Substate Preview: 1A-3

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-5.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-5.png?w=781" alt="" class="wp-image-2770866" /></a></figure>   District 5   The favorite: There probably isn't a bigger favorite to come out of a district than Marquette Catholic is to come out of this district, given the fact that they swept the #2 seed by a combined 82 points. After finishing runner-up in 1A last season, the Defenders have been on a mission this year, averaging 82.2 points per game and allowing just 49.0. Their resume includes wins over a pair of 4A teams (North Scott, Waterloo East), and they've also stepped out of conference to post quality wins over Bellevue, Scales Mound (IL), Galena (IL), and Alburnett. They have a pair of big-time scorers in senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer'] (21.8, 60.7 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (20.2, 9.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists), and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2511527' first='Eli' last='Scott'] (13.1, 5.7 assists) has been as steady as they come in the backcourt. This is a group that loves to apply pressure defensively and use their speed to push the tempo offensively, getting a ton of buckets in transition. They're deep, fast, and talented.   The biggest threat: Bellevue is going to have to go on the road in the district semifinals to face Prince of Peace, but the Comets are the bigger threat to Marquette Catholic should they reach the district final, given they played the Defenders to an eight-point game just nine days ago. This is still a young team, led in scoring by four juniors and a sophomore, and there is just one senior on the roster. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (14.8, 8.8 rebounds) leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks, and gives them some size and athleticism in the paint that can be tough to contend with. [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (10.9) is the lead guard, a quick distributor who puts constant pressure on opposing defenses, and [player_tooltip player_id='2413527' first='Spencer' last='Abbott'] (9.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413528' first='Owen' last='Putman'] (9.1) are viable scoring threats as well. The Comets play in the River Valley Conference, a tougher league with bigger schools than what PoP faces in the Tri-Rivers, and that could be a factor in the semifinals.   The dark horse: Anytime you have a scorer the caliber of [player_tooltip player_id='1759934' first='Hakeal' last='Powell'] (33.3), your team is going to be dangerous, and that's the case for Prince of Peace. Powell, a senior guard, has a 60-point game on his resume this season, and he's the type of streaky shooter who can get scorching hot and carry his team offensively. Forward Logan Detterman (14.1, 9.7 rebounds) holds down the paint, and Carson Newcomb (10.4) is the other scoring threat. In a pair of meetings with Marquette Catholic this year, the Irish have allowed 192 points, and they'll need to figure out how to get that under control if they want to pull off the monumental upset.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (Marquette Catholic) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer'] (Marquette Catholic) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511527' first='Eli' last='Scott'] (Marquette Catholic) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (Bellevue) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (Bellevue) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759934' first='Hakeal' last='Powell'] (Prince of Peace) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519981' first='Briggs' last='Boehme'] (Wapsie Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] (Wapsie Valley) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906437' first='Owen' last='Hammersland'] (Central Elkader) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (Calamus-Wheatland)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-6.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-6.png?w=786" alt="" class="wp-image-2770868" /></a></figure>   District 6   The favorite: This district looks like one of the most wide-open districts in 1A, but we'll side with Don Bosco as the favorite, as the Association did. The Dons have four losses on the year, but just one came to a 1A team, Dunkerton, and only one loss (2A ranked Cascade) came by double digits. They're led by the Belew brothers, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2425897' first='Zach' last='Belew'] (19.1, 9.0 rebounds, 60.5 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2425891' first='Ben' last='Belew'] (15.3, 6.6 assists). They're a pair of big-time scorers who pound the glass on both ends of the floor, using their size, physicality, and athleticism to control the game on both ends. David Schmitz (10.1) gives them another perimeter scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (6.5, 7.0 rebounds) gives them more toughness in the paint. Knowing that they had a group that could make a little noise, they went out and tested themselves a bit in the non-conference, and that could pay dividends here.   The biggest threat: Three juniors average in double figures for South Winneshiek in [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (17.5), [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (16.4), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (13.8), giving them a trio of dominant scoring threats who can each take over the game. All three are capable ball-handlers and playmakers who can create their own shot or get a quality look for a teammate. The Warriors have the benefit of getting their district semifinal at home as the #2 seed, which could be a big edge in a district that looks to be very tightly bunched.   The dark horse(s): Two teams are worthy of consideration in this district - Maquoketa Valley and Kee. Starting with the former, the Wildcats have lost six games, but those losses have come to five really good teams (Alburnett twice, North Linn twice, Marquette Catholic) and a solid Springville team. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (20.9) is a big scorer for them, the only player averaging more than 8.6 points per game, while Anderson Holtz (8.6, 4.0 assists) gives them a solid playmaker in the backcourt. They've played really good teams and won't be intimidated by anyone in this district.   Kee has had a bit of a disappointing year after reaching the substate finals last year and bringing nearly everyone back from that group. So despite the fact that they're just 12-8, this is a team that is capable of making some noise in postseason play as they did last year. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'] (25.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (16.8, 6.3 assists) give them a pair of experienced, big-time scorers who can take over a game, while [player_tooltip player_id='2511615' first='Brayden' last='Darling'] (6.0, 2.3 blocks) gives them some size and rim protection.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2425897' first='Zach' last='Belew'] (Don Bosco) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2425891' first='Ben' last='Belew'] (Don Bosco) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (South Winneshiek) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (South Winneshiek) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (South Winneshiek) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (Maquoketa Valley) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'] (Kee) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (Kee) 2026 Logan Busta (Turkey Valley) 2025 Pryce Rochford (Edgewood-Colesburg)     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Marquette Catholic vs. Don Bosco   Nothing against whichever team comes out of District 6 here, but it's going to take a massive effort to knock off a Marquette Catholic team that looks like they're on a mission. The Defenders are loaded, deep, athletic, experienced, and looking to finish the job this year.