Substate Preview: 1A-8

<!-- wp:image {"id":2771968,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-15.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-15.png?w=782" alt="" class="wp-image-2771968" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: ACGC</strong> has to be considered a pretty heavy favorite to come out of this district, the only team ranked within the top 55 at BC Moore. The Chargers' two losses have both come to the #2 team in Class 1A, Madrid, and outside of those two losses, only six games have been decided by single digits. The Chargers seemingly have been building for this season for the last several, and look primed to capitalize. [player_tooltip player_id='2480003' first='Jathan' last='South'] (19.2) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers. [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (14.5, 14.3 rebounds) has been dominant inside the painted area, [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (15.2, 5.9 assists) gets his teammates involved well and can score inside and out, and junior Joe Crawford (12.8) may be the team's top shooting threat. This is a group that doesn't turn it over (9.5 turnovers per game), pounds the offensive glass hard (13.2), and has a number of scoring threats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Ar-We-Va </strong>has put together a solid 15-6 season, and they'll get the district semifinal against CAM at home, a team that they split the regular-season series with. The Rockets are led by a pair of big scorers in Blayne Smith (15.3, 8.9 rebounds) and Wyatt Ragaller (15.0), a tandem that accounts for over half of the team's scoring. A solid defensive team that is accustomed to playing in the halfcourt, they'll be comfortable in a slower postseason setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: CAM </strong>won the more recent meeting against Ar-We-Va and will head into the district semifinal rubbermatch knowing that they can not only play with the Rockets, but beat them, with their physicality and athleticism, most notably in the form of junior forward Collin Bower (16.0, 13.0 rebounds). Chase Jahde (16.0) gives them some athleticism and speed in the backcourt, as does Gunnar Hoguelson (8.4). Their toughness and physicality can cause issues in this district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2480003' first='Jathan' last='South'] (ACGC)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (ACGC)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (ACGC)<br>2026 Joe Crawford (ACGC)<br>2025 Blayne Smith (Ar-We-Va)<br>2026 Wyatt Ragaller (Ar-We-Va)<br>2026 Collin Bowe (CAM)<br>2025 Chase Jahde (CAM)<br>2026 Austin Christensen (Audubon)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2630703' first='Jonathan' last='Bergmeier'] (Glidden-Ralston)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (IKM-Manning)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2771969,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-16.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-16.png?w=787" alt="" class="wp-image-2771969" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>What else is new? <strong>St. Mary's, Remsen</strong> is the #1 scoring defense in Class 1A, allowing just 37.3 points per game, and they're a real pain in the butt to try and play against with their discipline, length, and physicality on that end of the floor. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1759937' first='Collin' last='Homan'] (14.1, 6.7 rebounds) has been a four-year mainstay for the Hawks and is the anchor of the team on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1568264' first='Sam' last='Schmillen'] (12.3, 7.0 rebounds) is another veteran presence who uses his size to his advantage, and the trio of Carter Tentinger (8.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2511517' first='Landon' last='Waldschmitt'] (7.8), and Keaton Harpenau (4.2) all have a ton of state tournament experience as well. Newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2617521' first='Jeshua' last='Phillips'] (9.0, 60.3 FG%), a LeMars transfer, is the X-factor for this group, providing them with the type of length and athleticism on the wing that they haven't had before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Playing in the Hawkeye Ten against largely 3A schools prepares <strong>St. Albert</strong> well for postseason play. This is a group that has played well over the last month of the season, and they'll head into postseason play riding high. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765504' first='Nicolas' last='Ballenger'] (14.0) is a streaky but talented shooter who can get scorching hot and carry his team, and freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='2509580' first='Colt' last='Spencer'] (11.3, 6.9 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2523893' first='Cooper' last='Hamilton'] (6.9) have both been solid in their debut campaigns. This is a team that has played down-to-the-wire games against some good, big schools, and they won't be intimidated by anyone in this district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Logan-Magnolia</strong> is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the district, and that will make them a team capable of beating the St. Mary's defensive efforts. The Panthers are led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2721441' first='Wes' last='Vana'] (19.2, 7.3 rebounds), while sophomore Brodie Davis (10.6, 39.4 3P%) and Jason Kastner (9.2, 41.8 3P%) are the top shooting threats. In a one-game setting, a hot shooting team can create some chaos in a bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759937' first='Collin' last='Homan'] (St. Mary's, Remsen)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1568264' first='Sam' last='Schmillen'] (St. Mary's, Remsen)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2617521' first='Jeshua' last='Phillips'] (St. Mary's, Remsen)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765504' first='Nicolas' last='Ballenger'] (St. Albert)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2509580' first='Colt' last='Spencer'] (St. Albert)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721441' first='Wes' last='Vana'] (Logan-Magnolia)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874770' first='Brody' last='Muenchrath'] (Westwood)<br>2026 Hayden Versch (Westwood)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886847' first='Ben' last='Holverson'] (West Monona)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ACGC vs. St. Mary's, Remsen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team that has never been to the state tournament (since combining with Guthrie Center, that is) versus the team that qualified for seven straight state tournaments before falling just short last year. The high-powered offensive team versus the team that leads the class in scoring defense. This one, if it happens, would be a lot of fun. In a tight one, we'll side with the team that has done it before, sending<strong> St. Mary's, Remsen</strong> to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->