State Tournament: Championship Friday Game Recaps

Class 1A Championship: #1 North Linn 57, #2 Marquette Catholic 56

For the third time in the last six years, the North Linn Lynx are state basketball champions. The Lynx prevailed in a nail-biter over fellow Tri-Rivers Conference school Marquette Catholic, 57-56, to capture the school’s third state championship in their seventh straight trip to the championship game.

These teams played a little more than a month ago, a 69-60 North Linn win up in Bellevue, a game that was pretty thoroughly dominated by the Lynx. In that game, they jumped out to a double-digit lead and were never really threatened. That wasn’t the case here, as the entire game was played within two possessions – neither team held a lead of more than six points.

North Linn held a 19-14 lead after the first quarter and took a narrow 30-27 advantage into the break. After back-to-back 3-pointers from Kannon Still Kannon Still 5'8" | PG Marquette Catholic | 2024 State IA early in the third quarter, Marquette Catholic took their first lead since midway through the first quarter, and we were tied at 44 after three quarters. Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA opened the final period by splitting a pair of free throws, and that would be the last time Marquette led. They tied it back up at 49 with 3:15 to play, but a Mason Bechen Mason Bechen 6'1" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA mid-range jumper gave the Lynx a 51-49 lead, an advantage that they wouldn’t lose the rest of the way.

With a foul still left to give, leading 57-54 with 16.8 seconds left, North Linn opted to play it out. Freshman guard Louis Gonner Louis Gonner 5'8" | PG Marquette Catholic | 2027 State IA , a 3-point specialist, freed himself for a look for the Defenders, but Breckyn Betenbender Breckyn Betenbender 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2024 State IA recovered quickly and got a piece of the jumper, and the tying attempt fell fall short of the rim. Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA grabbed the loose ball and laid it in, but Marquette didn’t have any timeouts left, and that was the ballgame. State title back to Troy Mills.

North Linn kept delivering jab after jab after jab, but they just couldn’t land the haymaker against the Defenders, who despite turning it over 18 times, more than twice as many times as they did in the regular season meeting between these teams, hung in until the final buzzer. Jake Van Etten was huge in the fourth quarter for the Lynx, scoring 7 of his 11 points in the final period.

North Linn finishes with a 26-1 record and the school’s third state championship since 2019. The Lynx were led by Mason Bechen Mason Bechen 6'1" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA , the junior guard who concluded a fantastic week in Des Moines with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, named captain of the All-Tournament team. Breckyn Betenbender Breckyn Betenbender 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2024 State IA had 11 points, 4 steals, and that huge title-saving block, and Jake Van Etten added 11 big points. The Lynx will lose Ty Pflughaupt Ty Pflughaupt 6'4" | SF North Linn | 2024 State IA , Betenbender, and Van Etten to graduation, but will bring back Bechen, Cole Griffith, and a few key bench pieces to a program that is absolutely rolling right now. There is no reason to expect North Linn not to be in contention to play a year from today yet again.

Marquette Catholic’s season ends with a 27-2 record and the school’s second championship game appearance. The Defenders were led by Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA , who was named to the All-Tournament team and had 17 points and 14 rebounds in a great effort. Kannon Still Kannon Still 5'8" | PG Marquette Catholic | 2024 State IA had 16 points, including four big 3-pointers, and Caden Kettmann Caden Kettmann 6'4" | SG Marquette Catholic Bellevue | 2024 State IA added 11. Roeder and point guard Eli Scott, who had 6 assists in this one, will return for the Defenders next season, as will standout bench player Jacob Litterer Jacob Litterer 6'2" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2025 State IA , giving them a solid trio of players to continue to build around next season.

Scoring
Marquette Catholic: Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA 17, Kannon Still Kannon Still 5'8" | PG Marquette Catholic | 2024 State IA 16, Caden Kettmann Caden Kettmann 6'4" | SG Marquette Catholic Bellevue | 2024 State IA 11, Jacob Litterer Jacob Litterer 6'2" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2025 State IA 6, Isaac Brinker 4, Eli Scott 2
North Linn: Mason Bechen Mason Bechen 6'1" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA 24, Breckyn Betenbender Breckyn Betenbender 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2024 State IA 11, Jake Van Etten 11, Ty Pflughaupt Ty Pflughaupt 6'4" | SF North Linn | 2024 State IA 6, Cole Griffith 2, Hayden Schmidt 2, Drew Ries 1

