16-3)
Game Breakdown: The biggest thing about this game is which Mid-Prairie team
will come? The one that lost two games against Williamsburg and Durant or
the one that beat a good Tipton team by double digits? That will determine
if the Golden Hawks and Coach Don Showalter have a serious shot at making the
State tournament. Montezuma is a senior laden team that has appeared to be
on a mission all year. Lee Schroeder and his teammates have won ten of
their last eleven games. This fall on the football field, they proved that
they can win big games and that has carried over to the basketball season.
Prediction: Montezuma 54, Mid-Prairie 44
Difference in the game: Montezuma is too experienced and too determined
to be held back from making it to Des Moines.
Substate 7 - Pella Christian (18-1) vs. Nodaway Valley (19-0)
Game Breakdown: Why do we need another AGWSR vs. St. Edmond before the State
tournament? This game (As well as the one just mentioned) is yet another
reason why they should come out with the district pairings after the teams start
play part of their schedule. I won't be holding my breath for this to
change but it really should be. This game is going to be huge. Pella
Christian lost all five starters and seem to be even better this year.
They are a young team and that youth is the only real question mark I have about
them. Nodaway Valley on the other hand has two starters back from the
State championship team last year and are unblemished this year. Not only
that, they have been pummeling teams all year. The Wolverines have gone
over the 100 mark four times and their closest game of the year has been eleven
points.
Prediction: Pella Christian 49, Nodaway Valley 48
Difference in the game: I hate betting against the defending champions
but I am one who takes the schedules into account for games like these.
The Wolverines proved me wrong last year but that will be tough to do again.
This is going to be a classic.
Substate 8 - Audubon (18-1) vs. Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-5)
Game Breakdown: Because St. Albert is not in a conference, they have to play
a lot of their games in Nebraska to make sure they get to play enough
basketball. That makes it difficult to judge the Falcons team because
those out of state opponents are unfamiliar to those in Iowa. The team is
led by Marc Baumert and he is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2008.
Audubon has really turned things around on the court this year and the time they
put in during the off-season has really paid off. With Stefan Petersen
leading the way, the Wheelers will be punching their ticket to State.
Prediction: Audubon 55, St. Albert 51
Difference in the game: Audubon used their loss against IKM to help
refocus on getting to State.
If these predictions turn out to be true, here are the eight State
tournament teams:
Sheldon
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Nashua-Plainfield
Solon
Montezuma
Pella Christian
Audubon
Agree/disagree with the picks? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 2/12 8:51 PM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
