Class 3A Substate Final Preview
In this article:
Substate 1: MOC-Floyd Valley (20-3) vs. Heelan (14-9) [at LeMars] A pair of big-time scorers meet up in this one in MOC-Floyd Valley star Jesse Van Kalsbeek Jesse Van Kalsbeek 6'6" | SF MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024 State IA (25.3,…
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Continue ReadingSubstate 1: MOC-Floyd Valley (20-3) vs. Heelan (14-9) [at LeMars]
A pair of big-time scorers meet up in this one in MOC-Floyd Valley star
Jesse Van Kalsbeek
Jesse
Van Kalsbeek
6'6" | SF
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024
State
IA
(25.3, 10.7 rebounds) and Heelan forward
Matthew Noll
Matthew
Noll
6'7" | PF
Bishop Heelan | 2024
State
IA
(21.4, 10.9 rebounds). Van Kalsbeek is an athletic, powerful guard who loves to play downhill and attack the rim, using his strength to finish through contact. He creates well off the dribble for his teammates and has a solid mid-range game as well. While Van Kalsbeek is the headliner, the Dutchmen have a number of other solid options alongside him in
Blake Aalbers
Blake
Aalbers
6'0" | PG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(14.5),
Ahman Langton
Ahman
Langton
5'11" | PG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(9.6, 3.0 assists),
Owen Vander Pol
Owen
Vander Pol
6'5" | PF
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(8.1, 58.5 FG%), and
Draeden Punt
Draeden
Punt
6'5" | PF
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2026
State
IA
(6.9). Aalbers is the team’s best shooter, knocking down 62 3-pointers this season, while Langton is a quick playmaking guard and Vander Pol and Punt give them some size, which they will need to contend with Noll, a 6-8 forward who can take over games as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker.
Quinn Olson
Quinn
Olson
6'3" | SF
Heelan | 2024
State
IA
(11.7, 3.7 assists) is a solid playmaker in the backcourt, while
Sean Schaefer
Sean
Schaefer
6'0" | SG
Heelan | 2024
State
IA
(7.0) and
Beau Chamberlain
Beau
Chamberlain
6'2" | SG
Bishop Heelan | 2024
State
IA
(7.0) are experienced players who fill their roles well. The Crusaders are playing good basketball, especially on the defensive end, right now and they have a few more answers for Van Kalsbeek than MOC-FV has for Noll, giving them a slight edge here.
The pick: Heelan
Substate 2: Clear Lake (22-1) vs. Ballard (15-8) [at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows]
Clear Lake has been dominant this season, winning games by nearly 21 points a game, and the Lions haven’t slowed down in the postseason, posting a 32-point win over Boone in the quarterfinals and a 21-point victory against North Polk in the semifinals. Despite battling injuries to their top two players, they’ve continued to roll along, a testament to the talent and depth in this program. One of the aforementioned injured players,
Titan Schmitt
Titan
Schmitt
6'0" | SG
Clear Lake | 2025
State
IA
(10.6, 46.3 3P%), has returned to the lineup, coming off the bench to provide some shooting and playmaking.
Cael Stephany
Cael
Stephany
6'1" | PG
Clear Lake | 2024
State
IA
(10.5, 3.5 assists, 38.1 3P%) is another good shooter and playmaker, while
Dylan Litzel
Dylan
Litzel
6'4" | PF
Clear Lake | 2024
State
IA
(10.0), Gavin Anderson (9.0, 3.2 assists), and
Trevor Theobald
Trevor
Theobald
6'0" | PG
Clear Lake | 2026
IA
(6.7, 5.6 assists) have been quality role players all year. They’ve also gotten increased production down the stretch from a pair of youngsters – freshman
Jaxson McIntire
Jaxson
McIntire
6'2" | SF
Clear Lake | 2027
State
IA
(5.9) and sophomore
Max Larson
Max
Larson
6'4" | PF
Clear Lake | 2026
IA
(5.7), adding to their depth of talent. Big man
Thomas Meyer
Thomas
Meyer
6'4" | SF
Clear Lake | 2025
State
IA
(12.4, 7.8 rebounds), their leading scorer and rebounder, is out, but this team still has the goods to make a deep run in Des Moines. Sophomore guard
Jude Gibson
Jude
Gibson
6'0" | PG
Ballard | 2026
State
IA
(17.1, 5.2 assists) is a standout guard for Ballard, a quick athlete who plays downhill and puts constant pressure on opposing backcourts on both ends of the floor.
