Class 2A District Final Preview

District 1: Western Christian (18-3) vs. Estherville Lincoln Central (13-8) at Sheldon   Western Christian has historically dominated this series, going 30-1 against the Midgets during the Bound era. After a pair of late-season setbacks against quality teams from South Dakota, the Wolfpack are playing well again, with three straight wins by at least 23 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1462778' first='Tate' last='Van Regenmorter'] (14.6) is a versatile combo forward who can score inside and out, while [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (12.7), Chandler Pollema (10.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (7.5), and [player_tooltip player_id='1167724' first='Ashtin' last='Van't Hul'] (7.0) are also capable scoring threats. A deep, balanced team that shares the ball well, they have a number of different options that can beat opposing teams on a given night. Estherville Lincoln Central will have the best player on the floor in point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171659' first='Owen' last='Larson'] (27.5), one of the state's best scorers. A junior who has committed to play at South Dakota State, he's a high IQ guard who can get by defenders at will, knock down shots, and create shots for others. I would expect Western Christian to essentially let Larson get his, and make the rest of the ELC role players beat them. Our pick: Western Christian   District 2: West Lyon (17-4) vs. Emmetsburg (15-6) at Okoboji   West Lyon has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in 2A this year, averaging 68.3 points a game on 53-40-61 shooting splits. An athletic group that loves to attack the rim, the Wildcats have proven they can play at the highest level, handing Central Lyon their only loss this season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1738630' first='Devan' last='Van Wyhe'] (16.3) leads the potent offensive attack, with Darren Meyer (14.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'] (11.8, 4.3 assists) being the other major scoring threats. A team that shares the ball well and plays solid defense, this group likely overwhelms Emmetsburg with their athleticism on both ends. The E-Hawks have a balanced attack, led by a trio of sophomores - Byron Maina (12.0), [player_tooltip player_id='2519988' first='Gavin' last='Swanson'] (9.9), and Kale Frank (8.4). In all, five sophomores comprise the top six for Emmetsburg, so this group is just starting to scratch the surface of their potential and should be formidable for the next two years. Playing the common opponent game can certainly be tricky, as different teams match up differently with one another. But Emmetsburg lost to Spirit Lake by 12 on February 9th, and West Lyon beat Spirit Lake by 6 the next night. Our pick: West Lyon   District 3: Sioux Central (22-0) vs. South Central Calhoun (17-4) at Storm Lake   Sioux Central blew the Titans out of the water in the regular season, winning 84-55 a month ago behind 30 points from [player_tooltip player_id='1240102' first='Carter' last='Boettcher'] (19.0, 5.1 assists) and 29 from [player_tooltip player_id='1167698' first='Jacob' last='Hargens'] (27.2, 9.9 rebounds). That tandem is difficult for any team to slow down, and SCC just doesn't have the type of size or athleticism to do so. Both Hargens and Boettcher are physical, athletic scorers who can fill it up in a hurry from all three levels, and Ethan Mills (13.4, 36.2 3P%) is a reliable shooter to put around that duo. South Central Cal counters with a trio of double-figure scorers of their own - [player_tooltip player_id='1367444' first='Eli' last='Wheelock'] (19.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1751229' first='Gavin' last='Batta'] (14.1), and Tyler Lightner (12.5). Scoring isn't the issue for the Titans, defending the Rebels is. This one is likely a little bit closer, given it's a postseason game with a lot on the line, but Sioux Central should roll to a relatively comfortable win again here. Our pick: Sioux Central   District 4: Kuemper Catholic (16-6) vs. OABCIG (18-2) at East Sac County   Kuemper Catholic has played a significantly more difficult strength of schedule than OABCIG (19th vs. 95th), according to BC Moore, and that should benefit the Knights here. [player_tooltip player_id='1288927' first='Michael' last='Kasperbauer'] (13.5) leads a deep group for Kuemper, a good perimeter scorer and off-ball guard. [player_tooltip player_id='1288884' first='Dawson' last='Gifford'] (11.0, 43.0 3P%) is another quality shooting threat, and they've received a boost from the return of DJ Vonnahme (9.1, 6.5 rebounds), who missed a good chunk of the season with an injury. He's a physical presence in the paint as a defender and rebounder, and someone that OABCIG should struggle to contain. Kane Ladwig (15.