Substate Preview: 1A-3

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-5.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785790" /></a></figure>   District 5   The favorite: Outside of Grand View Christian in their 1A district, there may not be a bigger favorite anywhere in the state, regardless of class, than North Linn is in this district. The Lynx have already swept Maquoketa Valley, the #2 seed in the district, by a combined 69 points this season and should have no issues navigating through to the substate final. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1167704' first='Tate' last='Haughenbury'] (16.6) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers, and the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (16.2), a junior wing with great length and the ability to stretch the floor, has really taken this group to another level. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (15.5) puts constant pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to get to the rim, and [player_tooltip player_id='1167744' first='Ben' last='Wheatley'] (13.2) is the solid, experienced guard who does a little bit of everything. This group plays outstanding defense, shares the ball incredibly well (22.1 assists), and just flat-out knows how to win games.   The biggest threat: Maquoketa Valley has seen North Linn twice this season, and sees them twice every year, so they'll be familiar with the speed and pressing style that the Lynx throw at you. [player_tooltip player_id='1738701' first='Avery' last='Holtz'] (17.5, 3.9 assists) leads the team in scoring, a 1,000-point scorer for his career, and is a veteran player who can get hot and carry his team for stretches. The Wildcats get their first two games at home, giving them the edge to reach the district final and a third date with North Linn.   The dark horse: Four players average at least 8.3 points a game for Turkey Valley, led by junior wing Oliver Schmitt (11.4). The Trojans have won four of their last five games and are on the opposite side of the bracket of North Linn, giving them a better chance than their conference counterpart South Winneshiek to reach the district final.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167704' first='Tate' last='Haughenbury'], North Linn 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'], North Linn 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'], North Linn 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167744' first='Ben' last='Wheatley'], North Linn 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738701' first='Avery' last='Holtz'], Maquoketa Valley 2024 Oliver Schmitt, Turkey Valley 2023 Carson Wenthold, South Winneshiek 2023 Keagen Streeter, South Winneshiek 2023 Chance Beeh, East Buchanan 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367435' first='Oakley' last='Semelroth'], Tripoli   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-6.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785793" /></a></figure>   District 6   The favorite: The senior tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'] (20.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'] (20.4, 17.3 rebounds) makes Wapsie Valley the favorite here, but there are a few teams in the district who could jump up and bite them if they aren't playing their best. Westpfahl is the team's top perimeter scoring threat, an experienced player who leads the team in assists and is the best perimeter shooter, but it's Harter, who is having a monstrous senior year, who is the difference maker here. A mobile 6-5 big man who can protect the paint (3.1 blocks a game), he's the type of dominant rebounder who can completely control the game on both ends of the floor. The question for the Warriors will be whether they can get enough production out of the rest of the roster to make a serious run here.   The biggest threat: With the exception of a few games against North Linn, Central City has been really competitive this season behind the strength of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376721' first='Mekhi' last='Benton'] (15.8) and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759950' first='Matthew' last='Klostermann'] (15.4). Benton is an athletic forward who can score in bunches around the rim, while Klostermann and his older brother Aiden Klostermann (10.7) can put pressure on opposing teams with their quickness and relentless attacking style. Benton is one of the few players in the district capable of limiting Harter's effectiveness in the paint, provided he can stay out of foul trouble.   The dark horse: It's rare that a team playing in the play-in game could be considered a threat, but Kee lost by just three, 64-61, against Wapsie Valley back in December despite Harter going for 28 and 20. The Hawks knocked down 11-27 from behind the arc in that game, so Wapsie certainly can't overlook them there. The Hawks are led by a trio of sophomores who can fill it up in Jordan Cota (17.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (13.6), and Karsen Strong (8.8). If Kee found a way to knock off Wapsie in the quarterfinals, this whole district would open up.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'], Wapsie Valley 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'], Wapsie Valley 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376721' first='Mekhi' last='Benton'], Central City 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759950' first='Matthew' last='Klostermann'], Central City 2025 Jordan Cota, Kee 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'], Kee 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367452' first='Bo' last='Harrington'], Nashua-Plainfield 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'], Waterloo Christian 2023 Aaron Zwack, Waterloo Christian 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476988' first='Michael' last='Gadberry'], Lisbon 2023 Dan McGreal, Central Elkader 2023 Gavin Moser, Clayton Ridge     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   North Linn vs. Wapsie Valley   In [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'], Wapsie Valley has a player that North Linn could struggle to contain in the paint. That said, the constant pressure that the Lynx put on opposing guards is too much for the Warriors to overcome, and North Linn advances to yet another state tournament with a great chance at defending their 1A title.