Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The state tournament field is nearly complete.

24 teams from across the state have already secured spots at the state tournament that gets underway on March 4 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines and the final eight qualifiers will be determined on Tuesday with Class 4A substate finals scheduled across the state.

Before the action gets rolling and the final state qualifying berths are locked up on Tuesday we take a quick look at the Class 4A, Substate 3 title game between seventh-ranked West High (19-3) and Bettendorf (16-6).

Class 4A, Substate 3

No. 7 West High (19-3) vs. Bettendorf (16-6)

When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids

Statistical leaders: West High – Jack McCaffery, 6-8, Jr. – 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 blocks; Jacob Koch, 6-0, Sr. – 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals. Bettendorf – Caden Wilkins, 6-7, Sr., 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.2 blocks; Ben Kerkhoff, 6-6, Jr. – 10.3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist.

About the Trojans: West High qualified for the state tournament 10 consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2020 winning four titles and adding a pair of runner-up finishes in that stretch.

In the three seasons since its last appearance at state in 2020 the Trojans had won just one substate game and hadn’t been past the substate semifinals.

That changed this season when West High rolled past Davenport North 90-50 in the substate 3 semifinal last Friday.

The Trojans shot 70 percent from the floor while putting up a season-high 90 points in the semifinal win over Davenport North.

West High lost at Linn-Mar on December 15 and has won 15 of its l7 games since with losses to 4A top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy and at sixth-ranked Dubuque Senior in the regular season finale.

Junior Jack McCaffery average a team-high 15.9 points and leads a balanced West High offensive attack that features five players scoring at least 8.7 points per game.

Senior guard Jacob Koch is averaging 12.5 points per game while senior Kareem Earl and sophomore Julian Manson are each averaging nine points per game.

About the Bulldogs: Bettendorf is back in the substate title game for the first time since 2019 and seeking its first trip to state since 2017.

The Bulldogs are playing their best basketball of the season over the past several weeks and bring a nine-game winning streak into the substate final.

Bettendorf was 7-6 following a 49-43 loss to rival Pleasant Valley on January 23 but hasn’t lost since, avenging earlier losses this season to North Scott and Davenport Assumption during that stretch.

The Bulldogs advanced to the substate title game with their third win in less than a month over Davenport West, defeating the Falcons 76-56 in the substate 3 semifinal.

Senior Caden Wilkins leads Bettendorf with 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while junior Ben Kerkhoff averages 10.3 points per game.

Senior Tre’Von Coney averages 8.2 points and a team-high 4.9 assists and senior Asher Wade is averaging 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Who to watch: West High – A three-year starter that led West High in scoring a year ago as a sophomore Jack McCaffery has taken his game up another notch this season as a junior.

McCaffery leads the Trojans in scoring (15.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (3.3) and blocked shots (1.8) per game and is shooting 47 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the free throw line.

The 6-foot-8 McCaffery is shooting 33 percent (30-of-92) from 3-point range and is just as effective on the block as he is on the perimeter.

Bettendorf – One of the top seniors in the state, Caden Wilkins is the all-time leading scorer in Bettendorf history and would like nothing more than to conclude an already impressive prep career at the state tournament.

The 6-foot-7 Wilkins has been impressive this season averaging 18.6 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field, including 35 percent (34-of-96) from 3-point range, and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Wilkins also leads the Bulldogs with 6.4 rebounds per game and ranks second on the team with 3 assists per game.

The senior was at his best in the substate final win over Davenport West putting up 36 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

What to watch: The battle between Wilkins and McCaffery, two good friends that know each other well, should be worth the price of admission.

Both players are among the best in the state and are the unquestioned go-to scorers from their respective games.

Wilkins and McCaffery will both likely do their damage and while an especially big game from either player could ultimately be the difference this game likely comes down to the more than capable supporting casts for each side.

Seniors Tre’Von Coney and junior Ben Kerkhoff are ones to watch for Bettendorf while West High seniors Kareem Earl and Jacob Koch are capable of putting up big time performances with the season on the line.

The breakdown: The numbers for these two teams are relatively even across the board.

West High is averaging 66.8 points per game while allowing 52.8 per contest.

Bettendorf scores 62.6 and allows 50.9.

The list goes on and one, you get the point.

The focus for West High is on the defensive end.

When the Trojans lock in on defense they are tough to beat.

West High held opponents to 50.3 points per game in 19 wins this season and allowed 68.7 points per game in its three losses this year.

Bettendorf isn’t built to put up tons of points, the Bulldogs have scored 70 or more points eight times in 22 games this season, but if Bettendorf is efficient offensive it becomes tough to beat.

In its three losses this season West High allowed opponents to shot 54 percent from the field and will need to keep that number lower on Tuesday to earn a trip to state.

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