Waukee’s Vance Pieffer (middle)
By Barry Poe
Here are some stars from last week’s high school basketball games across Iowa.
If you know of a piece of excellence that we should include, please let us know.
Preston Gillespie, Dunkerton
Gillespie, the state’s top scorer, nearly scored a triple-double in the undefeated Raiders’ 83-52 win over Tripoli. The senior finished with 25 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.
Owen Larson, Estherville-Lincoln Central
The junior had 31 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals in the Midgets’ 78-69 win over Newell-Fonda. The win avenged an 83-48 loss to the Mustangs earlier this season.
Carter Sievers, Newell-Fonda
The high-scoring senior amassed 24 points in a 73-25 loss at Storm Lake St. Mary’s. That came one night after he scored 33 points in a loss to Estherville-Lincoln Central.
Caden Kirkman, Wilton
Kirkman, who has committed to the Division II Augustana (SD), came that close to a triple-double in the Beavers’ 71-52 win over Iowa City Regina. The senior had 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, as well as six blocked shots and three steals.
Jacob Hargens, Sioux Central
The Rebels went undefeated with a 70-44 win over Emmetsburg. Hargens, a senior, had 24 points on 7 of 10 shots and converted 9 of 10 free throws.
William Kiburis, Gladbrook-Reinbeck
The senior scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists in a 97-58 triumph over South Hardin.
Merquiche Lewis Jr., Burlington
Lewis, a senior, amassed 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals as the Brayhounds defeated Muscatine 65-61. His younger brother Nehemiah, a sophomore, recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Pryce Sandfort, Waukee Northwest
The University of Iowa, Sandford recruit had 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in Wolves’ 85-61 win over Southeast Polk. Sandfort sank five 3-pointers in the win.
Bo Harrington, Nashua Plainfield
The senior averaged 46 points in games against Osage and Mason City Newman. Harrington scored 24 points and added nine rebounds and five steals against Newman.
Doug Taylor, Mason City Newman
Taylor, a University of Iowa baseball recruit, recorded a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds in a 60-53 win over Nashua-Plainfield.
Jack Miller, Jesup
The junior had 23 points, seven rebounds and five steals in the J-Hawks’ 68-44 win over Sumner-Fredericksburg. Miller made four 3-pointers.
Blaise Porter, New London
Porter, a Truman State commitment, had 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the Tigers’ 53-37 win over Danville. Teammate Kade Benjamin added 15 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
Preston Ries, Montcello
The junior had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 58-36 win over Waukon. Ries has dedicated himself to the University of Iowa football program.
Scott Harr, Hampton-Dumont-CAL
The junior had 24 points, 15 rebounds and four assists for the Bulldogs in a setback against Algona. Harr averages just under 23 points per game.
Vance Peiffer, Waukee
The senior hit a double-double in a 62-59 win over Indianola with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Peiffer then had 15 points and eight rebounds in a win over West Des Moines Dowling.
Ben Bockmann, Decorah
Bockman, a junior, had 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the Vikings’ 60-59 win over Dubuque Wahlert.
Drew Wagner, Waterloo Christian
The junior scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and walked away with four steals as the Regents beat Don Bosco 56-45. Wagner had 20 points in a loss to Central Elkader the night before.
Landon Blatchford, West Monona
The senior recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the Spartans’ 60-45 win over Woodbury Central. The night before he had 14 points and 10 rebounds against Logan-Magnolia.
Chase Henderson, Des Moines Hoover
The senior had 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in a 66-39 win over Mason City. Hoover currently tops the Iowa Alliance South rankings.
Keaton Bonderson, Le Mars Gehlen Catholic
A standout two-sport player for the Jays, Bonderson scored 32 points in an 83-19 win over Woodbury Central. The senior is Gehlen’s all-time top scorer.
Jaixen Frost, Mount Ayr
Frost, who will play baseball at the University of Iowa, gave the Raiders a triple-double with an 87-52 win over Lenox. Frost scored 32 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and gave out 10 assists.
Jensen Wedeking, Bellevue
The senior hit a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Comets’ 55-46 win over Monticello. Wedeking also had three assists.
Ty Northrup, Louisa-Muscatine
The junior missed just twice in 11 attempts from the field and scored 24 points to lead the Falcons past Highland. Northrup, who had four 3-pointers, also seven rebounds and a few assists and steals.
Mason Smith, Chariton
The junior averaged 53 points in contests against North Mahaska and Centerville. Smith scored 31 points (six 3-pointers) against North Mahaska.
Brayson Laube, Marion
The senior finished the tournament with 34 points and four assists as the Wolves defeated Independence 70-65. Laube was 11-to-12 from the free throw line.
