State Tournament: Tuesday Preview

2A Quarterfinal: #2 Roland-Story (24-1) vs. #7 Kuemper Catholic (18-6), 10:30 am

Analysis: Roland-Story comes into the quarterfinals riding a 14-game winning streak, with their lone loss this year coming to 1A #1 Grand View Christian. The Norsemen made it to the state quarterfinals last season, and have been eager to get back to this spot. Six of those 14 straight wins, however, have come by single digits, so they’ve been playing with fire lately and the task doesn’t get much easier with a really good Kuemper team. The Norsemen are led by a trio of double figure scorers in senior guard Isaiah Naylor Isaiah Naylor 6'0" | SG Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (18.0), junior wing Jonovan Wilkinson Jonovan Wilkinson 6'2" | SF Roland-Story | 2024 State IA (16.3), and senior forward Luke Patton Luke Patton 6'5" | PF Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (10.1, 13.2 rebounds). Naylor is a skilled shot creator who can get his own looks off the bounce whenever he wants. Wilkinson is a dynamic two-way player who is among the best and most versatile defenders in the state, and Patton has been a beast on the boards all year. Roland-Story has a number of quality role players who can shoot it and help space the floor, and this group will get after you defensively.

Kuemper can come at you in waves, with nine players averaging at least 3.0 points a game. Junior guard Michael Kasperbauer Michael Kasperbauer 5'11" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2024 State IA (13.5, 38.2 3P%) leads a balanced attack. He’s primarily an off-ball guard who moves well without the ball in his hands, but he has shown some secondary playmaking ability. Dawson Gifford Dawson Gifford 6'0" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2023 State IA (11.0, 42.1 3P%) and Brock Badding Brock Badding 5'10" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2026 State IA (8.5, 38.0 3P%) are good shooters as well, while point guard Carson Kanne Carson Kanne 5'9" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2025 State IA (7.6, 4.0 assists) has emerged as a reliable ball-handler and decision-maker who values possessions. Junior forward DJ Vonnahme (9.1, 6.6 rebounds) missed nine games earlier in the year after suffering a seizure on the court following a terrifying fall, but he’s back in the lineup and will match up with Patton in an effort to control the glass. The Knights have a number of shooters to place around Vonnahme, but this is a team that lacks state tournament experience, which could play in Roland-Story’s favor here.

Players to watch
Roland-Story: 2023 Isaiah Naylor Isaiah Naylor 6'0" | SG Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (18.0 points, 2.4 assists); 2024 Jonovan Wilkinson Jonovan Wilkinson 6'2" | SF Roland-Story | 2024 State IA (16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals); 2023 Luke Patton Luke Patton 6'5" | PF Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (10.1 points, 13.2 rebounds)
Kuemper Catholic: 2024 Michael Kasperbauer Michael Kasperbauer 5'11" | PG Kuemper Catholic | 2024 State IA (13.5 points, 38.2 3P%); 2023 Dawson Gifford Dawson Gifford 6'0" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2023 State IA (11.0 points, 42.1 3P%); 2024 DJ Vonnahme (9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists)

Our pick: Roland-Story 66, Kuemper Catholic 60

2A Quarterfinal: #3 Western Christian (20-3) vs. #6 Monticello (17-6), 12:15 pm

Analysis: Western Christian is back at the state tournament for the 23rd time in school history, and the Wolfpack have a legitimate chance to add to their state record 10 state championships. They’re a little lucky to be here, however, having trailed by 16 points with four minutes to go in their substate final before a furious rally got them to this point. Tate Van Regenmorter Tate Van Regenmorter 6'5" | PF Western Christian | 2023 State IA (14.4, 38.1 3P%) and Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'3" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA (13.0, 4.0 assists) lead the team in scoring. They’re a pair of high IQ wings with good size and playmaking ability. The Wolfpack have a number of skilled shooters with the Van Regenmorter brothers joined by Chandler Pollema (10.3, 39.4 3P%) and Karsten Moret Karsten Moret 6'3" | SG Western Christian | 2025 State IA (7.4, 42.5 3P%) as the primary scorers. Veteran point guard Ashtin Van’t Hul Ashtin Van’t Hul 6'0" | PG Western Christian | 2023 State IA (7.3, 4.1 assists) is a calming presence in the backcourt. He was a key contributor on Western Christian’s 2021 title team.

