The favorite: MOC-Floyd Valley, the #2 scoring team in the class at 75.8 points a game, earned the top seed in this substate and should have a slightly easier path to the substate final than Humboldt or Algona at the…
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The favorite: MOC-Floyd Valley, the #2 scoring team in the class at 75.8 points a game, earned the top seed in this substate and should have a slightly easier path to the substate final than Humboldt or Algona at the bottom of the bracket. The Dutchmen are a dynamic offensive team filled with elite shooting threats, with their top four shooting a combined 172-378 (45.5%) from behind the arc.
Jesse Van Kalsbeek
Jesse
Van Kalsbeek
6'0" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024
State
IA
(19.6) is the team’s leading scorer, and the least prolific of that quartet, *only* shooting 38.6% from deep. A highly efficient guard who loves to play downhill and get to the bucket, he’s shooting 58.5% from the floor and puts constant pressure on opposing defenses.
Ayden Klein
Ayden
Klein
5'11" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023
State
IA
(pictured, 16.5, 41.8 3P%) is a quick guard who, like Van Kalsbeek, would rather get to the rim than shoot it. The ability to Van Kalsbeek and Klein to get into the teeth of the defense and kick it out is a major benefit for
Luke Korver
Luke
Korver
6'1" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023
State
IA
(16.3, 49.0 3P%) and Blake Aalbers (9.7, 47.1 3P%), the team’s top two shooters. Both move really well without the ball and have quick releases off the catch. This is a team filled with offensive options, which makes them difficult to defend, as it’s unlikely that all four of them are going to have poor shooting nights at the same time.
The biggest threats: No team in the state hoists up the 3-ball more than Humboldt, averaging 32.1 3-point attempts a game. The Warriors-lite style helped lead the Wildcats to the state tournament last year, and it very well may again this year. Four different players have made at least 30 3s this season, which makes this a difficult group to defend with how they can space the floor. Senior guard
Will Orness
Will
Orness
6'1" | SG
Humboldt | 2023
State
IA
(16.4, 36.1 3P%) is the team’s top scorer and facilitator, a physical and quick guard who can put pressure on the defense with his ability to get to the bucket or stop on a dime and shoot.
Joshua Thurm
Joshua
Thurm
6'1" | SG
Humboldt | 2023
State
IA
(15.3, 45.0 3P%) is the top shooter, a wing who can shoot it both off the dribble and the catch. Evan Hatcher (13.3, 7.9 rebounds) leads the team in rebounding, is a solid playmaker, and is a 43% 3-point shooter, and Elliot Carlson (14.1) is a versatile, attacking guard. This group is averaging 76.8 points a game, the best in 3A. They swept the season series against likely semifinal opponent, Algona, by 20 and 4 points.
Algona was swept by Humboldt, but the more recent meeting was a 4-point game and is a game that the Bulldogs led heading into the fourth quarter. They have four double-figure scorers of their own, headlined by sophomore wing
Ben Helmers
Ben
Helmers
6'4" | PG
Algona | 2025
State
IA
(18.3), a quick, athletic wing who can score from all three levels. Forward
Alex Manske
Alex
Manske
6'3" | SG
Algona | 2025
State
IA
(12.0, 9.4 rebounds) controls the glass on both ends of the floor, while
Simon Feucht
Simon
Feucht
6'6" | PF
Algona | 2023
State
IA
(11.0, 40.6 3P%) is an intriguing 6-6 stretch-forward who has put together a strong senior year. Caden Weber (12.9) is at his best attacking the rim, and junior guard
Landon Welp
Landon
Welp
5'11"
Algona | 2024
IA
(4.9, 5.6 assists) isn’t a major scorer, but he’s the straw that stirs the drink as the team’s point guard, getting others involved at a high clip. This is another dynamic offensive team in this substate filled with high-scoring teams.
The dark horse: Sioux Center would love to get a third shot at MOC-Floyd Valley after losing twice to the Dutchmen in the regular season. The Warriors are led by senior guard
Kylar Fritz
Kylar
Fritz
6'0" | SG
Sioux Center | 2023
State
IA
(18.3), and then have a balanced rotation of secondary scoring threats in
Cael Van Beek
Cael
Van Beek
6'4" | SF
Sioux Center | 2024
State
IA
(8.9), Tyler Roseberry (8.4),
Carson Bruhn
Carson
Bruhn
6'6" | PF
Sioux Center | 2024
State
IA
(7.6), and Briggs Friedmann (7.4). Van Beek is the type of versatile wing with size and length who could give MOC some issues, and if Fritz gets hot, they could do some damage.
Players to watch
2024
Jesse Van Kalsbeek
Jesse
Van Kalsbeek
6'0" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024
State
IA
, MOC-Floyd Valley
2023
Ayden Klein
Ayden
Klein
5'11" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023
State
IA
, MOC-Floyd Valley
2023
Luke Korver
Luke
Korver
6'1" | SG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023
State
IA
, MOC-Floyd Valley
2023
Will Orness
Will
Orness
6'1" | SG
Humboldt | 2023
State
IA
, Humboldt
2023
Joshua Thurm
Joshua
Thurm
6'1" | SG
Humboldt | 2023
State
IA
, Humboldt
2024 Evan Hatcher, Humboldt
2025 Elliot Carlson, Humboldt
2025
Ben Helmers
Ben
Helmers
6'4" | PG
Algona | 2025
State
IA
, Algona
2025
Alex Manske
Alex
Manske
6'3" | SG
Algona | 2025
State
IA
, Algona
2023
Kylar Fritz
Kylar
Fritz
6'0" | SG
Sioux Center | 2023
State
IA
, Sioux Center
2023
Tyler Voss
Tyler
Voss
6'4" | PF
Spirit Lake | 2023
State
IA
, Spirit Lake
2025
Dylan Stecker
Dylan
Stecker
6'4" | SF
Spirit Lake | 2025
State
IA
, Spirit Lake
2026
Jaidyn Coon
Jaidyn
Coon
6'4" | PF
Storm Lake | 2026
IA
, Storm Lake
2026
Cameron Boyd
Cameron
Boyd
6'1" | SG
Storm Lake | 2026
IA
, Storm Lake
2025 Geren Kenney, Perry
2023
Owen Olson
Owen
Olson
6'0" | SG
Spencer | 2023
State
IA
, Spencer
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
MOC-Floyd Valley vs. Humboldt
We think the chalk will hold in this substate, with the top two seeds meeting in the substate final. And in this one, defense is optional! The top two scoring teams in the class meet up here. Two exceptional shooting teams that love to get up and down the floor, this one likely comes down to whichever team shoots it better from the arc on this night. We’ll side with Humboldt, with the big-game experience of getting to the state tournament last year weighing in their favor. The Wildcats head to Des Moines for the second straight season.