Jackson Brown
Jackson
Brown
6'1" | SG
Ballard | 2025
State
IA
(14.0, 42.9 3P%) and
Mason Gatchel
Mason
Gatchel
6'1" | SG
Ballard | 2025
State
IA
(6.3, 40.4 3P%) have emerged as reliable shooters alongside Gibson, and they complement the dribble-penetrating guard well, while
Nolan Cogdill
Nolan
Cogdill
6'7" | SF
Ballard | 2024
State
IA
(10.0, 38.9 3P%) has given the Bombers strong minutes as a defender and floor-stretcher. Clear Lake has been the top defensive team in the class this season, allowing just 46.4 points per game, and while Ballard is a step up in competition from many of the teams they’ve played this year, the depth and athleticism of the Lions gives them an edge here in what should be one of the best games of the night.
The pick: Clear Lake
Substate 3: Decorah (21-2) vs. Charles City (15-8) [at Crestwood]
Decorah swept the season series, winning 63-50 on December 8, and 88-57 on January 22. Expect this substate final to land somewhere in the middle of those two outcomes. The Vikings are the most explosive offensive team in the class, averaging 77.9 points a game behind four double figure scorers:
Ben Bockman
Ben
Bockman
6'5" | SF
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(19.6, 48.7 3P%), Cael LaFrentz (16.1, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks),
Treyton McCain
Treyton
McCain
6'1" | PG
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(12.1, 7.3 assists), and
Zach Driscoll
Zach
Driscoll
6'0" | SG
Decorah | 2025
State
IA
(10.1, 50.8 3P%).
Matthew Bockman
Matthew
Bockman
6'1" | SG
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(9.6) also contributed close to double figures, and
Kaiden Quandahl
Kaiden
Quandahl
6'4" | SF
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(4.1, 5.7 rebounds) is the glue guy who does a bit of everything for this group. They are capable of scoring in bunches both in transition and in the halfcourt, inside and out, and they move the ball extremely well (22.4 assists per game). Charles City will need to grind this game to a halt, take care of the ball, and hope to get big nights from
Keenen Wiley
Keenen
Wiley
6'6" | SF
Charles City | 2024
State
IA
(16.2, 9.0 rebounds),
Jack Hanson
Jack
Hanson
6'2" | SG
Charles City | 2024
State
IA
(12.8, 4.3 assists), and Jeb Wandro (10.4, 38.4 3P%) if they want to pull off a huge upset.
The pick: Decorah
Substate 4: Marion (18-5) vs. Assumption (15-8) [at Alliant Energy PowerHouse]
When Assumption is playing well, they may just be the best team in 3A, and they’re playing really well right now. The Knights are coming off a 24-point beatdown of Mount Vernon to advance to the substate final. A quick, athletic team led by the guard tandem of
Damyen Jackson
Damyen
Jackson
6'0" | PG
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(15.2) and
Navon Shabazz
Navon
Shabazz
6'4" | CG
Assumption | 2026
State
IA
(14.9) are electric scorers and playmakers off the dribble, and the Knights are able to surround them with talented, athletic role players.
Kayvion Hodges
Kayvion
Hodges
6'3" | SF
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(9.5, 7.0 rebounds) is a great athlete who, at 6-2, has long arms, great lateral movement, and can defend multiple positions.
Braylon Thomsen
Braylon
Thomsen
6'4" | SF
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(9.0, 35.3 3P%) is the team’s best shooter, and
Joey Funderburk
Joey
Funderburk
6'6" | PF
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(7.7) gives them some size in the paint. Marion is coming off a four-overtime marathon win over Maquoketa on Thursday night, and while they will have had nearly four days to rest, how much do the Wolves have left in the tank after that emotionally draining win?
Austin Goodrich
Austin
Goodrich
6'1" | SG
Marion | 2025
State
IA
(12.3, 39.0 3P%) leads the team in scoring and is their best shooter, while athletic big man Kyler Whitman (11.9, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks) is a 6-6 forward who could give them an edge in the paint against a smaller Assumption team. At that peak, Assumption is the better team, but consistency has been an issue. If they show up to play, they should win this one relatively comfortably.
