Substate Preview: 2A-7
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District 13 The favorite: Perennial power Treynor put together another great season, going 18-3 during the regular season, with two of those losses coming to conference foe Underwood, who went undefeated. The Cardinals are led by three seniors – Jace…
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The favorite: Perennial power Treynor put together another great season, going 18-3 during the regular season, with two of those losses coming to conference foe Underwood, who went undefeated. The Cardinals are led by three seniors – Jace Tams Jace Tams 5'11" | PG Treynor | 2024 State IA (19.4), Ethan Konz (14.8, 37.2 3P%), and Karson Elwood (9.6, 3.9 assists), and sophomore Alec Lovely Alec Lovely 5'11" | PG Treynor | 2026 State IA (9.8, 37.3 3P%, 5.2 assists). All four of those guards are capable of playing with or without the ball, giving them a number of talented playmakers who can space the floor and allow them to take advantage of their speed off the dribble. This Treynor team is smaller than they’ve been in recent years, but they’re able to use their quickness to their advantage. Scott Rucker is one of the best coaches in the state and always has the Cards well prepared on both ends of the floor.
The biggest threat: Van Meter has had an up-and-down year, breaking in a lot of new pieces this season, but the Bulldogs are going to be tough every year, and they’re going to be a team that nobody wants to see because they’re always athletic and physical. This year’s team is no exception. They’ve tested themselves in the non-conference, playing games against Kuemper Catholic, ADM, Aplington-Parkersburg, Winterset, Pella Christian, and Roland-Story, so they’ve seen a variety of different styles and played in a lot of high-level games this season. Senior forward John Braun John Braun 6'2" | PF Van Meter | 2024 State IA (15.4, 6.4 rebounds) leads a trio of double-figure scorers, joined by Cael Trudo Cael Trudo 6'5" | SF Van Meter | 2024 State IA (14.5, 7.1 rebounds) and Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 5'11" | PG Van Meter | 2025 State IA (12.5, 39.3 3P%). Braun is an undersized but physical power forward, while Trudo is a strong wing who loves to attack the rim. Moore is the team’s primary ball-handler and playmaker, and also their best perimeter shooter. This team is battle tested and isn’t going to back down from anyone.
The dark horse: Red Oak went on a surprising run two years ago, reaching the 2A state tournament, and two of their best players from that team are on this year’s team, so is there a chance that the Tigers could go on another surprising run here? Senior wings Max DeVries Max DeVries 6'2" | SG Red Oak | 2024 State IA (21.4, 7.6 rebounds) and Hunter Gilleland Hunter Gilleland 5'10" | SG Red Oak | 2024 State IA (14.1, 3.9 assists) are those holdovers who have plenty of experience and success in postseason settings, and they won’t shy away from the big moments. The Tigers pound the offensive glass, averaging nearly 12 offensive boards a game, an area that could benefit them greatly.
Players to watch
2024
Jace Tams
Jace
Tams
5'11" | PG
Treynor | 2024
State
IA
, Treynor
2024 Ethan Konz, Treynor
2024 Karson Elwood, Treynor
2026
Alec Lovely
Alec
Lovely
5'11" | PG
Treynor | 2026
State
IA
, Treynor
2024
John Braun
John
Braun
6'2" | PF
Van Meter | 2024
State
IA
, Van Meter
2024
Cael Trudo
Cael
Trudo
6'5" | SF
Van Meter | 2024
State
IA
, Van Meter
2025
Caleb Moore
Caleb
Moore
5'11" | PG
Van Meter | 2025
State
IA
, Van Meter
2024
Creighton Tuzzio
Creighton
Tuzzio
6'7" | C
Clarinda | 2024
State
IA
, Clarinda
2024
Max DeVries
Max
DeVries
6'2" | SG
Red Oak | 2024
State
IA
, Red Oak
2024
Hunter Gilleland
Hunter
Gilleland
5'10" | SG
Red Oak | 2024
State
IA
, Red Oak
2024 Camden Lorimor, Shenandoah
2025
Luke Sternberg
Luke
Sternberg
6'0" | SG
AHSTW | 2025
State
IA
, AHSTW
District 14
The favorite: Despite moving up a class this season, Grand View Christian is still a force to be reckoned with. They’re just 11-9, sure, but the Thunder are once again a really good team that has tested themselves against a formidable schedule and performed admirably. Junior forward Emiliano Barrantes Emiliano Barrantes 6'9" | PF Grand View Christian | 2025 State IA (28.3, 14.7 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 62.0 FG%) has taken his game to another level this season. Not only is he playing with more physicality and dominating the paint on both ends of the floor, he has also developed a jumper with range out to the arc, a huge boost for the 6-9 forward. Sophomore wing Brayden Hoben Brayden Hoben 6'5" | PF Grand View Christian | 2026 State IA (16.1, 9.3 rebounds, 35.6 3P%) is capable of having explosive shooting nights, and senior forward Noah John Noah John 6'3" | PF Grand View Christian | 2024 State IA (10.0, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists) has played in a ton of huge games over the years for GVC. The Thunder also received a boost with the recent addition of Des Moines Christian transfer Jameson Scharnberg to the roster. Scharnberg scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of the Thunder’s win on Thursday night against Grundy Center and made several key plays down the stretch. Having another ball-handler and shooter of his quality will be a huge boost for Grand View as we head into the postseason.
