Substate Preview: 2A-5

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-9.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1383289" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-9-1024x321.png" alt="" width="1024" height="321" /></a> <h4>District 9</h4> [caption id="attachment_1363526" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Tate-Petersen-new-crop-1536x1009-1641852111.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1363526 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Tate-Petersen-new-crop-1536x1009-1641852111-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956879" first="Tate" last="Petersen"][/caption] The favorite: Despite graduating four major contributors from back-to-back state qualifying teams, Monticello has just kept it rolling, earning the district’s top seed and compiling an 18-3 record and a River Valley North crown this year. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="956879" first="Tate" last="Petersen"] (19.3, 5.7 assists) and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="1171677" first="Preston" last="Ries"] (18.8, 6.3 rebounds) are the headliners, leading a team that will bring back four of their top six next season as well. Petersen is a three-year starter who has stepped into a primary scoring role this year and been excellent. He’s always been a great shooter, but he has really improved as a ball-handler, playmaker, and finisher around the rim, which has really opened up his offensive game as a whole. Ries is a hyper-athletic and physical combo forward who can score inside and out and provide some defensive versatility. Tim Lambert always has the Panthers locked in on the defensive end, and with Petersen and Ries leading the way, the offense will put up points. The biggest threat: Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="1381408" first="Zach" last="Driscoll"] (18.4, 4.1 assists, 46.2 3P%) burst onto the scene for MFL-Mar-Mac, dropping 33 points in his first career game, and he has not slowed down since. He’s a dominant three-level scorer who is equally adept scoring or creating for others. Sophomore guard Wyatt Powell (12.2, 4.3 assists) pairs with Driscoll to give the Bulldogs a pair of strong ball-handlers and perimeter scorers, while senior Kaden Stocker (11.5) and sophomore Carver Blietz-Bentien (10.1, 7.8 rebounds) have put together strong seasons as well. The ’Dogs have a plethora of scoring options. The question for them will be whether or not they can defend well enough to piece together two wins and reach the substate final. The dark horse: Waukon has struggled defensively this year, ranking 82nd in scoring defense, but they do have a trio of double-figure scorers who will try to turn any game they play into a track meet. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1067654" first="Sean" last="Murphy"] (13.0, 3.7 assists) is a quick guard who handles it well and can fill it up, while [player_tooltip player_id="1352991" first="Braxton" last="Stewart"] (16.8, 7.5 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id="1158448" first="Braden" last="Hemann"] (15.5, 10.2 rebounds) are both strong rebounders who can gain extra possessions and fill it up inside and out. It’s unlikely that any of the other teams in this district will have enough to knock off Monticello, but if someone is going to make a crazy run, it may just be Waukon and their high-powered attack. Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956879" first="Tate" last="Petersen"], Monticello 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171677" first="Preston" last="Ries"], Monticello 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="1381408" first="Zach" last="Driscoll"], MFL-Mar-Mac 2024 Wyatt Powell, MFL-Mar-Mac 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1352991" first="Braxton" last="Stewart"], Waukon 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158448" first="Braden" last="Hemann"], Waukon 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1067654" first="Sean" last="Murphy"], Waukon 2022 Wil Miller, North Fayette Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235031" first="Cole" last="Hamilton"], Oelwein 2024 Koby Bohr, Postville   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-10.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1383291" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/2A-10-1024x323.png" alt="" width="1024" height="323" /></a> <h4>District 10</h4> [caption id="attachment_1290445" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/53-Derek-Weisskopf.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290445 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/53-Derek-Weisskopf-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1171685" first="Derek" last="Weisskopf"][/caption] The favorite: Williamsburg has put together a pretty magical season, compiling a 20-2 regular-season record, going undefeated in WaMaC play against all 3A schools, and earning the district’s top seed. Their two losses have come to 3A Fort Madison, a team that spent a week or two ranked #1 in 3A, and Mid-Prairie, the lone remaining undefeated team in 2A. They’ve notched quality wins over Montezuma, Clear Creek-Amana (twice), Washington, and Marion, among others, and have been extremely impressive on both ends of the floor all season long. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="1171685" first="Derek" last="Weisskopf"] (14.4) leads a deep attack. The 6-4 wing is a plus-athlete who can fill it up from all three levels and provides some defensive versatility and toughness. Ethan Harman (10.3) is the team’s top perimeter scoring threat, but it has been the play of senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1235015" first="Jake" last="Weber"] (8.8, 4.1 assists) that has really elevated the team this year. Weber is a tough, physical lead guard who doesn’t back down from anyone, and he does a great job protecting the rock. Five other players average at least 4.6 points a game, giving the Raiders plenty of depth. This is an athletic team that really gets after teams defensively, and they have a go-to scorer when they really need a bucket. They’ve had a fantastic year, and it should result in a chance to play for a state tournament berth. [caption id="attachment_1290530" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/123-Padraig-Gallagher.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1290530 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/123-Padraig-Gallagher-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"][/caption] The biggest threat: Only six teams have played Williamsburg within single digits this year, and one of them is Beckman Catholic. The Blazers lost 61-54 back on December 10th, and while they’ve struggled down the stretch, all of those losses came against pretty good 3A teams with the exception of a loss to a good 1A Alburnett team. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"] (19.8, 9.0 rebounds) is one of the top three-level scoring threats in the state, a big-bodied wing with a silky smooth stroke from the arc and a really nice pull-up game. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1158470" first="Logan" last="Goedken"] (12.6, 4.8 assists) has been a solid option on the perimeter, getting others involved and scoring when the opportunity presents itself. The Blazers play in the 3A-dominated WaMaC, which should prepare them for postseason play better than their semifinal opponent. The dark horses: West Branch has beaten the teams they’re supposed to beat, and struggled with the better teams on the schedule this season, going just 1-8 against teams that are above .500, and going 11-1 against sub-.500 teams. The Bears have a standout guard in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1171662" first="Holden" last="Arnaman"] (16.0, 5.4 assists), a solid three-level scorer who can also get others involved. Brady Knoop (10.6, 38.7 3P%) is a solid shooter alongside Knoop on the perimeter, and the Bears always have some solid athletes. In order to take home this district, however, they’ll need to do something that they’ve struggled to do this year - beat the better teams on the schedule. That said, they only have to play one game, at home, to reach the district final, where anything can happen. Coach Nate McMullen has Cascade headed back on an upward trajectory behind the strong play of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1367395" first="Cole" last="McDermott"] (16.2, 7.3 rebounds), an efficient big who finishes really well around the rim with either hand. Cass Hoffman (8.2, 36.3 3P%) is a good perimeter shooting threat, and Justin Roling (5.9, 4.6 assists) has done a good job getting others involved. The Cougars 2-3 zone can be difficult to prepare for and if they catch Williamsburg on an off shooting night, they could stick around long enough to pull off an upset. Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171685" first="Derek" last="Weisskopf"], Williamsburg 2023 Ethan Harman, Williamsburg 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235015" first="Jake" last="Weber"], Williamsburg 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1067659" first="Padraig" last="Gallagher"], Beckman Catholic 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158470" first="Logan" last="Goedken"], Beckman Catholic 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171662" first="Holden" last="Arnaman"], West Branch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367395" first="Cole" last="McDermott"], Cascade 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158459" first="Coltrae" last="Kerschen"], Regina 2022 Bob Ryan, Tipton   <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> Monticello vs. Williamsburg A pair of strong defensive teams meet in this substate final, and the matchup to watch may be between the pair of talented sophomore football prospects - [player_tooltip player_id="1171685" first="Derek" last="Weisskopf"] vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1171677" first="Preston" last="Ries"]. The physical nature of Williamsburg on the defensive end is just enough for the Raiders to sneak out a low-scoring win and make a trip to the state tournament for the first time since 2015.