Substate Preview: 1A-3

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-5.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-5.png?w=609" alt="" class="wp-image-2341952" /></a></figure>   District 5   The favorite: North Linn is one of the only two teams in 1A to rank within the top 10 in the class in both scoring offense (5th, 75.0) and defense (3rd, 35.5). While they may be considered a bit "down" from a few of the previous iterations of the Lynx, this is still the #1 team in the class, and the team to beat. As such, they've gotten a pretty easy draw here, getting a lot of teams from the Iowa Star Conference, a league that is power ranked significantly lower than the Tri-Rivers that North Linn resides in (the Lynx play Dunkerton, the top team in the Iowa Star, this week and BC Moore lists North Linn as a 29-point favorite). [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (19.6, 7.1 rebounds, 38.8 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (19.1, 5.6 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'] (9.9), three returning starters from last year's runner-up team, are the headliners for this group. Pflughaupt, an Upper Iowa signee, is a matchup problem at 6-6 and with his ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and control the glass. Bechen is one of the best players in the class, a do-it-all guard who has really put on a lot of strength in his upper body, allowing him to become a dynamic finisher at the rim. They don't go quite as deep as they have in previous years, but Jake Van Etten (7.9), Cole Griffith (6.6), Drew Ries (5.8), and Hayden Schmidt (3.6) all understand their roles and play them well. The constant pressure and speed that North Linn plays at is going to be really difficult for the other teams in this district to contend with.   The biggest threat: By virtue of a season sweep over Waterloo Christian, Don Bosco grabbed the #2 seed in the district, which means they'll get the district semifinal, likely against the Regents, at home. The Dons are led by the Belew twins, juniors Zach Belew (14.9, 6.9 rebounds) and Ben Belew (13.4, 7.7 rebounds), both of whom are capable three-level scoring threats who can play with or without the ball. Younger brother Alex Belew (6.8), a sophomore, leads the team in assists. If there is one area where this group could potentially give North Linn some trouble, it's on the glass with athletic, physical forward Landon Frost (5.8, 12.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks), who isn't a big scorer, but is a dominant rebounder and rim protector.   The dark horse: Waterloo Christian was swept by Don Bosco, but those two losses came by a combined eight points, and they are a team that can fill it up in a hurry. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'] (28.1, 12.0 rebounds) is a big-time scorer with great hands, touch, and footwork around the bucket, and he's a force on the glass who could give the Lynx trouble, similar to Frost for Don Bosco. Eli Evans (14.7) is a sophomore wing who can stretch the floor, and Jared Aronson (11.1, 6.9 assists) is a good senior guard who gets his teammates involved. Wagner may be the best non-North Linn player in the district, and they aren't going to be overwhelmed by getting a third shot at Don Bosco.   Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'], North Linn 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'], North Linn 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'], North Linn 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'], Janesville 2025 Gabe Meaney, Janesville 2024 Tucker Franzen, Nashua-Plainfield 2024 Trae Geise, Nashua-Plainfield 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2235353' first='Matthew' last='Malven'], Nashua-Plainfield 2025 Zach Belew, Don Bosco 2025 Ben Belew, Don Bosco 2024 Landon Frost, Don Bosco 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476993' first='Eli' last='Schmidt'], Clarksville 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721652' first='Sam' last='Hoodjer'], Clarksville 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'], Waterloo Christian 2026 Eli Evans, Waterloo Christian 2024 Jared Aronson, Waterloo Christian 2024 Hunter Rademaker, North Butler   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-6.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-6.png?w=612" alt="" class="wp-image-2341953" /></a></figure>   District 6   The favorite: West Fork is the #2 seed in the district, but we're siding with the Warhawks as the team to beat here given the extreme edge in competition that they've played throughout the year as compared to top seed Ankeny Christian. West Fork is headlined by a pair of talented senior guards who have won a ton of games over the last four years in [player_tooltip player_id='1476981' first='Cayde' last='Eberling'] (20.3, 51.7 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1454905' first='Sage' last='Suntken'] (18.4, 44.4 3P%). Eberling is a tough, physical guard who loves to play downhill and get to the rim, while Suntken is a knockdown shooter who takes advantage of Eberling getting the defense to collapse. Both are good playmakers who get their teammates involved as well. Edison Maske (8.9, 45.5 3P%) and Gavin Cronk (9.2, 6.8 rebounds) have been solid role players alongside that tandem. West Fork isn't an overwhelming favorite in the district by any means, but we think they're the best team of the bunch.   The biggest threat: We mentioned that North Linn was one of two teams to rank within the top-10 in the class in both scoring offense and defense. The other? Top seed Ankeny Christian. The Eagles are 9th in the class in offense (69.6) and 7th in defense (41.8). So why don't we consider them the favorite in the district, especially given the fact that they're the top seed in the district? Simply put, the Bluegrass Conference didn't test them whatsoever. The Eagles are led by a pair of seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'] (16.3) and Tyler Mahoney (14.4). Wierck is a talented 6-6 combo forward who can score inside and out, and he'll be a tough matchup for the rest of the teams in the district. Eli Christensen (8.4, 3.9 assists) and Brody Hoefle (6.1, 4.3 assists), two more seniors, are reliable playmakers in the backcourt. They've done a great job limiting turnovers this season, giving it away less than nine times a game, but how much of that is tied to the competition they've played? Only time will tell.   The dark horse(s): There are two potential sleepers in this district, one on each side of the bracket. Both teams have one thing in common - a big-time scorer who could be a matchup problem for other teams in the district. We'll start with Colo-Nesco, who are led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1476992' first='Lucas' last='Frohwein'] (21.6, 10.1 rebounds), a lanky, mobile forward who finishes well around the rim, controls the glass, and can get his teammates involved. Point guard Mark Bower (7.1, 5.2 assists) has done a nice job limiting turnovers, and Gannon Short (11.3) and Drew Banks (8.5) provide some additional scoring. The other team to keep an eye on here will be Baxter, led by [player_tooltip player_id='2325277' first='Treyton' last='Travis'] (22.6), an athletic, slashing wing who loves to play downhill and get to the rim for finishes. He's not alone, however, with junior Perrin Sulzle (13.3, 9.4 rebounds) providing some toughness in the paint, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (12.2, 36.1 3P%) providing some shooting.   Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751231' first='Cade' last='Wierck'], Ankeny Christian 2024 Tyler Mahoney, Ankeny Christian 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476981' first='Cayde' last='Eberling'], West Fork 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1454905' first='Sage' last='Suntken'], West Fork 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476992' first='Lucas' last='Frohwein'], Colo-Nesco 2025 Breckin Clatt, Colo-Nesco 2025 Mark Bower, Colo-Nesco 2024 Cael Keller, BCLUW 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325277' first='Treyton' last='Travis'], Baxter 2025 Perrin Sulzle, Baxter 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'], Baxter 2024 Nic Groven, Rockford 2024 Marshawn Taylor, Rockford 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2204873' first='Jabari' last='Woodbury'], GMG 2025 Josef Dvorak, Collins-Maxwell 2025 Ian Beattie, Collins-Maxwell 2026 Bo Starr, AGWSR 2024 Gabe Nederhoff, AGWSR     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   North Linn vs. West Fork   North Linn has qualified for seven straight state tournaments, and have played for a state title in each of the last six years. West Fork will stick around for a while, but eventually the pedigree takes over, the speed overwhelms them, and North Linn heads back to Des Moines again, where they enter the state tournament as the favorite to win their third state title.