Class 4A - [/URL]Substate 1[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate One
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
Lewis Central
Sioux City, East
Sioux City, North
Sioux City, West
How
did Substate 1 do at the State tournament?
Sioux City East
Defeated Fort Dodge in the quarterfinals (66-49)
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the semifinals (53-41)
Defeated Linn-Mar in the consolation game (84-83, OT)
Quick Overview:
Record wise, Sioux City North and Lewis Central are among the leaders.
But does that really mean much here?
Team Breakdowns:
*Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln is one team that has been unable to really
get over the hump this year. They are sitting near the .500 mark and have
beaten Sioux City East early in the year as well as sweeping Sioux City West.
Sophomore Tyler Johnson has been leading the team in scoring at around twelve
points per game as been having a solid year. Cory Peterson and Huston
Hunter have also been putting points up consistently but few others have been
stepping up. If they can find someone outside of this trio, Abraham
Lincoln may surprise people in the playoffs.
*As far as players go, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson could make a case for
having the top player in the district with David Calloway. This senior has
been having an All State type season while averaging nineteen points per game
and being an all around athlete. Outside of Calloway, Thomas Jefferson has
three players averaging between 7.3 and 6.0 points per game. Those players
will need to complement Calloway if the team can make some postseason noise.
They have some big wins on the year but currently are mired in a five game
losing streak.
*With a trio of juniors leading the way, Lewis Central has done a nice job on
the basketball court. Their five loses on the year have come to Harlan
twice, Creston twice, and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln. That last loss
is the one that many question. The team plays in a 3A conference but has
to make the move up to the 4A playoffs. Even with Carlos Perez, Keenan
Lindsey, and Marcos Perez putting points on the board, this will be a tough
playoff run for Lewis Central.
*One of the biggest surprises this year is that Sioux City, East has not been
able to reload as quickly as they had hoped. With Roman Gentry and crew
having moved on to the college level, the Black Raiders currently sit at 8-11
with only one game remaining. But considering their rich basketball
tradition, East is not a team to sleep on when the playoffs come. Junior
Eric Jorgensen has done a nice job stepping up into his role as the leading
scorer but needs to focus on helping his team to more wins.
*Despite starting the year 0-2, Sioux City, North boasts a 14-6 record and has
been the most consistent Class 4A team in the MRC. What makes this team so
tough to stop is the fact that they have four legitimate scorers who are capable
of going off any night. Sophomore Alex Walker has done an outstanding job
leading the squad in scoring and has made a name for himself as one of the top
players in the Class of 2009. His ability, combined with that of Mike
Tillo, Brian Wanner, and Jehmica McDaniel, have made North a difficult
challenge.
*Sioux City, West has played a difficult schedule against western Iowa teams but
has struggled along the way. Point guard Josh Collins, now a senior, has
not been putting up the scoring numbers per game that he did as a junior but he
has been trying harder to get his teammates involved. Dylan McClary has
also been scoring in double digits but the team has found it tough to find
anyone else outside of this duo to put points up on the board.
Sleeper Team: Sioux City East
Their track record speaks for itself and they will always be dangerous in the
playoffs.
Substate Champions: Sioux City North
The Stars have been having too good of a season to falter in the postseason,
right?
Predictions:
1.)
Sioux City, North
2.)
Sioux City, East
3.)
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
4.)
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
5.)
Lewis Central
6.)
Sioux City, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - [/URL]Substate 2
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Two
Ames
Ankeny
Boone
Des Moines North
Fort Dodge
Johnston
How did Substate 2 do at the State tournament?
Johnston
Lost to Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals (63-39)
Fort Dodge
Lost to Sioux City East in the quarterfinals (66-49)
Quick Overview:
Ames, Ankeny, and Johnston are the trio of teams that can be considered the
early favorites. But the other three schools are not ones to sleep on.
Team Breakdowns:
*If you are going on who has the most pure talent in this substate, Ames may
take that prize. The problem is that the Little Cyclones are very young
but have done an outstanding job this year at the varsity level.
Considering they are competing in the CIML with their top five leading scorers
being made up of two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman, this team has a
bright future. Led by Jesse Pritchard, Ames boasts a 15-5 record but two
of those losses have come against Johnston and Ankeny. That could be an
interesting subplot to watch.
*Ankeny is another team with a bright future but their top player this year is a
senior. Kevin Smith, who signed with Southwest Minnesota State in the
fall, has been dominating the CIML this winter and is nearly averaging nineteen
points per game. The Hawks hold a 2-1 record against Johnston and Ames
with that lone loss being in early December. Ankeny is tough to stop
because outside of Smith, they also have double digit scorers in Morris Smeader,
Tyler Egli, and Zach Barrgan. This trio of juniors have been a handful for
the opposition.
*Because of their schedule, Boone will always have a tough time seriously
competing in this substate. The team plays in a conference that is
dominated by smaller schools and that comes back to bite this time of the year.
Nick Anderson, Brandon Kew, and Logan Gonzalez have combined to average nearly
thirty points per game for the Toreadors but others will need to step up if this
team can step up and advance in the playoffs.
*Yes, Des Moines North is only 1-21 on the year but they were able to pull off
one of the biggest shockers in Class 4A. Recently against a Des Moines
Lincoln that was cruising along, the Polar Bears pulled out an eight point
victory that few saw coming. That shows that Steven McKenna and his
teammates could knock off a talented team in the playoffs. It will be
tough to do but they have shown that it is possible.
*After winning conference and making the State tournament last year, Fort Dodge
has been wildly inconsistent this year and have one final regular season game
against Johnston to see if they can get over the .500 hump for the year.
The senior trio of Reid Branderhorst, Nick Peters, and Wade Martin have spent
most of the year leading the Dodgers. Outside of these players are where
the questions start. Who else can consistently score? That is what
has been giving the team trouble all season against another good schedule of
CIML competition.
*Johnston began the year 5-0 but their difficult schedule has not allowed them
to pull off any type of win streak greater than three games since then.
The Dragons have been led this year by the top player in the Class of 2007,
Brent Barz. But at the high school level, guards are known to dominate and
that makes it tough at times for this future UNI Panther to get enough touches
in the post. Barz is averaging eighteen points per game but has the
ability of going off any night. That is why this team will be a tough
matchup in the playoffs.
