Iowa boys’ state basketball 2018: Previewing Wednesday's games

DES MOINES — Capsules for Wednesday's games involving area teams at the boys' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

Class 1A semifinals

No. 2 North Linn (27-0) vs. No. 7 Don Bosco (23-3)

Time: 11:15 a.m.

In the quarterfinals: North Linn blasted Tri-Rivers Conference foe Edgewood-Colesburg for the third time this season, 80-34. Don Bosco edged George-Little Rock, 60-57.

Top players: How will Don Bosco handle North Linn's pressure defense and 100-mile-per-hour style? The Dons have a quality guard in junior Jack Kelley (14.3 points per game coming into this tournament). He had a team-high 17 points against G-LR. Forward Sean McFadden averages a team-best 15.3 points, with forward Zach Nie right behind at 14.8 ... Everyone knows North Linn's stars are senior guard Ryan Miller and junior guard Jake Hilmer. Miller had 23 points against Ed-Co, Hilmer 20 points, nine assists and eight steals. He is Iowa's all-time leader in single-season and career assists ... These teams share no common opponents this season.

Class 2A semifinals

No. 2 Cascade (24-1) vs. No. 9 Sheldon (22-3)

Time: 8:15 p.m.

In the quarterfinals: Sheldon brushed past Carroll Kuemper, 63-50. Cascade beat third-ranked Van Meter with a solid fourth quarter, 60-47. Sheldon played its quarterfinal on Monday night, while Cascade played Tuesday morning and will be playing back-to-back days.

Top players: All five Cascade starters average between 8.2 and 11.9 points per game, so you never know who is going to be the high point-getter. In the quarterfinals, it was forward Haris Hoffman with 17. Forward Gannon O'Brien and guard Derek Koppes had 14 each, including four 3-pointers apiece. Sheldon also is balanced offensively, with center Kyle Boerhave leading the way at 13 points a game. The Orabs will have a height advantage with the 6-foot-6 Boerhave and 6-5 Ryan Van Marel, though Cascade faced a pair of 6-9 players against Van Meter.

Other games

Class 4A quarterfinal: No. 8 North Scott (18-3) vs. West Des Moines Valley (16-7), 10:30 a.m.

Class 4A quarterfinal: No. 7 Sioux City East (20-3) vs. Cedar Falls (18-5), 12:15 p.m.

Class 1A semifinal: No. 1 Grand View Christian (23-1) vs. No. 3 Remsen St. Mary's (26-0), 3:45 p.m.

Class 2A semifinal: No. 1 Treynor (25-0) vs. No. 7 Aplington-Parkersburg (24-1), 6:30 p.m.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com