Substate Preview: 2A-3
In this article:
District 5 The favorite: Hudson has played six games against other teams in this district this season, winning those contests by an average of 38.2 points a game. That includes a 39 point win over Jesup, and 31 and 33…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 5
The favorite: Hudson has played six games against other teams in this district this season, winning those contests by an average of 38.2 points a game. That includes a 39 point win over Jesup, and 31 and 33 point wins over Denver, their two most likely district final opponents. So, simply put, the Pirates are an overwhelming favorite here. One of two teams in 2A to rank within the top five in the class in both scoring offense (2nd, 74.0) and defense (4th, 44.2), they’ve absolutely blasted teams all season, with their lone loss coming to a Decorah team that has been ranked within the top 5 in Class 3A for a majority of the year. An experienced team that has been building for this season for the last few years, six of their top seven scorers are seniors, led by forward Camden Davis Camden Davis 6'5" | SF Hudson | 2024 State IA (20.2, 10.5 rebounds), an efficient, walking double-double. At 6-5 and with his bounce, athleticism, mobility, and talent, he’s nearly impossible to slow down. They flank him with a number of skilled ball-handlers, passers, and shooters, led by Culin Ugrin Culin Ugrin 6'1" | SG Hudson | 2024 State IA (13.9, 45.6 3P%), Lyle Olsen Lyle Olsen 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2024 State IA (9.5, 5.9 assists), and Tanner Michael Tanner Michael 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2024 State IA (9.2, 45.2 3P%). This team shares the ball well, has a dominant player, and a lot of shooting to put around him. It would be a monumental upset if they didn’t come out of this district.
The biggest threat: High-scoring guard Jack Miller Jack Miller 6'0" | PG Jesup | 2024 State IA (26.1, 54.0 FG%, 40.3 3P%) paces a high-powered Jesup attack that can score on just about anyone, and having that type of firepower on your side in a postseason game is always going to be an asset. Junior guard Ryan Treptow Ryan Treptow 6'3" | SF Jesup | 2025 State IA (16.9, 4.1 assists) pairs with the explosive Miller, an Upper Iowa signee, to give the J-Hawks a dynamic one-two punch in the backcourt, and this is a team that has done a really good job of limiting turnovers this season, giving it away under eight times a game. Having a dynamic individual player and limiting turnovers is key to postseason success.
The dark horse: Another high-powered offensive team in the bottom of the bracket is Denver, who features three double-figure scorers on the perimeter in Eli Ricketts Eli Ricketts 6'1" | SG Denver | 2024 State IA (16.9, 40.2 3P%), Talan Lafrentz (13.6, 43.8 3P%), and Keaton Rothmeyer (12.3). The Cyclones are shooting nearly 38% from behind the arc as a team this season, and they are certainly capable of going to Jesup and beating the J-Hawks, which would set up a third meeting with Hudson.
Players to watch
2024
Camden Davis
Camden
Davis
6'5" | SF
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
, Hudson
2024
Culin Ugrin
Culin
Ugrin
6'1" | SG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
, Hudson
2024
Lyle Olsen
Lyle
Olsen
6'0" | PG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
, Hudson
2024
Tanner Michael
Tanner
Michael
6'0" | PG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
, Hudson
2025 Kiean Crile, Hudson
2024
Jack Miller
Jack
Miller
6'0" | PG
Jesup | 2024
State
IA
, Jesup
2025
Ryan Treptow
Ryan
Treptow
6'3" | SF
Jesup | 2025
State
IA
, Jesup
2024
Eli Ricketts
Eli
Ricketts
6'1" | SG
Denver | 2024
State
IA
, Denver
2025 Talan Lafrentz, Denver
2024 Keaton Rothmeyer, Denver
2025 Tatum Nuss, Sumner-Fredericksburg
2024 Leo Christensen, Columbus Catholic
2024 Ty Cotant, Crestwood
District 6
The favorite: Since Wyatt Powell Wyatt Powell 6'1" | PG MFL MarMac | 2024 State IA (11.3, 7.3 assists) returned to the lineup for MFL MarMac on December 21, the Bulldogs have gone 13-0, winning those games by an average of 28.5 points a game. Turns out having your standout point guard in the lineup in a major difference-maker. Who knew? Since his return, the ‘Dogs have avenged all three losses that they suffered without him in the lineup, beating Kee, North Fayette Valley, and Postville after the holiday break. In addition to his sheer volume of helpers that he dishes out, Powell is also great on the defensive end (3.0 steals) and tremendous at ball security (3.63 assist-to-turnover ratio). Junior Parker Kuehl (16.7, 3.3 steals) leads the team in scoring and steals and is a quick guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams on both ends of the floor, and senior forward Carver Blietz-Bentien Carver Blietz-Bentien 6'1" | SF MFL MarMac | 2024 State IA (15.3, 7.7 rebounds) is an undersized but physical and athletic forward who controls the glass. This team is rolling with Powell in the lineup and has to be considered a significant favorite here.
