State Tournament: Monday Preview
In this article:
[player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"] 1A Quarterfinal: #4 Lake Mills (24-1) vs. #5 Danville (23-2), 10:30 am Analysis: Lake Mills is making their third consecutive state tournament appearance, while Danville is in Des Moines for the first time since 2016. Lake…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading1A Quarterfinal: #4 Lake Mills (24-1) vs. #5 Danville (23-2), 10:30 am
Analysis: Lake Mills is making their third consecutive state tournament appearance, while Danville is in Des Moines for the first time since 2016. Lake Mills has been one of the most dominant teams in 1A this season, winning games by an average of 31.2 points a game and they’re just one of two 1A teams (North Linn) to rank within the top-10 in 1A in scoring offense (69.6, 7th) and defense (38.4, 6th). The Bulldogs are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in seniors Wyatt Helming Wyatt Helming 6'6" | SF Lake Mills | 2022 State IA (18.3, 9.6 rebounds) and Bennett Berger Bennett Berger 6'2" | PG Lake Mills | 2022 State IA (14.4, 6.7 assists) and junior Denton Kingland (11.1, 40.9 3P%). Helming is a versatile 6-7 forward who can score from all three levels, protect the rim, and control the glass, while Berger is one of the best pure point guards in the state, posting a better than 6-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a Danville team that loves to apply pressure and force turnovers.
The Bears are playing a similar style to how they played when their coaches, Steven and Michael Soukup, played when they were at the school in the early 2010s – a pressing style that looks to force turnovers and crash the offensive glass. They have 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), while Ty Carr Ty Carr 5'11" | PG Danville | 2022 State IA (8.9, 6.0 assists) is another quality lead guard who gets others involved at a high level. They average 16.9 steals a game and 13.0 offensive rebounds a game, so both of those areas will need to be focal points for Lake Mills. The Bears last three postseason games were 42-41, 44-41, and 46-39 (3 OT), so they’re comfortable playing at a slower style that often happens in these state tournament games.
Players to watch
Lake Mills: 2022
Wyatt Helming
Wyatt
Helming
6'6" | SF
Lake Mills | 2022
State
IA
(18.3, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 58.9 FG%), 2022
Bennett Berger
Bennett
Berger
6'2" | PG
Lake Mills | 2022
State
IA
(14.4, 6.7 assists, 42.9 3P%), 2023 Denton Kingland (11.1, 3.1 assists, 40.9 3P%)
Danville: 2022
Drake Johnson
Drake
Johnson
6'0" | SF
Danville | 2022
State
IA
(13.5, 3.0 steals), 2023
Caiden Gourley
Caiden
Gourley
6'5" | SG
Danville | 2023
State
IA
(13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals), 2022
Sawyer Nelson
Sawyer
Nelson
6'6" | PF
Danville Community School | 2022
State
IA
(10.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 61.4 FG%), 2022
Ty Carr
Ty
Carr
5'11" | PG
Danville | 2022
State
IA
(8.9 points, 6.0 assists, 3.3 steals)
Our pick: Lake Mills 60, Danville 55
1A Quarterfinal: #1 Grand View Christian (24-0) vs. #8 Bellevue (13-12), 12:15 pm
Analysis: Top-ranked and undefeated Grand View Christian qualified for the state tournament for the sixth time in the last seven years, while Bellevue is making their second appearance, the first since 1991. The Thunder have blasted teams all year, winning games by an average of 37.7 points a game behind a dynamic backcourt and the state’s top scoring offense (83.3). Senior guards Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (23.9, 42.3 3P%) and Josh Baucum Josh Baucum 6'1" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA (19.0, 52.8 FG%) are two of the top scorers in the 1A field, a pair of guards who can take over games in the blink of an eye. Josh Sanderson Josh Sanderson 5'10" | PG Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA (10.3, 6.0 assists, 38.4 3P%) has emerged as a high-quality lead guard who can knock down shots, and junior big man Daniel Tobiloba Daniel Tobiloba 7'0" | C Grand View Christian | 2023 State IA (8.3, 14.5 rebounds, 4.6 blocks) is the ultimate difference-maker at the back end of their defense. His 7-0 presence allows the Thunder guards to play aggressively and force turnovers, knowing they have an elite shot-blocker behind them.
