Substate Preview: 1A-1

<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-1.png?w=612" alt="" class="wp-image-2341931" /></a></figure>   District 1   The favorite: The top seed in the district, North Union, has put together the best season in school history, racking up an 18-2 record behind a quartet of double-figure scorers. An experienced group, their top five scorers are all seniors. They're led by the forward tandem of Kody Irmiter (11.8, 8.1 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2377373' first='Aiden' last='Lofstrom'] (11.2, 7.6 rebounds), a pair of dominant rebounders who have controlled the painted area on both ends of the floor and scoring efficiently around the rim. Preston Guerdet (10.8, 37.6 3P%) is the team's best perimeter shooting threat, while Danyal Fothergill (10.5) is a reliable secondary ball-handler and playmaker alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2377298' first='Kyan' last='Jones'] (7.8, 5.7 assists), who will be one of the best lead guards in the substate. A strong defensive team that is allowing just 45.2 points a game, they hold quality wins over Estherville-Lincoln Central and Lake Mills.   The biggest threat: Despite being the third seed in the district, and having to go on the road for their district semifinal matchup, St. Edmond is the biggest threat to North Union in this district. The Gaels play in the 3A-dominant North Central Conference and have been solid since the holiday break, going 7-5 after the hiatus with all five losses coming against 3A competition. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (20.3, 11.1 rebounds) is a 6-4 efficient scorer and dominant rebounder who will be a difficult matchup for most teams in the district. [player_tooltip player_id='1751221' first='Sam' last='Mericle'] (13.7, 39.0 3P%) is a good perimeter shooter and scorer, and as a whole, they have three reliable shooting threats in Mericle, Grant Galles (5.1, 36.7 3P%) and JT Laufersweiler (5.1, 35.1 3P%).   The dark horse: If there's one thing we know about Newell-Fonda, it's that they're always going to be a potent offensive team, and this year is no exception, with four players averaging in double-figures, and one more just outside that mark. They play a four-guard lineup, with sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731864' first='Jacksyn' last='Hogrefe'] (13.6) and juniors Mason Hoberman (11.7), Max Carlson (11.2), and Guyson Lyman (9.7, 4.2 assists), giving them four reliable ball-handlers who are each capable of playing with or without the ball. Those four play around senior forward Eli Roberts (10.3), giving them five viable scorers whose games complement each other well. Defense and size will be the question for this group, and size could be an issue against St. Edmond in the district semifinals, but if they can get past the Gaels, they have the firepower to play with North Union.   Players to watch 2024 Kody Irmiter, North Union 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377373' first='Aiden' last='Lofstrom'], North Union 2024 Preston Guerdet, North Union 2024 Danyal Fothergill, North Union 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377298' first='Kyan' last='Jones'], North Union 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731864' first='Jacksyn' last='Hogrefe'], Newell-Fonda 2025 Mason Hoberman, Newell-Fonda 2025 Max Carlson, Newell-Fonda 2024 Eli Roberts, Newell-Fonda 2025 Blayne Smith, Ar-We-Va 2024 Emmett Neumann, Ar-We-Va 2026 Wyatt Ragaller, Ar-We-Va 2024 Jack Bloom, Alta-Aurelia 2024 Ayden Dullea, Alta-Aurelia 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'], St. Edmond 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751221' first='Sam' last='Mericle'], St. Edmond 2025 Kasey Hough, GTRA 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519956' first='Sullivan' last='Hall'], GTRA 2024 Dustin Hoksbergen, Trinity Christian 2024 Sam Schnepf, Sibley-Ocheyedan   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-2.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-2341940" /></a></figure>   District 2   The favorite: Three double-figure scorers pace a South O'Brien team that has been impressive this season, rolling to a 15-3 record as of the time of writing. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2721643' first='Derek' last='Paulsen'] (16.3, 36.1 3P%) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, while David Bottjen (13.3) and Willie Conley (12.2) are a pair of veterans with a lot of experience. Their 2-3 zone can be difficult for opposing teams to crack, especially when seeing it for the first time. They shouldn't have too many issues getting out of the top of the bracket and reaching the district final, where either MMCRU, who they split with, or IKM-Manning, one of the hottest teams in 1A, will likely be waiting.   The biggest threat: IKM-Manning has been really good since the holiday break, going 8-2 during that stretch, with their only two losses coming to Treynor and Underwood, a pair of ranked 2A teams. The Wolves are led by a pair of big-time scorers in sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (15.9, 40.3 3P%) and senior wing Ross Kusel (15.3), giving them a pair of dynamic scorers who can take over a game at any point in time. Senior guards Lane Sams (9.7, 35.5 3P%) and Justin Segebart (5.1, 37.9 3P%) are both solid shooting threats as well who can help space the floor and knock down open looks. They'll have to go on the road for their district semifinal meeting with MMCRU, but this team is good enough, and playing well enough, to win this district.   The dark horse: MMCRU has clinched their first winning season since the 2013-14 season when they went 13-10. They're limping a bit heading into the postseason, having lost three straight games, but they split with South O'Brien during the regular season, so they should have some confidence that they can play with the Wolverines if they meet for a third time. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765534' first='Brayson' last='Mulder'] (14.2) is the only player averaging in double-figures, and this is a team that likes to play at a little more deliberate pace, using a strong defense to try and suffocate teams. [player_tooltip player_id='1647544' first='Kyler' last='Bork'] (8.7) is a reliable playmaker in the backcourt, and Michael Peterson (8.4, 6.6 rebounds) is a good interior presence on both ends of the floor. The Royals don't shoot it well from deep (26.1 3P%), but they do a good job forcing turnovers and pounding the offensive glass to help gain more possessions.   Players to watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721643' first='Derek' last='Paulsen'], South O'Brien 2024 David Bottjen, South O'Brien 2024 Willie Conley, South O'Brien 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765534' first='Brayson' last='Mulder'], MMCRU 2025 Michael Peterson, MMCRU 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874770' first='Brody' last='Muenchrath'], Westwood 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721441' first='Wes' last='Vana'], Logan-Magnolia 2026 Adam Roden, Logan-Magnolia 2024 Mason McIntosh, West Harrison 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'], IKM-Manning 2024 Ross Kusel, IKM-Manning 2024 Aiden Holverson, West Monona 2024 Jeriah Sorensen, West Monona   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   North Union vs. South O'Brien   North Union is an extremely balanced, talented team that plays good defense and has put together an all-time season for the school. Despite being senior-heavy, they don't have much postseason experience, which could be a factor in this district and substate. That said, could they be a team of destiny? It kind of has that type of feel. For the first time in school history, the North Union Warriors head to Des Moines.