Sleeper Team: Ames
They are so young and so talented. If not this year, watch out over the
next two years because they have title potential in the future.
Substate Champions: Ankeny
With four proven scorers, the Hawks will be a tough team to matchup with in the
playoffs.
Predictions:
1.)
Ankeny
2.)
Johnston
3.)
Ames
4.)
Fort Dodge
5.)
Boone
6.)
Des Moines North
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Three
Cedar Falls
Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
Marshalltown
Mason City
Waterloo, East
Waterloo, West
How did Substate 3 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Kennedy has been the most consistent team, Waterloo East has the most
potential, and Cedar Falls has been the hottest as of late. That makes
this substate look like one to keep an eye on.
Team Breakdowns:
*While winning eight of their last nine games, Cedar Falls has been one of
the hottest teams in Class 4A along that streak. That includes wins
against Iowa City High, Waterloo East, Cedar Rapids Washington, and many other
good teams. Considering that the Tigers started the year so slow, the team
finally was able to play to their potential and that is definitely showing on
the basketball court. If they can continue playing well, don't be shocked
if they give Kennedy a run for the berth to State.
*Kaylon Williams has really turned into the man on the Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
team this year. As a sophomore and part time as a freshman, he deferred to
his teammates but that has not been the case this year. His abilities on
the court have really shown as he has led the Cougars to a 17-3 record.
And he has had help from two other talented juniors in Walter Loesch and Cimion
George. Kennedy will be a tough out in the playoffs if they are hitting
the outside shot.
*With a young team that has their top five scorers all juniors or younger, Marshalltown
has taken their lumps at times this year. But although they may be
struggling now, the future is bright for the Bobcats. Cole Danielson and
Tyler Peschong, both juniors, have combined to average over twenty three points
per game. And for a freshman, Chanse Creekmur has been showing an ability
to score from a variety of places on the court. This team may be a year
away.
*Mason City has only one senior among their top seven scorers and have had to
rely heavily on younger athletes. Players like David Asche and Noah
Huisman have done a solid job for the team but that inexperience for a lot of
players is not easy to hide in the CIML. Opposing coaches know how to
exploit mismatches and they have done that all year long. The Mohawks have
won four games on the year but two have been against Class 3A competition.
*After starting the year 10-0, Waterloo, East has hit a rough patch and have
only won four of their last ten games. Obviously things get much tougher
this time of year and the Trojans have not been able to achieve the type of
success they had early. But East is young and talented, so that means if
they get momentum they could make a serious run at Kennedy. Can Trice
Scott and crew do that?
*Waterloo, West has been having some major problems this year putting points on
the board and that has really cost them in MVC competition. The WaHawks
have not been able to get any wins against MVC competition so that will makes
things tough if they hope to make a run at State.
Sleeper Team: Cedar Falls/Waterloo East
These two teams could be tied for #2 in the final predictions. East is a
sleeper because they are young and Cedar Falls because they are playing their
best basketball of the year.
Substate Champions: Cedar Rapids Kennedy
After missing out on State last year because of a tough pairing, Kennedy will be
trying to finally get to play in Des Moines.
Predictions:
1.)
Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
T2.)
Waterloo, East
T2.)
Cedar Falls
4.)
Marshalltown
5.)
Mason City
6.)
Waterloo, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Four
Cedar Rapids, Jefferson
Cedar Rapids, Washington
Iowa City, City
Iowa City, West
Ottumwa
Prairie, Cedar Rapids
How did Substate 4 do at the State tournament?
Cedar Rapids Washington
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the quarterfinals (51-37)
Quick Overview:
With the way things are looking, it appears as if Iowa City West and Iowa
City High will be battling with a berth to the State tournament on the line.
Team Breakdowns:
*Cedar Rapids, Jefferson has been the type of team all year that has not yet
been able to really get over the .500 mark. The J-Hawks have had some nice
wins on the year, including sweeping Washington, beating Heelan, and beating
Hempstead, but their play has not been consistent from game to game. If
they want to make an impact in the playoffs, they must perform on the court
every night.
*An interesting team to watch this year is Cedar Rapids, Washington because they
are a nice blend of seniors and sophomores. Transfer Malcolm Moore has
been putting up twelve points per night for the Warriors and has also been
helped out by DeMarco Dawson and Barney O'Donnell. Bigman Nate Veldhuizen
and sophomore athlete Keenan Davis have also been making an impact. Can
they pull off another shocker and take down Iowa City West? That will be
interesting to watch for.
*With a new head coach, Matt Gatens and Iowa City High have taken off this year.
The Little Hawks currently sport a 15-5 record and have won six straight games
heading into their season finale with Kennedy. Gatens has not been putting
up as gaudy of numbers as he did as a junior but he is almost like a new player.
This talented junior has finally had a chance be a complete player with his high
school team. Gatens has been trusting in his teammates and it has been
paying off.
*Nothing really seems to change at Iowa City, West. With head coach Steve
Bergman at the helm, the Trojans will get after the opposition defensively and
have been one of the best teams in 4A this year. Jordan Stoermer has been
leading the team in scoring but West has been greatly improved because of the
play of freshman A.J. Derby. This standout plays beyond his years and has
a high basketball IQ. His presence on both ends of the court makes this
team tough to stop.
*Ottumwa always seems to get thrown into a strange substate and this year
obviously is no different. The Bulldogs have had their trouble this year
against good CIML competition but hope that they can make some noise in this
substate. Future Drake Bulldog football player Jon Rusch has one of the
leaders of this team and they will need him to step up in the playoffs.
*The impressive thing about Prairie, Cedar Rapids is that although their record
is not where they had hoped it would be, they continue to play hard. This
was a team that late in the off-season decided to change directions with their
coach and saw a lot of talented athletes transfer to other schools within the
same city. Now that is a tough pill to swallow. If the team can play
hard every night, good things will happen in the future.
Sleeper Team: Cedar Rapids Washington
The Warriors were able to shock the state last year and want to do it one more
time.
Substate Champions: Iowa City West
West will have their hands full if they face Iowa City High but this team is too
focused after the upset last year in the substate finals.
Predictions:
1.)
Iowa City, West
2.)
Iowa City, City
3.)
Cedar Rapids, Jefferson
4.)
Cedar Rapids, Washington
5.)