The biggest threat: Another team in this district with a dominant player is North Fayette Valley and junior forward Cael Reichter Cael Reichter 6'7" | PF North Fayette Valley | 2025 State IA (22.5, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks). A mobile, athletic, and bouncy 6-7 forward who can score inside and out, dominate on the glass, and protect the paint, Reichter is a matchup problem for most teams in the Upper Iowa Conference. Andre Fuentes (9.6, 38.0 3P%) is the team’s top perimeter shooting threat and pairs with Kyler White (3.5, 5.0 assists), who isn’t a big scorer but is a strong playmaker, in the backcourt. The TigerHawks beat quarterfinal opponent New Hampton by 31 a few weeks ago, and swept the season series against Postville, their likely semifinal opponent.
The dark horse(s): There are two more teams to keep an eye on in this district – Postville and Union. We’ll start with Postville, who is led by senior forward Koby Bohr (19.1, 13.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists), a do-it-all big who can dominate the glass, create for his teammates, and score efficiently around the rim. With his size and motor, he’s a difficult matchup who can control games on both ends. Josiah Minikwu (14.2) and Cade Downing (9.7) are the other standouts for the Pirates, a pair of capable scoring threats who also contribute on the glass. For Union, the 3-point line is the key. The Knights average 8.5 made 3-pointers a game, the type of shooting that can carry a team to a few upsets in bracket play. Sophomore guard Caden Sorensen Caden Sorensen 5'9" | PG Union | 2026 State IA (16.0, 34.9 3P%) paces the attack and is joined in the backcourt by Jackson Anderson Jackson Anderson 6'0" | PG Union | 2024 State IA (15.9, 34.1 3P%), and Cameron Mullen Cameron Mullen 6'1" | SG Union | 2026 State IA (10.7, 32.6 3P%). The Knights aren’t a hyper efficient shooting team from deep, but they get up a large volume of attempts, which can turn games in a hurry.
Players to watch
2025 Parker Kuehl, MFL MarMac
2024
Carver Blietz-Bentien
Carver
Blietz-Bentien
6'1" | SF
MFL MarMac | 2024
State
IA
, MFL MarMac
2024
Wyatt Powell
Wyatt
Powell
6'1" | PG
MFL MarMac | 2024
State
IA
, MFL MarMac
2025
Cael Reichter
Cael
Reichter
6'7" | PF
North Fayette Valley | 2025
State
IA
, North Fayette Valley
2024 Koby Bohr, Postville
2025 Josiah Minikwu, Postville
2026
Caden Sorensen
Caden
Sorensen
5'9" | PG
Union | 2026
State
IA
, Union
2024
Jackson Anderson
Jackson
Anderson
6'0" | PG
Union | 2024
State
IA
, Union
2025
Conall Sauser
Conall
Sauser
6'3" | SF
Oelwein | 2025
State
IA
, Oelwein
2024 Kole McCormick, Waukon
2024 Cael Laures, New Hampton
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Hudson vs. MFL MarMac
Hudson has been absolutely dominant this season, looking every bit the team that they’ve been building towards for the last few years. Everything has fallen into place for the Pirates, with an explosive, balanced offensive attack, and strong defense leading the way to blowout win after blowout win. For the first time since 1994, Hudson heads to Des Moines, and this group has a real chance to add a second state championship to their trophy case.