Substate Preview: 2A-5
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District 9 The favorite: Pella Christian is a pretty overwhelming favorite in this district. The Eagles are 15-5, with four of their five losses coming to 4A teams Norwalk (twice) and Dallas Center-Grimes (twice). They hold a head-to-head win over…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 9
The favorite: Pella Christian is a pretty overwhelming favorite in this district. The Eagles are 15-5, with four of their five losses coming to 4A teams Norwalk (twice) and Dallas Center-Grimes (twice). They hold a head-to-head win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, back in the season opener, by 26 points, and they’ve been playing really good ball down the stretch of the regular season. Senior guard Tysen Devries Tysen Devries 5'9" | PG Pella Christian | 2024 State IA (14.0, 3.5 assists, 45.6 3P%) is the headliner of the group. He’s a small but tough, quick guard who loves to attack the rim, and he’s shooting it at an extremely high level right now. Dane Geetings Dane Geetings 6'3" | PG Pella Christian | 2024 State IA (12.7, 3.1 assists) is a long guard who defends well on the perimeter, while Josiah Vos Josiah Vos 6'5" | SF Pella Christian | 2024 State IA (8.0) and Isaiah Breems Isaiah Breems 6'4" | SF Pella Christian | 2024 State IA (6.7) are lengthy, versatile defenders. In all, the top six scorers for the Eagles are seniors, and they have a ton of experience playing with each other. According to BC Moore’s power rankings system, they’ve played the toughest schedule in 2A, and they’ll be well prepared for postseason play after returning a significant chunk of the team that reached the 2A semifinals last season.
The biggest threat: With a frontline that goes 6-5, 6-7, and 6-8, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont has the type of size that few other teams in 2A possess. Brooks Moore Brooks Moore 6'5" | SF Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024 State IA (24.9, 8.0 rebounds, 51.0 FG%), the 6-5 combo forward, is their best player, a dynamic athlete who thrives in transition and can score from all three levels. Karic Stout Karic Stout 6'7" | PF Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024 State IA (12.4, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 blocks), the 6-8 forward, is an athletic rim protector, and Jack Bunnell (6.3, 61.8 FG%) is a solid 6-7 forward who finishes efficiently. Those three are joined in the starting lineup by a pair of experienced guards in Landon Glosser (11.5, 4.7 assists) and Jesse Cornelison Jesse Cornelison 5'8" | PG Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024 State IA (10.0, 5.1 assists), who are both good playmakers and passers. The Rockets play in a weaker league than Pella Christian does, and the Eagles dismantled them in the regular season, but in a one-game setting anything can happen, and that type of size could allow them to dominate the glass with a concentrated effort.
The dark horse: The 3-point line is the ultimate difference-maker in modern basketball, which means that Mid-Prairie is a dangerous team. The Golden Hawks are averaging 9.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, and they have a ton of different shooting threats to throw at you, with four players averaging at least one make a game. Sophomore Bryce Henry (13.8, 35.9 3P%), juniors Ace Peck Ace Peck 6'1" | SG Mid-Prairie | 2025 State IA (12.9, 43.2 3P%) and Brady Weber Brady Weber 5'10" | PG Mid-Prairie | 2025 State IA (10.3, 29.2 3P%, and seniors Dylan Henry (11.0, 36.0 3P%) and Landon Sullivan (10.4, 40.0 3P%) all average in double figures and each are viable threats from deep.
Players to watch
2024
Tysen Devries
Tysen
Devries
5'9" | PG
Pella Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Pella Christian
2024
Dane Geetings
Dane
Geetings
6'3" | PG
Pella Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Pella Christian
2024
Josiah Vos
Josiah
Vos
6'5" | SF
Pella Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Pella Christian
2024
Brooks Moore
Brooks
Moore
6'5" | SF
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024
State
IA
, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
2024
Karic Stout
Karic
Stout
6'7" | PF
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024
State
IA
, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
2024 Landon Glosser, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
2024
Jesse Cornelison
Jesse
Cornelison
5'8" | PG
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2024
State
IA
, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
2026 Bryce Henry, Mid-Prairie
2025
Ace Peck
Ace
Peck
6'1" | SG
Mid-Prairie | 2025
State
IA
, Mid-Prairie
2024 Dylan Henry, Mid-Prairie
2025
Brady Weber
Brady
Weber
5'10" | PG
Mid-Prairie | 2025
State
IA
, Mid-Prairie
2025 Cael Schofield, Albia
2026 Malachi Rice, Centerville
2025 KJ Rice, Centerville
2025 Chase Hengstenberg, Cardinal
District 10
The favorite: After getting off to a slow 4-3 start, Alburnett has won 14 straight games heading into postseason play. They have been elite on the defensive end this season, allowing just 42.8 points per game, with their quickness and athleticism on the perimeter being a difference maker. Braydon Osborn Braydon Osborn 6'3" | SG Alburnett | 2024 State IA (15.7, 50.4 FG%) got off to a bit of a slow start to the season but is playing really good basketball down the stretch, as are Matthew Neighbor Matthew Neighbor 6'3" | PF Alburnett | 2025 State IA (14.1, 6.8 rebounds) and Jordan Caton Jordan Caton 5'9" | PG Alburnett | 2024 State IA (11.5, 42.0 3P%), giving the Pirates a trio of strong scorers. They have also gotten fantastic play out of point guard Payton Baker (6.6, 7.0 assists) this season, taking great care of the ball and getting his teammates quality looks. This is a quality team that is playing really good basketball on both ends of the floor.