Team stats
Marquette Catholic: 22-43 FG (51.2%), 6-14 3P (42.9%), 6-10 FT (60.0%); 31 rebounds (7 offensive); 9 assists, 18 turnovers
North Linn: 24-52 FG (46.2%), 1-13 3P (7.7%), 8-15 FT (53.3%); 22 rebounds (6 offensive); 6 assists, 7 turnovers

MVP: 2025 Mason Bechen Mason Bechen 6'1" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA (North Linn) — 24 points (10-18 FG, 0-4 3P, 4-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal

Bechen wasn’t going to be denied this afternoon. The 6-2 guard completed a stellar week of basketball by being named captain of the All-Tournament team.

All-Tournament Team: 2024 Cam Buffington Cam Buffington 6'2" | PF Winfield-Mt. Union | 2024 State IA (Winfield-Mt. Union); 2025 Aiden Stensrud Aiden Stensrud 6'6" | PF Lake Mills | 2025 State IA (Lake Mills); 2024 Ty Pflughaupt Ty Pflughaupt 6'4" | SF North Linn | 2024 State IA (North Linn); 2025 Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA (Marquette Catholic); 2025 Mason Bechen Mason Bechen 6'1" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA (North Linn, CAPTAIN)

Class 2A Championship: #1 Western Christian 78, #2 Hudson 51

Every week during our Class 2A rankings committee meetings, former Western Christian coach would tell us that “Western is good, I’m just not sure how good”. Turns out, Western is pretty darn special, as the Wolfpack completed their romp through the Class 2A state tournament with a resounding 78-51 win over second-ranked Hudson on Friday afternoon.

As they’ve done for most of the week, the Wolfpack eased into this one before grabbing control with an extended run in the second and third quarters. This was an extremely entertaining game for the first 16 minutes, with neither team holding a lead of more than four points until the final minute of the second quarter. A late flurry from Western Christian gave the Wolfpack a 40-33 lead heading into the break, and then the dams broke for Hudson.

Western Christian opened the second half with a 3 from star wing Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'4" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA , who had been quiet in the first half. A pair of Karsten Moret Karsten Moret 6'3" | SG Western Christian | 2025 State IA free throws, then a Moret 3, and a Van Regenmorter putback was all she wrote. Western won the third quarter 22-5 and rolled to a state-record 11th state basketball championship, improving to 11-2 in championship games.

Western Christian finishes the season with a 23-3 record and they’re adding yet another trophy to the trophy case in Hull. The Wolfpack were led by Karsten Moret Karsten Moret 6'3" | SG Western Christian | 2025 State IA and Caleb Douma Caleb Douma 6'1" | SG Western Christian | 2024 State IA , who each had 23 points in the win. Kaden Van Regenmorter Kaden Van Regenmorter 6'4" | SF Hull, Western Christian | 2025 State IA had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, and was named captain of the All-Tournament team for his stellar play throughout the week. The scary thought for opposing teams in Class 2A is that Van Regenmorter and Moret will be back next season, as will every bench player from this roster. Expect to see Western Christian right back here again next year with a chance to keep adding to their record haul of state titles. They won their three games this week by a combined 80 points, an average of 26.7 points a game. A truly dominating week of basketball on both ends of the floor from the boys from Hull.

Hudson’s season ends with a 25-3 record, and the distinction of having their three losses come to the top-seeded teams in the 2A, 3A, and 4A state tournament. A special season from a special group of seniors certainly didn’t end the way they wanted, but the Pirates simply ran into a buzzsaw here. They were led by Camden Davis Camden Davis 6'5" | SF Hudson | 2024 State IA , who concluded a stellar high school career with 19 points, the only Pirate to finish in double figures. Four starters and all but one bench player will graduate, with only Keian Crile and Tate Van Dyke slated to return from this roster.

Team stats
Hudson: 19-49 FG (38.8%), 2-14 3P (14.3%), 11-11 FT (100.0%); 21 rebounds (6 offensive); 4 assists, 8 turnovers
Western Christian: 29-54 FG (53.7%), 15-28 3P (53.6%), 5-7 FT (71.4%); 35 rebounds (11 offensive); 17 assists, 10 turnovers

MVP: 2024 Caleb Douma Caleb Douma 6'1" | SG Western Christian | 2024 State IA (Western Christian) — 23 points (8-14 FG, 7-12 3P), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Douma was sensational, knocking down seven 3-pointers en route to a co-game-high 23 points on efficient shooting. The skilled guard hasn’t had many huge scoring nights this season, but he had an explosive one when it mattered most.

