Class 1A Substate Final Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 1: Remsen, St. Mary's (21-2) vs. Gehlen Catholic (20-5) at LeMars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These War Eagle Conference rivals split their regular season meetings, with St. Mary's winning 62-50 on December 20 and Gehlen taking the rematch 57-51 on January 10. Gehlen Catholic guard [player_tooltip player_id='956881' first='Keaten' last='Bonderson'] (23.0) has been on an absolute tear lately, dropping 40 points in their district final win over Newell-Fonda to get here. A quick, athletic guard who can score from all three levels, he'll put a ton of pressure on the Hawks here with his scoring and playmaking. Drake DeRocher (11.1, 37.3 3P%) and Ryan Augustine (7.4, 38.2 3P%) are viable shooting threats alongside Bonderson, but they will go as he goes tonight. St. Mary's has used a dominant defense to make six straight trips to the state tournament, and they'll lean on that defensive effort again to try and make it seven straight. [player_tooltip player_id='1167735' first='Jaxon' last='Bunkers'] (15.8, 5.5 assists) leads the team in scoring and assists, an athletic wing who can do a little bit of everything. [player_tooltip player_id='1759937' first='Collin' last='Homan'] (15.0, 7.7 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469786' first='Cael' last='Ortmann'] (10.7) are the other double-figure scorers, with two others just outside. Coach Ruden always has St. Mary's prepared with a strong gameplan defensively, and they'll probably be drawing up something special for Bonderson here. <br><strong>Our pick: Remsen, St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 2: Dunkerton (23-1) vs. Newman Catholic (20-4) at Hampton-Dumont-CAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams have met four times in the last 24 months, with Newman Catholic taking the first two meetings, and Dunkerton taking the last two. The Raiders won a regular-season meeting 78-65 earlier this month, and should head into this one with plenty of confidence that they can continue to score at a high clip against this Newman team. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'] (19.8, 9.8 assists) leads a high-powered attack that averages 81.3 points a game. Gardner is one of the best passers in the state, and has added a potent jumper off the bounce to his arsenal, making him and Dunkerton much more difficult to defend. [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'] (26.1, 11.8 rebounds), an athletic 6-4 combo forward who can create off the dribble, run the floor, and post up smaller defenders, is one of the best scorers in the state, and [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (14.1, 34.7 3P%) has had an up-and-down sophomore year as a shooter, but when he gets it rolling, few players in the class can shoot it at the level he does. Newman Catholic counters with [player_tooltip player_id='956891' first='Douglas' last='Taylor'] (24.8, 11.9 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='956889' first='Max' last='Burt'] (15.8, 7.8 assists), a pair of Iowa baseball commits who have put together remarkable high school basketball careers and are looking to cap it with a trip to the state tournament. Taylor, a 6-4 wing with great athleticism and length, gets to the rim routinely, while Burt has a similar game to Gardner - pass-first, but also a viable shooter. Dunkerton has proven to be difficult for Newman to defend, and that doesn't end here. The Raiders move on to the state tournament. <br><strong>Our pick: Dunkerton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 3: North Linn (23-0) vs. Wapsie Valley (20-4) at West Delaware</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'] (20.8, 17.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks), Wapsie Valley has the type of big, physical, athletic forward who <em>could</em> give North Linn some issues. Harter has had a remarkable senior season as an interior scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker. [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'] (21.8, 36.8 3P%) has had an equally strong year as a shotmaker and creator on the perimeter. That said, the Warriors average nearly 14 turnovers a game, and that number will likely only increase against the constant pressure and speed that North Linn throws at you. The preeminent program in small school basketball, North Linn is doing what the Lynx do - score at a high clip, force a bevy of turnovers, and blow teams out. [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (17.5, 35.9 3P%) leads a potent attack of scorers. Pflughaupt is a 6-5 wing who can stretch the floor, rebound, and protect the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='1167704' first='Tate' last='Haughenbury'] (16.2, 7.