Bellevue entered the postseason with a 9-12 record and notched three straight upsets to reach the state tournament. They’ve played the toughest schedule of any team in the 1A field, playing largely 2A schools in the River Valley Conference, which qualified three teams for state tournaments (Monticello and Mid-Prairie in 2A). The teams that they have lost to have a combined winning percentage of 72.6%. Junior forward Jensen Wedeking (12.3, 5.2 rebounds) has been stellar during the postseason, averaging 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals while shooting nearly 55% from the floor and 50% from the arc. Senior guard Colby Sieverding Colby Sieverding 5'9" | PG Bellevue | 2022 State IA (13.2) is the team’s leading scorer, and they have three other players averaging between 6.5 and 7.8 points a game. The lack of size will be an issue on the glass against Tobiloba, and they’ll need to protect the ball to prevent the Thunder from getting out in transition, which can lead to games snowballing away from opponents against GVC. But the Comets have played against great competition and they won’t be intimidated here.
Players to watch
Grand View Christian: 2022
Manny Hammonds
Manny
Hammonds
6'2" | SG
Grand View Christian | 2022
State
IA
(23.9 points, 42.3 3P%), 2022
Josh Baucum
Josh
Baucum
6'1" | SG
Grand View Christian | 2022
State
IA
(19.0 points, 52.8 FG%), 2023
Daniel Tobiloba
Daniel
Tobiloba
7'0" | C
Grand View Christian | 2023
State
IA
(8.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.6 blocks)
Bellevue: 2022
Colby Sieverding
Colby
Sieverding
5'9" | PG
Bellevue | 2022
State
IA
(13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds), 2023 Jensen Wedeking (12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 40.7 3P%), 2022 Jackson Mueller (7.8 points, 7.7 rebounds)
Our pick: Grand View Christian 68, Bellevue 53
1A Quarterfinal: #2 North Linn (24-1) vs. #7 North Mahaska (20-5), 2:00 pm
Analysis: North Mahaska is making their first state tournament appearance since 2006, while North Linn has become a main-stay in Des Moines, qualifying for their sixth consecutive tournament. The Lynx are one of two teams to rank within the top-10 in 1A in scoring offense (80.5, 2nd) and defense (35.0, 5th) and are paced by senior guard Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA (20.0, 7.8 assists, 4.4 steals). They play an up-tempo, pressing style that looks to force turnovers in bulk and turn those into easy points on the other end. They’re one of the fastest teams in the state, and they’ve grown up playing the same style they play in high school, so they have a ton of experience and familiarity with each other in the system. Tate Haughenbury Tate Haughenbury 6'5" | PF North Linn | 2023 State IA (15.5, 6.0 rebounds) and Cade Haughenbury Cade Haughenbury 6'2" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (10.4, 5.7 rebounds) are efficient finisher around the rim, and Dylan Kurt Dylan Kurt 6'3" | SF North Linn | 2022 State IA (13.4, 40.8 3P%) provides perimeter shooting.
North Mahaska is averaging 13.1 turnovers a game, and they’ll really need to focus in on limiting the live-ball turnovers, or this could get away from them. If they’re able to slow the game down a bit, junior wing Nash Smith Nash Smith 6'6" | SF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (19.9, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists) could become a matchup problem for the Lynx. A talented 6-6 wing who can score from all three levels and facilitate, the offense runs through him and he loves to get others involved. Lane Harmon Lane Harmon 6'1" | SF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (14.0, 41.8 3P%) is a knockdown shooter, and Braden Steel Braden Steel 6'3" | PF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA (9.6, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists) is an undersized forward but he rebounds hard and plays with a non-stop motor. If the Warhawks can limit the giveaways, they’ll hang around here.
