Postseason Preview: Class 2A, Substate 1
The favorite: Boyden-Hull has been dominant this season, racking up 18 straight wins to start the year before suffering a recent setback against Rock Valley. Nonetheless, the Comets are an overwhelming favorite in this district, having already swept Sioux…
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The favorite: Boyden-Hull has been dominant this season, racking up 18 straight wins to start the year before suffering a recent setback against Rock Valley. Nonetheless, the Comets are an overwhelming favorite in this district, having already swept Sioux Center, 73-58 and 76-69, and beating Unity Christian by 20. The Comets have four players averaging in double figures in Beau De Jongh (14.4), Keyton Moser (11.7), Tanner Te Slaa (10.5) and Spencer Te Slaa (10.0). The most efficient 3-point shooting team in 2A at 39.5%, the Comets are averaging 71.1 points a game, good for 5th in the class. Spencer Te Slaa (53.6 3P%) and Carter Francis (46.3%) in particular are dangerous from the arc. This group is deep, balanced and has already beaten the top threats in the district, so this is certainly the team to beat.
The biggest threat: The best individual player in the district comes from Sioux Center, with Cade Bleeker (21.3), a gifted wing who can score from anywhere on the floor. He’s capable of dropping 40 on any given night and carrying the Warriors to the district title. They’ll need to get solid contributions from Wilson Harshbarger (11.1) and Charlie Dykshorn (10.7) if they want to make some real noise. They beat Unity Christian 87-81 in double overtime earlier this season, and playing that semifinal at home will help them out.
The dark horse: Unity Christian played Sioux Center to a six-point, double overtime loss earlier this year, so they can clearly play with them. The Knights have three double figure scorers in Austin Van Donge (15.3), Micah Goslinga (10.8) and Ethan Klompien (10.7), and a highly efficient offensive attack, shooting 51.1% from the floor. Klompien (47 3PM) and Kolin Kroeze (8.3, 52 3PM) are capable of getting hot and carrying the Knights to some wins.
Players to watch
2019 Beau De Jongh, Boyden-Hull
2020 Keyton Moser, Boyden-Hull
2022 Tanner Te Slaa, Boyden-Hull
2020 Spencer Te Slaa, Boyden-Hull
2019 Cade Bleeker, Sioux Center
2019 Grant Brouwer, Sibley-Ocheyedan
2020 Jamison Helmers, Okoboji
2022 Lucas Lorenzen, Okoboji
2020 Jalyn Gramstad, West Lyon
2020 Logan Meyer, West Lyon
2020 Austin Van Donge, Unity Christian
The favorite: The best defense in the district is Forest City, and the Indians swept their season series with Lake Mills, 61-60 and 56-43. They allow just 44.8 points a game, good for 8th in 2A, and they’ll be looking to ride that defense to a district title. They have a trio of double figure scorers in Noah Miller (12.2), Micah Lambert (12.1) and Avery Busta (11.2), and Miller, Busta and Carter Bruckhoff (4.3) each shoot at least 39% from behind the arc. As the district’s top seed, Forest City has a much easier road to the district final than the bottom of the bracket has.
The biggest threat: Lake Mills will need leading scorer Chett Helming (17.0) to perform at a high level if they want to upset Forest City and claim the district crown. The Bulldogs got 25 from him in their one-point loss in early January, but just six points on 3-5 shooting in their 13-point loss on February 1. Without having seen that game, we can assume that FC face-guarded him and didn’t let him get going, so the ‘Dogs are going to have to find a way to get him back involved in the gameplan. Caleb Bacon (11.9) and DaShawn Linnen (12.2) are going to have to carry this group if Helming can’t get it going. This group does play really solid defense, allowing just 45.2 points a game, good for 10th in the class, which should come in handy against the high powered Pocahontas Area offense in the semifinal.
The dark horse: Pocahontas Area has an explosive offense, ranking 6th in 2A at 70.2 points a game, and they have the most explosive scorer in the district in Jace Davidson (21.3), a crafty guard who can score from anywhere. Christian Davidson (10.9), Nathan Aljets (11.6) and Nathan Hanson (10.0) are all quality scoring options as well, and if Poky is able to speed Forest City and Lake Mills up, they can win the district.
Players to watch
2021 Noah Miller, Forest City
2019 Avery Busta, Forest City
2019 Micah Lambert, Forest City
2020 Chett Helming, Lake Mills
2021 Caleb Bacon, Lake Mills
2021 Ben Dunlap, Emmetsburg
2019 Kaden Hanson, Manson Northwest Webster
2019 Jace Davidson, Pocahontas Area
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Boyden-Hull vs. Forest City
Despite their recent setback against Rock Valley, Boyden-Hull has been absolutely dominant all season, at times looking like perhaps the best team in 2A. They should win comfortably here, with going through the Siouxland being a major boost.