Substate Preview: 1A-6

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-11.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-11.png?w=611" alt="" class="wp-image-2341969" /></a></figure>   District 11   The favorite: Despite being the #2 seed in the district, a significant advantage in strength of schedule has us thinking that Gladbrook-Reinbeck may actually be the favorite in the district. According to BC Moore's power rankings, the Rebels have played the #20 SOS in 1A, compared to #123 for top-seeded Keota. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (14.6, 41.7 3P%) leads the Rebels in scoring and is a knockdown shooter who can play with or without the ball in his hands. He's joined in the backcourt by senior guard Isaac Clark (10.8, 4.9 assists, 37.8 3P%), another skilled shooter and playmaker. They flank junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (12.9, 10.2 rebounds), a physical, strong forward who can control the paint on both ends. This is a team that shoots it well from deep (37.8 3P%) and shares the ball extremely well (18.6 assists a game).   The biggest threat: Keota is undefeated and certainly deserved to get the top seed in the district, rolling through their competition by an average of nearly 33 points a game. That said, according to BC Moore's computer rankings system, they've played just two games against top-20 teams in Class 1A this season, while Gladbrook-Reinbeck has played four against top-20 teams in Class 2A, giving the Rebels a significant edge in strength of schedule. Of course, games are played on the hardwood, not on a computer, so Keota is far from dead here and will have a great chance to win this district behind senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376716' first='Sawyer' last='Stout'] (21.7, 52.0 FG%), a big-time scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='2511617' first='Billie' last='Kindred'] (12.0, 10.4 rebounds) and Cole Kindred (10.4, 5.9 assists) are the other key standouts for this group, but all five starters average at least 8.4 points a game, and this is a team that can score in bunches, averaging 77.3 points a night. This group knows how to win, and there is certainly something to say for that.   The dark horse: Belle Plaine is a team that loves to pound the glass, pulling down nearly 13 offensive rebounds a game, and nabbing those types of extra possessions in postseason play can be extremely valuable. Riley Simmons (15.0, 11.3 rebounds) and Jax Stamp (10.0, 10.3 rebounds) have been fantastic on the glass, while Sam DeMeulenaere (16.4) and Wyatt Kuch (15.3, 4.8 assists) provide perimeter scoring. A team with four double-figure scorers and a pair of fantastic rebounders can be dangerous here.   Players to watch 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376716' first='Sawyer' last='Stout'], Keota 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511617' first='Billie' last='Kindred'], Keota 2024 Cole Kindred, Keota 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'], Gladbrook-Reinbeck 2024 Isaac Clark, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 2025 Sam DeMeulenaere, Belle Plaine 2024 Wyatt Kuch, Belle Plaine 2024 Riley Simmons, Belle Plaine 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951796' first='Caleb' last='Haack'], Iowa Valley 2025 Peyton Roth, HLV 2025 Josh Dostal, North Tama 2026 Kayler Morris, North Tama 2026 Beau Burns, BGM 2024 Myles Grove, English Valleys   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-12.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/1A-12.png?w=613" alt="" class="wp-image-2341970" /></a></figure>   District 12   The favorite: Kee, the top seed in the district, is having a historic season for the school. They'll enter postseason play with a real chance at making history, as the school has never even qualified for a substate final, let alone the state tournament. In a district that includes a ton of Upper Iowa Conference teams, a league that they've rolled through, they should be considered a pretty heavy favorite. They're led by a pair of talented juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'] (19.4, 8.3 rebounds, 50.8 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (16.5, 5.8 assists). Both are good athletes who can take over games on either end of the floor, and as a team, the Hawks have been really good on the defensive end, allowing just 44.9 points a game. They swept South Winneshiek, the #2 seed, by 16 and 7 points, and Turkey Valley, the #3 seed, by 29 and ___ points.   The biggest threat: South Winneshiek swept the season series against Clayton Ridge, their first round opponent, and Turkey Valley, their likely semifinal opponent, making them the favorite to come out of the bottom of this bracket. They're led by four double-figure scorers, including three sophomores - [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (17.6), [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (14.0, 8.1 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (12.7), as well as senior Kole Hageman (13.5). Todd and Streeter are solid in the backcourt, while Winings has held down the fort in the paint. This is a young team, but they have a good amount of talent, and they've had more success against Kee than most other teams this season have had, so they would certainly welcome a third shot at the Hawks.   The dark horse: Speaking of getting third shots at someone, Turkey Valley has to be looking forward to seeing South Winneshiek again after losing by nine on Monday night (a three-point game heading into the fourth quarter). The Trojans are led by three seniors in Oliver Schmitt (11.5), Caleb Kurtenbach (10.2), and Braylen Byrne (10.2), and that advantage in experience could be big in a playoff setting.   Players to watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'], Kee 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'], Kee 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'], South Winneshiek 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'], South Winneshiek 2024 Kole Hageman, South Winneshiek 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'], South Winneshiek 2024 Oliver Schmitt, Turkey Valley 2024 Caleb Kurtenbach, Turkey Valley 2025 Pryce Rochford, Edgewood-Colesburg 2026 Kasey Thiese, Clayton Ridge 2026 Seth Kregel, Clayton Ridge     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Gladbrook-Reinbeck vs. Kee   Gladbrook-Reinbeck has been one of the most successful 1A programs in the state over the last decade, while Kee is looking to make history. The edge in strength of schedule certainly lies with the Rebels here, but doesn't Kee feel a bit like a team of destiny? In a bit of an upset, Kee makes history and heads to the state tournament for the first time.