Class 1A State Tournament Preview

#1 seed: Grand View Christian (24-0)
About the Thunder: They’ve been absolutely dominant this season, winning games by an average of 37.7 points a game, including wins over 4A teams Des Moines North and Des Moines East. They’re the highest-scoring team in 1A, averaging 83.5 points a game behind the stellar play of guard tandem Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (23.9) and Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (19.0). Both of them are explosive three-level scorers who can take over games at any point in time and rattle off 10 straight points within the blink of an eye. Josh Sanderson Josh Sanderson 5'10" | PG Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA (10.3, 6.0 assists) has been a strong lead guard, and Daniel Tobiloba Daniel Tobiloba 7'0" | C Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA (8.3, 14.5 rebounds, 4.6 blocks) is the human eraser at the back end of their defense, allowing Hammonds, Baucum, and Sanderson to play aggressively on the perimeter, knowing that they have a 7-0 athletic big man behind them to block everything. Very few of their games have been close enough for their poor free-throw shooting (60.2% at the line) to matter, but that will be something to monitor if someone is able to keep it close late. 

Why they can win it all: They’re the top-seeded team for a reason, as they’re explosive offensively and have the pieces to be a lockdown defensive team as well. If they play to their potential for all three games, it’s their title to lose. 

#2 seed: North Linn (24-1)
About the Lynx: One of just two teams in 1A to rank within the top-10 in both scoring offense (82.5, 2nd) and defense (35.1, 5th), the Lynx are making their sixth straight state tournament appearance. They’ve compiled an incredible 158-5 record over those six seasons behind a pressure-heavy defense that averages over 16 steals a game and forces numerous other turnovers and the easy looks that come when you force that many turnovers. Senior guard Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA (20.0, 7.8 assists, 4.4 steals) leads the charge on both ends of the floor, a lightning-quick guard who flies all over the floor and can dominate games even when he isn’t scoring. He has committed to play his college ball at Upper Iowa. Tate Haughenbury Tate Haughenbury 6'5" | PF North Linn | 2023 State IA (15.5, 68.3 FG%), Dylan Kurt Dylan Kurt 6'3" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (13.4, 40.8 3P%), and Cade Haughenbury Cade Haughenbury 6'2" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (10.4, 72.2 FG%) are also double-figure scorers, and this group can comfortably go eight or nine deep, which helps given their style and the bigger floor. North Linn has been one of the best teams in the state for the last half-decade, and they’re certainly capable of adding a second state title to their trophy case.

Why they can win it all: No program in the state has enjoyed as much success over the last six seasons as North Linn has, and these kids just know how to win games. The Lynx are led by an experienced point guard who can control the game on both ends of the floor, and they have an efficient offensive attack that thrives on the turnovers the defense can force. Games tend to slow down in Des Moines, and they’ve shown they’re capable of winning slower games as well this year

#3 seed: Remsen, St. Mary’s (24-0)
About the Hawks: They’re making their sixth straight state tournament appearance and are paced by a defense that allows just 33.5 points a game, best in 1A. A veteran team filled with players who have played in this arena, the Hawks don’t have a truly dominant scoring threat, but they have six players averaging between 7.1 and 12.9 points a game, making them a difficult team to defend, as anyone on the floor is capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night. Jaxon Bunkers Jaxon Bunkers 5'11" | SF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2023 State IA (12.9, 49.0 3P%) is a versatile three-level scorer and defender, while Austin Jensen Austin Jensen 6'2" | PF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2022 State IA (10.1, 5.1 rebounds) is the team’s top interior presence. 

Why they can win it all: Coach Scott Ruden is an excellent defensive coach, and the Hawks have a ton of experience in games in Des Moines. They’re comfortable playing at the slower pace that many state tournament games turn into, and they have the balance that makes them difficult to defend. 

#4 seed: Lake Mills (24-1)
About the Bulldogs: The ’Dogs are the other team to rank within the top-10 in scoring offense (69.7, 8th) and defense (37.6, 6th) this season, blasting teams by an average of 31.2 points a game, including the most dominant substate final win over any team, beating Dunkerton 84-46. They’re led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA (18.3, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks), Bennett Berger Bennett Berger 6'2" | PG Lake Mills | 2022 State IA (14.4, 6.7 assists), and Denton Kingland (11.1, 40.9 3P%). Helming is a 6-7 combo forward who can score inside and out and defend multiple positions, while Berger is an elite ball-handler and decision-maker who is posting a better than 6-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Kingland has provided some needed shooting, and the Bulldogs are able to throw a lot of size and length at teams on the defensive end. Lake Mills has been “upset” in the opening round in back-to-back years (although those two teams went on to win the 1A titles – Wapsie Valley 2020, Montezuma 2021), and they’ll be looking to win the first state tournament game in school history.

Why they can win it all: They have length, versatility, and a lead guard who doesn’t turn the ball over. The Bulldogs are switchable defensively and have a trio of players who can really fill it up. 

