Iowa high school boys’ state basketball 2022: Thursday’s games

DES MOINES — A look at Thursday’s games at the 2022 Iowa boys’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

Class 2A Semifinals

MONTICELLO (22-3) vs. ROCK VALLEY (20-5)

When: 12:15 p.m.

Seeds: Monticello is the 6, Rock Valley the 2

State tournament history: Monticello won a state tournament game for the first time since 1960 when it knocked off third-seeded Mid-Prairie in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, 46-43. The Panthers endured a scoreless streak that lasted nearly 12 minutes, not scoring at all in the third quarter. Rock Valley, which has won four state titles in its history, brushed past Jesup in its quarterfinal, 75-61.

Overview: Tate Petersen was terrific in the Monticello win, scoring 19 points while playing every second of the game. He is in his third season as Monti’s starting point guard, coming into the tournament averaging 19.2 points per game. Sophomore Preston Ries came in averaging 18.5 points and had 11 points and nine rebounds against Mid-Prairie, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with just over a minute left. Monticello’s tallest starter is just 6-foot-2.

Guard Bryson Van Grootheest went off for 28 points for Rock Valley in its quarterfinal win. Six-foot-5 center Sam Remmerde will definitely be a handful for Monticello. He had 22 points and 14 rebounds against Jesup. Dawson Van Beek and Landyn Van Kekerix also came into this tournament averaging double figures in scoring.

Class 4A Semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (21-3) vs. AMES (21-3)

When: 5:30 p.m.

Seeds: Ames is the 1, Kennedy the 4.

State tournament history: Kennedy was the last of the three Cedar Rapids district’s public high schools to win a 4A boys’ state basketball championship, in 1984. The Cougars last qualified in 2017, placing fourth. Ames has eight championships, the last two coming back to back in 2009 and 2010, teams that featured eventual NBA players Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott.

Overview: These clubs played at Kennedy way back in December, the second game of the regular season for each. Ames won, 62-46. Tamin Lipsey had 24 points and Trevion LaBeaux 16 for Ames. Lipsey is an Iowa State signee who came into this tournament shooting 57.4 percent, though only 20.9 percent from 3-point range. LaBeaux, a 6-4 senior, came in averaging 15.3 points. Ames beat Burlington in the quarterfinals, 60-40.

Guards Kenzie Reed and Colby Dolphin combined for 48 points in Kennedy’s 61-55 quarterfinal win over Waukee Northwest. Reed hit five 3-pointers. Coming into this tournament, Dolphin led Kennedy in scoring (14.1 ppg), followed by Reed (12.4 to go along with 7.0 assists per game) and forward Jackson Bowman (10.4 ppg).

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (18-6) vs. JOHNSTON (20-3)

When: 7:15 p.m.

Seeds: Johnston is the 3, Prairie the 7,

State tournament history: Prairie was a runner-up in 1994, qualified for state in 1997, then won the Class 3A championship in 1998. This is its first appearance at this tournament since then. Johnston lost last year’s 4A championship game to Waukee. The Dragons won back-to-back 3A titles in 1994 and 1995.

Overview: Another familiar foe for Prairie. The Hawks beat Cedar Falls in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, 62-52. Those teams had played twice in the regular season, recording a split. Prairie beat Johnston at home in early December, 64-61. Jake Walter had 18 points in that game, Jack Wagemester and Gabe Burkle 14 each. Walter had 16 points and seven rebounds in Prairie’s Wednesday win over Cedar Falls. He has been the Hawks’ leading scorer all season.

Trey Lewis and Steven Kramer are Johnston’s significant guns. Lewis had 31 points in the regular-season meeting with Prairie, came in averaging 21.1 and had 18 in his team’s quarterfinal win over Ankeny. The 6-5 Kramer had 19 against Ankeny and came into the tournament averaging 16.0 points. The duo also lead Johnston in rebounding, with almost identical numbers in that department.

Other Semifinals

Class 2A: No. 1 Central Lyon (23-2) vs. No. 4 Pella Christian (19-6), 10:30 a.m.

Class 3A: No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes (20-5) vs. No. 4 Winterset (20-5), 2 p.m.

Class 3A: No. 3 Davenport Assumption (20-5) vs. No. 7 DeWitt Central (19-6), 3:45 p.m.

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