Substate Preview: 2A-2

District 3

The favorite: Sioux Central finished up an undefeated regular season last night with a 15-point win over Hinton. Only three of the Rebels’ 21 wins this year were by single digits, and they are one of just three teams in 2A to rank within the top 10 in both scoring offense (8th, 71.2 points) and defense (9th, 46.5). The Rebels are led by one of the best one-two punches in the state in senior wing Jacob Hargens Jacob Hargens 6'2" | PG Sioux Central | 2023 State IA (pictured) (27.3, 9.8 rebounds) and guard Carter Boettcher Carter Boettcher 6'1" | PG Sioux Central | 2023 State IA (19.6, 5.1 assists). The pair is dynamic offensively, with each capable of running the offense or filling it up in a hurry, while Ethan Mills (13.6) has provided some additional perimeter shooting. Those three do a large majority of the scoring, with nobody else averaging more than 3.2 points a game. Hargens, a 6-3, physical wing, is a dominant scorer who can take over games at any point in time, while Boettcher is a solid floor general who limits turnovers, knocks down shots, and sees the floor well. This is a dynamic offensive team that already holds a 29-point win over likely district final opponent South Central Calhoun.

The biggest threat: A trio of double-figure scorers headline a South Central Calhoun team that earned the district’s #2 seed and should be considered a heavy favorite to come out of the bottom of the bracket. The Titans are led by senior guard Eli Wheelock Eli Wheelock 6'0" | PG South Central Calhoun | 2023 State IA (19.1), one of the best players in school history, a scoring guard who can get hot and carry this team. Gavin Batta Gavin Batta 6'3" | SF South Central Calhoun | 2024 State IA (14.0) and Tyler Lightner (12.8) are also big scoring threats, and the Titans do a great job limiting turnovers (9.1 a game). Protecting the ball and scoring efficiently is how you win in the postseason, and the Titans are capable of doing just that.

The dark horse: Ogden has been one of the best defensive teams in 2A this year, allowing just 47.0 points a game. And despite the introduction of the shot clock, games will still tend to slow down in postseason play, which should play into the Bulldogs’ hands. Jack Christensen Jack Christensen 5'11" | PG Ogden | 2023 State IA (12.3, 3.9 assists) is an experienced point guard who headlines this group, while junior Carson Van Sickle (11.5) provides some interior scoring and rebounding. If they’re able to put together a solid game plan against the up-tempo Titans in the semifinals, they could make their way through to the district final, where anything can happen in a one-game setting.

Players to watch
2023 Jacob Hargens Jacob Hargens 6'2" | PG Sioux Central | 2023 State IA , Sioux Central
2023 Carter Boettcher Carter Boettcher 6'1" | PG Sioux Central | 2023 State IA , Sioux Central
2023 Ethan Mills, Sioux Central
2023 Eli Wheelock Eli Wheelock 6'0" | PG South Central Calhoun | 2023 State IA , South Central Calhoun
2024 Gavin Batta Gavin Batta 6'3" | SF South Central Calhoun | 2024 State IA , South Central Calhoun
2023 Tyler Lightner, South Central Calhoun
2023 Jack Christensen Jack Christensen 5'11" | PG Ogden | 2023 State IA , Ogden
2026 Ryan Clair Ryan Clair 6'4" | PF East Sac County | 2026 State IA , East Sac County
2024 Drake Canavan, Eagle Grove
2025 Jaxon Morris, Eagle Grove
2024 Carson Nesheim, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows

District 4

The favorite: Kuemper Catholic suffered a blow when they lost DJ Vonnahme to injury a month or so ago, but the Knights still earned the top seed in the district behind the strong play of guards Michael Kasperbauer Michael Kasperbauer 5'11" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2024 State IA (13.3) and Dawson Gifford Dawson Gifford 6'0" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2023 State IA (11.5, 46.7 3P%). Sophomore Carson Kanne Carson Kanne 5'9" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2025 State IA (6.3) gives them a solid lead guard who protects the ball and gets others involved, and this is a team that can comfortably go nine or ten deep into their bench, which will give them an edge throughout postseason play.

The biggest threat: Three double-figure scorers lead a potent OABCIG attack that is averaging 66.9 points a game. This is a senior-laden team, with the top four scorers all seniors, led by the trio of Kane Ladwig (15.4), Beckett DeJean Beckett DeJean 6'2" | PG OABCIG | 2023 State IA (14.7), and Treyten Kolar (10.7). DeJean is a fantastic athlete and may be the single most dynamic individual player in the district. The big question for the Falcons is how their poor schedule (ranked 95th out of 96 teams in 2A) will impact them as they take a major step up in competition here.

The dark horse: In Richard Daugherty Richard Daugherty 5'11" | SG Greene County | 2023 State IA (18.2), Greene County has a dynamic three-level scoring guard who can take over games, get hot, and carry the Rams to a few wins and a district title. He has the ability to put the team on his back for stretches, and if he gets it rolling, Greene County could stun Kuemper in the semifinals and get to the district final.

Players to watch
2024 Michael Kasperbauer Michael Kasperbauer 5'11" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2024 State IA , Kuemper Catholic
2023 Dawson Gifford Dawson Gifford 6'0" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2023 State IA , Kuemper Catholic
2023 Kane Ladwig, OABCIG
2023 Beckett DeJean Beckett DeJean 6'2" | PG OABCIG | 2023 State IA , OABCIG
2023 Richard Daugherty Richard Daugherty 5'11" | SG Greene County | 2023 State IA , Greene County
2023 Jesse Miller, Greene County
2024 Austin Taylor, Woodward-Granger
2025 Kelan Koval Kelan Koval 6'0" | C Manson Northwest Webster | 2025 IA , Manson-Northwest Webster
2025 Logan Moline, Manson-Northwest Webster

SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION

Sioux Central vs. Kuemper Catholic

If Kuemper was completely healthy, this would be an outstanding game. It still figures to be a good one, but at the end of the day, Sioux Central just has too much firepower. Behind a big game from Jacob Hargens Jacob Hargens 6'2" | PG Sioux Central | 2023 State IA , the Rebels make their second trip to the state tournament.