Iowa boys’ state basketball tournament 2023: 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

No. 4 Cedar Rapids Xavier (19-6) vs. Sioux City Heelan (19-6)

Time: 3:45 p.m.

Top players: It’s 6-foot-4 senior wing Aidan Yamiloski (17.9 points per game) and junior point guard Joe Bean (14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game) for Xavier. Senior forward Josef Lemker (11.8 ppg) is a glue guy for the Saints. Six-foot-8 junior forward Matt Noll (18.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) is without question Heelan’s main man.

In the quarterfinals: Xavier won a defensive slog against Des Moines Hoover, 49-38. Bean had 15 points in an all-around fine performance, with Yamilkoski adding 13. Center Tyler Netolicky was a force in the middle with nine points and eight rebounds. Heelan scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from a tight game and knock off Marion, 68-59. Noll had 25 points and 13 rebounds in a scintillating performance. Guard Carter Kuehl added 17 points. Xavier is in the semifinals for the first time since 2018. This is Heelan’s first semifinal and state tournament appearance since 2012.

Biggest question: Can Xavier play defense as it did against Hoover? If so, the Saints will be in good shape. Defending the versatile Noll, in particular, is a must.

Other semifinals

10:30 a.m. — Class 2A: No. 1 Central Lyon (22-1) vs. Pella Christian (16-9)

12:15 p.m. — Class 2A: No. 2 Roland-Story (25-1) vs. No. 5 Western Christian (21-3)

2 p.m. — Class 3A: No. 1 Bondurant-Farrar (24-0) vs. No. 7 North Polk (19-5)

5:30 p.m. — Class 4A: No. 4 West Des Moines Valley (19-5) vs. Pleasant Valley (20-5)

7:15 p.m. — Class 4A: No. 2 Waukee (23-2) vs. No. 3 Waukee Northwest (22-2)

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com