Class 3A Championship: #4 Assumption 46, #2 Waverly-Shell Rock 45

For the first time since 2000, there will be a boys state basketball trophy going back to the city of Davenport, as the Assumption Knights took home the Class 3A title following a nail-biting 46-45 win over Waverly-Shell Rock on Friday night.

Waverly-Shell Rock took a 2-0 lead on their first possession, and didn’t trail until there was 2:34 left in the second quarter, following a mid-range jumper from Damyen Jackson Damyen Jackson 6'0" | PG Assumption | 2025 State IA . Assumption took a 31-29 lead into the break after sophomore guard Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG United Prep | 2026 State IA beat the halftime horn.

A fun, up-tempo game grinded to a halt in the second half, with neither team able to buy a bucket. Assumption’s aggressive, athletic, and long defenders frustrated the free-flowing Waverly-Shell Rock offense, holding the Go-Hawks to just 17 points in the middle 16 minutes of the game, and just 26 points in the final three quarters. Assumption led 37-36 after three quarters.

Noah Frazell Noah Frazell 6'1" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA , who battled foul trouble all evening, made a mid-range jumper to open the fourth quarter and give Waverly-Shell Rock their first lead since the second quarter, but he picked up his fifth foul with 5:27 left to play, with his team leading by a point, 40-39. Without Frazell on the floor, the Go-Hawks started to take the air out of the ball, leading 44-41 midway through the fourth, running a lot of shot clock on each possession but struggling to get clean looks late in the clock. The teams went 2:34 without scoring before a Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG United Prep | 2026 State IA steal and layup pulled Assumption to within 44-43. With 35 seconds left, Damyen Jackson Damyen Jackson 6'0" | PG Assumption | 2025 State IA came away with a steal, missed his layup, but Shabazz was there to follow it up and give the Knights a 45-44 lead. Cole Marsh Cole Marsh 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA was fouled on the ensuing possession, going to the free throw line with 12.6 seconds left to play. Marsh missed the first but made the second to tie it at 45.

On the next Assumption possession, Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG United Prep | 2026 State IA drove down the right side of the lane and was fouled. At the stripe with 4.2 seconds to play, he made his first free throw and missed the second, but Waverly-Shell Rock, who had to use a pair of timeouts trying to inbound the ball earlier in the quarter, didn’t have any timeouts remaining and couldn’t get anything drawn up. In a scramble, Shabazz stole the ball and ended it. Ball game, Assumption. State title heading back to Davenport.

Assumption’s season ends with a 19-8 record and the school’s fourth state championship. The Knights were led by Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG United Prep | 2026 State IA , who had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Damyen Jackson Damyen Jackson 6'0" | PG Assumption | 2025 State IA added 15 points and was named captain of the All-Tournament team, and Kayvion Hodges Kayvion Hodges 6'3" | SF/SG Muscatine | 2025 State IA added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and played great defense against Waverly-Shell Rock star Luke Frazell Luke Frazell 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025 State IA . Hodges was also named to the All-Tournament team for his efforts this week. The Knights will bring back their entire starting lineup and their leading scorer off the bench, and have to be considered an early favorite to repeat in the class next year.

Waverly-Shell Rock’s season ends with a 22-4 record and the school’s first championship game appearance since 2013. The Go-Hawks were led by Cole Marsh Cole Marsh 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA , who had 18 points and 14 rebounds. He was named to the All-Tournament team, as was Luke Frazell Luke Frazell 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025 State IA , who had 7 points in the loss. Benny Ramker Benny Ramker 5'8" | PG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA had 10 points. The Go-Hawks will lose four starters, but will bring back Luke Frazell Luke Frazell 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025 State IA , a dynamic shooter with great size as well as a few notable bench pieces.

Team stats
Assumption: 18-52 FG (34.6%), 2-17 3P (11.8%), 8-12 FT (66.7%); 27 rebounds (6 offensive); 4 assists, 3 turnovers
Waverly-Shell Rock: 17-41 FG (41.5%), 5-18 3P (27.8%), 6-8 FT (75.0%); 33 rebounds (2 offensive); 7 assists, 14 turnovers

MVP: 2026 SG Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG United Prep | 2026 State IA (Assumption) — 16 points (6-13 FG, 0-3 3P, 4-5 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 steals

The highly touted sophomore had his best game of the week and concluded it with the game-winning free throw, delivering a state title to Assumption.

