Substate Preview: 1A-4
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District 7 The favorite: Until a loss last week to North Linn, Marquette Catholic was the top-ranked team in the class, and deservedly so. The Defenders have been dominant this season, winning games by an average of 30.2 points a…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 7
The favorite: Until a loss last week to North Linn, Marquette Catholic was the top-ranked team in the class, and deservedly so. The Defenders have been dominant this season, winning games by an average of 30.2 points a game, pairing an explosive and balanced offense with a smothering and athletic defense. Junior combo forward Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA (16.0, 7.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists) has been a leader on both ends of the floor. A 6-5 forward who can post up smaller defenders or stretch the floor, he also provides versatility on the defensive end. Eli Scott (11.9, 5.0 assists) is a quick guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams with his speed, and Caden Kettmann Caden Kettmann 6'4" | SG Marquette Catholic Bellevue | 2024 State IA (11.6) is one of the most versatile defensive players in the class. Kannon Still Kannon Still 5'8" | PG Marquette Catholic | 2024 State IA (10.8, 36.1 3P%) is capable of getting scorching hot from the arc, while Jacob Litterer (9.5) and Isaac Brinker (8.5) provide additional depth, scoring, and toughness. This group probably only goes about six deep, but those six are good, and have a ton of experience playing with each other. They swept possible semifinal opponent Prince of Peace by 36 and 9 points, and beat their other possible opponent Springville by 36.
The biggest threat: According to BC Moore’s power rankings system, no team in 1A has played a tougher schedule than Bellevue. A young but talented team, the Comets are just 9-8 at time of writing, but their losses have come to 2A Monticello (twice), 2A Northeast (twice), 3A Maquoketa, 2A Cascade (twice), and Marquette Catholic. The worst records of that bunch are Maquoketa (11-6) and Northeast (12-7), and Monticello has spent a majority of the year ranked within the top 5 in 2A. Senior wing Hunter Putman Hunter Putman 5'10" | SG Bellevue | 2024 State IA (15.9, 37.6 3P%) is the team’s leading scorer, a versatile wing who can score from all three levels. Three sophomores play significant roles in point guard Cameron Casel Cameron Casel 5'10" | PG Bellevue | 2026 State IA (12.4, 4.7 assists), forward KeShawn DeShaw KeShawn DeShaw 6'5" | PF Bellevue | 2026 IA (11.7, 7.4 rebounds), and combo forward Spencer Abbott Spencer Abbott 6'2" | SF Bellevue | 2026 IA (10.6). This team can score in bunches, has been tested on pretty much a nightly basis, and knows that they can play with Marquette losing by just seven a few weeks ago after holding a halftime lead.
The dark horse: Calamus-Wheatland heads into postseason play hot, winning eight of their last nine games as of time of writing. The Warriors are a high-scoring team, ranking 10th in the class in scoring at 69.6 points per game, and that type of firepower can make them dangerous. Three players average in double figures in seniors Pedar Rohling (17.8) and Luke Rohling (14.4), and sophomore Chase Klatt (12.6), with two other viable scoring threats – James Prachar (9.2) and Isaac Wilhelm (8.2) – on the roster. Turnovers have been a huge issue for this group this season, giving it away over 20 times a game, but if they can protect the ball, they can score on anyone.
Players to watch
2024
Kannon Still
Kannon
Still
5'8" | PG
Marquette Catholic | 2024
State
IA
, Marquette Catholic
2025
Spencer Roeder
Spencer
Roeder
6'5" | PF
Maquette Catholic | 2025
State
IA
, Marquette Catholic
2024
Caden Kettmann
Caden
Kettmann
6'4" | SG
Marquette Catholic Bellevue | 2024
State
IA
, Marquette Catholic
2024
Hunter Putman
Hunter
Putman
5'10" | SG
Bellevue | 2024
State
IA
, Bellevue
2026
Cameron Casel
Cameron
Casel
5'10" | PG
Bellevue | 2026
State
IA
, Bellevue
2026
KeShawn DeShaw
KeShawn
DeShaw
6'5" | PF
Bellevue | 2026
IA
, Bellevue
2026
Spencer Abbott
Spencer
Abbott
6'2" | SF
Bellevue | 2026
IA
, Bellevue
2025
Hakeal Powell
Hakeal
Powell
5'11" | SG
Prince Of Peace | 2025
State
IA
, Prince of Peace
2024 Pedar Rohling, Calamus-Wheatland
2024 Luke Rohling, Calamus-Wheatland
2026 Chase Klatt, Calamus-Wheatland
2024 Cale Crist, Midland
2024 Matt Sauer, Midland
2025 Jayce Ernzen, Springville
2025 Evan Haefner, Springville
2024
Johny Amina
Johny
Amina
6'5" | PF
North Cedar | 2024
State
IA
, North Cedar
District 8
The favorite: The top two seeds in this district aren’t separated by much, but we’ll side with Dunkerton as the favorite here, given the fact that they have the best player in the district on their side in junior guard Dylan Marquart Dylan Marquart 6'1" | SG Dunkerton | 2025 State IA (18.7, 41.0 3P%). Marquart is capable of having explosive scoring nights with his ability to shoot it from deep, and the Raiders have really started to gel of late as some inexperienced pieces have gotten more accustomed to major varsity roles. Noah Fuelling Noah Fuelling 6'0" | PG Dunkerton | 2025 State IA (17.8, 3.3 assists), another junior, has been really good alongside Marquart in the backcourt, giving the Raiders a floor general and three-level scoring threat, while senior Jacob Snyder Jacob Snyder 6'2" | PF Dunkerton | 2024 State IA (12.8, 9.2 rebounds) and junior Dalton Weepie Dalton Weepie 6'2" | SF Dunkerton | 2025 State IA (10.3, 4.6 rebounds) give them a pair of good, physical forwards who can control the glass. The Raiders aren’t tested much in the Iowa Star, but they’ve got three non-conference games this week against Newman Catholic, Hudson, and North Linn that will help prepare them for postseason play.