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='1167707' first='Beckett' last='DeJean'] (14.4) lead a Falcons team that is putting up 70 points a game, but the Falcons don't shoot it very well from deep, and they'll need to do so against a Kuemper team that will just pack it in and dare OABCIG to shoot them out of the game. Our pick: Kuemper Catholic   District 5: Roland-Story (22-1) vs. South Hardin (14-9) at Gilbert   Roland-Story beat the Tigers by 15 less than a month ago, winning 75-60 behind 29 points from [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'] and 22 from [player_tooltip player_id='1367392' first='Isaiah' last='Naylor']. The Norsemen didn't shoot it well in that game (28-78, 35.9%), but they absolutely dominated the glass, outrebounding South Hardin 53-39, including 21 offensive rebounds. They should be able to control the glass again in this one. Naylor (18.4) and Wilkinson (16.1) are the major scorers for Roland-Story, while [player_tooltip player_id='1239871' first='Luke' last='Patton'] (10.3, 13.3 rebounds) has been a dominant force in the paint on both ends. Jake Teske (12.5) leads a balanced attack for South Hardin, with five players averaging in double-figures, which can make them a difficult team to defend. Look for Wilkinson, one of the best on-ball defenders in 2A, to get the [player_tooltip player_id='2377884' first='Lane' last='Luiken'] (12.3, 38.6 3P%) assignment and try to take the Tigers' best shooting threat out of the flow. Roland-Story should once again control the glass and find ways to limit the most potent pieces of South Hardin's attack. Our pick: Roland-Story   District 6: Union (10-14) vs. Hudson (17-6) at Dike-New Hartford   Union comes into this district final fresh off an upset win over Grundy Center, a game in which they shot 30 free throws (compared to just 5 for Grundy Center), a testament to the way they like to play offensively - attack, attack, attack. Hudson beat the Knights back on December 20th, 73-54, and that was despite a lower-output game than normal from star [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (19.7, 10.5 rebounds). [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (11.6), [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (10.0), Drew Hansen (9.9), and Kiean Crile (8.7) are all viable scoring threats as well, but this team will go as Davis goes. Union is led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='1751222' first='Jackson' last='Anderson'] (18.1) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] (15.4), a pair of explosive scorers. Hudson has been the better team all year, has the best player on the floor in Davis, and better depth. The Pirates should advance here. Our pick: Hudson   District 7: Lake Mills (22-0) vs. Osage (18-4) at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura   Lake Mills dominated the regular season meeting between these teams a month ago, beating the Green Devils 79-47 behind 23 points from Eli Menke and 19 each from [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1469829' first='Denton' last='Kingland']. The Bulldogs shot 14-28 from behind the arc in that game, using a 29-9 third quarter to blow things open. Helming (17.9, 7.2 rebounds), the next in a long line of talented Helmings to go through Lake Mills, is a versatile weapon on both ends of the floor, while Kingland (17.6, 42.7 3P%) and Menke (12.4, 41.8 3P%) are elite shooting threats. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'] (12.3, 10.0 rebounds) has provided some size and physicality in the paint. Osage is led by sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759935' first='Madden' last='Uhlenhopp'] (16.6, 37.3 3P%) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1765543' first='Quinn' last='Street'] (14.5, 35.7 3P%). The Green Devils will need to knock down a number of 3s if they want to keep pace with a Lake Mills team that can fill it up in bunches. Our pick: Lake Mills   District 8: Beckman Catholic (16-6) vs. MFL-Mar-Mac (22-1) at Central Elkader   MFL-Mar-Mac has played one of the weakest schedules in 2A, but to their credit, they've done what has been asked of them and dominated their opponents, winning games by an average of 33 points a game behind the strong play of sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381408' first='Zach' last='Driscoll'] (20.6, 5.0 assists, 4.3 steals). One of the most potent three-level scorers in the class, Driscoll has been sensational as a sophomore as both a scorer and playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='2221613' first='Carver' last='Blietz-Bentien'] (13.7, 8.0 rebounds) provides some physicality and rebounding in the paint, and [player_tooltip player_id='2511550' first='Parker' last='Kuehl'] (11.0, 35.2 3P%) is a good shooter to put alongside Driscoll. The Bulldogs will, however, have their hands full with Beckman's star wing [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'] (22.3, 8.8 rebounds). A 6-5 wing who can score from anywhere with a silky smooth stroke and improved handle, Gallagher is headed to play his college ball at DII powerhouse Northwest Missouri State. [player_tooltip player_id='1256303' first='Eli' last='Kluesner'] (9.8) and Aiden Wessels (9.0) are also good scoring threats who provide some athleticism, and Trent Arens (5.0, 4.1 assists) has been solid as a lead guard getting the team into their offense. Gallagher is a tough matchup for anyone, and he should be able to do whatever he wants here. Our pick: Beckman Catholic   District 9: Aplington-Parkersburg (20-2) vs. Jesup (16-6) at Denver   This looks a little familiar and should be scary for Falcons fans. A-P dominated a pair of regular-season meetings this season, winning 81-51 and 78-50, but they did the same last year, winning a pair of regular-season games by 26 and 39 points before being upset in the substate final by the J-Hawks. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1153046' first='Jack' last='Miller'] (25.6) is one of the best pure scorers in the state, a shifty guard who can get to his shot whenever he wants, and A-P will need to find ways to limit his effectiveness to prevent another shocking upset. