Substate Preview: 1A-7

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-13.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-13.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785836" /></a></figure>   District 13   The favorite: It would be an upset if any team in the district stays within a running clock of Grand View Christian here. The Thunder are just that good, and their draw here appears to be completely overmatched. This is a team that has beaten a solid 5A school from Missouri, a really good, athletic team from Milwaukee, and has great in-state wins over Hudson, Roosevelt, Treynor, Roland-Story, AHSTW, Charles City, and Aplington-Parkersburg. Playing as an independent, they're able to play whoever, wherever, and have taken full advantage of that, beefing up their schedule and still getting through unblemished. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1367400' first='Josh' last='Sanderson'] (18.9, 8.7 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1469838' first='Frankie' last='Chiodo'] (16.4, 30.9 3P%) are the top scoring options, but it's the overwhelming size of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (13.1, 9.5 rebounds), senior [player_tooltip player_id='956875' first='Daniel' last='Tobiloba'] (12.9, 13.5 rebounds, 4.3 blocks), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476971' first='Noah' last='John'] (11.2, 9.2 rebounds) that makes this group nearly impossible to beat at this level. That trio goes 6-9, 7-0, 6-5, respectively. A dominant defensive team that swarms opponents, flies all over the floor, and has an eraser in Kennesaw State-bound Tobiloba at the backend, this is a group that would also compete for titles in 2A and 3A this season.   The biggest threat: Lenox, the district's #2 seed, is the most likely opponent for GVC in the district final. The Tigers are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1951830' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] (18.6, 9.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists) and seniors Keaton England (15.2, 39.8 3P%) and Samson Adams (10.9, 36.4 3P%). As a team, they're shooting 36.8% from behind the arc, and they'd need to knock down 12-15 3-pointers if they want to have a chance at the shocking upset. But if anyone in the district is going to do it, it's Lenox.   The dark horse: The other team at the bottom of the bracket with the best chance at reaching the district final is Stanton, another team with a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2221596' first='Nolan' last='Grebin'] (16.9), Evan Gettier (13.4), and Joshua Martin (10.0).   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367400' first='Josh' last='Sanderson'], Grand View Christian 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469838' first='Frankie' last='Chiodo'], Grand View Christian 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956875' first='Daniel' last='Tobiloba'], Grand View Christian 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476971' first='Noah' last='John'], Grand View Christian 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'], Grand View Christian 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951830' first='Gabe' last='Funk'], Lenox 2023 Keaton England, Lenox 2023 Samson Adams, Lenox 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2221596' first='Nolan' last='Grebin'], Stanton 2025 Evan Gettier, Stanton   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-14.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-14.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785837" /></a></figure>   District 14   The favorite: Despite being the district's #2 seed, we think that ACGC is the best team in the district and will pencil them in as the favorite to come out of it. Five players average at least 8.3 points a game for the Chargers, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1738707' first='Brock' last='Littler'] (16.3, 4.2 assists) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'] (12.3). A balanced team that shares the ball and does a pretty good job limiting turnovers, they've played a much tougher schedule than Ankeny Christian Academy, which could be significant in the district final.   The biggest threat: Ankeny Christian Academy is the top seed in the district, but they'll have a tricky semifinal game against either CAM or Coon Rapids-Bayard. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'] (13.5) leads a deep group of scoring threats, with eight other players averaging between 3.8 and 9.4 points a game. Like ACGC, they've done a good job limiting turnovers this season, and they pound the offensive glass hard, which helps offset their poor perimeter shooting numbers by gaining extra possessions. This is a deep team that plays really hard and will defend well.   The dark horse(s): This is one of the deepest districts in 1A, with five teams that we could see taking home the district title. We'll start with IKM-Manning, who has played the toughest schedule of the bunch according to BC Moore. Four players averaging between 8.5 and 12.0 points a game, led by junior Ross Kusel (12.0) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (11.9). They've had some solid wins (Treynor, Coon Rapids, Tri-Center), and some head-scratching losses (Audubon). CAM swept the season series against Coon Rapids-Bayard, led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Seth Hensley (15.8), Sam Foreman (13.0), and Chase Jahde (11.6). Always an athletic team that plays solid defense and gets to the bucket, the Cougars put a lot of pressure on opposing teams on both ends of the floor with their style of play. Coon Rapids-Bayard is allowing just 46.3 points a game, and they have a dominant freshman wing in [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (19.7), a do-it-all 6-4 wing who can take over games and is capable of being the best player on the floor on any given night. Lance Clayburg (12.5, 8.3 rebounds) is a physical, athletic forward who finishes effectively, and the Crusaders generally seem to pull off an upset or two in postseason play.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738707' first='Brock' last='Littler'], ACGC 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587392' first='Lance' last='Bunde'], ACGC 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'], Ankeny Christian Academy 2024 Ross Kusel, IKM-Manning 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'], IKM-Manning 2023 Seth Hensley, CAM 2023 Sam Foreman, CAM 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'], Coon Rapids-Bayard 2023 Lance Clayburg, Coon Rapids-Bayard     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Grand View Christian vs. ACGC   ACGC has some players who can knock down 3s, and they'll need to do so in bunches if they want to pull off a shocking upset and advance to the state tournament. This one likely lacks much drama, with Grand View Christian cruising to the state tournament behind a dominant defensive effort.