All-Tournament Team: 2025 Kayvion Hodges Kayvion Hodges 6'3" | SF/SG Muscatine | 2025 State IA (Assumption); 2024 Cole Marsh Cole Marsh 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA (Waverly-Shell Rock); 2024 Jesse Van Kalsbeek Jesse Van Kalsbeek 6'6" | SF MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024 State IA (MOC-Floyd Valley); 2025 Luke Frazell Luke Frazell 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025 State IA (Waverly-Shell Rock); 2025 Damyen Jackson Damyen Jackson 6'0" | PG Assumption | 2025 State IA (Assumption, CAPTAIN)

Class 4A Championship: #2 Valley 63, #1 Kennedy 59

The West Des Moines Valley Tigers are back-to-back champions in Class 4A following a 63-59 win over top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy, ending the Cougars undefeated season. And it’s going to take a ridiculous effort from someone to prevent the three-peat from happening next year.

This was a tight game throughout the first half, played within a single possession for most of the half. Valley’s largest lead was four points, and Kennedy’s largest edge was three.

Then, as they’ve done all year, and did last year at the state tournament, Valley used an explosive second half to pull away. An incredible 1:03 stretch from the Tigers’ star juniors turned the game on its head. It started with a Kiki Deng Kiki Deng 6'4" | SG Valley | 2025 State IA corner 3, then Curtis Stinson Jr Curtis Stinson Jr 6'5" | SG Western Reserve Academy | 2025 State #157 Nation OH finished a layup after some beautiful ball-handling and a dish from Xzavion Robinson Xzavion Robinson 6'1" | PG Valley | 2025 State #342 Nation IA , slicing through the defense. Then Trevin Jirak Trevin Jirak 6'9" | C Valley | 2025 State #349 Nation IA had a steal, a Euro step, and a layup, and then followed it up on the other end with a block. A quick 7-0 spurt that helped the Tigers grab momentum and a 33-25 lead. They would lead by at least two possessions the rest of the way en route to another state title.

Valley’s season concludes with a 21-5 record and a second consecutive state championship, the fourth in school history. The Tigers were led by Trevin Jirak Trevin Jirak 6'9" | C Valley | 2025 State #349 Nation IA , who had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks to wrap up a great week. Curtis Stinson Jr Curtis Stinson Jr 6'5" | SG Western Reserve Academy | 2025 State #157 Nation OH had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, and was named captain of the All-Tournament team. Xzavion Robinson Xzavion Robinson 6'1" | PG Valley | 2025 State #342 Nation IA had 13 points, and Kiki Deng Kiki Deng 6'4" | SG Valley | 2025 State IA added 12 points and 7 rebounds in the win. With their entire starting lineup and top bench player returning, the Tigers will be considered an overwhelming favorite to win their third straight title next season.

Kennedy’s season ends with a 25-1 record and the school’s first state championship game appearance since 1988. The Cougars were led by Trey McKowen Trey McKowen 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2025 State IA , who had 17 points. Micah Schlaak Micah Schlaak 6'6" | PF Kennedy | 2024 State IA had 14 points, Joseph Bean Joseph Bean 6'3" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA 12, and Griffin Gerdes Griffin Gerdes 6'1" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA chipped in 10. They’ll lose four starters, but bring back McKowen, a handful of bench players, and will add pieces from a sophomore team that went 20-1 this season. Expect Kennedy to be a state tournament contender again next season.

Team stats
Valley: 21-39 FG (53.8%), 4-11 3P (36.4%), 17-22 FT (77.3%); 35 rebounds (10 rebounds); 16 assists, 17 turnovers
Kennedy: 23-57 FG (40.4%), 7-26 3P (26.9%), 6-7 FT (85.7%); 18 rebounds (10 offensive); 5 assists, 9 turnovers

MVP: 2025 Trevin Jirak Trevin Jirak 6'9" | C Valley | 2025 State #349 Nation IA (Valley) — 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal

You could honestly give this to any of the Valley juniors, they were all great. But Jirak’s interior presence defensively changed the way that Kennedy had to play, and he was great offensively as well, concluding a fantastic week in Des Moines from the 6-9 junior big.