Ottumwa
6.)
Prairie, Cedar Rapids
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Five
Clinton
Davenport, North
Dubuque, Hempstead
Dubuque, Senior
Linn-Mar, Marion
North Scott, Eldridge
How did Substate 5 do at the State tournament?
Linn-Mar
Defeated Indianola in the quarterfinals (66-52)
Lost to Pleasant Valley in the semifinals (52-39)
Lost to Sioux City East in the consolation game (84-83, OT)
Quick Overview:
With the #1 team in Iowa within this substate, four teams sitting within two
games of the .500 mark, and one team with only four wins, the favorite looks
pretty obvious.
Team Breakdowns:
*Outside of Linn-Mar, Clinton is the only team in this substate who can say
that they have a record over the .500 mark. The River Kings have gone
through some up and downs this year, which have included a recent six game win
streak followed up by a current two game skid. If they can find that magic
they had going during the win streak, Clinton may have the horses to take a run
at the Lions.
*Davenport, North may have the most pure talent out of any team in this substate
(Yes, I am including Linn-Mar). But like North teams of the past, they
have not been able to live up the expectations and have been having a high
number of problems within the team. That lack of team chemistry has hurt
the team, even with two outstanding talents in Marquez Davis and Nick McFarlin.
The Wildcats have however won their last three games and could go into the
postseason with four straight wins and some momentum.
*With David Scott and Josh Lenz leading the way, Dubuque, Hempstead has some
very talented players that the opposition has to contend with. The problem
is that the Mustangs have yet to find a rhythm this year and that is part of the
reason this team is five games under .500 in conference. If they can find
a way to come together for the playoffs, Hempstead could surprise some people.
*Dubuque, Senior was able to win five games in a row in the middle of the season
against teams like Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Pleasant Valley, and Cedar Falls.
The problem is that outside of that streak, the Rams have only won four games
and have been struggling to find any type of consistency from game to game.
Senior will need to find that if they have any hope at advancing.
*What is so impressive about Linn-Mar, Marion is the fact that they lost the
consensus best player in the Class of 2006 and this team might be better now
that it is more balanced. Senior and future Indiana State Sycamore Jordan
Printy has been putting up a modest sixteen points per game but has shown his
ability as a complete player. Grant Gibbs has also been hitting his shots
at a percentage that almost seems unreal in the MVC. And don't sleep on
sophomores Zach Bohannon and Nate Hutcheson.
*North Scott, Eldridge has been one of the toughest teams to figure out this
year. They have won four games this year and there have been some huge
upsets against Assumption, Muscatine, and Pleasant Valley. The biggest
surprises was their blowout of Muscatine that saw the Lancers win by 37 points.
The question is which one comes to play in the postseason?
Sleeper Team: Davenport North
The players they have are very, very talented if they can put it all together.
Substate Champions: Linn-Mar
The Lions are set to have an even better season than they did last year, which
is really saying something.
Predictions:
1.)
Linn-Mar, Marion
2.)
Clinton
3.)
Davenport, North
4.)
Dubuque, Hempstead
5.)
Dubuque, Senior
6.)
North Scott, Eldridge
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Six
Bettendorf
Burlington
Davenport, Central
Davenport, West
Muscatine
Pleasant Valley
How did Substate 6 do at the State tournament?
Pleasant Valley
Defeated Johnston in the quarterfinals ()
Defeated Linn-Mar in the semifinals ()
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the title game ()
Quick Overview:
With Bettendorf and Davenport Central fighting for the MAC title, it appears
these two teams will fight for a berth to State as well.
Team Breakdowns:
*Bettendorf has definitely had their chances in the conference race but they
have yet to finish out the year consistently. Despite their 13-7 record,
the Bulldogs have lost three of their last six that still included a big win
against Davenport Central. Senior point guard Charlie Schwartz will want
nothing more than to get back to the State tournament after helping his team to
the title as a sophomore. But unless this team can come to play on a
nightly basis, that will be tough to do.
*Burlington started the conference schedule an impressive 6-1 and appeared to be
a player for the title. But for a number of different reasons, the team
has fallen back hard during the second half of the year and have struggled in
the majority of close games that they have played. The Grayhounds had a
lot of promise early in the year but need to find a way to recapture it for the
postseason.
*Yes, Davenport, Central did lose to Bettendorf and got murdered on the road
against Linn-Mar. But the team still has won nine of their last eleven
games and is the favorite to make the State tournament. The Blue Devils
have done an outstanding job on the court without their top player, L.A. Pomlee.
This standout junior has missed the year because of a blood clot in his leg.
But EJ Hicks, Hal Bateman, and a host of other teammates have stepped up this
year and made things memorable for the team.
*The good news for head coach Mark Bigler is that Davenport, West continues to
win more games than the previous year. The problem is that things are
never easy at West and it is almost like he is building the program anew.
Junior Lavione West has continued to make strides towards becoming a complete
player and he will just get better with the more games he gets under his belt.
*With Jake Wagg and Dustin Cooley, Muscatine does have the firepower to play
with a lot of teams. But even though the Muskies have had some nice win
streaks this year, they still have had their struggles down the stretch.
The team did achieve a huge win over Bettendorf but can they repeat that in the
playoffs? That will be an interesting question to see.
*Pleasant Valley finished last year as the second best team in Class 4A and it
was obvious how hard they were going to be hit by graduation. Well, that
has come for the Spartans and a lot of younger, inexperienced players have had
to step up. The team may be taking their lumps this year for Pleasant
Valley will be tough over the next few years with how much talent they have.
Sleeper Team: Anyone not named Central or Bettendorf
The top two teams are the favorite and few are giving the others credit. I
believe they all deserve the sleeper label.
Substate Champions: Davenport Central
Although Central has shown some signs of weakness, they have played some good
basketball as of late and that will help them make a run at State.
Predictions:
1.)
Davenport, Central
2.)
Bettendorf
3.)
Pleasant Valley
4.)
Muscatine
5.)
Burlington
6.)
Davenport, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Seven
Des Moines, Roosevelt
Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines
Indianola
Newton
Oskaloosa
Urbandale
How did Substate 7 do at the State tournament?
Indianola
Lost to Linn-Mar in the quarterfinals ()
Quick Overview:
Oskaloosa may have the best record but it will be a struggle for them to
take down a number of talented 4A teams.
