Class 2A Substate Final Preview

Substate 1: Western Christian (19-3) vs. West Lyon (18-4) at MOC-Floyd Valley   Western Christian has been widely regarded as one of the top four teams in 2A for a majority of the season, but they won't have a cakewalk ride to the state tournament. West Lyon has proven they can play with anyone in the class, handing Central Lyon their only loss this season. The Wildcats are physical, athletic, and hyper-efficient, posting 53-40-60 shooting splits as a team behind the strength of senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1738630' first='Devan' last='Van Wyhe'] (15.8, 68.0 FG%) and Darren Meyer (14.3, 61.9 FG%). That tandem is able to get to the rim routinely, and the combination of [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'] (12.0, 4.4 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325556' first='Trevor' last='Ciesielski'] (7.7, 5.1 assists) have been really good in the backcourt, getting others involved and limiting turnovers. Western Christian suffered a pair of late-season losses to South Dakota powers, but have rebounded nicely, posting wins over 23, 25, 48, and 11 points in their last four games. This year's iteration of the Wolfpack is a little smaller than previous teams, but the Pack still play a fun, free-flowing style of basketball with a number of scoring threats and great ball movement. [player_tooltip player_id='1462778' first='Tate' last='Van Regenmorter'] (14.6) and younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (12.7) are the top two scorers, but this is a team that can comfortably go eight or nine deep into their bench without too much drop-off. A disciplined team that plays the right way, they're also the better free-throw shooting team, which could be a factor in a game that we expect to be pretty close down the stretch. Our pick: Western Christian   Substate 2: Sioux Central (23-0) vs. Kuemper Catholic (17-6) at OABCIG   There is a huge gap in the respective strength of schedules of these teams, according to BC Moore's power rankings system. Sioux Central has played the 80th most difficult schedule in 2A (out of 96 teams), while Kuemper's ranks 19th. That said, Sioux Central has been a juggernaut this season, winning games by an average of 24.3 points a night. Kuemper will struggle to contain the Rebels' dynamic tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1167698' first='Jacob' last='Hargens'] (27.1, 10.0 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1240102' first='Carter' last='Boettcher'] (19.6, 5.3 assists). Hargens, an athletic, physical 6-3 power wing, can score from anywhere on the floor and is extremely tough to keep out of the paint. Boettcher sees the floor extremely well, gets to the bucket, and is a 41% 3-point shooter. Ethan Mills (13.5, 36.5 3P%) is the other big scorer for this group. That trio combines to average 60.2 of the team's 70.7 points a game. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1288927' first='Michael' last='Kasperbauer'] (13.9, 39.4 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1288884' first='Dawson' last='Gifford'] (10.7, 42.2 3P%) lead Kuemper's offensive attack. This is a deep, balanced team that shares the ball extremely well, and they received a boost with the return of DJ Vonnahme (9.4, 6.6 rebounds), their best rebounder, from injury. The Knights are certainly capable of winning here, as their strong play against a tough SOS proves, but Hargens and Boettcher prove to be too much for them to handle. Our pick: Sioux Central   Substate 3: Roland-Story (23-1) vs. Hudson (18-6) at Marshalltown   Roland-Story got way more than they wanted from South Hardin in the district final, trailing by 12 heading into the fourth quarter before outscoring the Tigers 26-8 in the final frame to advance to tonight's substate final. The Norsemen will need to have a much more concentrated effort tonight against a Pirates team that is playing high-level basketball. Each of Hudson's last four wins have come by double digits, and this is a potent offensive team that is averaging 72.0 points a game. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (19.9, 10.7 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (11.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (10.5) lead the attack, with three others averaging between 6.0 and 9.8 points a game. Davis is a dynamic playmaker who can get to the bucket at will and dominate the glass. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'] (16.4, 4.2 assists) to get the Davis assignment quite a bit tonight. Wilkinson, a 6-3/6-4 wing, is one of the best all-around defenders in the class, and if he's able to contain Davis, that will be huge for the Norsemen. [player_tooltip player_id='1367392' first='Isaiah' last='Naylor'] (18.6) is a high-level shot creator, and [player_tooltip player_id='1239871' first='Luke' last='Patton'] (10.0, 13.1 rebounds) has been a dominant force on the glass on both ends. Roland-Story has been a top-4 team in the class for a majority of the season, and that South Hardin game should serve as a wakeup call for them. This Hudson team is good, but Roland-Story has the answers. Our pick: Roland-Story   Substate 4: Lake Mills (23-0) vs. MFL-Mar-Mac (23-1) at Charles City   It's the Rodney Dangerfield "no respect" game here. Both of these Bulldogs have been absolutely dominant all season, but questions about the strength of their schedules landed them lower in the seeding order and has them matched up here. MFL-Mar-Mac is fresh off a really nice win over Beckman Catholic, showing that their strong defensive numbers didn't just come because of a lower quality of opponent during the regular season. