Substate Preview: 2A-4

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-7.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785883" /></a></figure>   District 7   The favorite: Lake Mills has been dominant again this season, winning games by an average of 26.5 points a game and rolling to an undefeated regular season. The Bulldogs, who have been great in 1A for several years now, will now move up to 2A postseason play, but should still be considered a heavy, heavy favorite in this district. [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'] (17.9) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers for a team that is putting up 72.1 points a game, good for 6th in the class. The 'Dogs are one of three 2A teams to rank within the top 10 in scoring offense and defense (6th, 45.6). [player_tooltip player_id='1469829' first='Denton' last='Kingland'] (17.2, 42.7 3P%) and Eli Menke (12.4, 42.3 3P%) are knockdown shooters, and [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'] (11.8, 9.7 rebounds) has been excellent in the paint on both ends of the floor. The Bulldogs own a head-to-head win over Osage, the #2 seed in the district, by 32 points.   The biggest threat: The district's #2 seed, Osage, gets their semifinal game at home, which is a boost. The Green Devils have a potent offensive attack that has four players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759935' first='Madden' last='Uhlenhopp'] (16.9), a versatile three-level scorer who can get hot and carry his team for stretches. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765543' first='Quinn' last='Street'] (14.6) leads the team in assists and has been a great addition to their backcourt, and [player_tooltip player_id='1376718' first='Max' last='Knudsen'] (10.3) and Drew Tusler (10.2) are veteran players with a lot of experience. Outside of Lake Mills, this is the most dynamic offensive team in the district, and since it's not going to be easy to slow down the Bulldogs, teams may need to try to outscore them, giving a nod to Osage.   The dark horse: On the other end of the spectrum is North Fayette Valley, a team that has a lot of good athletes and plays really good defense, allowing just 48.4 points a game this season. If the TigerHawks are able to slow the game down and make it a halfcourt slugfest, their physicality and athleticism could lead to a few upsets and a surprising district championship. Sophomore Cael Reichter (15.7, 9.0 rebounds) and senior Blake Reichter (11.9, 7.7 rebounds) dominate on the glass, pulling down a combined 6.7 offensive rebounds a game, gaining valuable extra possessions.   Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'], Lake Mills 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469829' first='Denton' last='Kingland'], Lake Mills 2024 Eli Menke, Lake Mills 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'], Lake Mills 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759935' first='Madden' last='Uhlenhopp'], Osage 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765543' first='Quinn' last='Street'], Osage 2025 Cael Reichter, North Fayette Valley 2023 Blake Reichter, North Fayette Valley 2024 Kole McCormick, Waukon 2024 Tommy Miller, Forest City   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785884" /></a></figure>   District 8   The favorite: Behind the strong play of [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'] (22.0), Beckman Catholic has gone 11-3 since the holiday break, shaking off a slow start to the season and showing that they can play with some of the best teams in the class. Gallagher, a 6-5 wing who scores seemingly at will, is posting 52-43-88 shooting splits and is a threat to drop 35 points on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='1256303' first='Eli' last='Kluesner'] (9.8) and Aiden Wessels (9.1) have been the other consistent scoring threats for the Blazers, and then their role players have all had some solid nights as scorers. A team that plays excellent defense (16th in 2A, 49.6 points), has played an extremely tough schedule (3rd in 2A), and has the best player in the district (Gallagher), Beckman is a very deserving favorite to come out of the district.   The biggest threat: MFL-Mar-Mac was clearly the best team in their conference this year, and they blasted their opposition on a nightly basis, winning games by an average of 33.3 points a night. They rank 2nd in scoring offense (77.6) and 3rd in scoring defense (44.3), but that comes with a major caveat - a schedule that ranks 91st out of 96 teams in the class. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs have a talented group with a number of fantastic scoring threats, led by sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381408' first='Zach' last='Driscoll'] (20.3, 4.8 assists), a quick, three-level scorer who can dominate games even when he isn't scoring with his ability to create shots for others as well as be a menace on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='2221613' first='Carver' last='Blietz-Bentien'] (13.9, 8.1 rebounds) has given the 'Dogs some muscle inside, and [player_tooltip player_id='2325439' first='Wyatt' last='Powell'] (10.9, 4.5 assists) has been a reliable ball-handler alongside Driscoll. The results this season have certainly been impressive, and now they'll have a chance to show that they can play with anyone.   The dark horse: If there is a team in this district with the horses to get hot offensively and run to a district championship, it's Denver. The Cyclones have three double-figure scorers, with two others averaging 8.4 and 9.7 points a game and a bevy of skilled marksmen from deep. Clayton Liddle (14.1, 40.9 3P%) is the team's leading scorer, a big wing who can get hot from deep in the blink of an eye. [player_tooltip player_id='1476937' first='Eli' last='Ricketts'] (13.7, 34.5 3P%) is a skilled creator who can get to the rim or play without the ball, and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759940' first='Talan' last='LaFrentz'] (10.5, 35.6 3P%) is another wing with pretty good size who can score from all three levels. The Cyclones will look to outscore you, not lock you down defensively, but if there is a team capable of getting hot and upsetting Beckman, this would be the type of team you're looking for.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'], Beckman Catholic 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256303' first='Eli' last='Kluesner'], Beckman Catholic 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381408' first='Zach' last='Driscoll'], MFL-Mar-Mac 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2221613' first='Carver' last='Blietz-Bentien'], MFL-Mar-Mac 2023 Clayton Liddle, Denver 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476937' first='Eli' last='Ricketts'], Denver 2023 Gannon Shekleton, New Hampton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167749' first='Carter' last='Steinlage'], New Hampton 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398026' first='Conall' last='Sauser'], Oelwein     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Lake Mills vs. Beckman Catholic   Of all the 2A substate finals, this one would be one of the most interesting, if it comes to be. Lake Mills has been a juggernaut for a handful of years now, rarely losing, but now they bump up to 2A for postseason play, and their schedule has been much less challenging than what Beckman has had to face. BC Moore's power rankings system has these two teams separated by just over two points, and that feels right here. Lake Mills has more options, but Beckman Catholic has the best player on the floor and [player_tooltip player_id='1067659' first='Padraig' last='Gallagher'] finds a way to will Beckman to the state tournament in a tight one.