The biggest threat: We’re unsure of the circumstances around Scharnberg’s departure, and very fast eligibility at Grand View Christian, but the (likely) district final against Des Moines Christian could be a spicy one. The Lions have dealt with a number of injuries to key players this season, but have still maintained a high level of play throughout the season, led by junior guard Sean Tunks Sean Tunks 6'1" | SG Des Moines Christian | 2025 State IA (19.5, 3.5 assists), who has given them a dynamic playmaker in the backcourt. He’s able to get to the rim seemingly at will and is also a talented ball-handler and passer who looks to push the tempo. Junior wing Seaton ingram (11.6, 7.1 rebounds) missed the first dozen or so games but is back in the lineup and gives the Lions an athletic wing defender and rebounder, while forward Tate Platte Tate Platte 6'0" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2024 State IA (11.4, 7.6 rebounds) is a physical presence who loves to pound the glass. Max Town Max Town 6'3" | PG Des Moines Christian | 2026 State IA (11.2, 40.0 3P%) is the team’s best shooting threat, and this is a team that shares the ball well. This group is athletic and has a lot of switchable pieces on the defensive end, which could be beneficial in a matchup against GVC.
The dark horse: Despite being the #5 seed in the district, PCM is actually the third-ranked team from this district at BC Moore. The Mustangs have lost 11 games, but six have come by single digits, so they’ve been in most of the games they’ve played. Gavin VanGorp (13.3) is the team’s top scorer, while senior forward Jacob Wendt Jacob Wendt 6'2" | PF PCM | 2024 State IA (12.2, 10.3 rebounds) has been a force in the paint, alongside Jack Jungling (7.3, 6.4 rebounds), giving them a bit of a “twin towers” look. This is a team that pounds the glass on both ends of the floor, and their 14 offensive rebounds a game, and their aggressiveness in that area, will be a boost against bigger GVC and DMC teams.
Players to watch
2025
Sean Tunks
Sean
Tunks
6'1" | SG
Des Moines Christian | 2025
State
IA
, Des Moines Christian
2026
Max Town
Max
Town
6'3" | PG
Des Moines Christian | 2026
State
IA
, Des Moines Christian
2024
Tate Platte
Tate
Platte
6'0" | SF
Des Moines Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Des Moines Christian
2025
Seaton Ingram
Seaton
Ingram
6'5" | SF
Des Moines Christian | 2025
State
IA
, Des Moines Christian
2024
Landon Craven
Landon
Craven
6'1" | SG
Des Moines Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Des Moines Christian
2025
Emiliano Barrantes
Emiliano
Barrantes
6'9" | PF
Grand View Christian | 2025
State
IA
, Grand View Christian
2026
Brayden Hoben
Brayden
Hoben
6'5" | PF
Grand View Christian | 2026
State
IA
, Grand View Christian
2024
Noah John
Noah
John
6'3" | PF
Grand View Christian | 2024
State
IA
, Grand View Christian
2026 Jameson Scharnberg, Grand View Christian
2024 Sam Boothe, Central Decatur
2025 Nash Dykes, Central Decatur
2024 Carson Van Sickle, Ogden
2025 Gavin VanGorp, PCM
2024
Jacob Wendt
Jacob
Wendt
6'2" | PF
PCM | 2024
State
IA
, PCM
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Treynor vs. Grand View Christian
These teams met back on January 6, a 74-60 Treynor win on Grand View’s home floor. In that game, the Thunder shot just 27.7% from the floor, including just 3-15 from Barrantes, and turned it over 16 times. While having that win on their resume is big for Treynor, and should give them confidence heading into a rematch, it’s hard to see the Thunder playing that poorly again. The tides turn, and Grand View Christian heads to the state tournament for the eighth time in nine years, but for the first time as a 2A team.