2019 Boys State Basketball Tournament Reflections


Loved the Championship Friday format the IAHSAA piloted this year. Nice for a basketball junky to be able to watch all the title games (plus two consolation games) in one sitting.
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I used to be nostalgic about Veterans Memorial Auditorium and was somewhat saddened when it was converted into a convention center, but Wells Fargo is a beautiful, functional, and comfortable venue. It’s also a thrill to play and coach in a big time arena. Good move Des Moines!
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The Association should do everyone a favor and ditch the video from the Farm Bureau. It kills the pre-game vibe and NOBODY is listening to or watching the message.  We all know advertisements are how the bills get paid. Maybe consider playing the video while the kids are warming up.
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It seemed like the public address sound system was turned down during the introductions of the color guard, national anthem singers, and halftime award winners. It was very difficult to hear what was being said. And no its not because I’m old and my hearing is failing.  A much younger guy sitting right behind me remarked to his companion that he could not hear either.
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Someone from Alburnett deserves credit for stopping the “USA,USA” chant which broke out from their student section early in the first quarter of the 1A Championship. Whether it was an administrator, teacher, parent, or highly mature student, a responsible person or persons put an end to this thinly veiled racism. Thank you! 
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High school basketball does not need a shot clock. It needs more pressure defense and a commitment from officials to correctly apply the five-second closely guarded rule. The Grand View Christian vs. Alburnett title game was 11 to 6 at the second quarter media timeout and I’m thinking this will be just more ammunition for those advocating for the shot clock. But here are my takeaways:

#1 Milking the clock and limiting possessions was the only plausible way for Alburnett to keep the game close. They executed the game plan and actually could have been ahead at halftime if only just a few of the great shots they took had dropped.

#2 Once Grand View came out of the 2nd quarter TV timeout and dialed up the pressure and tempo the game was basically over and the clearly better team prevailed.

#3 The outcome of the game rested, as it should, with the coaches’ strategies and the players executing. The shot clock would have decided the outcome before the game even began.
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I’ve never seen a player with a motor like Jake Hilmer. He just never stops with his relentless attack mode on both the offensive and defensive ends. He must be an amazing baseball player if he picked that sport to pursue in college rather than basketball as he is one of the best I’ve seen in hoops.
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A game of 1 on 1 pitting Jake Hilmer and Bowen Born would be quite entertaining to watch. If betting were allowed, not sure who I would pick!
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Speaking of the Hilmer family, it was nice to see Jake’s grandpa on the bench doing what he is so good at doing. Bob was already a legendary coach in north central Iowa when I played back in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. To think that he is doing what he loves all these years later is quite an inspiration.
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The 3A game confirmed again my belief that the Little Hawkeye Conference is in a class by itself. While happy for Oskaloosa, I can feel Norwalk's pain in walking away empty handed after being so close to the prize. By the way, hats off to my former team Pella for collecting W’s against both of those teams during the regular season. That’s an impressive accomplishment and tribute players and coaches alike. Glad I didn’t have to coach against those amazing teams.
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Oskaloosa proved again the influence offensive rebounding has on the outcome of a game.When a team has a 50% offensive rebound rate (15 offensive boards on 30 missed field goals) they are dang near impossible to beat. Cole Henry is tall and athletic, but more so he is active and relentless on the glass. UNI is fortunate to be getting this guy.

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