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381408' first='Zach' last='Driscoll'] (20.4, 5.0 assists, 4.2 steals) is the headliner on both ends of the floor, a quick, high IQ guard who can score from anywhere, sees the floor well, and has great instincts on the defensive end. Carter Blietz-Bentien (13.9, 8.0 rebounds) is the force in the paint, and [player_tooltip player_id='2511550' first='Parker' last='Kuehl'] (11.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325439' first='Wyatt' last='Powell'] (10.3, 4.5 assists, 4.5 steals) are quality options on the perimeter as well. This four-year run for Lake Mills has been quite remarkable, posting a record of 96-6 during that stretch. They've played just three games decided by single digits this season, winning games by an average of 25.8 points a night. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'] (18.0, 7.1 rebounds), the latest in a long line of talented Helming boys to go through Lake Mills, is the leading scorer for the 'Dogs. [player_tooltip player_id='1469829' first='Denton' last='Kingland'] (17.4, 43.4 3P%) and Eli Menke (12.5, 42.9 3P%) are deadly options as catch-and-shoot marksmen, and [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'] (12.4, 10.4 rebounds) is a physical, athletic forward who has dominated the glass on both ends of the floor. MFL is probably a little quicker, Lake Mills a little bigger. Both are playing excellent basketball and will need to be taken seriously when they get to Des Moines. Our pick: Lake Mills   Substate 5: Aplington-Parkersburg (21-2) vs. Monticello (16-6) at Dike-New Hartford   Two of the most successful programs in northeast Iowa in the last five years meet up in this one, and it should be one of the best games of the night. Aplington-Parkersburg is led by a pair of dynamic guards who can score from all three levels in [player_tooltip player_id='1167691' first='Garrett' last='Hempen'] (21.2) and [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] (16.0). Hempen is posting 52-48-87 splits and Thomas 50-46-81, and both are capable of running the show as playmakers as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1167721' first='Martez' last='Wiggley'] (12.7, 7.4 rebounds) provides some strength, rebounding, and interior scoring, and the other two starting guards - [player_tooltip player_id='1171663' first='Willie' last='Hodges'] (8.4, 3.6 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325268' first='Nick' last='Neuroth'] (5.8, 4.1 assists) - are good ball-handlers who limit turnovers. Monticello came into the season as our #1 team in the class, and while they've had some ups and downs this year, the Panthers are finally healthy and playing their best basketball of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1171677' first='Preston' last='Ries'] (23.6, 10.4 rebounds) is a ridiculous athlete who can take over games in the blink of an eye on either end of the floor. His battle in the paint with Wiggley will be a ton of fun to watch. [player_tooltip player_id='956879' first='Tate' last='Petersen'] (18.5, 5.4 assists) has been battling a shoulder injury for the last half of the season, but is toughing it out and producing at the All-State level that we've become accustomed to seeing out of him. [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (11.5, 40.0 3P%) provides some length on the wing, strong defense, and is a good shooter, and the latest revelation has been sophomore guard Jack Lambert (4.0). The son of head coach Tim Lambert has stepped into the starting lineup in the last six games and been sensational defensively. In the district final win over Alburnett, he almost single-handedly took the Pirates best player out of the game. I would expect him to draw the [player_tooltip player_id='1171686' first='Gavin' last='Thomas'] assignment tonight, although he'll likely get shots at both Thomas and Hempen. Both of these teams are good enough now to win state titles, and this one will be decided in the last minute. I picked A-P before the start of the postseason, and I'll stick with it, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Monticello emerge victorious. Our pick: Aplington-Parkersburg   Substate 6: West Burlington (22-1) vs. Pella Christian (14-9) at Oskaloosa   Another outstanding game on this docket between a West Burlington team that may not be getting the respect it deserves, and a Pella Christian team that has played the #1 strength