Iowa boys’ state basketball 2025: A closer look at Thursday’s games

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

Class 3A Semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (16-9) vs. No. 8 MOC-FLOYD VALLEY (21-4)

Time: 12:15 p.m.

In the quarterfinals: Xavier took down ‘2’ seed and undefeated Knoxville, 52-37. Junior center A.J. Evans had a huge game inside with 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. The Saints led for 30 minutes and 27 seconds in the game ... MOC-Floyd Valley took out ‘3’ seed Huxley Ballard, 55-51. Blake Aalbers had 24 points for the Dutchmen, including going 12 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Synopsis: Nothing represents the balance of Class 3A more than having a ‘7’ seed (Xavier) play a ‘6’ seed (MOC-Floyd Valley) in the state tournament semifinals. Of course, Xavier played a heavy 4A schedule as a member of the Mississippi Valley Conference. The Saints are 8-0 this season against 3A opponents ... MOCFV tied for first place in the Siouxland Conference, which is one of the top leagues in the state, though heavily 2A. The Dutchmen’s losses have been to West Lyon, Orange City Unity Christian and Western Christian (all 2A state tourney semifinalists) and Omaha Skutt Catholic of Nebraska ... Senior guard Aalbers leads MOCFV in scoring (20.0 points per game), though four starters average double figures. Xavier is very balanced offensively, led by guard Zander Murray (14.3 ppg) and Kaleb Wilgenbusch (13.6 ppg).

Thursday’s other games

Class 3A semifinals

No. 1 Clear Lake (25-0) vs. No. 7 Adel-DeSoto-Minburn (22-4), 10:30 a.m.

Class 2A Semifinals

No. 1 Western Christian (23-3) vs. No. 5 Grand View Christian (25-1), 2 p.m.

No. 3 West Lyon (22-3) vs. No. 4 Orange City Unity Christian (21-4), 3:45 p.m.

Class 1A Semifinals

No. 1 Bellevue Marquette (26-1) vs. No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (23-3), 5:30 p.m.

No. 2 Madrid (26-0) vs. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (23-3), 7:15 p.m.

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com