State Basketball Preview
What is Glenwood’s reward for a thrilling 20-point comeback and the school’s first victory at state in 62 years?
How about two-time defending state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier?
The Rams, who battled back from a 40-22 halftime deficit to defeat Norwalk in the state quarterfinals Tuesday will face the top seeded Saints (19-6) in Thursday’s 2 p.m. Class 3A semifinals at the Wells Fargo Arena.
The Saints are led by senior point guard Matthew Mims, a South Dakota State University recruit. The 6-footer leads the team in scoring (21 points per game), rebounds (5.9 per game) assists (4.9 per game), three-pointers (67) and steals (2.7 per game).
Jackson Joens provides the inside punch for the Saints but the 6-foot-6 forward is just as comfortable on the perimeter. Joens averages 16.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game but he’s also hit 39 three pointers.
Glenwood coach Curt Schulte, who spent most of Tuesday night studying film, said the Saints pose a formidable challenge both offensively and defensively.
“They’re going to be tough,” Schulte said. “They’re two time defending champs and rated No. 1 in the state. They’ve got two outstanding players in Mims and Joens. Mims is probably one of the top guard prospects in the state. They’re tough. And they have a lot of good role players around them. They’re going to be tough.”
Mims scored 32 in the Saints 67-60 quarterfinal win over Marion and Joens added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Schulte said his team will have to be sharp defensively. The Rams are likely to use the same hedging technique on ball screens on Mims’ they used on Norwalk’ point guard Luke Vaske so successfully in the second half of the quarterfinal game.
Offensively, the Rams got good balance in their quarterfinal comeback win over Norwalk but will have to shoot it better and push the ball more consistently than they did against the Saints. Freshman Ryan Blum led the way in the quarterfinal with 17 points while Andrew Blum added 13 and Nate Mohr and Zach Carr dropped in 11 each.
“We want to keep our tempo and push the ball,” Schulte said. “They only go six deep so we’re hoping to wear them down, especially in the second half. We do those things, we have a good shot.”
If Glenwood is to advance to Friday’s state finals, they must avoid the slow start that hampered them for much of the first half in their quarterfinal victory. An experienced, senior-laden team with plenty of state experience up-and-down their roster like Xavier isn’t liable to rattle under the pressure.
Schulte agrees.
“We need to play a full four quarters of basketball,” Schulte said. “That’ll be key for us.”