The biggest threat: Regina was on fire for nearly two months, going from December 1 to January 23 without a loss, racking up 13 straight wins during that run. But they’ve stumbled a bit down the stretch, losing four of their last five games during the regular season, including a one-point loss to likely semifinal opponent Wilton. However, that game was in Wilton, whereas the rematch will be in Iowa City. As they showed during the win streak, when they’re playing well, they can beat just about anyone, and they have a great, championship winning coach on the sidelines in Paul Rundquist. Senior guard Michael Martin Michael Martin 6'2" | SG Regina | 2024 State IA (16.8, 42.6 3P%) is a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands. They’ve gotten great production out of a pair of freshmen forwards – Tate Wallace Tate Wallace 6'3" | PF Regina | 2027 State IA (12.7, 56.2 FG%) and Will Litton Will Litton 6'4" | PF Regina | 2027 State IA (8.8, 62.5 FG%) – while senior guard Eddie Petersen Eddie Petersen 6'1" | PG Regina | 2024 State IA (8.6, 5.2 assists) has been a reliable playmaker in the backcourt alongside Martin. The Regals are athletic and physical, and if they’re able to right the ship they are certainly capable of beating Alburnett.
The dark horse: Few teams are as explosive offensively as Wilton, who have scored 70+ points in half of their games this season, including scoring in the 80s three times and breaking 90 once. The Beavers are led by senior wing Landyn Putman Landyn Putman 6'3" | SG Wilton | 2024 State IA (19.3), who isn’t shooting it as well from deep as he is accustomed to shooting, but he has really improved his ability to get to the rim off the dribble and has been a dynamic scorer as a result. His younger brother, freshman Bryer Putman Bryer Putman 6'5" | SF Wilton | 2027 State IA (16.9, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks), is a physical combo forward who can score inside and out, and he’s armed with a really good mid-range game. Fellow freshman Oaklan Jirak Oaklan Jirak 6'2" | SG Wilton | 2027 State IA (12.9, 37.8 3P%) and senior guard Casen Reid Casen Reid 6'2" | CG Wilton | 2024 State IA (9.9, 6.0 assists) hold down the backcourt, giving them more length and athleticism on the perimeter. The Beavers have struggled at times defensively, ranking 69th in 2A in scoring defense at 60.7 points per game allowed. There will need to be some more focus on the defensive end of the floor if Wilton is going to make a run here.
Players to watch
2024
Braydon Osborn
Braydon
Osborn
6'3" | SG
Alburnett | 2024
State
IA
, Alburnett
2025
Matthew Neighbor
Matthew
Neighbor
6'3" | PF
Alburnett | 2025
State
IA
, Alburnett
2024
Jordan Caton
Jordan
Caton
5'9" | PG
Alburnett | 2024
State
IA
, Alburnett
2024 Payton Baker, Alburnett
2024
Michael Martin
Michael
Martin
6'2" | SG
Regina | 2024
State
IA
, Regina
2027
Tate Wallace
Tate
Wallace
6'3" | PF
Regina | 2027
State
IA
, Regina
2024
Landyn Putman
Landyn
Putman
6'3" | SG
Wilton | 2024
State
IA
, Wilton
2027
Bryer Putman
Bryer
Putman
6'5" | SF
Wilton | 2027
State
IA
, Wilton
2027
Oaklan Jirak
Oaklan
Jirak
6'2" | SG
Wilton | 2027
State
IA
, Wilton
2024
Preston Daedlow
Preston
Daedlow
5'8" | PG
Tipton | 2024
State
IA
, Tipton
2024 Brody Marchik, Tipton
2024 Jayce McHugh, West Liberty
2025 Bryce Daufeldt, Durant
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Pella Christian vs. Alburnett
Alburnett has been red-hot down the stretch, but Pella Christian is on another level and has to be considered one of the top two or three contenders in the 2A race. The Eagles are a veteran team that reached the 2A semifinals last season and were the team that gave eventual champion Central Lyon their stiffest test. With a big chunk (66% of their scoring) back, they’ve been on a mission, and they won’t stop now. Pella Christian back to Des Moines for the third straight season.