Substate Preview: 1A-2

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-3.png?w=782" alt="" class="wp-image-2770858" /></a></figure>   District 3   The favorite: Three double-figure scorers pace a potent Bishop Garrigan attack that has led the Golden Bears to an impressive 17-3 record. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (14.7, 3.7 assists) is one of the most talented players in the state's 2027 class, and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (pictured, 14.3, 4.6 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (12.6, 9.6 rebounds) have been great this season as well alongside Joyce, giving them a dynamic trio of players to lead the charge. Thomas is a physical, athletic forward who controls the glass alongside senior Nick Leerar (7.4, 8.4 rebounds), while Joyce and Schwab are the team's top perimeter threats. Garrigan uses their size to their advantage on both ends of the floor and is a tough team to contend with on the glass. They already hold a season sweep over possible district final opponent, Lake Mills, which makes them a pretty clear favorite in the district.   The biggest threat: The program in this district that has enjoyed the most sustained success over the last five years is Lake Mills, having qualified for the state tournament four times in the last five seasons, and the Bulldogs will once again be a threat to punch through and get to Des Moines. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2721756' first='Kane' last='Koch'] (14.3, 37.4 3P%) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers, and their tandem of playmaking guards in [player_tooltip player_id='1641849' first='Jackson' last='Gaul'] (13.7, 6.4 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731844' first='Nash' last='Delger'] (11.0, 4.9 assists) gives them a pair of reliable ball-handlers and decision-makers, a huge plus in postseason play. This year's Bulldogs team doesn't have the big, physical forwards that several previous iterations have had, but their guard play is good, and they already know they can go on the road and beat Northwood-Kensett, the #2 seed in the district, given the fact that they did so by 11 just a few weeks ago.   The dark horse: In senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='1436503' first='Colby' last='Eskildsen'] (20.6, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1587315' first='Kooper' last='Julseth'] (14.9, 9.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists), Northwood-Kensett has the type of size and talent in the frontcourt that can cause some real problems for teams. Eskildsen is 6-6, Julseth 6-5, and they combine to average 3.5 blocks per game. As would probably be expected with a team built around size, the Vikings don't shoot it well from the 3-point line (22.2 3P%), but they dominate the glass and if they can turn games into halfcourt contests and use their size to impose their will, they could make a run here.   Players to Watch 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721756' first='Kane' last='Koch'] (Lake Mills) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1641849' first='Jackson' last='Gaul'] (Lake Mills) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587315' first='Kooper' last='Julseth'] (Northwood-Kensett) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436503' first='Colby' last='Eskildsen'] (Northwood-Kensett) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2379807' first='Johnny' last='Adams'] (Riceville) 2028 Owen Smith (Riceville) 2025 Ashyr Wiseman (West Fork) 2025 Xavier Baptiste (West Fork) 2025 Jayce Schwiesow (Saint Ansgar) 2025 Max Wilkerson (North Iowa) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2274770' first='Rockwell' last='Hughes'] (North Iowa)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-4.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-4.png?w=785" alt="" class="wp-image-2770859" /></a></figure>   District 4   The favorite: All three of the losses that St. Edmond has suffered this year have come at the hands of 3A teams, including two against the top-ranked team in that class, Clear Lake. Playing in the North Central Conference against significantly larger schools gives the Gaels a pretty big leg-up in this district, as does having the best player in the district in junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (23.6, 9.2 rebounds). Horn has been fantastic as a junior, scoring efficiently around the bucket, controlling the glass, and showing that he can pass out of the post against doubles. Jacob Koopman (11.7, 8.2 rebounds) is another force on the glass, and [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (9.3) is a great athlete on the wing with the length and athleticism to create chaos defensively. Junior guard Jack McElroy (5.7, 5.8 assists) isn't much of a scoring threat, but he's a valuable asset in the backcourt as a playmaker who doesn't turn the ball over. With the best player in the district, and having gone through the toughest schedule, St. Edmond has to be considered a pretty heavy favorite here.   The biggest threat: Newman Catholic has been one of the hottest teams in 1A over the last month, winners of eight straight games as of time of writing. The Knights have four players averaging in double figures, and one more at 9.8 points per game, giving them five high-powered scoring threats who are each capable of taking over as a scorer on any given night. The most consistent of the bunch has been sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2420788' first='Westley' last='Cole'] (18.7), but seniors Colin Bleile (11.3), Isaiah Kesten (10.1), and Cal McGuire (9.8), and fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2420772' first='Thomas' last='McGuire'] (10.4) are all viable scorers as well. The Knights like to play fast and use their speed to their advantage, pushing the tempo routinely, but will they have an answer for Horn in a district final?   The dark horse: You could make arguments for a pair of teams here - Janesville and Nashua-Plainfield - but given the fact that Janesville doesn't have to meet up with St. Edmond until the district final, we'll go with the Wildcats here. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (18.5) has had some explosive scoring games this season, setting the school record with a 46-point outburst against Tripoli earlier this year. He's not alone, with Isaac Jones (13.0) giving some more scoring, and senior forward Gabe Meaney (10.0, 12.0 rebounds) providing some size in the paint. The Iowa Star is a significantly weaker league than the North Central or Top of Iowa are, but in a one-game setting, the Wildcats have the talent to make some real noise.   Players to Watch 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (St. Edmond) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (St. Edmond) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (St. Edmond) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420788' first='Westley' last='Cole'] (Newman Catholic) 2025 Colin Bleile (Newman Catholic) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville) 2026 Isaac Jones (Janesville) 2025 Gabe Meaney (Janesville) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2235353' first='Matthew' last='Malven'] (Nashua-Plainfield) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731860' first='Jase' last='Hansen'] (Nashua-Plainfield) 2025 Ryan Austin (North Butler) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721652' first='Sam' last='Hoodjer'] (Clarksville)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Bishop Garrigan vs. St. Edmond   If this game is to materialize in the substate final, it should be one of the best of the bunch in 1A. According to BCMoore's power rankings, St. Edmond is ranked #6 in the class, and Bishop Garrigan #8, so these are two teams that probably belong in Des Moines. In a tight game, we'll side with the team that has the best individual player, and that's [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn']. For the first time since 2012, St. Edmond punches their ticket to Des Moines, where they have to be considered a real threat to win it all.