Substate Preview: 2A-5

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-9.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-9.png?w=617" alt="" class="wp-image-2774514" /></a></figure>   District 9   The favorite: West Burlington looks like a pretty heavy favorite to come out of this district. The Falcons reached the state tournament last year, have compiled a 19-2 record this season, and outside of a two-day stretch in the middle of January, they've played outstanding basketball all year long. Future North Florida guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (30.7, 5.5 assists, 56.4 FG%, 41.7 3P%) is the headliner. An athletic, intelligent guard who can score from anywhere on the floor, create plays off the dribble, and defend at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id='2397997' first='Quincy' last='Collins'] (17.6, 7.0 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731885' first='Ayden' last='Figuereo'] (9.5, 9.3 rebounds) are both undersized big men, but freakishly athletic and they live around the rim and pound the glass on both ends. [player_tooltip player_id='2397376' first='Kobe' last='Davis'] (10.7, 5.9 assists) pairs with Watkins in the backcourt to give them another quick, talented playmaker. Simply put, this team can score in bunches, getting up and down the floor in the blink of an eye with their speed, and they have one of the best players in the state on their side.   The biggest threat: Anytime you fire up as many 3-pointers as Mid-Prairie does, you're going to be a threat. The Golden Hawks are averaging more than 25 3-point attempts per game, and they have a ton of different players who are capable of getting hot and making 5 or 6 on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='2520036' first='Bryce' last='Henry'] (21.7, 37.4 3P%) is the team's leading scorer, a sharpshooter who can fire from anywhere. [player_tooltip player_id='1874767' first='Brady' last='Weber'] (12.4, 4.2 assists) is a reliable ball-handler and playmaker, and [player_tooltip player_id='1951822' first='Ace' last='Peck'] (10.9) gives them some more scoring punch on the perimeter. This isn't a very big team (nobody on the roster listed taller than 6-3), but in this district, that lack of size probably doesn't impact them. It would be a major problem, however, if they were to get through the district and reach the substate final, presumably against Grand View Christian.   The dark horse: It's very unlikely that West Burlington is going to lose a home game in the district semifinal against either Central Lee or Louisa-Muscatine, meaning we go to the bottom of the bracket to find our dark horse in Mediapolis. The Bulldogs have a pair of high-powered guards in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1596452' first='Max' last='Griffin'] 917.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731857' first='Will' last='Luttenegger'] (14.8, 4.0 assists) who could get hot and play with the Falcons. In the second meeting this year, they lost by just 11, so they know they can be competitive with West Burlington, should they get a third shot at the Falcons.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381425' first='Mason' last='Watkins'] (West Burlington) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397997' first='Quincy' last='Collins'] (West Burlington) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397376' first='Kobe' last='Davis'] (West Burlington) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731885' first='Ayden' last='Figuereo'] (West Burlington) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520036' first='Bryce' last='Henry'] (Mid-Prairie) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874767' first='Brady' last='Weber'] (Mid-Prairie) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1596452' first='Max' last='Griffin'] (Mediapolis) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731857' first='Will' last='Luttenegger'] (Mediapolis) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951787' first='Brayden' last='Wyrick'] (Central Lee) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978138' first='Will' last='Hayes'] (Central Lee) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721688' first='Finnegan' last='Cline'] (Louisa-Muscatine) 2027 Oscar Cline (Louisa-Muscatine) 2025 Chase Hengstenberg (Cardinal)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-10.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-10.png?w=613" alt="" class="wp-image-2774515" /></a></figure>   District 10   The favorite: Of all the districts in 2A, Grand View Christian may be the biggest favorite. The Thunder have rolled to a 20-1 record, with their lone loss coming to undefeated and 3A #1 Clear Lake. Future Illinois-Chicago big man [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (21.5, 14.0 rebounds, 4.3 blocks) is the star, standing 6-9 and blocking shots left and right while also scoring inside and out on the offensive end. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413533' first='Jameson' last='Scharnberg'] (17.1, 5.3 assists, 40.3 3P%) and role players Thomas Childs (9.7, 40.2 3P%), William Seyler (4.2, 42.6 3P%), and Colton Hoben (2.3, 38.9 3P%) are all knockdown shooters who help space the floor for Barrantes. Junior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='2287857' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'] (15.9, 8.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.2 blocks) is another inside-out scorer with good size and rim protection. The Thunder block over 7 shots per game, they protect the ball (9.0 turnovers), and their size and dominance on the glass will be nearly impossible for the other teams in this district and substate to overcome.   The biggest threat: GVC got a pretty clear draw here, but if any team is going to give them some trouble, it's the #3 seed Pella Christian. The Eagles play in the loaded Little Hawkeye Conference against 3A and 4A schools, so they're used to playing against bigger competition. They lost to Grand View Christian, 82-49, back on December 19, but a young team has improved quite a bit since then. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2724147' first='Gilbert' last='Flagel'] (11.9) is the leading scorer, while seniors Deacon Branderhorst (10.4), Landon Fransman (9.8, 8.6 rebounds), and Cooper Spronk (6.0) give them some more size, length, and athleticism. They'd have to play a pretty flawless game to knock off GVC, but they have the best chance of any team in the district.   The dark horse: With the #2 seed, Davis County gets their district semifinal at home and has to play one fewer game than Pella Christian will. That said, the Mustangs' competition in the South Central Conference is significantly weaker than what Pella Christian faces (87 SOS for Davis County, 3 for PC). The Mustangs have a big in [player_tooltip player_id='2511586' first='Hayden' last='Utt'] (15.2, 13.0 rebounds) who can control the painted area and the glass, and Carter Will (14.1, 8.6 rebounds) is also an active, strong rebounder. They pound the glass on the offensive end (15.6 a game), which helps offset some of their shooting woes (24.9 3P%).   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (Grand View Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413533' first='Jameson' last='Scharnberg'] (Grand View Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2287857' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'] (Grand View Christian) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511586' first='Hayden' last='Utt'] (Davis County) 2025 Carter Will (Davis County) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2724147' first='Gilbert' last='Flagel'] (Pella Christian) 2025 Landon Fransman (Pella Christian) 2025 Gavin VanGorp (PCM) 2025 Izaak Loeffler (Van Buren County) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2906532' first='Will' last='Cocherell'] (Van Buren County) 2026 Gavin Spaur (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   West Burlington vs. Grand View Christian   This is a fascinating matchup, with Grand View Christian's starting five going 6-0, 6-2, 6-9, 6-1, 6-5 and West Burlington countering with 6-1, 6-0, 6-4, 5-11, 6-3. The Thunder will have the size advantage across the board, but could West Burlington's athleticism offset that a bit? Watkins is fantastic, but so is Barrantes. This is the most interesting of the 2A substate finals, and we'll side with the size of Grand View Christian, but it wouldn't be a surprise either way.