Players to watch
North Linn: 2022
Austin Hilmer
Austin
Hilmer
5'10" | PG
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
(20.0 points, 7.8 assists, 4.4 steals), 2023
Tate Haughenbury
Tate
Haughenbury
6'5" | PF
North Linn | 2023
State
IA
(15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds), 2022
Dylan Kurt
Dylan
Kurt
6'3" | SF
North Linn | 2022
State
IA
(13.4 points, 40.8 3P%)
North Mahaska: 2023
Nash Smith
Nash
Smith
6'6" | SF
North Mahaska | 2023
State
IA
(19.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists), 2023
Lane Harmon
Lane
Harmon
6'1" | SF
North Mahaska | 2023
State
IA
(14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 41.8 3P%), 2023
Braden Steel
Braden
Steel
6'3" | PF
North Mahaska | 2023
State
IA
(9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists)
Our pick: North Linn 72, North Mahaska 60
1A Quarterfinal: #3 Remsen, St. Mary’s (24-0) vs. #6 West Harrison (22-3), 3:45 pm
Analysis: St. Mary’s is making their sixth straight state tournament appearance, while West Harrison qualified for the first time in school history with a win over AHSTW in the substate final. Per usual, St. Mary’s has been a dominant defensive team, allowing just 34.0 points a game, which is the best mark in 1A. The Hawks have a very balanced team, with six players averaging between 7.1 and 12.9 points a game, led by junior forward Jaxon Bunkers Jaxon Bunkers 5'11" | SF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2023 State IA (12.9). Bunkers, Austin Jensen Austin Jensen 6'2" | PF St. Mary's, Remsen | 2022 State IA (10.1, 5.1 rebounds), Carter Schorg Carter Schorg 5'9" | PG Remsen, St. Mary's | 2022 State IA (9.5, 3.0 assists), and Alex Schroeder (7.1, 43.7 3P%) were all major contributors on last year’s state tournament team, and that could be a major asset in this game. This group has been very efficient, posting 55-43-63 shooting splits as a team.
The Hawkeyes are led by a talented trio of juniors – Mason King Mason King 5'10" | PG West Harrison | 2023 State IA (15.4, 4.5 assists, 45.2 3P%), Koleson Evans Koleson Evans 6'6" | SF West Harrison | 2023 State IA (14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds), and Sage Evans Sage Evans 6'2" | PF West Harrison | 2023 State IA (13.4, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists). King is the team’s best perimeter shooting threat, while the Evans boys (unrelated) are dominant on the glass on both ends of the floor. West Harrison is averaging 15.3 offensive rebounds a game, an offensive rebounding rate of 47.5%, and their ability to gain extra possessions through their work on the glass will be highly valuable in a game that figures to be lower scoring. Experience could play a major role in this game, which gives the edge to St. Mary’s, but this should be a really good quarterfinal.
Players to watch
Remsen, St. Mary’s: 2023
Jaxon Bunkers
Jaxon
Bunkers
5'11" | SF
St. Mary's, Remsen | 2023
State
IA
(12.9 points, 3.7 assists, 49.0 3P%), 2022
Austin Jensen
Austin
Jensen
6'2" | PF
St. Mary's, Remsen | 2022
State
IA
(10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 61.0 FG%), 2022
Carter Schorg
Carter
Schorg
5'9" | PG
Remsen, St. Mary's | 2022
State
IA
(9.5 points, 3.0 assists, 53.0 FG%)
West Harrison: 2023
Mason King
Mason
King
5'10" | PG
West Harrison | 2023
State
IA
(15.4 points, 4.5 assists, 45.2 3P%), 2023
Koleson Evans
Koleson
Evans
6'6" | SF
West Harrison | 2023
State
IA
(14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds), 2023
Sage Evans
Sage
Evans
6'2" | PF
West Harrison | 2023
State
IA
(13.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists)
Our pick: St. Mary’s 49, West Harrison 46
2A Quarterfinal: #1 Central Lyon (22-2) vs. #8 Red Oak (18-7), 5:30 pm
Analysis: Top-seeded Central Lyon is making their first state tournament appearance in school history, while Red Oak is making their first trip since 1993. The Lions have lost just twice this year, to Boyden-Hull and Rock Valley by a combined eight points. They’re a high-powered offensive team that averages 77.6 points a game, led by their dynamic duo in the backcourt, junior Zach Lutmer Zach Lutmer 6'1" | PG Central Lyon | 2023 IA (20.4, 6.3 assists, 43.8 3P%) and senior Mason Gerleman Mason Gerleman 6'0" | SG Central Lyon | 2022 State IA (17.7, 46.7 3P%). Lutmer is also a standout on the football field, a high-scoring guard who also thrives on getting others involved. His quickness and three-level scoring ability will be tough for teams to defend. Andrew Austin Andrew Austin 6'6" | PF Central Lyon | 2023 State IA (13.7, 54.9 FG%) provides more scoring, and Cooper Spiess (5.2, 40.0 3P%) more shooting, while Rex Van Wyhe Rex Van Wyhe 6'3" | PF Central Lyon | 2022 IA (7.0, 7.8 rebounds) is the team’s presence in the paint. They’ve posted 54-38-68 shooting splits during the season as a team and love to play fast.
