Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

As one of the most explosive and prolific scorers in the state Patrick McCaffery expects to see every possible look from opposing defenses this season.

The West High junior has a message for opponents planning on throwing an extra defender or two his way – extend double teams at your own risk.

Through six games McCaffery leads top-ranked West High at 20.8 points per game but has gotten plenty of help from teammates as the Trojans have rattled off seven straight wins to open the season.

“If they double me I’m kicking it to somebody for a 3 or a dunk,” McCaffery said. “I think teams are going to be a little more cautious to do those things now that they see how everyone else is playing.”

McCaffery isn’t exaggerating about dishing out of double teams.

The 6-foot-8 McCaffery has 16 assists, one of six Trojans with double digit assists on the year.

He also isn’t kidding about how his teammates are producing.

Three West High players besides McCaffery are averaging better than 7.5 points per game led by 6-foot-7 senior Seybian Sims with 16.8 per game.

Junior point guard Dante Eldrige is averaging 12.8 per game and Evan Flitz is scoring 7.5 per game.

“We definitely have other scorers besides Pat,” Sims said. “Pat is our leading scorer but if they try to take away Pat I can get one inside and Dante and Evan are doing a really good job shooting.”
Sims, Eldrige and Flitz aren’t just scoring they’ve been efficient in their supporting roles of McCaffery.

All three are shooting better than 50 percent from the field and have 18 assists.

The West High production doesn’t stop with those four players.

West High has gotten key contributions from seniors Jake Anderson, Dadrian Hoambrecker, Hakeem Odunsi and Paul McGree along with junior Brayden Adcock.

“We are deep,” West High coach Steve Bergman said. “I like getting 10 or 11 in by the second quarter and I think that’s our strength.”

Whoa Beau

The days leading up to the holiday break are a busy time in prep hoops.

Few prep players were as busy as West Branch junior Beau Cornwell.

Cornwell posted a pair of 30-point games in less than 24 hours last week as West Branch (4-5) went 1-1 in its final two games of 2017.

The 6-foot-1 point guard had 38 points in a 79-71 loss to Camanche on Monday and scored 30 points in a 68-59 win over Mid-Prairie the following day.

Cornwell averaged 34 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the two games.

Solon Finishes 2017 Strong

Solon was one of the last teams to finish up its 2017 schedule but closed with a bang in the form of back-to-back wins.

The Spartans followed up a Tuesday WAMAC East win over West Delaware with a 55-37 non-conference victory at Keokuk on Saturday averaged 23.5 points in the two wins as Solon improved to 6-2 on the season.

Performances of the Week

Solon sophomore AJ Coons had 29 points and five rebounds in a 65-58 win over West Delaware.

West High senior Seybian Sims had 16 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and four assists in a 70-57 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie.

West Branch senior Ben Thompson had 11 points, 18 rebounds and four assists in a 79-71 loss to Camanche.

Clear Creek Amana senior Darius Moore had 34 points, six rebounds and six steals in a 80-66 win over Williamsburg.

West Branch sophomore Tanner Lukavsky had 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 68-59 win over Mid-Prairie.