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists) is a fantastic finisher around the rim and has really improved his playmaking this season. They'll ask him to take Harter out of the game, and if he's able to stay out of foul trouble, he's able to do so with his athleticism and length. [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (15.0, 45.5 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1167744' first='Ben' last='Wheatley'] (14.7, 39.4 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'] (8.2, 44.8 3P%) give the Lynx a trio of quality guards who can each handle it and shoot it. North Linn's pressure defense is tough to deal with, especially when you're seeing it for the first time. They're so well-coached and versed in their attack, and their speed overwhelms Wapsie here.<br><strong>Our pick: North Linn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Substate 4: New London (18-6) vs. Marquette Catholic (22-3) at Solon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette Catholic has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the year in 1A, putting together a fantastic season on both ends of the floor, using size, strength, and physicality to control the game on both ends of the floor. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (13.3, 48.8 3P%) leads a balanced attack. Roeder, a 6-4 forward, can score inside and out, and he and [player_tooltip player_id='1338777' first='Caden' last='Kettmann'] (7.9, 7.6 rebounds) pound the offensive glass hard. The Mohawks pull down nearly 15 offensive rebounds a game, an area that will need to be addressed by New London here. Marquette is certainly the bigger team tonight. Future Truman State guard [player_tooltip player_id='956871' first='Blaise' last='Porter'] (25.0), however, is the best player on the floor. A quick guard who can break down a defense and get to the bucket seemingly at will, he's also armed with an elite mid-range game and playmaking. [player_tooltip player_id='956872' first='Kade' last='Benjamin'] (19.2, 3.8 blocks), a future Oklahoma State high-jumper, will have to protect the paint and the glass against the bigger Mohawks. He's a really good rim protector, but his focus will need to be on rebounding tonight. Brendan Richey (8.9, 37.1 3P%), Leo Gebauer (8.3), and Rylan Martin (6.3), the Tigers' role players, are playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch. New London has had the high-end talent in Porter and Benjamin to make some noise the last few years, but they haven't quite put it together. This seems like a team of destiny.<br><strong>Our pick: New London</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 5: Baxter (20-1) vs. Madrid (21-2) at Ballard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>History will be made tonight, as neither of these schools has ever qualified for the state tournament. Madrid has a nice fix of youth and experience, with three sophomores and two seniors comprising their top five. [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (20.7), a skilled 6-3 sophomore wing, leads the attack. He's a high IQ player who can get to the bucket or knock down shots, while senior [player_tooltip player_id='1155054' first='Kadyn' last='Severson'] (13.5, 43.7 3P%), his older brother, is a high-level shooter who moves well without the ball and creates plays for his teammates. [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (10.7, 38.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (10.3, 33.1 3P%) are also quality shooters for the Tigers. [player_tooltip player_id='1587384' first='Jackson' last='Newell'] (11.6, 6.3 blocks) has a big task in front of him with Baxter star [player_tooltip player_id='1240107' first='Carson' last='Scroggins'] (20.3) and a Bolts team to loves to get to the bucket, but if Newell is able to stay out of foul trouble, his rim protection will be huge here. The aforementioned Scroggins has had a huge senior year, and the Bolts have a trio of reliable guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2325277' first='Treyton' last='Travis'] (12.9, 4.0 assists), Cody Damman (12.8, 5.2 assists), and Cael Shepley (5.8, 4.3 assists) who can each handle it and limit turnovers. This should be a good one, but with Newell erasing the paint, and the Severson brothers leading the charge, we're taking Madrid to get to the state tournament.<br><strong>Our pick: Madrid</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 6: Gladbrook-Reinbeck (22-2) vs. Lynnville-Sully (22-2) at Marshalltown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams have been pretty dominant this season, with Gladbrook-Reinbeck winning games by an average of 31.8 points a game, and Lynnville-Sully posting a +25.1 point-differential. Lynnville-Sully comes in off a dominant win on both ends of the floor against a really good North Mahaska team, beating the Warhawks for the third time this season. The Hawks have a balanced scoring attack with four averaging in double-figures, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1376719' first='Klayton' last='Van Dyke'] (12.1, 8.5 rebounds), a long, athletic forward who finishes at a high level around the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='2377418' first='Mitchell' last='Miller'] (11.8), [player_tooltip player_id='1240095' first='Conner' last='Maston'] (10.