Class 2A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: Western Christian (20-3)<br></span>About the Wolfpack: </strong>The most historically dominant program in the state, Western Christian is making their 24th state tournament appearance and is looking for their state-record 11th straight title. The Pack finished runner-up last season and their two star players were both important pieces of that team and are hungry to reach the pinnacle this year. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (19.4, 3.7 assists) is the headliner of the group. He's a tough 6-3 combo forward who can score inside and out, and he's a really skilled playmaker out of the high post area, showcasing good court vision and the ability to create off the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (12.8, 39.2 3P%) is an athletic, quick wing who can score from all three levels, and he uses his length well on the defensive end, while senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2377345' first='Tyler' last='Mantel'] (9.5, 5.6 rebounds) contributes across the board. [player_tooltip player_id='2377331' first='Caleb' last='Douma'] (6.3, 40.7 3P%) will need to knock down some shots and stretch the floor a bit to give Van Regenmorter and Moret more space to operate. This Wolfpack team doesn't have the overwhelming size that some previous iterations have had, but you know what you're going to get from Western - they're going to play great, physical defense; they're going to share the ball; and they're not going to beat themselves, you have to beat them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They're the #1 seed for a reason, they're the team to beat. Van Regenmorter is probably the best individual player in the field, and they aren't going to beat themselves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: Hudson (23-2)<br></span>About the Pirates: </strong>The Pirates two losses this season have come to Decorah and Kennedy, the #1 seeds in the 3A and 4A fields, respectively. No other game has been decided by fewer than 11 points, so simply put, the Pirates have bulldozed through the competition this season. They rank 2nd in the class in scoring offense, averaging 73.4 points a game, and are 4th in scoring defense, allowing 45.2 a night. A senior-heavy team that has been building for this moment for the last several years, they're led by the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1476978' first='Camden' last='Davis'] (19.5, 10.1 rebounds, 59.0 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='2325396' first='Culin' last='Ugrin'] (13.2, 43.9 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2325381' first='Lyle' last='Olsen'] (10.6, 5.6 assists). Davis is a mobile 6-4 big man with great footwork and touch, and his non-stop motor makes him a really difficult matchup. Ugrin is a fantastic shooter off the catch who provides secondary playmaking, and Olsen is the straw that stirs the drink for this group, a skilled guard who gets his teammates involved, draws the most difficult defensive assignment, and can knock down open looks or get to the rim. Davis and Olsen started on varsity as freshmen, and Ugrin joined them in the starting five as sophomores, so this is a group that has a ton of experience playing together. They got an additional boost when senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'] (10.3, 45.5 3P%) moved back into Hudson, giving them an additional ball-handler, playmaker, and shooter in the backcourt. Kiean Crile (6.7), Oliver Thompson (4.3), and Nathan Rueber (4.0) give them some additional depth and experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>The Pirates have beaten the 2A competition on their schedule by an average of 32.6 points per game this season, and while the competition they'll see this week is obviously a step up from a majority of their schedule, it is notable that they've blasted teams on a nightly basis. A deep, talented team with skill sets that complement each other well, this team is a force to be reckoned with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: Underwood (24-0)<br></span>About the Eagles: </strong>This senior class for the Eagles has had a ton of success in other sports, finishing runner-up in baseball and making the semifinals in football, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they've led the school to their first state tournament appearance in basketball. They rank 3rd in the class in both scoring offense (71.9) and defense (44.8), and they're deep, long, and experienced. Mason Boothby (13.8, 3.8 assists) leads a quintet of seniors who start for this group, and he, Josh Ravlin (12.5, 41.2 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1751187' first='Jack' last='Vanfossan'] (10.6, 10.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists) have started since they were sophomores. [player_tooltip player_id='2377360' first='Owen' last='Larsen'] (10.9, 6.8 rebounds, 64.3 FG%) is an efficient interior scorer, and Luke Seidler (9.9, 38.6 3P%) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2731691' first='Garrett' last='Luett'] (6.8, 41.2 3P%) provide more shooting on the perimeter alongside Boothby and Ravlin. Vanfossan, a 6-4 forward, has been really good operating within the mid-and-high post areas as a playmaker, leading the Eagles in assists, and he allows them to invert the offense a bit, operating through the big man and surrounding him with a ton of shooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>This is a special group of athletes that has experienced a lot of success in every sport, and they're a well put together team with a lot of pieces that complement each other well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: West Burlington (22-0)<br></span>About the Falcons:</strong> Another school making their first state tournament appearance, the Falcons quelled any questions about their strength of schedule with impressive wins over West Branch and Cascade to get to Des Moines. A small, guard-oriented team, they really on their speed, athleticism, and ball movement, and they've been really impressive on the defensive end during their postseason run. The backcourt tandem of junior [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (21.9, 3.2 assists, 41.8 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1171665' first='Brady' last='Martin'] (15.3, 3.9 assists) are the headliners of the group, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2397997' first='Quincy' last='Collins'] (13.4, 8.1 rebounds) has given them really good production as well. Watkins is the ringleader, a 6-3 scoring guard who fills it up efficiently from all three levels, posting 52-42-78 shooting splits, and he's their best creator off the dribble. Martin has been absolutely fantastic on the defensive end against West Branch and Cascade, limiting two of the state's most explosive scorers in those games, and he takes pride in his work on the defensive end. Collins is listed at 5-11, but is a great athlete who competes on the glass on both ends of the floor and finishes really well around the rim. This is a team that makes up for their lack of