Team Breakdowns:
*Des Moines, Roosevelt has a great deal of athleticism like always but they
have yet to put it together and play consistently on the court. At times,
the team has been missing players for a variety of reasons and that has hurt
them from getting accustomed to a normal lineup. James Conley has been
leading the team in scoring that is senior dominated. But also don't
forget about Bill Freeman. This talented sophomore has the ability to put
points on the board and is averaging nearly eight points per game.
*Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines is a tough team to predict. The
Maroons have had big wins this year against Indianola, Johnston, Ames,
Urbandale, and others but also recently lost to Southeast Polk and Des Moines
Hoover. Even with Pat Mitchell leading the way, which Dowling team will
show up in the playoffs? They have beaten most of the top teams in this
substate but need to turn things around quickly after having lost two of three.
If they get hot, watch out because this team has talent.
*With a new coach at the helm, Indianola has done a nice job making the
transition and could be rewarded with another berth at the State tournament.
The team was a surprise last year but this year appear to be the favorites in
this substate. The key will be John Lamb. This standout senior has
been having a great year and has the ability to put the team on his back.
Lamb has also helped the team to two big wins over Urbandale but don't be
surprised when these two matchup for a third time this year.
*Newton is in a tough position as they make the transition out of the CIML but
still are playing in Class 4A for the playoffs. They have taken their
lumps this year and their only three wins have come against teams at the Class
3A level. The upside for the Cardinals is that they are young and playing
a lineup that consists mainly of sophomores and juniors. That could pay
off down the road, but this is just not the year.
*Even though Tyler Sash is a senior, he has not had to put up the points per
game for Oskaloosa that he has done in the past. Even though that scoring
is down to only twenty two points per game, the team has been much more
successful on the court with wins and losses. Sash has had others around
him step up and that has been huge. The problem with predicting them high
is that like Newton, they play in a smaller conference but make the jump up to
4A for the playoffs. They are capable of beating a lot of teams but it
won't be easy.
*After having won nine of their last ten games, Urbandale has a lot of momentum
that could help carry them deep into the playoffs. Last year they were
lumped in one of the hardest substates in Iowa and yet the same thing happens
once again. The J-Hawks, led by senior Ethan Freeman, will have a
difficult road to State but they have the firepower to play for the title.
The team must first get past a difficult road that includes an Indianola team
that has handed them their only loss in the last ten games.
Sleeper Team: Dowling
The Maroons have beaten most of the top teams in this substate and have the
talent to play with anyone.
Substate Champions: Indianola
Is the third time the charm for Urbandale? If John Lamb can have another
big game, the answer will be no and Indianola will move on.
Predictions:
1.)
Indianola
2.)
Urbandale
3.)
Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines
4.)
Oskaloosa
5.)
Des Moines, Roosevelt
6.)
Newton
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Eight
Des Moines, East
Des Moines, Hoover
Des Moines, Lincoln
Southeast Polk, Runnells
Valley, West Des Moines
Waukee
How did Substate 8 do at the State tournament?
Des Moines Hoover
Defeated Cedar Rapids Washington in the quarterfinals ()
Defeated Sioux City East in the semifinals ()
Defeated Pleasant Valley in the championship game ()
Quick Overview:
With a loaded substate 7, fans are not happy that there are only three teams
above .500 in this substate. However, Lincoln is the early favorite with a
lot of underrated teams.
Team Breakdowns:
*Despite only winning seven games this year, Des Moines, East has won three
of their last four and that includes an upset victory over a good Ankeny team.
That means that Jake Zimmerman and the team appears to be playing their best
basketball of the year at just the right time. And considering that this
substate has so many question marks, if Zimmerman and his teammates can get hot
this team could be the dark horse to make State.
*With how senior laden they were last year, it was obvious that the defending
champions from Des Moines, Hoover were going to take some lumps this year.
The Huskies were sitting under .500 as late as the end of January but have
really picked up their game as of late. They have won five of six games
and their only loss came to a very talented Ames team. If Hoover can take
it one game at a time, they could make a serious run at the substate title.
*The one thing that Des Moines, Lincoln has shown that if they don't come ready
to play, they can lose to anyone. And despite their 14-7 record, they have
been the only team to lose to Des Moines North all year. But if Baley
Johnson, Adam Robinson, and Terril Ross are focused on the game, this is a tough
team to slow down because their athleticism and firepower. The problem is
that the team has been sporadic as of late and that doesn't help their chances.
*Southeast Polk, Runnells has reeled off five of six wins to end the regular
season and has a chance to go into the playoffs with some momentum on their
side. And considering that they started the year so slowly with Blake
Sandquist on the disabled list, the Rams have really picked up their play as of
late. Senior Nate Snead has been leading the way for a very balanced
attack offensively. Freshman Kody Ingle has been somewhat of a surprise
and is nearly averaging double digits.
*Valley, West Des Moines is another one of the teams that has been somewhat of a
surprise. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they ended the year with a tough
stretch of games against Urbandale and Indianola so the team has lost four of
their last six. Dave Johnson has been having a potential All State senior
but will that be enough to get them past these other five solid teams?
*Despite making the move to the CIML, Waukee has done a nice job and has been
competitive all year. They have won nine games this year but like Valley,
have struggled down the stretch. There were some tough games along the way
but that doesn't take away the fact that Waukee must quickly refocus with the
playoffs nearly here.
Sleeper Team: Southeast Polk/Des Moines Hoover
Southeast Polk because they have been playing great basketball as of late and
Hoover because their tradition over the past few years.
Substate Champions: Des Moines Lincoln
Tough pick even though they have been struggling as of late, Lincoln has the
talent to make a run if they can bring it all together.
Predictions:
1.)
Des Moines, Lincoln
2.)
Southeast Polk, Runnells
3.)
Des Moines, Hoover
4.)
Valley, West Des Moines
5.)
Waukee
6.)
Des Moines, East
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A State Tournament Predictions[/URL]
If these predictions turn out to be true, here are the eight State
tournament teams:
Sioux City North
Ankeny
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Iowa City West
Linn-Mar
Davenport Central
Indianola
Des Moines Lincoln
Agree/disagree with the picks? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 2/26 11:09 AM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate One
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
Lewis Central
Sioux City, East
Sioux City, North
Sioux City, West
How
did Substate 1 do at the State tournament?