The draw for Western Christian isn’t simple, however. Monticello was our #1 team in 2A coming into the season, and while the Panthers have battled injuries throughout the season, they’re healthy now and peaking at the right time. They have a pair of All-State players in junior Preston Ries Preston Ries 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2024 State IA (23.4, 10.3 rebounds) and senior guard Tate Petersen Tate Petersen 6'1" | PG Monticello | 2023 State IA (18.1, 5.4 assists). This is Petersen’s fourth straight trip to the Well, and Ries’ third, so this tandem has a ton of experience playing on the bigger court and they won’t be afraid of the moment. Ries, a future Iowa football player, will be a difficult matchup for Western with his athleticism and physicality. He’s a dynamic three-level scorer who can completely take over games with his raw athletic ability. Petersen has battled a shoulder injury since the holiday break, and his shooting numbers took a dip as a result, but he’s getting healthier and shooting it at a clip more consistent with how he has shot throughout his career. Carson Lambert Carson Lambert 6'3" | SF Monticello | 2025 State IA (10.9, 38.7 3P%) is a long, lanky wing who can knock down shots and defend multiple positions, and Jack Lambert (4.5, 45.0 3P%) has been an X-factor defensively since being put into the starting lineup seven games ago. This team is experienced and led by a pair of All-State players who have been in this situation a ton.

Players to watch
Western Christian: 2023 Tate Van Regenmorter Tate Van Regenmorter 6'5" | PF Western Christian | 2023 State IA (14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds); 2025 Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'3" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA (13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists); 2023 Chandler Pollema (10.3 points, 39.4 3P%)
Monticello: 2024 Preston Ries Preston Ries 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2024 State IA (23.4 points, 10.3 rebounds); 2023 Tate Petersen Tate Petersen 6'1" | PG Monticello | 2023 State IA (18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists); 2025 Carson Lambert Carson Lambert 6'3" | SF Monticello | 2025 State IA (10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 38.7 3P%)

Our pick: Monticello 65, Western Christian 62

3A Quarterfinal: #1 Bondurant-Farrar (23-0) vs. #8 Algona (17-7), 2:00 pm

Analysis: Bondurant-Farrar is the only team in the 3A field with fewer than five losses. The Bluejays have been fantastic all season, but have turned their play up a notch down the stretch, winning their last 10 games by an average of 24 points a game behind the strength of their two star wings – seniors Colby Collison Colby Collison 6'4" | SF Bondurant-Farrar | 2023 State IA (19.9, 6.6 rebounds) and Jaxson Fried Jaxson Fried 6'6" | SF Bondurant- Farrar | 2023 State IA (16.5, 6.5 rebounds). Collison, at 6-3, and Fried, at 6-6, are a pair of long wings who can score from all three levels and impact the game defensively with their length. Both are highly efficient scoring threats with the ability to create for themselves or their teammates. But they’re far from along. Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'4" Bondurant Farrar | 2024 IA (12.0, 4.8 assists) is another big guard with length who can really pass it, and Everett White (10.1, 6.7 rebounds) has provided some additional size and length in the paint. This team is long across the board and knows how to win in a variety of different styles.

Algona likes to get out and run, averaging 69.5 points a game. At one point this season they were 9-7, but they’ve rattled off eight straight wins to get to this point, led by talented sophomore guard Ben Helmers Ben Helmers 6'4" | PG Algona | 2025 State IA (18.1, 37.6 3P%). At 6-4, he can score from all three levels as well as defend multiple positions. Caden Weber (12.7) is a reliable secondary scorer, and Alex Manske Alex Manske 6'3" | SG Algona | 2025 State IA (11.7, 9.8 rebounds) and Simon Feucht Simon Feucht 6'6" | PF Algona | 2023 State IA (10.3, 40.0 3P%) are also capable of big scoring nights. This team is playing their best basketball of the season now, and they have a number of scorers, but they’ll likely struggle to defend Bondurant-Farrar’s dribble-drive attack, and may struggle with the tremendous length that the Jays can throw at you defensively.

