Substate Preview: 2A-6

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-11.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-11.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785893" /></a></figure>   District 11   The favorite: West Burlington won their first 19 games of the season before dropping a tight contest against 3A Fairfield in their penultimate regular season game. The Falcons have been exceptional defensively, allowing just 44.3 points a game, using their overwhelming speed to smother teams on that end of the floor. This isn't a team with great size, but they do have a ton of quick guards who constantly put pressure on opposing teams on both ends of the floor. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'] (17.2, 36.1 3P%) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (14.6, 38.7 3P%) are a pair of dynamic guards who can create their own shots or make plays for their teammates. Jace Figuereo (11.6, 7.6 rebounds) is the emotional leader of this group, a senior wing who loves to attack the bucket, stick his nose in amongst the trees as a rebounder, and play strong on-ball defense. As should be expected with a guard-heavy team, they do a great job limiting turnovers (7.8 a game), and they play excellent defense. They should be considered a pretty heavy favorite in this district.   The biggest threat: After getting off to a slow start, Albia has won eight of their last nine games heading into postseason play, including a win over the Fairfield team that beat West Burlington. The Blue Demons have a dominant scorer in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1167695' first='Drew' last='Chance'] (24.1, 9.3 rebounds), the type of player who could give the Falcons some issues in a potential district final. Chance is a strong, physical forward who can score inside, stretch the floor, and create for his teammates. This is a team that pounds the offensive glass, pulling down over 11 offensive rebounds a game, helping gain extra possessions and offset the below-average shooting from behind the arc. This is a group that is playing well and that has a player who can take over a game and dominate. They're a real threat.   The dark horse: Another team with the type of size who could theoretically give West Burlington some problems would be Mediapolis. The Bulldogs have a physical presence in the paint in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1469828' first='Cole' last='Lipper'] (15.1), a strong 6-4/6-5 big man with good hands and soft touch. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='1596452' first='Max' last='Griffin'] (7.3, 38.5 3P%) is also the type of player who can get really hot in a hurry and drop 12 points in a quarter and alter the course of a game. The 'Dogs were swept by the Falcons in the regular season, losing by 15 and 13 points, but they'd love to get a third shot in the district final.   Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'], West Burlington 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'], West Burlington 2023 Jace Figuereo, West Burlington 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167695' first='Drew' last='Chance'], Albia 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469828' first='Cole' last='Lipper'], Mediapolis 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751184' first='Ty' last='Northup'], Louisa-Muscatine 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167734' first='Jackson' last='Manning'], Van Buren County   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-12.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/2A-12.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785894" /></a></figure>   District 12   The favorite: It's difficult to peg a favorite in this district, because #2 seed Pella Christian owns a head-to-head win over #1 seed Wilton, at Wilton. That said, that game came before the holiday break, was a game played within a single possession for a majority of the contest, and Pella Christian has been without their top two players in their last few games. With their availability uncertain, we'll peg Wilton as the favorite to come out of the district. The Beavers are led by 6-8 big man [player_tooltip player_id='1167686' first='Caden' last='Kirkman'] (27.6, 10.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.5 blocks), a dynamic, do-it-all forward who can absolutely dominate games as both a scorer and facilitator. The future Augstana (SD) big has put together a fantastic senior year and is looking to cap it off with a trip to the state tournament. They're able to put a pair of good shooters around Kirkman in junior [player_tooltip player_id='1376706' first='Landyn' last='Putman'] (14.6, 39.7 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1469778' first='Aidan' last='Walker'] (14.4, 34.7 3P%), giving them a strong trio of scorers.   The biggest threat: Pella Christian has the aforementioned head-to-head win over Wilton, and the Eagles have played the most difficult schedule in 2A, according to BC Moore. But they've also been without [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='DeVries'] (12.6, 4.2 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (7.1, 5.5 rebounds), arguably their top two players, in their final two regular season games. If they're healthy and good to go, they'll feel good about their chances to come out of this district, but with their status up in the air, we'll have to see what happens. DeVries is a small but extremely tough guard who lives to attack the bucket and put pressure on opposing defenses. This is a team that goes deep into their bench, with nine players averaging at least 2.3 points a game, and they play really good defense. A battle-tested team with a dynamic lead guard is tough to beat.   The dark horse: Mid-Prairie was swept in the regular season by Wilton, losing by 18 and 12 points, but the Golden Hawks would love to get another shot at the Beavers. [player_tooltip player_id='1738715' first='Camron' last='Pickard'] (15.3, 34.3 3P%) is a volume shooter who can get hot and carry his team to a win, while [player_tooltip player_id='1167728' first='Alex' last='Bean'] (13.5) is another quality scoring guard who can get to the bucket or knock down shots.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167686' first='Caden' last='Kirkman'], Wilton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469778' first='Aidan' last='Walker'], Wilton 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376706' first='Landyn' last='Putman'], Wilton 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='DeVries'], Pella Christian 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'], Pella Christian 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738715' first='Camron' last='Pickard'], Mid-Prairie 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167728' first='Alex' last='Bean'], Mid-Prairie 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1725069' first='Dayson' last='Leerhoff'], Pleasantville 2024 Jayce McHugh, West Liberty 2023 Archer Metcalf, Cardinal     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   West Burlington vs. Wilton   Maybe I'm just being stubborn and sticking with my prediction that I made on the Shooters Touch podcast last March, but I do like the way this substate broke for Wilton, and believe that the Beavers will make their first trip to the state tournament since 1912 behind a dominant three-game stretch from [player_tooltip player_id='1167686' first='Caden' last='Kirkman']. This would be a really tough matchup for West Burlington, as they just don't have the size to contend with Kirkman here.