Sioux City East
Defeated Fort Dodge in the quarterfinals (66-49)
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the semifinals (53-41)
Defeated Linn-Mar in the consolation game (84-83, OT)
Quick Overview:
Record wise, Sioux City North and Lewis Central are among the leaders.
But does that really mean much here?
Team Breakdowns:
*Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln is one team that has been unable to really
get over the hump this year. They are sitting near the .500 mark and have
beaten Sioux City East early in the year as well as sweeping Sioux City West.
Sophomore Tyler Johnson has been leading the team in scoring at around twelve
points per game as been having a solid year. Cory Peterson and Huston
Hunter have also been putting points up consistently but few others have been
stepping up. If they can find someone outside of this trio, Abraham
Lincoln may surprise people in the playoffs.
*As far as players go, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson could make a case for
having the top player in the district with David Calloway. This senior has
been having an All State type season while averaging nineteen points per game
and being an all around athlete. Outside of Calloway, Thomas Jefferson has
three players averaging between 7.3 and 6.0 points per game. Those players
will need to complement Calloway if the team can make some postseason noise.
They have some big wins on the year but currently are mired in a five game
losing streak.
*With a trio of juniors leading the way, Lewis Central has done a nice job on
the basketball court. Their five loses on the year have come to Harlan
twice, Creston twice, and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln. That last loss
is the one that many question. The team plays in a 3A conference but has
to make the move up to the 4A playoffs. Even with Carlos Perez, Keenan
Lindsey, and Marcos Perez putting points on the board, this will be a tough
playoff run for Lewis Central.
*One of the biggest surprises this year is that Sioux City, East has not been
able to reload as quickly as they had hoped. With Roman Gentry and crew
having moved on to the college level, the Black Raiders currently sit at 8-11
with only one game remaining. But considering their rich basketball
tradition, East is not a team to sleep on when the playoffs come. Junior
Eric Jorgensen has done a nice job stepping up into his role as the leading
scorer but needs to focus on helping his team to more wins.
*Despite starting the year 0-2, Sioux City, North boasts a 14-6 record and has
been the most consistent Class 4A team in the MRC. What makes this team so
tough to stop is the fact that they have four legitimate scorers who are capable
of going off any night. Sophomore Alex Walker has done an outstanding job
leading the squad in scoring and has made a name for himself as one of the top
players in the Class of 2009. His ability, combined with that of Mike
Tillo, Brian Wanner, and Jehmica McDaniel, have made North a difficult
challenge.
*Sioux City, West has played a difficult schedule against western Iowa teams but
has struggled along the way. Point guard Josh Collins, now a senior, has
not been putting up the scoring numbers per game that he did as a junior but he
has been trying harder to get his teammates involved. Dylan McClary has
also been scoring in double digits but the team has found it tough to find
anyone else outside of this duo to put points up on the board.
Sleeper Team: Sioux City East
Their track record speaks for itself and they will always be dangerous in the
playoffs.
Substate Champions: Sioux City North
The Stars have been having too good of a season to falter in the postseason,
right?
Predictions:
1.)
Sioux City, North
2.)
Sioux City, East
3.)
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
4.)
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
5.)
Lewis Central
6.)
Sioux City, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - [/URL]Substate 2
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Two
Ames
Ankeny
Boone
Des Moines North
Fort Dodge
Johnston
How did Substate 2 do at the State tournament?
Johnston
Lost to Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals (63-39)
Fort Dodge
Lost to Sioux City East in the quarterfinals (66-49)
Quick Overview:
Ames, Ankeny, and Johnston are the trio of teams that can be considered the
early favorites. But the other three schools are not ones to sleep on.
Team Breakdowns:
*If you are going on who has the most pure talent in this substate, Ames may
take that prize. The problem is that the Little Cyclones are very young
but have done an outstanding job this year at the varsity level.
Considering they are competing in the CIML with their top five leading scorers
being made up of two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman, this team has a
bright future. Led by Jesse Pritchard, Ames boasts a 15-5 record but two
of those losses have come against Johnston and Ankeny. That could be an
interesting subplot to watch.
*Ankeny is another team with a bright future but their top player this year is a
senior. Kevin Smith, who signed with Southwest Minnesota State in the
fall, has been dominating the CIML this winter and is nearly averaging nineteen
points per game. The Hawks hold a 2-1 record against Johnston and Ames
with that lone loss being in early December. Ankeny is tough to stop
because outside of Smith, they also have double digit scorers in Morris Smeader,
Tyler Egli, and Zach Barrgan. This trio of juniors have been a handful for
the opposition.
*Because of their schedule, Boone will always have a tough time seriously
competing in this substate. The team plays in a conference that is
dominated by smaller schools and that comes back to bite this time of the year.
Nick Anderson, Brandon Kew, and Logan Gonzalez have combined to average nearly
thirty points per game for the Toreadors but others will need to step up if this
team can step up and advance in the playoffs.
*Yes, Des Moines North is only 1-21 on the year but they were able to pull off
one of the biggest shockers in Class 4A. Recently against a Des Moines
Lincoln that was cruising along, the Polar Bears pulled out an eight point
victory that few saw coming. That shows that Steven McKenna and his
teammates could knock off a talented team in the playoffs. It will be
tough to do but they have shown that it is possible.
*After winning conference and making the State tournament last year, Fort Dodge
has been wildly inconsistent this year and have one final regular season game
against Johnston to see if they can get over the .500 hump for the year.
The senior trio of Reid Branderhorst, Nick Peters, and Wade Martin have spent
most of the year leading the Dodgers. Outside of these players are where
the questions start. Who else can consistently score? That is what
has been giving the team trouble all season against another good schedule of
CIML competition.
*Johnston began the year 5-0 but their difficult schedule has not allowed them
to pull off any type of win streak greater than three games since then.
The Dragons have been led this year by the top player in the Class of 2007,
Brent Barz. But at the high school level, guards are known to dominate and
that makes it tough at times for this future UNI Panther to get enough touches
in the post. Barz is averaging eighteen points per game but has the
ability of going off any night. That is why this team will be a tough
matchup in the playoffs.
Sleeper Team: Ames
They are so young and so talented. If not this year, watch out over the
next two years because they have title potential in the future.