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='1167730' first='Preston' last='Rodibaugh'] (10.1) are all reliable scoring threats as well, and [player_tooltip player_id='1171666' first='Corder' last='Noun Harder'] (6.8, 6.5 assists) is a heady lead guard who values possessions and doesn't give it away. The Hawks have done a good job limiting turnovers all year (8.8), and they'll need to do so again here against a potent Rebels attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'] (26.5, 7.9 rebounds, 8.3 assists) is one of the best players in 1A basketball, a 6-4 guard who scores with remarkable efficiency and can dominate games even when he isn't scoring. He's a high IQ guard with outstanding court vision and pace, and the Rebels are able to put a few knockdown shooters next to him in [player_tooltip player_id='1469783' first='Caleb' last='Egesdal'] (14.0, 41.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469822' first='Luke' last='Riffey'] (11.5, 39.6 3P%). Lynnville-Sully will need to come up with a really good gameplan to slow down Kiburis here. The Rebels were upset in this spot last year and are hungry to get to the state tournament. Kiburis is the best player on the floor and carries the Rebels to the win.<br><strong>Our pick: Gladbrook-Reinbeck</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 7: Grand View Christian (23-0) vs. ACGC (16-8) at Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ACGC is playing for their first state tournament trip, but unfortunately for the Chargers, they're running into a juggernaut here. In games against 1A competition this year, Grand View Christian has posted wins of 91-31, 102-39, 104-33, 86-38, and 94-47. Now ACGC is the best competition of that bunch, but the Thunder's overwhelming combination of size and speed is going to be too much for them here. They go 7-0, 6-9, 6-5 across their front line in [player_tooltip player_id='956875' first='Daniel' last='Tobiloba'] (13.0, 13.1 rebounds, 4.2 blocks), [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (13.0, 10.1 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id='1476971' first='Noah' last='John'] (10.8, 8.9 rebounds), and have a pair of dynamic scorers in the backcourt in [player_tooltip player_id='1367400' first='Josh' last='Sanderson'] (20.1, 8.5 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469838' first='Frankie' last='Chiodo'] (16.3, 39.4 3P%). With Tobiloba and Barrantes protecting the rim, teams need to beat GVC from the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id='1738707' first='Brock' last='Littler'] (15.6, 33.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'] (13.2, 38.4 3P%) are the Chargers' top two scorers. They make an average of 8.3 3-pointers a game as a team, and that number probably needs to be 13-14 if they want to keep this one close late.<br><strong>Our pick: Grand View Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 8: West Harrison (22-1) vs. Bedford (21-3) at Glenwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After getting a taste of the state tournament last year, West Harrison has been on a mission to get back this season, winning games by an average of 32 points a game and their lone loss this season came against a Western Christian team that is playing for a chance to get to the 2A state tournament tonight. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 39 points a game, a dominant defensive effort, and they have three legitimate scoring threats in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1167693' first='Koleson' last='Evans'] (16.8, 47.3 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1167703' first='Sage' last='Evans'] (15.0, 16.0 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id='1288871' first='Mason' last='King'] (14.4, 47.9 3P%). [player_tooltip player_id='1167693' first='Koleson' last='Evans'] is a major matchup problem at 6-5/6-6 with his ability to post up smaller defenders or knock down shots off of off-ball movement. [player_tooltip player_id='1167703' first='Sage' last='Evans'] is a tough, physical guard who does a little bit of everything, and [player_tooltip player_id='1288871' first='Mason' last='King'] is an elite shooter. Bedford doesn't have a go-to scorer, but they do have a deep, balanced attack with seven players averaging between 4.8 and 11.3 points a game. [player_tooltip player_id='1874772' first='Cal' last='Peterman'] (11.3) and Asher Weed (10.8) are the headliners, but this balanced attack can be difficult to defend. That said, West Harrison has clearly been one of the best teams in 1A this season, and the experience they gained in making the run to the state tournament last year will benefit them here.<br><strong>Our pick: West Harrison</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->