Boys' Basketball: Tucker picks up prestigious second team all-state selection

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor

sports@beeherald.com

The accolades continue to pile up for Greene County’s all-time leading scorer. 

Trey Tucker was named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s All-state 3A second team following the conclusion of the 2017 state tournament. 

The state’s leading scorer (24.5 points per game), set personal career highs across the board while shattering a handful of school records this past winter.

Tucker is the first Ram to receive an all-state honor since Jefferson-Scranton’s Ronnie Wright in 2005-2006.   

He is joined on the second team by Grinnell’s Cade McKnight and Sam Allen, Forest City’s Sam Snyder, West Delaware’s Derek Krogmann, Glenwood’s Nate Mohr, Trenton Hilbrands of LeMars, and Mount Vernon’s Austin Ash. 

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s and 1A first team member, Joe Smoldt was named Iowa’s Mr. Basketball. The Upper Iowa University recruit finished his high school career as Iowa’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 2,358 points, with 21.4 points per game average over his

four year career. He guided the Rebels to a 100-10 record during that span, including an undefeated state title in 2015, three-straight Class 1A state tournament

appearances, and four-consecutive North Iowa Cedar League West Division championships.

Smoldt was named captain of the state all-tournament team three times in his career.

Tucker, a four-year starter in Jefferson, finished his career with a school record 1,811 total points and a Greene County all-time best 196 made three-pointers. He guided his team to a 14-8 overall record this past winter and a second place finish in the Heart of Iowa Conference (13-3). The Rams suffered first round loss to state tournament-qualifier, Dallas Center-Grimes, 66-36 back on Feb. 20.  The 14-win season was Greene County’s first winning-season since they consolidated with East Greene High School back in 2012 and was their best finish in conference play since 2009. 

Greene County averaged a conference-best 68.3 points per game and drilled a league-high 169 three-pointers. They drained 50.1 percent of their field goals.

Tucker drilled the  10th-most threes in 3A (63) and made them at a 44.1 percent rate. The senior set career highs in points, rebounds, steals (58), threes and shooting percentage (52.4 percent) this season. The point guard made the fourth most field goals in the state (199) and made 77 free throws. His 58 steals put him eighth in Class 3A.

Tucker broke the all-time Greene County scoring record in a 39-point effort against Collins-Maxwell/Baxter Jan. 13 in a 93-62 win at home, moving him past former record holder, Adam Jones. Tucker scored at least 30 points on four separate occasions and broke the Greene County single-game scoring record with 43 points in a loss to Perry Feb. 14. Tucker made 15 shots and hauled in 10 rebounds while swiping four steals. 

The 3A first team consists of Pella’s Ryan Van Wyk, Atlantic’s Garrett Franken, Waverly-Shell Rock’s Austin Phyfe, Mount Pleasant’s Brady Sartorius, Bishop Heelan’s Elijah Hazekamp, Norwalk’s Luke Vaske, Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Matt Mims and Seargant Bluff-Luton’s Chris Kroll. The Heart of Iowa Conference second-leading scorer, Collin Hill of South Hamilton (21.9) was named to the 2A first team while the HOIC’s leading assist man, South Hamilton’s Marco Balderas (147), was named to the 2A third team.

Cedar Rapids Xavier captured the 3A state title with a 54-49 victory over Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Dallas Center-Grimes was knocked out in the quarterfinals by West Delaware, 66-58. Grand View Christian won the 1A title over Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 61-50 while Western Christian captured their second consecutive 2A title with a 62-50 win over Pella Christian. Iowa City West secured the 4A title with a 64-50 victory over West Des Moines Valley. 

Class 3A first team

Front line Ryan Van Wyk Pella 6-5 Sr.

Front line Garrett Franken Atlantic 6-7 Sr.

Front line Austin Phyfe Waverly-Shell Rock 6-10 Sr.

Back court Brady Sartorius Mount Pleasant 6-0 Jr.

Back court Elijah Hazekamp Sioux City Bishop Heelan Catholic 6-5 Jr.

Back court Luke Vaske Norwalk 6-1 Jr.

Utility Matt Mims Cedar Rapids Xavier 6-0 Jr.

Utility Chris Kroll Seargant Bluff-Luton 6-1 Sr.

Class 3A second team

Front line Cade McKnight Grinnell 6-9 Sr.

Front line Sam Snyder Forest City 6-5 Jr.

Front line Derek Krogmann West Delaware, Manchester 6-7 Soph.

Back court Trey Tucker Greene County 6-0 Sr.

Back court Nate Mohr Glenwood 6-1 Jr.

Back court Trenton Hilbrands Le Mars 6-0 Sr.

Utility Sam Allen Grinnell 6-3 Sr.

Utility Austin Ash Mount Vernon 6-2 Sr.

Class 3A third team

Front line Trevor Grove Dallas Center-Grimes 6-6 Sr.

Front line Andrew Blum Glenwood 6-4 Jr.

Front line Jackson Wright Seargant Bluff-Luton 6-5 Sr.

Back court Jack Molstead Charles City 5-9 Soph.

Back court Trenton Wallace Assumption, Davenport 6-1 Sr.

Back court Tajen Ross A-D-M, Adel 6-3 Sr.

Utility Lim Chuol Chariton 6-3 Sr.

Utility John Nagel West Delaware, Manchester 6-6 Sr.