Players to watch
Bondurant-Farrar: 2023 Colby Collison Colby Collison 6'4" | SF Bondurant-Farrar | 2023 State IA (19.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 54.1 FG%); 2023 Jaxson Fried Jaxson Fried 6'6" | SF Bondurant- Farrar | 2023 State IA (16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 37.9 3P%); 2024 Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'4" Bondurant Farrar | 2024 IA (12.0 points, 4.8 assists, 2.3 steals, 40.3 3P%); 2023 Everett White (10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 54.0 FG%)
Algona: 2025 Ben Helmers Ben Helmers 6'4" | PG Algona | 2025 State IA (18.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 53.5 FG%); 2023 Caden Weber (12.7 points); 2025 Alex Manske Alex Manske 6'3" | SG Algona | 2025 State IA (11.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 55.3 FG%); 2023 Simon Feucht Simon Feucht 6'6" | PF Algona | 2023 State IA (10.3 points, 40.0 3P%)

Our pick: Bondurant-Farrar 78, Algona 60

3A Quarterfinal: #4 Newton (17-6) vs. #5 North Polk (19-5), 3:45 pm

Analysis: The top two scoring defenses in the 3A field meet up here, with Newton allowing 49.6 points a game, and North Polk allowing just 48.3. Expect this one to be a fascinating chess match, and it may be the first team to 40 wins. Newton is looking to become the fifth different Little Hawkeye Conference team to win the 3A title in the last five years, and the staggering development of Cole Plowman Cole Plowman 6'4" | PF Newton | 2023 State IA (14.8, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) is a big reason why the Cardinals have a real chance to do so. Plowman, a 6-5 big who runs the floor, can shoot it, and blocks shots, has been excellent this year as the defensive anchor for the Cardinals. Jake Ingle Jake Ingle 5'7" | PG Newton | 2023 State IA (10.6, 4.3 assists) is a small but fearless lead guard who can knock down shots and get to the bucket, and Brody Bauer Brody Bauer 6'2" | SG Newton | 2023 State IA (13.0, 37.0 3P%) is a really good shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release. The Cardinals have a number of other viable shooting threats who can knock down open looks that Ingle is able to get them.

Only seven teams have scored more than 49 points against North Polk this season, and while the Comets have been outstanding on that end of the floor, they’ve also struggled at times to score, which could be an issue against a similarly dominant defensive team. Junior guard Reggie Postel Reggie Postel 6'1" | SG North Polk | 2024 State IA (12.4) and senior Jackson Nemmers Jackson Nemmers 6'2" | SG North Polk | 2023 State IA (11.2) are the team’s top scorers, but this is a team that has a number of players capable of putting the ball in the bucket, and they don’t really care who’s doing the scoring, as long as someone is. Both of these teams are excellent defensively, and points will be hard to come by. But we’ll side with the team that has the slightly better playmakers in the backcourt.

Players to watch
Newton: 2023 Cole Plowman Cole Plowman 6'4" | PF Newton | 2023 State IA (14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 61.2 FG%); 2023 Brody Bauer Brody Bauer 6'2" | SG Newton | 2023 State IA (13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 37.0 3P%); 2023 Jake Ingle Jake Ingle 5'7" | PG Newton | 2023 State IA (10.6 points, 4.3 assists, 37.7 3P%)
North Polk: 2024 Reggie Postel Reggie Postel 6'1" | SG North Polk | 2024 State IA (12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds); 2023 Jackson Nemmers Jackson Nemmers 6'2" | SG North Polk | 2023 State IA (11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds); 2023 Jaxon Rutledge (7.0 points, 4.1 assists)

Our pick: Newton 48, North Polk 44

3A Quarterfinal: #3 Marion (19-6) vs. #6 Heelan (18-6), 5:30 pm

Analysis: Two of the most dynamic scoring threats in 3A will meet up in this one in Marion guard Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA (22.5, 41.6 3P%) and Heelan wing Matthew Noll Matthew Noll 6'7" | PF Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA (18.0). Marion lost to Winterset in overtime in the quarterfinals last year and brought back a huge chunk of that roster, and the Wolves will be looking to make some more noise this year. Laube is an extremely talented scorer at 6-2 with great handles, unlimited range, and a lightning-quick release. He’s capable of going off for 40 points, and the Wolves are able to put a number of good athletes around him. Alex Mota Alex Mota 6'1" | SG Marion | 2023 State IA (10.2, 5.2 rebounds) is headed to Iowa for football, while Myles Davis Myles Davis 6'1" | SG Marion | 2024 State IA (6.4, 36.9 3P%) will play baseball at Iowa in two years. Calen Claypool (9.8, 6.0 rebounds) has really come on strong this year in the paint for the Wolves, providing them with some size and athleticism. This team is quick, athletic, and they play with a bit of an edge.