The pick: Assumption
Substate 5: Williamsburg (15-8) vs. Keokuk (17-6) [at Alliant Energy PowerHouse]
Keokuk is the lone #4 seed to reach the substate finals, and the Chiefs win over Solon was no fluke. Sophomore big man
Jaxon Clark
Jaxon
Clark
6'7" | C
Keokuk | 2026
State
IA
(20.0, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 65.5 FG%) is a difference-maker in the paint on both ends of the floor. A big 6-8/6-9 forward with great footwork and patience, soft touch, and good court vision, he can dominate the game on both ends.
Diego Garcia
Diego
Garcia
6'2" | SF
Keokuk | 2024
State
IA
(13.1, 4.2 assists) is a slashing wing who creates well off the bounce for his teammates, and the tandem of
Brenton Hoard
Brenton
Hoard
6'2" | SG
Keokuk | 2025
State
IA
(11.9) and
Tramell Smith
Tramell
Smith
6'1" | SG
Keokuk | 2025
State
IA
(7.2, 41.7 3P%) give them some shooting alongside Clark and Garcia, complementing that duo’s skill sets well. Williamsburg avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Clear Creek-Amana to reach the substate finals, and star senior
Derek Weisskopf
Derek
Weisskopf
6'3" | SG
Williamsburg | 2024
State
IA
(21.0, 8.3 rebounds) was outstanding in that win, going off for 37 points on 14-19 shooting (4-6 3P, 5-5 FT), 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. The future Iowa linebacker is a game-changing athlete who can score from all three levels, create off the dribble for his teammates, and control the glass. Keokuk will have a tough time slowing him down, especially if the Raiders are able to get Clark into foul trouble (averages 2.4 fouls per game, so not likely, but Weisskopf has the skill set to do so).
Kellen Cockrell
Kellen
Cockrell
6'6" | PF
Williamsburg | 2024
State
IA
(10.1, 7.8 rebounds) will match up with Clark, a long and athletic 6-7 forward who will be giving up a lot of weight, but he’s bouncy and agile.
Grant Hocker
Grant
Hocker
6'3" | SF
Williamsburg | 2025
State
IA
(10.5) is the other notable scorer for the Raiders, and he’ll need to knock down some shots from 3 in this one to take some of the pressure off of Weisskopf. The size and skill set of Clark could be an issue for the Raiders here, while the athleticism and shot creation of Weisskopf could be an issue for Keokuk. Whichever star plays better gets the win here.
The pick: Williamsburg
Substate 6: Waverly-Shell Rock (19-3) vs. Grinnell (16-7) [at Marshalltown]
Waverly-Shell Rock got a scare from Gilbert in the semifinals, eventually winning 80-73, but that Gilbert team was probably a bit underseeded and may have been a better matchup for the Go-Hawks in the substate final, as opposed to the semifinals. The Go-Hawks have been the most dynamic team in the state from the arc this season, burying 43.7% of their 3-point attempts behind the quarter of
Luke Frazell
Luke
Frazell
6'6" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025
State
IA
(18.8, 7.3 rebounds, 53.8 3P%),
Noah Frazell
Noah
Frazell
6'1" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(17.0, 51.7 3P%),
Cole Marsh
Cole
Marsh
6'6" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(16.4, 44.1 3P%), and
Benny Ramker
Benny
Ramker
5'8" | PG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(12.7, 47.2 3P%). All four are elite shooters who can do so at a high level both off the dribble and the catch, and they move the ball extremely well, whipping it around the floor and making the defense work. Marsh, a future Iowa tight end, is a game-changing athlete as a rebounder, defender, and three-level scorer, and could be the difference-maker here. Grinnell is second in the class in scoring defense, allowing just 47.1 points a game this season, but this W-SR attack is on another level than any other team they’ve played this season. The Tigers are led by junior guard Ryan McIlrath (15.2) and senior Cole Blackford (14.2, 4.0 assists), while four others average between 6.5 and 9.8 points per game. While Grinnell has been excellent on the defensive end of the floor, they’ll be hard-pressed to slow down W-SR tonight, so they’ll probably need to try and outscore the Go-Hawks, which means McIlrath, Blackford, and company will need to be efficient.