Substate Champions: Ankeny
With four proven scorers, the Hawks will be a tough team to matchup with in the
playoffs.
Predictions:
1.)
Ankeny
2.)
Johnston
3.)
Ames
4.)
Fort Dodge
5.)
Boone
6.)
Des Moines North
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Three
Cedar Falls
Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
Marshalltown
Mason City
Waterloo, East
Waterloo, West
How did Substate 3 do at the State tournament?
N/A
Quick Overview:
Kennedy has been the most consistent team, Waterloo East has the most
potential, and Cedar Falls has been the hottest as of late. That makes
this substate look like one to keep an eye on.
Team Breakdowns:
*While winning eight of their last nine games, Cedar Falls has been one of
the hottest teams in Class 4A along that streak. That includes wins
against Iowa City High, Waterloo East, Cedar Rapids Washington, and many other
good teams. Considering that the Tigers started the year so slow, the team
finally was able to play to their potential and that is definitely showing on
the basketball court. If they can continue playing well, don't be shocked
if they give Kennedy a run for the berth to State.
*Kaylon Williams has really turned into the man on the Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
team this year. As a sophomore and part time as a freshman, he deferred to
his teammates but that has not been the case this year. His abilities on
the court have really shown as he has led the Cougars to a 17-3 record.
And he has had help from two other talented juniors in Walter Loesch and Cimion
George. Kennedy will be a tough out in the playoffs if they are hitting
the outside shot.
*With a young team that has their top five scorers all juniors or younger, Marshalltown
has taken their lumps at times this year. But although they may be
struggling now, the future is bright for the Bobcats. Cole Danielson and
Tyler Peschong, both juniors, have combined to average over twenty three points
per game. And for a freshman, Chanse Creekmur has been showing an ability
to score from a variety of places on the court. This team may be a year
away.
*Mason City has only one senior among their top seven scorers and have had to
rely heavily on younger athletes. Players like David Asche and Noah
Huisman have done a solid job for the team but that inexperience for a lot of
players is not easy to hide in the CIML. Opposing coaches know how to
exploit mismatches and they have done that all year long. The Mohawks have
won four games on the year but two have been against Class 3A competition.
*After starting the year 10-0, Waterloo, East has hit a rough patch and have
only won four of their last ten games. Obviously things get much tougher
this time of year and the Trojans have not been able to achieve the type of
success they had early. But East is young and talented, so that means if
they get momentum they could make a serious run at Kennedy. Can Trice
Scott and crew do that?
*Waterloo, West has been having some major problems this year putting points on
the board and that has really cost them in MVC competition. The WaHawks
have not been able to get any wins against MVC competition so that will makes
things tough if they hope to make a run at State.
Sleeper Team: Cedar Falls/Waterloo East
These two teams could be tied for #2 in the final predictions. East is a
sleeper because they are young and Cedar Falls because they are playing their
best basketball of the year.
Substate Champions: Cedar Rapids Kennedy
After missing out on State last year because of a tough pairing, Kennedy will be
trying to finally get to play in Des Moines.
Predictions:
1.)
Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
T2.)
Waterloo, East
T2.)
Cedar Falls
4.)
Marshalltown
5.)
Mason City
6.)
Waterloo, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Four
Cedar Rapids, Jefferson
Cedar Rapids, Washington
Iowa City, City
Iowa City, West
Ottumwa
Prairie, Cedar Rapids
How did Substate 4 do at the State tournament?
Cedar Rapids Washington
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the quarterfinals (51-37)
Quick Overview:
With the way things are looking, it appears as if Iowa City West and Iowa
City High will be battling with a berth to the State tournament on the line.
Team Breakdowns:
*Cedar Rapids, Jefferson has been the type of team all year that has not yet
been able to really get over the .500 mark. The J-Hawks have had some nice
wins on the year, including sweeping Washington, beating Heelan, and beating
Hempstead, but their play has not been consistent from game to game. If
they want to make an impact in the playoffs, they must perform on the court
every night.
*An interesting team to watch this year is Cedar Rapids, Washington because they
are a nice blend of seniors and sophomores. Transfer Malcolm Moore has
been putting up twelve points per night for the Warriors and has also been
helped out by DeMarco Dawson and Barney O'Donnell. Bigman Nate Veldhuizen
and sophomore athlete Keenan Davis have also been making an impact. Can
they pull off another shocker and take down Iowa City West? That will be
interesting to watch for.
*With a new head coach, Matt Gatens and Iowa City High have taken off this year.
The Little Hawks currently sport a 15-5 record and have won six straight games
heading into their season finale with Kennedy. Gatens has not been putting
up as gaudy of numbers as he did as a junior but he is almost like a new player.
This talented junior has finally had a chance be a complete player with his high
school team. Gatens has been trusting in his teammates and it has been
paying off.
*Nothing really seems to change at Iowa City, West. With head coach Steve
Bergman at the helm, the Trojans will get after the opposition defensively and
have been one of the best teams in 4A this year. Jordan Stoermer has been
leading the team in scoring but West has been greatly improved because of the
play of freshman A.J. Derby. This standout plays beyond his years and has
a high basketball IQ. His presence on both ends of the court makes this
team tough to stop.
*Ottumwa always seems to get thrown into a strange substate and this year
obviously is no different. The Bulldogs have had their trouble this year
against good CIML competition but hope that they can make some noise in this
substate. Future Drake Bulldog football player Jon Rusch has one of the
leaders of this team and they will need him to step up in the playoffs.
*The impressive thing about Prairie, Cedar Rapids is that although their record
is not where they had hoped it would be, they continue to play hard. This
was a team that late in the off-season decided to change directions with their
coach and saw a lot of talented athletes transfer to other schools within the
same city. Now that is a tough pill to swallow. If the team can play
hard every night, good things will happen in the future.
Sleeper Team: Cedar Rapids Washington
The Warriors were able to shock the state last year and want to do it one more
time.
Substate Champions: Iowa City West
West will have their hands full if they face Iowa City High but this team is too
focused after the upset last year in the substate finals.
Predictions:
1.)
Iowa City, West
2.)
Iowa City, City
3.)
Cedar Rapids, Jefferson
4.)
Cedar Rapids, Washington
5.)
Ottumwa
6.)