When Heelan is playing well, they’re capable of beating just about anyone in the class. The problem for the Crusaders has been consistency. Junior wing Matthew Noll Matthew Noll 6'7" | PF Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA (18.0, 8.0 rebounds) is a really talented wing scorer who can create his own shot as well as get good looks with his off-ball movement. He hasn’t shot the ball as well as he’s capable of this year, but he can knock down shots and have explosive scoring quarters, as he showed during the summer with Martin Brothers. The Crusaders are able to put a number of good shooters around him in Carter Kuehl Carter Kuehl 5'11" | PG Bishop Heelan | 2023 State IA (13.9, 40.6 3P%), Sam Skinner Sam Skinner 5'9" | SG Heelan | 2023 State IA (8.4, 37.3 3P%), and Beau Chamberlain Beau Chamberlain 6'2" | SG Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA (5.8, 38.6 3P%). It will be interesting to see how Heelan attacks Laube defensively, and what Marion does against Noll. Whichever star is able to diagnose and get going quicker may have the edge here.

Players to watch
Marion: 2023 Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA (22.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 41.6 3P%); 2023 Alex Mota Alex Mota 6'1" | SG Marion | 2023 State IA (10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists); 2023 Calen Claypool (9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds)
Heelan: 2024 Matthew Noll Matthew Noll 6'7" | PF Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA (18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists); 2023 Carter Kuehl Carter Kuehl 5'11" | PG Bishop Heelan | 2023 State IA (13.9 points, 3.7 assists, 40.6 3P%); 2023 Sam Skinner Sam Skinner 5'9" | SG Heelan | 2023 State IA (8.4 points, 2.4 assists, 37.3 3P%)

Our pick: Marion 66, Heelan 60

3A Quarterfinal: #2 Xavier (18-6) vs. #7 Hoover (15-9), 7:15 pm

Analysis: Xavier has been one of the top teams in the class all year, getting off to a great 9-0 start before losing five of their next seven by a combined 13 points. They’re led by one of the best tandems in the state in senior wing Aidan Yamilkoski Aidan Yamilkoski 6'4" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (17.9) and junior guard Joseph Bean Joseph Bean 6'3" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (14.4), a pair of versatile scoring threats who can create looks for themselves or their teammates. Yamilkoski has really taken his all-around game to another level this year and will need to be the focal point of the Hoover gameplan defensively. Josef Lemker Josef Lemker 6'2" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (11.8, 45.6 3P%) is a fantastic shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands, and 6-8 big Tyler Netolicky Tyler Netolicky 6'8" | C Xavier | 2024 State IA (8.3, 6.8 rebounds) could be a difference maker here with his size and presence in the paint. The Saints shoot it as well as any team in the 3A field.

Hoover drops down to 3A for the first time this season, and the Huskies entered the year ranked #1 in the class by us. Senior point guard Chase Henderson Chase Henderson 6'0" | PG Hoover | 2023 State IA (21.7, 5.0 assists) is one of the most dynamic players in the state, regardless of class. He’s a lightning-quick guard with elite handles who can get to the rim pretty much whenever he wants, and he creates chaos on the defensive end with his speed and hands. Elijah Vos Elijah Vos 6'4" | SF Hoover | 2023 State IA (13.5, 40.1 3P%) is a big wing who can really shoot it off the catch, and he has also shown a willingness to take smaller defenders onto the block and score or create. Senior guard Malakahi Johnson-Bassey (7.5, 50.0 3P%) provides additional perimeter shooting, taking advantage of the open looks provided to him by Henderson and Vos. Hoover is always a well-coached defensive team, and this is no exception. They’re athletic and fast, and Henderson’s ability to control the game on both ends with his speed and talent will be tough for Xavier to deal with.

Players to watch
Xavier: 2023 Aidan Yamilkoski Aidan Yamilkoski 6'4" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 42.7 3P%); 2024 Joseph Bean Joseph Bean 6'3" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists); 2023 Josef Lemker Josef Lemker 6'2" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 45.6 3P%); 2024 Tyler Netolicky Tyler Netolicky 6'8" | C Xavier | 2024 State IA (8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds)
Hoover: 2023 Chase Henderson Chase Henderson 6'0" | PG Hoover | 2023 State IA (21.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists); 2023 Elijah Vos Elijah Vos 6'4" | SF Hoover | 2023 State IA (13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 40.1 3P%); 2023 Malakai Johnson-Bassey (7.5 points, 50.0 3P%)

Our pick: Hoover 63, Xavier 59