The pick: Waverly-Shell Rock
Substate 7: Winterset (15-9) vs. Pella (14-9) [at Indianola]
Both teams escaped their semifinal games with six-point wins, Pella over Clarke, and Winterset over Newton. Pella has been the slightly better team offensively this season, averaging 66.6 points a game, while Winterset is the better defensive team, allowing 54.8 a night, but these teams are very, very evenly matched. According to BC Moore’s power rankings system, Pella is a 0.14-point favorite here. The Dutch are led by sophomore wing
Jack McGuire
Jack
McGuire
6'5" | SF
Pella | 2026
State
IA
(14.3, 7.6 rebounds, 61.0 FG%),
Luke Hardman
Luke
Hardman
6'0" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
(11.8, 38.1 3P%), and
Cameron Rowe
Cameron
Rowe
6'3" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
(10.7). McGuire is a long, athletic 6-3 wing who can create looks for his teammates off the dribble, and Hardman is the team’s best shooter. The Dutch don’t shoot it particularly well from deep as a team (32.8 3P%), an area that could be of concern against the quick 2-3 zone that Winterset plays. Winterset is pretty small, which is not generally what you expect from a team that plays a 2-3, but their speed within that zone makes them a bit unique, and they can create some chaos on the defensive end with that quickness.
Hudson Wilmes
Hudson
Wilmes
6'0" | SG
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
(15.4, 38.8 3P%) is the team’s best shooter, while
Sam Hensley
Sam
Hensley
6'5" | PF
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
(14.6, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) gives them length, floor-stretching, and some rebounding, while
Hayden Wilmes
Hayden
Wilmes
6'0" | SG
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
(13.9, 2.7 steals) and
Hank Wilmes
Hank
Wilmes
5'9" | PG
Winterset | 2025
State
IA
(5.0, 5.1 assists, 2.6 steals) give them some playmaking and defense. Can Pella shoot it well enough to take advantage of the zone? Or will Winterset’s speed be too much?
The pick: Winterset
Substate 8: ADM (20-3) vs. Bondurant-Farrar (14-9) [at Waukee]
ADM swept the season series, winning 61-53 on December 8 and home, and then going to Bondurant and coming away with a 74-63 win on January 19. The Tigers made a combined 19 3-pointers in those two wins, and on the season they’re averaging 9 made 3s per game, making them one of the more deadly teams from behind the arc in the class. Four different players average more than a made 3 per game and with their free-flowing offensive attack, they space the floor and put up points in bunches. Sophomore guard
Hudson Lorensen
Hudson
Lorensen
5'11" | SG
ADM | 2026
State
IA
(16.0, 44.3 3P%) has taken over the team’s scoring lead, while senior wing
Adam Bryte
Adam
Bryte
6'4" | SG
Adel-DeSoto-Minburn | 2024
State
IA
(15.8, 7.8 rebounds, 38.9 3P%) is another long, knockdown shooter who moves really well without the ball in his hands.
Rhylan Stine-Smith
Rhylan
Stine-Smith
5'11" | PG
ADM | 2024
State
IA
(10.2, 5.6 assists) has been really good in a lead guard role, and
Grant Rychnovsky
Grant
Rychnovsky
6'4" | PF
ADM | 2024
State
IA
(10.1, 7.0 rebounds, 56.1 FG%) holds down the painted area. The defending champion Bluejays are led by senior wing
Tanner Berggren
Tanner
Berggren
6'3" | SF
Bondurant-Farrar | 2024
State
IA
921.9, 37.0 3P%), who is enjoying a breakout season as a 6-4 wing scorer with a pure stroke from deep and an excellent mid-range game.
Cole Miller
Cole
Miller
5'10" | PG
Bondurant-Farrar | 2025
State
IA
(12.7, 7.5 assists) is a tough lead guard who gets his teammates involved and gets to the rim, and
Hudson McConnell
Hudson
McConnell
6'2" | SF
Bondurant-Farrar | 2025
State
IA
(11.0, 51.8 FG%) has emerged as a reliable tertiary scoring option who can stretch the floor, shoot it from the mid-range, or get to the rim. Berggren will have to have a huge game here for Bondurant-Farrar to pull off the upset, and while it’s certainly possible, the overall depth of scoring threats that ADM is able to put on the floor gets them through.
The pick: ADM