Iowa boys’ state basketball 2023: A closer look at Wednesday’s games

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

Class 4A quarterfinals

No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (22-0) vs. Pleasant Valley (19-5)

Time: 2 p.m.

Top players: Colby Dolphin was Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year for Kennedy, averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 44.9 percent from 3-point territory. Fellow senior guard Kenzie Reed averages 10.4 points and 7.1 assists per game. Junior forward Micah Schlaak has been a very steady presence, averaging 12.3 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Senior wing Conner Borbeck is Pleasant Valley’s lone double-figures scorer at 12.0 ppg.

The teams and their seasons: Kennedy rolled to its first undefeated regular season, beating opponents by 31 points per game. The Cougars have two very good guards in Dolphin and Reed, pressure you defensively in hopes of turnovers and fast-break points. Kennedy’s not big, with four starters 6-foot-1 or shorter, though there is size that can come off the bench. PV surprised Dubuque Senior in a substate final, 54-51, and will be making its second state appearance in three years. The Spartans will do everything they can to make this a half-court game.

Biggest question: Tempo of the game, plain and simple. Fast favors Kennedy, slower favors Pleasant Valley.

Other games

10:30 a.m. — No. 2 Waukee (22-2) vs. Ames (17-7)

12:15 p.m. — No. 3 Waukee Northwest (21-1) vs. No. 10 Ankeny Centennial (16-7)

3:45 p.m. — No. 4 West Des Moines Valley (18-5) vs. No. 5 Norwalk (20-3)

Class 1A semifinals

No. 2 North Linn (25-0) vs. No. 7 Remsen St. Mary’s (23-2)

Time: 7:15 p.m.

Top players: North Linn has four players who score between 14.8 and 16.9 points per game: Ty Pflughaupt (16.9), Tate Haughenbury (16.3), Ben Wheatley and Mason Bechen (14.8 each). Senior Jaxon Bunkers leads St. Mary’s in scoring at 15.5 points per game, with 6-foot-5 sophomore center Collin Homan checking in at 14.6 (and 7.8 rebounds per game).

In the quarterfinals: North Linn got huge games from Bechen (29 points) and Haughenbury (25) to get past hot-shooting Madrid, 72-63. St. Mary’s pulled ahead from a tied game at halftime to beat Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 57-47. Homan had 17 points.

Biggest question: St. Mary’s lost to North Linn in last year’s semifinals, so it has seen the Lynx’s vaunted double-team defense. Will that be an advantage and how much? By the way, North Linn has won 207 of its last 214 games, an incredible statistic.

Other games

5:30 p.m. — No. 1 Grand View Christian (25-0) vs. West Harrison (24-1)

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com