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167691' first='Garrett' last='Hempen'] (21.5) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (16.3) lead an A-P team that is once again explosive offensively, putting up 76.9 points a game. Both are versatile, efficient three-level scorers who can take over games as scorers or facilitators, and [player_tooltip player_id='1167721' first='Martez' last='Wiggley'] (12.5, 7.5 rebounds) has given them some physicality and strength in the paint. Expect Aaron Thomas to have this group ready to go and determined not to repeat last year's slip-up. A-P comes out focused and cruises into the substate final. Our pick: Aplington-Parkersburg   District 10: Alburnett (20-3) vs. Monticello (15-6) at Marion   This is one of the best games of the night and should be tight throughout. Alburnett has been one of the most pleasant surprise teams in 2A this season, using a dominant defense to roll to a 20-3 record. The Pirates are allowing just 41.7 points a game and winning games by an average of 26.8 points a game. They're quick on the perimeter and have a big man in [player_tooltip player_id='1469785' first='Tytan' last='Bowers'] (11.1, 2.2 blocks) who is among the most improved players in the state on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1751109' first='Braydon' last='Osborn'] (16.3, 37.8 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1751108' first='Jordan' last='Caton'] (14.2, 42.4 3P%) are both good shot-makers on the perimeter who can create looks for themselves, and the Pirates aren't going to beat themselves. Monticello came into the year as our #1 ranked team in the class, and while the Panthers have had an up-and-down year, they're starting to play their best basketball of the season and have a pair of dominant scorers who can take over games in [player_tooltip player_id='1171677' first='Preston' last='Ries'] (24.1, 10.4 rebounds, 38.8 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='956879' first='Tate' last='Petersen'] (17.9, 5.5 assists). Petersen missed a significant chunk of time this year and then was clearly impacted by his injury when he returned but is playing at the high level that we've become accustomed to down the stretch. In a tight one, we'll take the more experienced big-game team, Monticello. Our pick: Monticello   District 11: West Burlington (21-1) vs. Albia (14-8) at Davis County   Albia got a buzzer-beater from star [player_tooltip player_id='1167695' first='Drew' last='Chance'] (24.1, 9.3 rebounds) to stave off an upset against Mediapolis in the district semifinals and will be looking to carry that momentum into this district final. Chance is a 6-4 forward who can score inside and out, control the glass, and create looks for others. With his size, he could be a player that the smaller Falcons struggle to defend. That said, the quickness of West Burlington is going to be difficult for Albia to contend with. [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'] (17.2, 36.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (14.6, 38.7 3P%) are a pair of shifty guards who can get to the rim seemingly at will, and both are dangerous shooters off the bounce as well. Jace Figuereo (11.6, 7.6 rebounds) is an undersized combo forward, but he has a non-stop motor and competes hard on every possession. The speed of West Burlington should make Albia uncomfortable, and they never turn it over. That's a pretty good combination. Our pick: West Burlington   District 12: Wilton (18-4) vs. Pella Christian (13-9) at Williamsburg   This might be the game of the night in 2A, a rematch of a non-conference game from December 19th, a 61-56 Pella Christian win. In that game, the Eagles won the rebounding battle 41-36 and outscored the Beavers by 6 at the free-throw line. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='DeVries'] (12.5, 4.1 assists) leads the Eagles in scoring and assists, a small but fearless guard who loves to attack the rim and ends up on the floor about 100 times a game. Dane Geetings (10.4), [player_tooltip player_id='1469788' first='Aiden' last='Stoltz'] (8.7), and [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (7.0) are the other major scorers for PC, but this is a team that can comfortably go 9 or 10 deep without much drop-off. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1167686' first='Caden' last='Kirkman'] (27.5, 11.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists) is one of the most dominant players in the state, a 6-8 big who can score inside and out, handle it, protect the rim, and rebound at a high level. The Beavers didn't get much from their other standouts in the regular-season loss to PC, and [player_tooltip player_id='1376706' first='Landyn' last='Putman'] (14.9, 38.0 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469778' first='Aidan' last='Walker'] (14.2, 36.2 3P%) will need to provide some more help for Kirkman here if Wilton wants to advance. I've been on the Wilton train since last March, and while the PC head-to-head win should probably make me second-guess this pick, I'm sticking with my gut and taking Kirkman and Wilton to move on in a fantastic district final. Our pick: Wilton   District 13: AHSTW (20-2) vs. Van Meter (16-6) at West Central Valley   AHSTW has been building towards this moment for the last three years, can the Vikings finally