Red Oak upset both Treynor and Van Meter, by two points each, to reach the state tournament. The Tigers have a deep attack with six players averaging between 7.8 and 15.8 points a game, led by sophomore guards Max DeVries Max DeVries 6'2" | SG Red Oak | 2024 State IA (15.8) and Hunter Gilleland (11.8, 3.6 assists). The trio of Ryan Johnson (10.8, 6.7 rebounds), Kaden Johnson Kaden Johnson 6'3" Davenport Central | 2022 IA (9.5, 7.6 rebounds), and Bradley Sifford (8.3, 6.9 rebounds) have been really good on the glass, and they’ll need to focus on dominating the offensive glass and gaining extra possessions if they want to keep pace with the Lions’ high-powered attack.
Players to watch
Central Lyon: 2023
Zach Lutmer
Zach
Lutmer
6'1" | PG
Central Lyon | 2023
IA
(20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 56.1 FG%, 43.8 3P%), 2022
Mason Gerleman
Mason
Gerleman
6'0" | SG
Central Lyon | 2022
State
IA
(17.7 points, 53.1 FG%, 46.7 3P%), 2023
Andrew Austin
Andrew
Austin
6'6" | PF
Central Lyon | 2023
State
IA
(13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 54.9 FG%)
Red Oak: 2024
Max DeVries
Max
DeVries
6'2" | SG
Red Oak | 2024
State
IA
(15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), 2024 Hunter Gilleland (11.8 points, 3.6 assists), 2022
Kaden Johnson
Kaden
Johnson
6'3"
Davenport Central | 2022
IA
(9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds)
Our pick: Central Lyon 73, Red Oak 56
2A Quarterfinal: #4 Pella Christian (18-6) vs. #5 Roland-Story (22-2), 7:15 pm
Analysis: Pella Christian is making the 16th state tournament appearance in school history, while Roland-Story is making their third, and the first since 2012. Pella Christian came into the season with high expectations, and they’ve lived up to them, competing at a high level against quality 3A teams in the Little Hawkeye Conference, which helped prepare them for postseason play. A big team that can throw a ton of size and length at opposing teams, their defense is something that many 2A teams haven’t seen. Levi Scheelhaas (14.2, 3.0 assists) leads the team in scoring but senior forward Eric Mulder Eric Mulder 6'8" | PF Pella Christian | 2022 State IA (11.3, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) is the team’s most important piece. A mobile 6-9 big man who can switch defensively and protect the rim, he’s headed to play his college ball at IPFW. The Eagles have five other players averaging at least 5.0 points a game and their depth, length, and athleticism is tough for teams to prepare for.
The Norsemen are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in junior guard Isaiah Naylor Isaiah Naylor 6'0" | SG Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (17.3, 39.4 3P%), sophomore wing Jonovan Wilkinson Jonovan Wilkinson 6'2" | SF Roland-Story | 2024 State IA (14.3, 3.3 assists), and junior forward Luke Patton Luke Patton 6'5" | PF Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (10.8, 11.0 rebounds). Each of them provide a little something different, with Naylor providing ball-handling, quickness, and shotmaking; Wilkinson is a long and athletic wing who can defend multiple positions and facilitate; and Patton is a physical presence int he paint with great hands and footwork. He’ll have his hands full with Mulder in the paint, but they did have a regular season game against Grand View Christian and Tobiloba, so he has played against some size before. Roland-Story will likely be looking to play further away from the paint and they’ll need to knock down some shots if they want to pull off the upset.
Players to watch
Pella Christian: 2022 Levi Scheelhaas (14.2 points, 3.0 assists), 2022
Eric Mulder
Eric
Mulder
6'8" | PF
Pella Christian | 2022
State
IA
(11.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 66.5 FG%), 2023 Aiden Stoltz (6.6 points, 40.4 3P%)
Roland-Story: 2023
Isaiah Naylor
Isaiah
Naylor
6'0" | SG
Roland-Story | 2023
State
IA
(17.3 points, 39.4 3P%), 2024
Jonovan Wilkinson
Jonovan
Wilkinson
6'2" | SF
Roland-Story | 2024
State
IA
(14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists), 2023
Luke Patton
Luke
Patton
6'5" | PF
Roland-Story | 2023
State
IA
(10.8 points, 11.0 rebounds)
Our pick: Pella Christian 58, Roland-Story 52