Iowa City, West 62, Muscatine 50

Class 4A Quarterfinals

Iowa City, West 62, Muscatine 50

DES MOINES – Joe Wieskamp got his points for Muscatine. But Iowa City, West got the semifinal berth is has grown accustomed to.

Tuesday night’s opener of the Class 4A quarterfinals was a No. 1 vs. No. 8 tilt, pitting the defending champions against a program powered by one superstar making his state tournament debut, and it did not disappoint a packed Wells Fargo Arena. West (20-4) carried just a one-point lead into the fourth quarter and pulled away from Muscatine and Wieskamp down the stretch for a 62-50 win.

Coach Steve Bergman’s team shot 54 percent from the floor and made 17-of-20 free throws in a stop-start game, using a 16-2 run at the top of the fourth quarter to seal a semifinal spot for the eighth straight year. It is the second-longest streak in state history. Patrick McCaffery led four Trojans in double figures by scoring 17 points, including an emphatic breakaway dunk. Evan Flitz added 14 points, and Dante Eldridge and Hakeem Odunsi scored 12 and 11 apiece.

Wieskamp entered the contest as 4A’s all-time leading scorer and he finished with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in his first and only state tournament appearance. The 6-foot-6 wing was double- and triple-teamed by West’s defense, attacking any window and moment of opportunity to keep the Muskies (16-9) close. His dunks and physical lay-ups were the show fans were looking for when Muscatine was matched up as a massive underdog against West. A 38-37 score entering the fourth quarter and the Iowa recruit pouring in 20 points after halftime were all they could ask for. Senior Lex Hahn backed up Wieskamp with 11 points for the Muskies.

West has appeared in the last two 4A title games and five of the last six. Their semifinal game will be against the winner of Tuesday night’s CIML tilt between Waukee and Johnston.

Wieskamp finished his career with 2,376 points , good for sixth in state history.

Quarterfinal Round – March 6-7

Iowa City, West 62,  Muscatine 50 – Final | BOX SCORE

8:15 p.m.—Waukee vs. Johnston

10:30 a.m.— North Scott, Eldridge vs. Valley, W.D.M.

12:15 p.m.—Cedar Falls vs. Sioux City, East