#5 seed: Danville (23-2)
About the Bears: Danville has been really good defensively this season, allowing just 41.0 points a game and averaging nearly 17 steals a night. They’re playing a similar style to how they played when their coaches, the Soukup twins, were starring at the school in the early 2010s, looking to apply on-ball pressure and make opponents make decisions with the ball. And with the Bears’ quickness and athleticism, that frequently leads to turnovers. They’re led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Drake Johnson Drake Johnson 6'0" | SF Danville | 2022 State IA (13.5), Caiden Gourley Caiden Gourley 6'5" | SG Danville | 2023 State IA (13.5), and Sawyer Nelson Sawyer Nelson 6'6" | PF Danville Community School | 2022 State IA (10.3, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), while senior lead guard Ty Carr Ty Carr 5'11" | PG Danville | 2022 State IA (8.9, 6.0 assists) is a quality point guard who can get others involved and also gets to the rim. They’ve played some grinders in the postseason, beating Notre Dame 42-41, Winfield-Mt. Union 44-41, and WACO 46-39 (in triple overtime) to reach the state tournament. 

Why they can win it all: While scoring can be difficult for the Bears at times, they also make it difficult for opponents to score with their constant on-ball pressure and ability to control the glass. They’re probably as comfortable as any team in the field playing slower, low-scoring games, and if they can get games played in the 40s, they’ll feel good about their chances. 

#6 seed: West Harrison (22-3)
About the Hawkeyes: The Hawkeyes avenged a regular-season loss to Coon Rapids-Bayard in the district final, then outlasted a good AHSTW team in the substate final to reach the state tournament for the first time in school history. There are no seniors on the roster, so this group should be even better next season. They’re led by the junior trio of guard Mason King Mason King 5'10" | PG West Harrison | 2023 State IA (15.4, 4.5 assists, 45.2 3P%), wing Koleson Evans Koleson Evans 6'6" | SF West Harrison | 2023 State IA (14.4, 9.7 rebounds), and forward Sage Evans Sage Evans 6'2" | PF West Harrison | 2023 State IA (13.4, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists). King and Sage Evans Sage Evans 6'2" | PF West Harrison | 2023 State IA are both good shooters, while Koleson Evans Koleson Evans 6'6" | SF West Harrison | 2023 State IA is a 6-5 wing who can score from all three levels. Sage Evans Sage Evans 6'2" | PF West Harrison | 2023 State IA is a dominant rebounder despite being listed at just 6-2, playing with a non-stop motor, and his work on the offensive glass (6.3 a game) has been key in helping the Hawkeyes reach this point. This is a dominant rebounding team that protects the ball and has a trio of players who can score from anywhere.  

Why they can win it all: Despite being a bit undersized, the Hawkeyes are perhaps the best rebounding team in the 1A field and they’ve been fantastic on the defensive end, allowing just 40.5 points a game. 

#7 seed: North Mahaska (20-5)
About the Warhawks: The Warhawks are making their first state tournament appearance since making it four straight years from 2003-2006. A junior-dominated team, they’re led by 6-6 wing Nash Smith Nash Smith 6'6" | SF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (19.9, 53.5 FG%), a long and athletic wing who can score from all three levels, make plays for his teammates, and force turnovers as the front man of their halfcourt trapping defense. Lane Harmon Lane Harmon 6'1" | SF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (14.0, 41.8 3P%) is a good perimeter shooting threat, as is Ethan Huffman (8.8, 37.3 3P%), and Braden Steel Braden Steel 6'3" | PF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (9.6, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists) has been a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor. Like West Harrison, the Warhawks will be even better next season, but they have the talent to make some noise this year.

Why they can win it all: In Smith, the Warhawks have a dominant player on both ends of the floor who can impact the game with his length and ability to score from all three levels. If Smith, Harmon, and Huffman can get hot, this team is capable of going on a run.

#8 seed: Bellevue (13-12)
About the Comets: Bellevue has played the most difficult schedule of any teams in the 1A field, ranked third in the class as they play in the River Valley Conference against primarily 2A and 3A teams. That difficult schedule prepared them well for the postseason, as they entered the playoffs with a 9-12 record then rattled off four straight wins, including three that would be considered upsets, to get to the state tournament for the second time in school history, the first since 1991. Colby Sieverding Colby Sieverding 5'9" | PG Bellevue | 2022 State IA (13.2) is the team’s leading scorer, but it has been Jensen Wedeking (12.3) who has been the star during this postseason run, averaging 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals a game in their four postseason wins. They pound the offensive glass hard (12.1 a game) and have cut their teeth against tougher competition than any other team in the bracket. 

Why they can win it all: They enter the tournament hot and know that they’re capable of beating anyone. Obviously, as the eight-seed, they’ll have a difficult road to the title, but Wedeking is playing as well as anyone in the 1A field and they’ve played a really difficult schedule that will prepare them for whatever they may see. 

Staff Picks

Tony

Quarterfinals: Grand View Christian, Lake Mills, North Linn, St. Mary’s

Semifinals: Grand View Christian, North Linn

Champion: North Linn