Substate Preview: 2A-2

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-3-1.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1383263" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-3-1-1024x329.png" alt="" width="1024" height="329" /></a> <h4>District 3</h4> [caption id="attachment_1147283" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Tanner-Te-Slaa-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315690-crop-541x355-1615315703.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147283 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Tanner-Te-Slaa-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315690-crop-541x355-1615315703-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682290" first="Tanner" last="Te Slaa"][/caption] The favorite: Boyden-Hull has won 18 straight games following an early-season loss to Central Lyon, with only two of those wins coming by single digits. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="682290" first="Tanner" last="Te Slaa"] (22.0, 9.7 rebounds), a South Dakota State signee, leads the charge, pacing an offense that is averaging 77.1 points a game and posting remarkable 50-40-76 shooting splits. Te Slaa is also dishing out a team-high 5.1 assists, using his high IQ and excellent size to dominate the game on both ends of the floor. Spirit Lake transfer [player_tooltip player_id="962615" first="Vance" last="Katzfey"] (19.5) has provided some more perimeter scoring punch, taking some of the scoring pressure off of Te Slaa and allowing him to flourish as a playmaker. Stretch-forward [player_tooltip player_id="1158463" first="Bryan" last="Zylstra"] (14.9, 45.8 3P%) and guard [player_tooltip player_id="1234974" first="Dylan" last="Francis"] (9.8, 47.4 3P%) give the Comets some floor spacing with their ability to shoot it at a high clip. This is an experienced team with a number of pieces who have played in big games, and they have to be considered one of the favorites to take home the 2A title. They have beaten likely district final opponent Rock Valley twice this season, by 12 and 22 points, and possible opponent Unity Christian by 22. The biggest threat: Boyden-Hull shares their football program with Rock Valley, so there is a lot of familiarity between the athletes that play on the hardwood. The Rockets are led by a quartet of double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id="962672" first="Bryson" last="Van Grootheest"] (18.0), [player_tooltip player_id="962673" first="Sam" last="Remmerde"] (11.9), [player_tooltip player_id="1158431" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"] (11.7), and Dawson Van Beek (11.2), giving them a balanced attack with a number of different options. Van Beek is the team’s best shooting threat, Remmerde and Van Kekerix are excellent on the glass, and Van Grootheest is the team’s top all-around scoring threat. The Rockets are athletic, quick, and physical, and they’d love to get a third shot at the Comets in the district final. The dark horse: Conference rival West Lyon was swept by Boyden-Hull this year, by 14 and 12 points, but the Wildcats had a halftime lead in the meeting on January 21 and have to feel like they can play with the Comets. Four seniors lead the team in scoring in [player_tooltip player_id="962676" first="Jaxon" last="Meyer"] (15.0), Caleb Folkens (11.6), Javen Meyer (9.4), and Marcus Van Beek (7.3). They don’t shoot the ball well from the arc (28.4%), but they’re an athletic team that competes hard on the offensive glass and does a pretty good job of limiting turnovers. Players to watch 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682290" first="Tanner" last="Te Slaa"], Boyden-Hull 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962615" first="Vance" last="Katzfey"], Boyden-Hull 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158463" first="Bryan" last="Zylstra"], Boyden-Hull 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962672" first="Bryson" last="Van Grootheest"], Rock Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962673" first="Sam" last="Remmerde"], Rock Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962676" first="Jaxon" last="Meyer"], West Lyon 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367448" first="Jacob" last="Van Donge"], Unity Christian 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352964" first="Logan" last="Bruxvoort"], Sibley-Ocheyedan 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367449" first="Tyler" last="Voss"], Spirit Lake   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-4-1.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1383264" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-4-1-1024x314.png" alt="" width="1024" height="314" /></a> <h4>District 4</h4> [caption id="attachment_1068440" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Owen-Larson.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1068440 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Owen-Larson-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1171659" first="Owen" last="Larson"][/caption] The favorite: Estherville Lincoln Central got off to a really strong start this year, going 7-1 before the holiday break, with the lone loss coming to Cherokee by a point. That start included a 33-point win over Sioux Central and an 8-point win over Western Christian. They’ve stumbled a bit down the stretch, going 4-5 in their last nine games, but those losses have come to 3A Spencer twice (a 16-3 team), Newell-Fonda (18-2), Western Christian (19-1), and 3A Storm Lake (11-7). You still need to win games, but the losses are certainly understandable. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1171659" first="Owen" last="Larson"] (22.8, 5.4 assists) has been outstanding this season, posting 52-44-81 shooting splits while emerging as a dominant scorer. The next six scorers are all seniors, led by [player_tooltip player_id="1352886" first="Ryan" last="Schiltz"] (12.9) and [player_tooltip player_id="1352885" first="Blake" last="Ingvall"] (11.3, 8.5 rebounds). They have a star player in Larson, and a lot of experience alongside him, which makes this team dangerous. They’ve proven that they can beat good teams, and they’re hoping to build some momentum back up heading into the postseason. The biggest threat: Sioux Central got off to an 0-3 start this season, but has won 16 of 17 games since then. The Rebels play a weaker schedule than ELC or Okoboji, but they’ve taken care of business against the teams on their schedule, earning a home game in the semifinals. They’re led by a trio of juniors - [player_tooltip player_id="1167698" first="Jacob" last="Hargens"] (25.5, 10.1 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id="1240102" first="Carter" last="Boettcher"] (18.1), and Ethan Mills (12.8). That trio can put up points in bunches, but they do account for 84% of the team’s scoring, and as good as they are, they’ll need to have a role player or two step up in the postseason. They have the type of firepower to make some noise. The dark horse: [player_tooltip player_id="682280" first="Lucas" last="Lorenzen"] (30.8, 11.8 rebounds) is putting together an absolutely ridiculous season for Okoboji, and he makes the Pioneers dangerous. He’s a 6-5/6-6 combo forward who can score inside and out, dominate the glass, and get to the rim. Teams have thrown all sorts of junk defenses at him, and he has still delivered time after time. Kaleb Peschong (10.9, 38.1 3P%) gives them some perimeter shooting, but it will be all about Lorenzen. He’s one of the few players in the class who could piece together the necessary efforts to lead the Pioneers to three straight wins and a substate final appearance. Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171659" first="Owen" last="Larson"], Estherville Lincoln Central 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352886" first="Ryan" last="Schiltz"], Estherville Lincoln Central 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352885" first="Blake" last="Ingvall"], Estherville Lincoln Central 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167698" first="Jacob" last="Hargens"], Sioux Central 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240102" first="Carter" last="Boettcher"], Sioux Central 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682280" first="Lucas" last="Lorenzen"], Okoboji 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352990" first="Gavin" last="Ehn"], Pocahontas Area   <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> Boyden-Hull vs. Estherville Lincoln Central Other than Western Christian and Mid-Prairie, nobody is playing better basketball in 2A right now than Boyden-Hull. The Comets have been an absolute juggernaut since their early-season loss, and while ELC has put together a really strong season and have a star in Larson, Boyden-Hull has two stars in Te Slaa and Katzfey, and a number of experienced pieces around them that have played in all sorts of big games. Boyden-Hull heads back to Des Moines for the fourth consecutive year, where they’ll be looking to get revenge on Western Christian and take home the 2A title.