Substate Preview: 1A-4

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-7.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-7.png?w=784" alt="" class="wp-image-2771884" /></a></figure>   District 7   The favorite: New man on the sidelines, largely the same results for North Linn, who looks like a pretty heavy favorite in this district. In his first year as the head coach, Travis Griffith has helped guide the Lynx to a 18-2 record behind an offensive attack that ranks 3rd in the class in scoring at 75.2 points per game. The defending champs are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (30.9, 57.0 FG%), the best player in 1A basketball. His ability to attack off the dribble and get to his spots constantly, combined with his strength and quickness, make him nearly impossible to slow down. [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] (11.7, 7.6 assists) has stepped into the lead ball-handling role and is posting a sterling 5.85 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Drew Ries (10.2, 7.5 rebounds) gives them some physicality in the paint. You know what to expect from North Linn, a team that is going to constantly put pressure on you on both ends of the floor, and while this year's team isn't as good as the last decade's worth of teams have been, they're still the team to beat here.   The biggest threat: The #2 seed in the district is Hillcrest Academy, who has put together an impressive 18-3 regular season, a record that includes a 68-52 win over presumed district semifinal opponent Keota. The Ravens are led by a trio of seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='2511490' first='Seth' last='Ours'] (14.7, 37.8 3P%), Bryce Bailey (12.2), and Mason Bender (10.3, 7.2 rebounds), while junior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (8.7, 6.2 assists) has been a reliable playmaker in the backcourt, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (9.8) gives them an efficient interior option. Ours is one of the best shooters in the class, and this is a team that has a lot of different weapons, but there are some questions about how they'll respond to the speed that North Linn plays with if they were to meet in the district final. Hillcrest just lost by 34 to West Burlington, a team no doubt better than North Linn, but a team that plays a similar style.   The dark horse: Keota will be looking to get some revenge on Hillcrest Academy in the district semifinals following their 16-point loss in mid-January. The Eagles have a dominant interior weapon in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2511617' first='Billie' last='Kindred'] (23.1, 13.6 rebounds, 51.6 FG%), the type of force in the paint who could give a smaller North Linn team problems should they meet in the district final. [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (15.8, 7.7 assists) has been a revelation in the backcourt, and Jace Chalupa (10.3, 6.8 rebounds) has been solid as well as a tertiary scoring option.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (North Linn) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] (North Linn) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511490' first='Seth' last='Ours'] (Hillcrest Academy) 2025 Bryce Bailey (Hillcrest Academy) 2025 Mason Bender (Hillcrest Academy) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511617' first='Billie' last='Kindred'] (Keota) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (Keota) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721744' first='Evan' last='Haefner'] (Springville) 2025 Jayce Ernzen (Springville) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2440642' first='Connor' last='Williams'] (Springville) 2025 Caleb Krueger (Cedar Valley Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2103624' first='Emmett' last='Burke'] (Lone Tree)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-8.png?w=786" alt="" class="wp-image-2771885" /></a></figure>   District 8   The favorite: The top three seeds in this district is one of the best top threes of any district in the class. Notre Dame grabbed the top seed, and is a deserved favorite here, especially when you consider the fact that they'll only have to play one of Holy Trinity Catholic or WACO, while those two will have to play each other and then Notre Dame. The Nikes are led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (21.4, 7.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists), who has been great this year. A quick, talented guard who can score from anywhere on the floor and create high-quality looks for his teammates, he has been dominant on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2394879' first='Jack' last='Drew'] (17.3, 53.8 FG%) has been really good as a secondary scorer alongside Stephens, and they have five other viable threats as well. They split the season series with Holy Trinity and beat WACO by 13 in their lone regular-season meeting.   The biggest threat: In senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1622174' first='Luke' last='Hellige'] (26.4, 7.8 rebounds, 54.4 FG%, 46.8 3P%, 91.1 FT%), Holy Trinity Catholic has the best individual player in the district. A 6-5 sharpshooter who can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end, he has been absolutely dominant in his senior year for the Crusaders. [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (13.3) and Koby Jones (11.3) are solid scoring threats alongside Hellige, taking advantage of the open looks that come with so much defensive attention being paid to Hellige, and senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2397192' first='Adam' last='Sobczak'] (7.6, 8.9 assists) has been elite as a distributor. The Crusaders beat WACO 57-35 in the season opener and will get the district semifinal at home.   The dark horse: WACO has put together yet another strong year and will be a dangerous team in this district. They have a go-to scorer in [player_tooltip player_id='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (19.4), a Mount Pleasant transfer who can score inside and out. He's the only Warrior averaging in double figures, but five others average between 5.3 and 9.0 points per game, so the second and third scoring options can be different on any given night.   Players to Watch 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (Notre Dame) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2394879' first='Jack' last='Drew'] (Notre Dame) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1622174' first='Luke' last='Hellige'] (Holy Trinity Catholic) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (Holy Trinity Catholic) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397192' first='Adam' last='Sobczak'] (Holy Trinity Catholic) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (WACO) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381409' first='Jake' last='Edwards'] (Winfield-Mt. Union) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887859' first='Cole' last='Millikin'] (Pekin) 2026 Nolan Glick (Pekin) 2025 Jaden Bauer (Danville) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906549' first='Connor' last='Hulett'] (Danville) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754662' first='Ellis' last='Hills-Carrier'] (Columbus)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   North Linn vs. Notre Dame   North Linn looks like a pretty heavy favorite in their district, while the Notre Dame/Holy Trinity Catholic district final would be a real battle. This would be a really good game, should it come to be, and in a close game, we'll side with the team that has been in this situation before, and the team that has the best player in 1A basketball on their side, North Linn. For the ninth straight year, the Lynx head to Des Moines, where they'll attempt to defend their title.