Substate Preview: 2A-4

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-7.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-7.png?w=611" alt="" class="wp-image-2774508" /></a></figure>   District 7   The favorite: Despite losing star [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] to injury early in the season, Grundy Center has just kept rolling along. The Spartans suffered their first loss of the season to Grand View Christian last night, and they have a tricky one against 3A #6 Waverly-Shell Rock on Friday night, but this is a team that plays excellent defense (43.8 points per game allowed), and their athleticism, depth, and physicality will make life difficult for the other teams in this district. With Kirkpatrick sidelined, it has been a more balanced approach offensively. [player_tooltip player_id='1759911' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] (12.8) leads three players in double figures, with three others averaging between 6.5 and 9.6 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (11.7, 5.1 assists, 46.8 3P%) is a skilled junior guard who can score from all three levels, create looks for his teammates, and he's strong defensively. Role players [player_tooltip player_id='1759941' first='Brayden' last='Wallis'] (10.9), [player_tooltip player_id='2820148' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] (9.6), Brody Zinkula (6.6, 3.9 assists), and Brayden Davie (6.5) all understand their roles and play them well. A well-coached, disciplined team that shares the ball really well (20.7 assists per game), they're going to be tough to beat.   The biggest threat: The best coach in the district is at Regina in Paul Rundquist, and after somewhat unexpectedly leading the Regals to the state tournament in his first year at the school last year, he'll be looking to repeat that this year. They're a really young, but talented, team led by a pair of sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'] (17.6, 9.1 rebounds, 61.6 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] (16.1, 57.5 FG%). Both are athletic forwards who finish well around the rim, pound the glass, and are active defensively. Litton is listed at 6-4, Wallace at 6-2, and they have even more size in the form of freshman center [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade'] (4.5, 1.6 blocks), a 6-7 rim-running shot blocker. [player_tooltip player_id='2886831' first='Drew' last='Greve'] (9.6, 6.2 assists) has been really solid as the distributor for this group, posting a 3.25 assist-to-turnover ratio. The size that Regina possesses, and having Rundquist calling the shots, makes the Regals extremely dangerous, and it wouldn't be a surprise at all if they upset Grundy Center in the district final and have an opportunity to get to Des Moines again.   The dark horse: A young but talented Beckman Catholic team has been playing pretty good ball since the holiday break, a stretch that includes really good wins over Alburnett and Northeast. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2419787' first='Jake' last='Wegmann'] (20.6, 48.6 3P%) had a pretty big growth spurt over the offseason, shooting up to around 6-5, and his added height and strength has turned him into a dynamic three-level scoring threat. He's an electric shooter but is also good at playing downhill and attacking the rim. Fellow sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2754692' first='Tayveon' last='Barnhart'] (13.5, 38.7 3P%) has emerged as a secondary scoring threat, and three others average between 6.5 and 8.4 points per game. They played district semifinal opponent Regina in the middle of January, losing by just two, so they know they can play with the Regals.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759911' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] (Grundy Center) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (Grundy Center) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759941' first='Brayden' last='Wallis'] (Grundy Center) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'] (Regina) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] (Regina) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419787' first='Jake' last='Wegmann'] (Beckman Catholic) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754692' first='Tayveon' last='Barnhart'] (Beckman Catholic) 2025 Zach Butler (Tipton) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731645' first='Jayden' last='Harris'] (West Branch) 2025 Connor Schwartz (Durant)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-8.png?w=615" alt="" class="wp-image-2774509" /></a></figure>   District 8   The favorite: By virtue of a season sweep of Monticello, Northeast grabbed the top seed in this district. Always a solid defensive team with some physicality and athleticism, the Rebels have added some serious scoring punch this year, averaging over 69 points a game, good for 9th in the class. Four players are averaging in double figures, one from each class. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759938' first='Gavin' last='Kramer'] (18.7, 38.5 3P%, 6.5 assists) is the headliner, leading the team in scoring and helpers. Freshmen guard [player_tooltip player_id='2523908' first='Jaxen' last='Christiansen'] (16.1, 41.2 3P%) gives them some more shooting and shot creation in the backcourt, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420792' first='Emerson' last='Kreinbrink'] (12.5, 65.8 FG%) is an undersized but effective big man with soft touch and good hands. [player_tooltip player_id='2731868' first='Colby' last='Gray'] (10.4) is a bit of a Swiss Army knife, doing a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. They've already beaten presumed district final opponent Monticello twice, 67-58 and 66-54, within the last month and will head into the district final with a ton of confidence that they can make it three.   The biggest threat: On the bottom of the bracket, #2 seed Monticello would love to get a third shot at Northeast. The Panthers have been one of the most consistent programs in 2A over the last half decade, and they have another team that looks like a real threat to make it to Des Moines. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765541' first='Conley' last='Schauf'] (19.9, 40.9 3P%) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (14.3, 38.1 3P%) give them a pair of big scorers on the perimeter, both of whom shoot it at a really high level. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1951823' first='Jack' last='Lambert'] (8.1, 4.1 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1765519' first='Brady' last='Gogel'] (7.4, 5.8 assists) give them a pair of reliable ball-handlers and decision-makers, and [player_tooltip player_id='2886871' first='Alex' last='Jamison'] (6.4) has been a solid defender on the wing, using his length effectively. The Panthers aren't going to beat themselves, turning it over just 7.9 times a game, and they have plenty of experience playing in big games.   The dark horse: Lisbon has one of the best players in the substate in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1951756' first='Grayson' last='Wollum'] (21.8, 1.7 blocks), an athletic 6-8 forward who can score from anywhere on the floor. When he's engaged, he can be a strong defender, versatile scorer, and dominant rebounder. His size and athleticism make him a difficult matchup, and he could be the type of player that teams in this district could struggle to contain. Daylin Schaefer (11.8, 4.5 assists) is another good athlete with some bounce and length, and Jackson Powers (10.7) gives them some additional scoring. They play a largely 1A schedule in the Tri-Rivers, which isn't ideal here, but Wollum is good enough to carry them to a few wins, and if they reach the district final, anything can happen.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759938' first='Gavin' last='Kramer'] (Northeast) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523908' first='Jaxen' last='Christiansen'] (Northeast) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420792' first='Emerson' last='Kreinbrink'] (Northeast) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765541' first='Conley' last='Schauf'] (Monticello) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759903' first='Carson' last='Lambert'] (Monticello) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951756' first='Grayson' last='Wollum'] (Lisbon) 2025 Daylin Schaefer (Lisbon) 2025 Ryker Dengler (West Liberty) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419757' first='Bryer' last='Putman'] (Wilton) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419764' first='Oaklan' last='Jirak'] (Wilton) 2025 Cameron Dorsey (Camanche)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Grundy Center vs. Northeast   This has been the toughest substate to predict so far, with five teams that you could make a reasonable case for winning it. If [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] were healthy, this would be pretty decisive for Grundy Center, but with him sidelined, this is a tighter game. We'll still give the edge to the experienced Spartans, but this will be a tough one, and it wouldn't be a surprise if them, Northeast, Monticello, Regina, or Beckman came out of this substate.