break through and reach the substate final? [player_tooltip player_id='1167687' first='Brayden' last='Lund'] (19.8, 7.4 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1167692' first='Kyle' last='Sternberg'] (16.4, 7.6 rebounds), arguably the top two players in school history, lead the way for a talented team. Both are good three-level scorers who can take over games, and each has the size and athleticism that make them difficult matchups. Van Meter has struggled at times to score this season, but the Bulldogs are always strong, athletic, and good defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='1240075' first='Skyler' last='Yazzie'] (11.5, 38.0 3P%), who moved back to Van Meter after transferring to Waukee briefly, has provided a scoring spark since his return, and the 'Dogs go pretty deep into their bench with strong athletes. They'll make things difficult for AHSTW offensively, but we still like the Vikings' one-two punch here to keep the train rolling. Our pick: AHSTW   District 14: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (20-2) vs. Des Moines Christian (16-6) at Oskaloosa   This is an interesting contrast between the high-scoring Rockets of EBF and the strong defensive team from Des Moines Christian. EBF is averaging 70.8 points a game, while the Lions are giving up just 44.0, so something has to give here. [player_tooltip player_id='1171680' first='Brooks' last='Moore'] (21.7, 8.7 rebounds), an athletic, high-flying wing, leads the Rockets in scoring and rebounding. He's a terror in transition who loves to attack the rim and dunk on everyone, and he has improved as a shooting threat. [player_tooltip player_id='1195409' first='Carsen' last='Wade'] (13.7) is the other double-figure scorer, and the Rockets have five others averaging between 5.4 and 8.8 points a game. Des Moines Christian is always elite defensively, and this year has been no exception, using their athleticism, discipline, and strength to grind teams down on that end of the floor. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171689' first='Landon' last='Craven'] (15.8) is the team's top scorer and a menace on the defensive end with great timing and instincts. [player_tooltip player_id='1751233' first='Tate' last='Platte'] (12.1) is an undersized but athletic forward, and [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (11.5) provides a ton of athleticism and length on the perimeter. Scoring against this team doesn't come easy, but EBF may be able to force some turnovers against a backcourt that has been shaky at times, allowing them to get out in transition. Our pick: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont   District 15: Central Lyon (19-1) vs. West Sioux (18-4) at MOC-Floyd Valley   After finishing runner-up in 2A last year, Central Lyon has been on a mission this year, winning games by an average of 30 points a game and suffering just one setback against West Lyon. In [player_tooltip player_id='1253020' first='Zach' last='Lutmer'] (20.5, 6.0 assists), the Lions have arguably the best player in 2A, an elite athlete who can dominate games as a scorer, playmaker, or defender. [player_tooltip player_id='1367399' first='Andrew' last='Austin'] (19.8, 8.9 rebounds) is a versatile forward who can score inside and out, as is [player_tooltip player_id='1751110' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'] (18.5), and this group has athleticism that is unrivaled in this 2A field. West Sioux has some good scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1738706' first='Booker' last='Walsh'] (16.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='956885' first='Mason' last='Coppock'] (16.7, 5.7 assists), but the Falcons are going to need to knock down a bunch of 3s if they want to keep pace with Central Lyon, who should dominate them on the glass and take advantage of any mistakes West Sioux makes. West Sioux is good, this just isn't a good matchup for them. Our pick: Central Lyon   District 16: Underwood (19-3) vs. Treynor (16-6) at Council Bluffs Lincoln   Treynor swept the season series, with both wins coming by seven points - 51-44 on January 6th, and 63-56 on February 7th. The Cardinals have been excellent defensively in those meetings, holding the Eagles to 40% shooting (36-90). In the Eagles' other 20 games, they've shot 47.2% from the floor, so Treynor has clearly found an edge and knows how to limit the Eagles offensively. Treynor is led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376717' first='Jace' last='Tams'] (15.9), who pairs with Ethan Konz (10.8) and Karson Elwood (7.3, 3.5 assists) to give them a solid backcourt with a trio of reliable ball-handlers. [player_tooltip player_id='1367406' first='Ethan' last='Dickerson'] (12.3, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) is a game-changing defensive presence who blocks a ton of shots and alters several more. His presence is a big reason why Underwood has struggled to score against the Cardinals. [player_tooltip player_id='1751187' first='Jack' last='Vanfossan'] (14.1, 12.5 rebounds) is the leader for the Eagles, a physical forward who does almost all of his damage around the rim. Mason Boothby (12.4), Josh Ravlin (11.0), and Alex Ravlin (10.4) are all more perimeter-oriented options, and they'll need to knock down some jumpers if Underwood wants to knock off the Cardinals here. Our pick: Treynor

District 1: Western Christian (18-3) vs. Estherville Lincoln Central (13-8) at Sheldon