Boys' state basketball: Saturday's games

DES MOINES — Saturday's games at the boys' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena:

Class 3A Championship

No. 6 CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (18-8) vs. No. 5 DUBUQUE WAHLERT (21-5)

* Time: 6:05 p.m.

* In the semifinals: Xavier eliminated top-ranked Pella, 70-65. Wahlert disposed of top-seeded Chariton, 68-46.

* Coaches: Ryan Luehrsmann is in his fourth season at Xavier and has a 62-38 record. Tom English is 200-96 in 12 seasons at Wahlert.

* Top players: Wahlert, which seeks its third-consecutive 3A title, beat Xavier at home in the regular-season finale, 68-56. The Saints, of course, will have to deal with 6-foot-8 Wahlert center Cordell Pemsl, the Iowa Hawkeyes signee who averages a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard David Wedewer (12.1 ppg) is the Golden Eagles' main threat from 3-point territory. Guard Mitchell Burger is Xavier's leading scorer (17 ppg), but it was wing Jackson Joens who stepped up huge in the Saints' semifinal win over Pella, splashing 6 of 7 3-pointers and scoring 22 points. Max Techau, 6-7, will have a lot of responsibilities defensively against Pemsl. Sophomore Matt Mims (12.3 PPG) will have a delicious one-on-one matchup against Wahlert's Wedewer.

Class 4A Championship

No. 6 IOWA CITY WEST (21-4) vs. No. 5 WEST DES MOINES VALLEY (22-3)

* Time: 8:05 p.m.

* In the semifinals: West beat Mississippi Valley Conference mate Cedar Falls, 61-59, on a tip-in at the buzzer by Tanner Lohaus.

Valley got a driving shot at the buzzer from Turner Scott to oust Pleasant Valley in double overtime, 50-48.

* Coaches: Steve Bergman is 521-180 in his 30-year career, 25 at West. He is trying to win his sixth championship. B.J. Windhorst is in his 14th season overall. He is 221-112 overall and 39-9 in two years at Valley.

* Top players: With West, it's four of its five starters. Connor McCaffery is the leading scorer (16 ppg) and an Iowa commit. Devontae Lane averages 13 a game and is one of the top juniors in the state. Forward Wali Parks (12.7 ppg) has signed with JUCO power Indian Hills. Forward Lohaus (9 ppg) has signed with Northern Iowa. Point guard Scott is Valley's best player, averaging 17 points. Forward Carlo Marble (11.5 ppg) is the son of the late Iowa star Roy Marble. Quinton Curry (14 ppg) gives the Tigers another big body in the middle at 6-6.

CLASS 3A CONSOLATION

* Pella (23-2) vs. Chariton (24-2), 12:05 p.m.

CLASS 4A CONSOLATION

* Pleasant Valley (23-2) vs. Cedar Falls (20-5), 1:45 p.m.

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