Substate Preview: 2A-1

District 1

The favorite: Playing as an independent this year, Western Christian has really beefed up the schedule. They’ve had some ups and downs as a result, including a pair of losses to good teams from South Dakota last week, but they’ve largely dominated against in-state competition, going 12-1 with a +18.6 point differential. Three players average in double-figures in seniors Tate Van Regenmorter Tate Van Regenmorter 6'5" | PF Western Christian | 2023 State IA (13.9) and Chandler Pollema (10.6) and sophomore Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'3" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA (13.2), with two others chipping in around 7 points a game – senior point guard Ashtin Van’t Hul Ashtin Van’t Hul 6'0" | PG Western Christian | 2023 State IA (7.4) and sophomore wing Karsten Moret Karsten Moret 6'3" | SG Western Christian | 2025 State IA (7.1, pictured). The Wolfpack share the ball well, limit turnovers, play strong defense, and have a multitude of scoring threats. Having played against one of the most challenging schedules in 2A, they’ll be ready for anything that is thrown at them, and this is the most talented team in the district. They should be considered a fairly heavy favorite to get through here.

The biggest threat: Having to play one fewer game and getting that semifinal at home makes Garner-Hayfield-Ventura the favorite to come out of the bottom of the bracket and meet Western Christian. The Cardinals are led by tough senior guard Drew Britson Drew Britson 6'1" | SG Garner Hayfield Ventura | 2023 State IA (16.3), a do-it-all guard who leads the team in nearly every major category. He’s the type of player who can dominate games even when he isn’t scoring, and he’s a veteran leader who isn’t going to be intimidated by the moment. Junior Aiden Hawe (9.1) and senior Braden Boehnke (8.9) provide some additional scoring, and this group is able to go seven deep comfortably.

The dark horse: If anyone in this district is going to go nuclear and cause some chaos, it’s Estherville Lincoln Central guard Owen Larson Owen Larson 6'1" | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2024 State IA (28.0, 4.5 assists), one of the most dynamic players in the state, regardless of class. The future South Dakota State guard is capable of dropping 40+ on any given night, and with his ability to score from all three levels as well as get his teammates involved, he’s the type of individual talent that can get hot and carry his team to a few upsets. Jordan Jensen (8.4) and Cael Miller (8.2) have provided some additional scoring for the Midgets.

Players to watch
2023 Tate Van Regenmorter Tate Van Regenmorter 6'5" | PF Western Christian | 2023 State IA , Western Christian
2025 Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'3" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA , Western Christian
2023 Chandler Pollema, Western Christian
2023 Ashtin Van’t Hul Ashtin Van’t Hul 6'0" | PG Western Christian | 2023 State IA , Western Christian
2023 Drew Britson Drew Britson 6'1" | SG Garner Hayfield Ventura | 2023 State IA , Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
2024 Owen Larson Owen Larson 6'1" | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2024 State IA , Estherville Lincoln Central
2024 Ethan Behrens Ethan Behrens 5'11" | SF Pocahontas Area | 2024 State IA , Pocahontas Area
2023 Blake Radke Blake Radke 5'8" | SG Sheldon | 2023 State IA , Sheldon
2023 Anthony Provost, Sheldon
2023 Aiden Comstock, Cherokee

District 2

The favorite: West Lyon has to be pretty happy with their draw here, ranking 25 spots higher than the next-best team (Emmetsburg) in BC Moore’s rankings. The Wildcats have shown themselves to be a really dangerous team at times this season, posting great wins over West Sioux and Central Lyon, and of their four losses, three have come at the hands of MOC-Floyd Valley or Central Lyon, teams that have spent most of the season ranked within the top-3-5 in 3A or 2A, respectively. Hyper-efficient forward Devan Van Wyhe Devan Van Wyhe 6'0" | SG West Lyon | 2023 State IA (16.4) leads the way for the ‘Cats, a 6-5 forward who is posting eye-popping 72-47-62 shooting splits. Darren Meyer (13.4, 60.2 FG%) and Carson Hoogeveen Carson Hoogeveen 5'10" | PG West Lyon | 2025 State IA (12.0, 4.2 assists) are the other major scoring threats, while junior Trevor Ciesielski (7.6, 4.9 assists) pairs with Hoogeveen to give them a pair of reliable ball-handlers. This is an athletic, physical team that plays strong defense, efficient offense, and shares the ball well. It would be a pretty big upset for West Lyon to not get through this district.

The biggest threat: A balanced offensive attack from Emmetsburg was good enough to grab the E-Hawks the #2 seed in the district and a semifinal game at home as a result. A young team that has five sophomores among their top six scorers, this is a group that will use any postseason run that they make as a springboard into next year. Byron Maina (12.6, 7.3 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding and is a versatile three-level scorer who can stretch the floor, put the ball on the deck and get to the rim, or make plays for others. Gavin Swanson (9.4, 3.4 assists) is another solid perimeter shooting threat, and Kale Frank (8.6) is a solid all-around player.

The dark horse: After winning the 2A title last year, Rock Valley lost nearly everything from that group, so it has been a bit of a bumpy ride this year. Nonetheless, they enter the postseason playing decent basketball and have arguably the second-most talented roster in the district. The Rockets are led by seniors Bryson Zomer Bryson Zomer 6'4" | PF Rock Valley | 2023 State IA (13.5, 7.1 rebounds) and Ryan Strait Ryan Strait 6'3" | SF Rock Valley | 2023 State IA (12.1), a pair of athletic forwards who can score inside and out. Going through the Siouxland Conference, this group isn’t going to be initiated going to Emmetsburg in the semifinals.

Players to watch
2023 Devan Van Wyhe Devan Van Wyhe 6'0" | SG West Lyon | 2023 State IA , West Lyon
2023 Darren Meyer, West Lyon
2025 Carson Hoogeveen Carson Hoogeveen 5'10" | PG West Lyon | 2025 State IA , West Lyon
2024 Trevor Ciesielski, West Lyon
2023 Bryson Zomer Bryson Zomer 6'4" | PF Rock Valley | 2023 State IA , Rock Valley
2023 Ryan Strait Ryan Strait 6'3" | SF Rock Valley | 2023 State IA , Rock Valley
2025 Byron Maina, Emmetsburg
2025 Gavin Swanson, Emmetsburg
2025 Kellen Jensen, Ridge View
2023 Aidan Dahms, Okoboji
2024 Sam Schnepf, Sibley-Ocheyedan

SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION

Western Christian vs. West Lyon

West Lyon has proven they can play with anyone in the class after their win over Central Lyon, and the Wildcats are certainly capable of knocking off Western Christian here. That said, Western Christian has been one of the best teams in the state all year long, and despite their setbacks against the South Dakota schools a week ago, we expect them to get back on track and playing great basketball again by the time they reach this point. The Wolfpack return to Des Moines for the 23rd time in school history, in search of an 11th state title.