Prairie, Cedar Rapids
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Five
Clinton
Davenport, North
Dubuque, Hempstead
Dubuque, Senior
Linn-Mar, Marion
North Scott, Eldridge
How did Substate 5 do at the State tournament?
Linn-Mar
Defeated Indianola in the quarterfinals (66-52)
Lost to Pleasant Valley in the semifinals (52-39)
Lost to Sioux City East in the consolation game (84-83, OT)
Quick Overview:
With the #1 team in Iowa within this substate, four teams sitting within two
games of the .500 mark, and one team with only four wins, the favorite looks
pretty obvious.
Team Breakdowns:
*Outside of Linn-Mar, Clinton is the only team in this substate who can say
that they have a record over the .500 mark. The River Kings have gone
through some up and downs this year, which have included a recent six game win
streak followed up by a current two game skid. If they can find that magic
they had going during the win streak, Clinton may have the horses to take a run
at the Lions.
*Davenport, North may have the most pure talent out of any team in this substate
(Yes, I am including Linn-Mar). But like North teams of the past, they
have not been able to live up the expectations and have been having a high
number of problems within the team. That lack of team chemistry has hurt
the team, even with two outstanding talents in Marquez Davis and Nick McFarlin.
The Wildcats have however won their last three games and could go into the
postseason with four straight wins and some momentum.
*With David Scott and Josh Lenz leading the way, Dubuque, Hempstead has some
very talented players that the opposition has to contend with. The problem
is that the Mustangs have yet to find a rhythm this year and that is part of the
reason this team is five games under .500 in conference. If they can find
a way to come together for the playoffs, Hempstead could surprise some people.
*Dubuque, Senior was able to win five games in a row in the middle of the season
against teams like Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Pleasant Valley, and Cedar Falls.
The problem is that outside of that streak, the Rams have only won four games
and have been struggling to find any type of consistency from game to game.
Senior will need to find that if they have any hope at advancing.
*What is so impressive about Linn-Mar, Marion is the fact that they lost the
consensus best player in the Class of 2006 and this team might be better now
that it is more balanced. Senior and future Indiana State Sycamore Jordan
Printy has been putting up a modest sixteen points per game but has shown his
ability as a complete player. Grant Gibbs has also been hitting his shots
at a percentage that almost seems unreal in the MVC. And don't sleep on
sophomores Zach Bohannon and Nate Hutcheson.
*North Scott, Eldridge has been one of the toughest teams to figure out this
year. They have won four games this year and there have been some huge
upsets against Assumption, Muscatine, and Pleasant Valley. The biggest
surprises was their blowout of Muscatine that saw the Lancers win by 37 points.
The question is which one comes to play in the postseason?
Sleeper Team: Davenport North
The players they have are very, very talented if they can put it all together.
Substate Champions: Linn-Mar
The Lions are set to have an even better season than they did last year, which
is really saying something.
Predictions:
1.)
Linn-Mar, Marion
2.)
Clinton
3.)
Davenport, North
4.)
Dubuque, Hempstead
5.)
Dubuque, Senior
6.)
North Scott, Eldridge
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Six
Bettendorf
Burlington
Davenport, Central
Davenport, West
Muscatine
Pleasant Valley
How did Substate 6 do at the State tournament?
Pleasant Valley
Defeated Johnston in the quarterfinals ()
Defeated Linn-Mar in the semifinals ()
Lost to Des Moines Hoover in the title game ()
Quick Overview:
With Bettendorf and Davenport Central fighting for the MAC title, it appears
these two teams will fight for a berth to State as well.
Team Breakdowns:
*Bettendorf has definitely had their chances in the conference race but they
have yet to finish out the year consistently. Despite their 13-7 record,
the Bulldogs have lost three of their last six that still included a big win
against Davenport Central. Senior point guard Charlie Schwartz will want
nothing more than to get back to the State tournament after helping his team to
the title as a sophomore. But unless this team can come to play on a
nightly basis, that will be tough to do.
*Burlington started the conference schedule an impressive 6-1 and appeared to be
a player for the title. But for a number of different reasons, the team
has fallen back hard during the second half of the year and have struggled in
the majority of close games that they have played. The Grayhounds had a
lot of promise early in the year but need to find a way to recapture it for the
postseason.
*Yes, Davenport, Central did lose to Bettendorf and got murdered on the road
against Linn-Mar. But the team still has won nine of their last eleven
games and is the favorite to make the State tournament. The Blue Devils
have done an outstanding job on the court without their top player, L.A. Pomlee.
This standout junior has missed the year because of a blood clot in his leg.
But EJ Hicks, Hal Bateman, and a host of other teammates have stepped up this
year and made things memorable for the team.
*The good news for head coach Mark Bigler is that Davenport, West continues to
win more games than the previous year. The problem is that things are
never easy at West and it is almost like he is building the program anew.
Junior Lavione West has continued to make strides towards becoming a complete
player and he will just get better with the more games he gets under his belt.
*With Jake Wagg and Dustin Cooley, Muscatine does have the firepower to play
with a lot of teams. But even though the Muskies have had some nice win
streaks this year, they still have had their struggles down the stretch.
The team did achieve a huge win over Bettendorf but can they repeat that in the
playoffs? That will be an interesting question to see.
*Pleasant Valley finished last year as the second best team in Class 4A and it
was obvious how hard they were going to be hit by graduation. Well, that
has come for the Spartans and a lot of younger, inexperienced players have had
to step up. The team may be taking their lumps this year for Pleasant
Valley will be tough over the next few years with how much talent they have.
Sleeper Team: Anyone not named Central or Bettendorf
The top two teams are the favorite and few are giving the others credit. I
believe they all deserve the sleeper label.
Substate Champions: Davenport Central
Although Central has shown some signs of weakness, they have played some good
basketball as of late and that will help them make a run at State.
Predictions:
1.)
Davenport, Central
2.)
Bettendorf
3.)
Pleasant Valley
4.)
Muscatine
5.)
Burlington
6.)
Davenport, West
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Seven
Des Moines, Roosevelt
Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines
Indianola
Newton
Oskaloosa
Urbandale
How did Substate 7 do at the State tournament?
Indianola
Lost to Linn-Mar in the quarterfinals ()
Quick Overview:
Oskaloosa may have the best record but it will be a struggle for them to
take down a number of talented 4A teams.
