Ames to second team all-state IPSWA

DES MOINES — West Fork junior Kayden Ames was voted to second team all-state in Class 1A by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, announced Tuesday morning.

Ames, a 6-foot-1 guard for the Warhawks, helped lead the team to the state tournament for the first time in six years.

He led coach Frank Schnoes’ team in scoring at 14 points per game and three-point makes with 70. He tallied 42 assists and 42 steals this season and averaged 3.3 rebounds per game.

“Kayden is very deserving of this recognition,” Schnoes said. “He has put in countless hours in the gym to hone his skills and hours in the weight room to get stronger. Kayden has turned himself into an outstanding shooter and has improved his range and shooting percentage.

“He continues to work on being a complete player. He is a very unselfish team player and is a leader by example and his work ethic.”

A part of the state consolation final game in which Ames hit six three-pointers and the team as a whole nailed 17, which broke a state record for threes made in a game held since 1990 (15).

One of two starters returning for the Warhawks, Ames will have plenty of teammates who had state experience back in 2020-21.

Mr. Basketball 2020 was Norwalk’s Bowen Born, who led the Warriors to the Class 3A state title while averaging a state-leading 36.9 points per game. Born is headed to the University of Northern Iowa on a full-ride scholarship.

The 5-foot-11 guard was sixth on the Iowa High School boys’ basketball all-time career scoring list and he led Norwalk to a 79-23 record in his four-year career.

Class 1A IPSWA All-State Basketball

First Team

Trey Shearer, Montezuma, Jr.; Nick Reid, Central City, Sr.; Angelo Winkel, Altona Garrigan, Jr.; JD Stout, Keota, Sr.; Kiks Rosengarten, Wapsie Valley, Sr.; Kaleb Cornelison, Easton Valley, Jr.; Braden Gibbons, Madrid, Sr.; Alex Koppes, Springville, Jr.

Second Team

Brennan Sefrit, Bedford, Sr.; Jackson Louscher, South O’Brien, Sr.; Nik Cable, WACO, Sr.; Zach Huff, Don Bosco, Sr.; Keegan Edwards, Lone Tree, Sr.; Noah Beck, BGM, Sr.; Kayden Ames, West Fork, Jr.; Trey Baker, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, Jr.

Third Team