size with their speed, athleticism, and toughness. They play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They're undefeated for a reason, and knowing how to win is obviously beneficial. Martin has been one of the best defensive players in the class, and he and Watkins are capable of taking over games offensively as scorers and shot creators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: Treynor (21-3)<br></span>About the Cardinals:</strong> Two of the Cardinals' losses this year came to Underwood, with the other coming to 3A Heelan. They're not big, but they're fast and have a number of players who can spread the floor, create off the dribble, and cause some chaos on the defensive end. They play primarily a five-guard lineup that is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1376717' first='Jace' last='Tams'] (19.4, 35.2 3P%), Ethan Konz (14.8, 37.1 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (10.1, 5.3 asissts). Tams is a streaky shooter, but when he gets it rolling, he's capable of dropping 15 in a quarter, as is Konz. Lovely, a sophomore guard, has done a really nice job initiating the offense and serving as a creator. Karson Elwood (9.4, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists) is a good secondary playmaker and plays bigger than his listed size with his willingness to stick his nose in and rebound, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (5.3) could prove to be an important piece off the bench. He's a 6-6 sophomore who can provide some needed size. This is a tradition-rich program making their 17th state tournament appearance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>The Cardinals are able to put a lot of shooting on the floor in Tams, Konz, and Lovely, and they have one of the most experienced state tournament coaches in the class on their side in Scott Rucker, making his 6th appearance as a coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: Unity Christian (20-4)<br></span>About the Knights: </strong>The Knights first foray into the Siouxland Conference went extremely well, going 16-3 against league foes, including postseason play. They handed West Lyon, the #1 team in the class for a majority of the season, their only two losses of the season, including the substate final. They don't have a ton of size, with just one player in the rotation listed taller than 6-2, but they're tough, physical, and quick. They're led by a pair of sophomore guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (13.7, 5.3 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.0, 5.8 rebounds). They're both physical guards who embrace contact, and combine to average 4.4 steals a game. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (4.9) has given the Knights some scoring punch off the bench, and role players Traevin Van Beek (6.0, 39.4 3P%), Cole Rens (6.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (6.1) all buy into their roles and complement Bosma and Wieringa well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>With a pair of wins over West Lyon, Unity has shown that they can beat just about anyone. They're tough, strong defensively, and use their speed to their advantage on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Grundy Center (20-3)<br></span>About the Spartans: </strong>After getting off to a slow 1-2 start following another deep football run, the Spartans ran off 16 straight wins and have lost just once since December 4. A deep, athletic team that plays great defense and shares the ball extremely well, they have tremendous balance and the length to create some chaos on the defensive end of the floor. They rank 7th in the class in scoring defense, giving up just 46.3 points a game, and have held 12 teams below 50 this season. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (15.9, 38.9 3P%) is the headliner on the offensive end, a 6-6 three-level scorer with a pure stroke from deep and the ability to create off the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id='2325346' first='Tate' last='Jirovsky'] (9.1, 2.8 blocks) has been really good as a rim protector and interior scorer, and the X-factor for this group could be sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413514' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (5.9, 40.0 3P%), who can be a really explosive scorer off the bench. If the Spartans are going to make some noise, it's likely that the younger Jirovsky had something to do with it. Eight players average at least 4.3 points a game, giving them a multitude of scorers, and this is a team that is averaging nearly 21 assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>A number of players on this roster were also on the state champion football team, so this is a group of athletes who know how to win. They're strong defensively, have a star wing in Kirkpatrick, and a ton of athletes and balance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: Regina Catholic (17-6)<br></span>About the Regals:</strong> In Paul Rundquist's first year at the helm the Regals reached the state tournament following an upset of Pella Christian in the substate final. Rundquist, a state champion coach at Mount Pleasant, has Regina playing great basketball on both ends of the floor heading into next week, and they aren't going to be an easy out. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325496' first='Michael' last='Martin'] (17.9, 44.4 3P%) is a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands and shoots it extremely well off the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='1807351' first='Eddie' last='Petersen'] (8.4, 5.0 assists) is his running mate in the backcourt, a skilled lead guard who limits mistakes, gets his teammates involved, and plays solid defense. The Regals have also gotten really good production out of a pair of freshmen - [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] (11.9, 4.1 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'] (8.3, 4.5 rebounds) - who have given them some size, toughness, and athleticism. Senior forward Drew Streb (6.7, 5.9 rebounds) was arguably the hero of the substate final, operating in the high-post area and routinely knocking down 15-footers, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2360905' first='Lucas' last='Schechinger'] (7.1, 38.5 3P%) is a microwave scorer off the bench who can fill it up in a hurry, scoring from all three levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>After beating Pella Christian, one of the best teams in the class, in the substate final, the Regals have to be riding high, knowing that they can play with, and beat, anyone in the class. Martin is a high-level scorer, and they have a number of skilled players who fill their roles alongside him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staff picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tony<br></span><strong>Quarterfinals: </strong>Western Christian, West Burlington, Hudson, Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>Western Christian, Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion:</strong> Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->