of schedule, according to BC Moore. West Burlington doesn't have much size, but what they lack in height, they make up for in quickness. The Falcons are one of the fastest teams in the class, with their flurry of guards creating chaos on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'] (16.7, 34.7 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (14.9, 39.6 3P%) are the top scorers for this group, a pair of skilled guards who can create shots for themselves and others. Jace Figuereo (11.7, 7.4 rebounds) is undersized as a forward, but plays with a non-stop motor. Few kids in the state play as hard as he does on every possession. Pella Christian counters with one small guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='DeVries'] (12.9, 4.1 assists), and a number of long, lanky athletes who make life difficult for opposing teams. DeVries is a tough guard who ends up on the floor about 100 times a game, but he's a competitor who won't back down from anyone. Dane Geetings (10.2) is the other Eagle averaging in double figures, but this is a PC team that comfortably goes nine or ten deep with viable threats on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (6.9, 5.5 assists) doesn't put up eye-popping numbers, but at 6-5 with a 6-7/6-8 wingspan, he'll be a tough matchup for West Burlington here. Both of these teams deserve to be in Des Moines, but only one can get there. Our pick: Pella Christian   Substate 7: AHSTW (21-2) vs. Des Moines Christian (17-6) at ADM   Few programs in the state have been as consistent as Des Moines Christian over the last few decades. The Lions are once again in a substate final, getting here on a buzzer-beating 3 to upset Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. They're a dominant defensive team, allowing just 44.4 points a game, good for third in the class. They're extremely well-coached on that end of the floor and have a slew of strong athletes to throw at opposing teams. [player_tooltip player_id='1171689' first='Landon' last='Craven'] (15.9, 4.5 steals) is the leading scorer, a smart guard with great instincts, but the most important player tonight may be sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (11.6). Ingram is a 6-4/6-5 wing with outstanding length, athleticism, and versatility on the defensive end. He'll likely get shots at both of AHSTW's stars throughout the night. The Vikings have been building towards this season for years now, with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1167687' first='Brayden' last='Lund'] (19.8, 7.5 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1167692' first='Kyle' last='Sternberg'] (16.3, 7.5 rebounds) set to leave the school as arguably the two most accomplished players in history. Lund is a versatile forward who can score inside and out, while Sternberg is a skilled wing with tremendous length and defensive versatility. With their length, AHSTW has been difficult to score on as well, allowing just 46.2 points a game. If they're able to limit turnovers against the DMC length, they should come out on top here. DMC relies on turnovers to get the offense going and AHSTW has done a good job limiting live-ball turnovers for most of the season. Our pick: AHSTW   Substate 8: Central Lyon (20-1) vs. Treynor (17-6) at Sioux City East   Central Lyon finished runner-up in 2A last season, and this year's team might be even better. The Lions are big, physical, athletic, and have been dominant on both ends of the floor all year, winning games by an average of 29.3 points. Future Iowa football player [player_tooltip player_id='1253020' first='Zach' last='Lutmer'] (20.7, 5.9 assists) is arguably the best player in 2A basketball and leads the Lions on both ends of the floor. A dynamic athlete who can score from all three levels, he's also capable of completely dominating games when he isn't scoring with his ability to create for his teammates and shut down opposing guards defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='1367399' first='Andrew' last='Austin'] (20.0, 9.0 rebounds) is a highly efficient forward who can score inside and out, and [player_tooltip player_id='1751110' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'] (18.1, 63.6 FG%) has emerged as an elite tertiary scoring option. He can stretch the floor, control the paint, and is a good and willing passer. The Lions are averaging nearly 78 points a game and posting 54-38-69 shooting splits. Treynor will have their hands full here. The Cardinals are led by junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1376717' first='Jace' last='Tams'] (15.9) and Ethan Konz (10.8), a pair of guards who can get hot from deep, but who have been a bit inconsistent as shooters throughout the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1367406' first='Ethan' last='Dickerson'] (12.2, 2.9 blocks) will need to have a huge game as an interior defender against the athleticism of Central Lyon if the Cards want to hang around here. Our pick: Central Lyon

Substate 1: Western Christian (19-3) vs. West Lyon (18-4) at MOC-Floyd Valley