The biggest threat: Maquoketa Valley is actually ranked slightly higher at BC Moore than Dunkerton (by about half a point), and an argument could certainly be made to make the Wildcats the district favorite. Of their four losses, three have come to North Linn (17-1, twice) and Alburnett (17-3). As opposed to Dunkerton, Maquoketa Valley prefers to play at a bit more deliberate pace, using their athleticism and discipline to play strong defense, allowing just 43.3 points a game. They’re led by a pair of senior forwards – 6-3 Lance McShane (18.3, 9.1 rebounds) and 6-5 Kody Hoeger (12.9). Sophomore guard Brady Wall (12.1) pairs with senior Toby Grimm (7.7, 4.6 assists) to give them a few reliable ball-handlers in the backcourt as well. A district final against Dunkerton would be a fascinating meeting to break down.
The dark horse: Another high-powered offensive team that can fill it up in a hurry, Lisbon has a trio of double-figure scorers in Michael Gadberry Michael Gadberry 5'9" | PG Lisbon | 2024 State IA (16.9), Grayson Wollum (16.8, 8.1 rebounds), and Daylin Schaefer (13.2), making them a tough team to prepare for. Playing in the Tri-Rivers has tested them more than what Dunkerton has gotten from the Iowa Star, and they’ve also tested themselves in non-conference play with games against Regina and West Branch. Going to Dunkerton and trying to hold down the Raiders is no easy task, but the Lions can score with Dunkerton and that makes them dangerous.
Players to watch
2025
Dylan Marquart
Dylan
Marquart
6'1" | SG
Dunkerton | 2025
State
IA
, Dunkerton
2025
Noah Fuelling
Noah
Fuelling
6'0" | PG
Dunkerton | 2025
State
IA
, Dunkerton
2024
Jacob Snyder
Jacob
Snyder
6'2" | PF
Dunkerton | 2024
State
IA
, Dunkerton
2025
Dalton Weepie
Dalton
Weepie
6'2" | SF
Dunkerton | 2025
State
IA
, Dunkerton
2024 Lance McShane, Maquoketa Valley
2024 Kody Hoeger, Maquoketa Valley
2026 Brady Wall, Maquoketa Valley
2024
Michael Gadberry
Michael
Gadberry
5'9" | PG
Lisbon | 2024
State
IA
, Lisbon
2025 Grayson Wollum, Lisbon
2025 Daylin Schaefer, Lisbon
2025 Seth Ours, Hillcrest Academy
2026 Rowan Miller, Hillcrest Academy
2024
Mekhi Benton
Mekhi
Benton
6'3" | PF
Central City | 2024
State
IA
, Central City
2025
Matthew Klostermann
Matthew
Klostermann
5'10" | PG
Central City | 2025
State
IA
, Central City
2024 Trystin Russell, East Buchanan
2026 Briggs Boehme, Wapsie Valley
2026
Tanner Bergmann
Tanner
Bergmann
6'6" | C
Wapsie Valley | 2026
IA
, Wapsie Valley
2026
Emmett Burke
Emmett
Burke
5'9" | PG
Lone Tree | 2026
IA
, Lone Tree
2024 Ethan Bockelman, Lone Tree
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Marquette Catholic vs. Dunkerton
After qualifying for five state tournaments in a six-year stretch from 2000-2006, Marquette Catholic has endured an 18-year drought from Des Moines. That drought ends this year, as the Defenders, an aptly named team, locks down a high-powered Dunkerton attack and punches their ticket.