Team Breakdowns:
*Des Moines, Roosevelt has a great deal of athleticism like always but they
have yet to put it together and play consistently on the court. At times,
the team has been missing players for a variety of reasons and that has hurt
them from getting accustomed to a normal lineup. James Conley has been
leading the team in scoring that is senior dominated. But also don't
forget about Bill Freeman. This talented sophomore has the ability to put
points on the board and is averaging nearly eight points per game.
*Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines is a tough team to predict. The
Maroons have had big wins this year against Indianola, Johnston, Ames,
Urbandale, and others but also recently lost to Southeast Polk and Des Moines
Hoover. Even with Pat Mitchell leading the way, which Dowling team will
show up in the playoffs? They have beaten most of the top teams in this
substate but need to turn things around quickly after having lost two of three.
If they get hot, watch out because this team has talent.
*With a new coach at the helm, Indianola has done a nice job making the
transition and could be rewarded with another berth at the State tournament.
The team was a surprise last year but this year appear to be the favorites in
this substate. The key will be John Lamb. This standout senior has
been having a great year and has the ability to put the team on his back.
Lamb has also helped the team to two big wins over Urbandale but don't be
surprised when these two matchup for a third time this year.
*Newton is in a tough position as they make the transition out of the CIML but
still are playing in Class 4A for the playoffs. They have taken their
lumps this year and their only three wins have come against teams at the Class
3A level. The upside for the Cardinals is that they are young and playing
a lineup that consists mainly of sophomores and juniors. That could pay
off down the road, but this is just not the year.
*Even though Tyler Sash is a senior, he has not had to put up the points per
game for Oskaloosa that he has done in the past. Even though that scoring
is down to only twenty two points per game, the team has been much more
successful on the court with wins and losses. Sash has had others around
him step up and that has been huge. The problem with predicting them high
is that like Newton, they play in a smaller conference but make the jump up to
4A for the playoffs. They are capable of beating a lot of teams but it
won't be easy.
*After having won nine of their last ten games, Urbandale has a lot of momentum
that could help carry them deep into the playoffs. Last year they were
lumped in one of the hardest substates in Iowa and yet the same thing happens
once again. The J-Hawks, led by senior Ethan Freeman, will have a
difficult road to State but they have the firepower to play for the title.
The team must first get past a difficult road that includes an Indianola team
that has handed them their only loss in the last ten games.
Sleeper Team: Dowling
The Maroons have beaten most of the top teams in this substate and have the
talent to play with anyone.
Substate Champions: Indianola
Is the third time the charm for Urbandale? If John Lamb can have another
big game, the answer will be no and Indianola will move on.
Predictions:
1.)
Indianola
2.)
Urbandale
3.)
Dowling, Catholic, West Des Moines
4.)
Oskaloosa
5.)
Des Moines, Roosevelt
6.)
Newton
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A - Substate 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Eight
Des Moines, East
Des Moines, Hoover
Des Moines, Lincoln
Southeast Polk, Runnells
Valley, West Des Moines
Waukee
How did Substate 8 do at the State tournament?
Des Moines Hoover
Defeated Cedar Rapids Washington in the quarterfinals ()
Defeated Sioux City East in the semifinals ()
Defeated Pleasant Valley in the championship game ()
Quick Overview:
With a loaded substate 7, fans are not happy that there are only three teams
above .500 in this substate. However, Lincoln is the early favorite with a
lot of underrated teams.
Team Breakdowns:
*Despite only winning seven games this year, Des Moines, East has won three
of their last four and that includes an upset victory over a good Ankeny team.
That means that Jake Zimmerman and the team appears to be playing their best
basketball of the year at just the right time. And considering that this
substate has so many question marks, if Zimmerman and his teammates can get hot
this team could be the dark horse to make State.
*With how senior laden they were last year, it was obvious that the defending
champions from Des Moines, Hoover were going to take some lumps this year.
The Huskies were sitting under .500 as late as the end of January but have
really picked up their game as of late. They have won five of six games
and their only loss came to a very talented Ames team. If Hoover can take
it one game at a time, they could make a serious run at the substate title.
*The one thing that Des Moines, Lincoln has shown that if they don't come ready
to play, they can lose to anyone. And despite their 14-7 record, they have
been the only team to lose to Des Moines North all year. But if Baley
Johnson, Adam Robinson, and Terril Ross are focused on the game, this is a tough
team to slow down because their athleticism and firepower. The problem is
that the team has been sporadic as of late and that doesn't help their chances.
*Southeast Polk, Runnells has reeled off five of six wins to end the regular
season and has a chance to go into the playoffs with some momentum on their
side. And considering that they started the year so slowly with Blake
Sandquist on the disabled list, the Rams have really picked up their play as of
late. Senior Nate Snead has been leading the way for a very balanced
attack offensively. Freshman Kody Ingle has been somewhat of a surprise
and is nearly averaging double digits.
*Valley, West Des Moines is another one of the teams that has been somewhat of a
surprise. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they ended the year with a tough
stretch of games against Urbandale and Indianola so the team has lost four of
their last six. Dave Johnson has been having a potential All State senior
but will that be enough to get them past these other five solid teams?
*Despite making the move to the CIML, Waukee has done a nice job and has been
competitive all year. They have won nine games this year but like Valley,
have struggled down the stretch. There were some tough games along the way
but that doesn't take away the fact that Waukee must quickly refocus with the
playoffs nearly here.
Sleeper Team: Southeast Polk/Des Moines Hoover
Southeast Polk because they have been playing great basketball as of late and
Hoover because their tradition over the past few years.
Substate Champions: Des Moines Lincoln
Tough pick even though they have been struggling as of late, Lincoln has the
talent to make a run if they can bring it all together.
Predictions:
1.)
Des Moines, Lincoln
2.)
Southeast Polk, Runnells
3.)
Des Moines, Hoover
4.)
Valley, West Des Moines
5.)
Waukee
6.)
Des Moines, East
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 4A State Tournament Predictions[/URL]
If these predictions turn out to be true, here are the eight State
tournament teams:
Sioux City North
Ankeny
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Iowa City West
Linn-Mar
Davenport Central
Indianola
Des Moines Lincoln
Agree/disagree with the picks? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 2/26 11:09 AM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
