Substate Preview: 2A-7

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-13.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-13.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-2774518" /></a></figure>   District 13   The favorite: Albia is one of just three 2A teams to rank within the top 10 in both scoring offense (6th, 69.6) and defense (9th, 47.2). All three of their losses have come to 3A teams, including a pair to Knoxville, a team ranked #3 in the class. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2297904' first='Gage' last='Chance'] (19.1, 7.3 rebounds, 58.1 FG%) has been fantastic this season. He's an athletic, versatile wing with size, length, and athleticism, and his three-level scoring (58-38-56 shooting splits) has helped elevate the Blue Demons into a dangerous team in the class. Seniors Cooper Bradley (11.1), Cael Schofield (8.0), Luke Wynn (7.2), Grant Powers (5.8), and Rowen Archer (5.3) provide some veteran leadership alongside Chance. This is one of the deeper teams in the district, and they have the best player in the district on their side.   The biggest threat: Van Meter has had a down year by their standards, but the Bulldogs are always going to have big-time athletes, and their strength, athleticism, and defensive-oriented team can cause issues in postseason play when the game tends to slow down. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2381239' first='Andon' last='Watson'] (12.5, 36.5 3P%) can score from all three levels, and is the type of explosive athlete who can create some problems on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2381204' first='Brody' last='Notz'] (11.2, 34.0 3P%) and Luke Steinfeldt (6.8, 43.8 3P%) provide some additional shooting, and while the 'Dogs are a little undersized compared to what they have had in recent years, they're still a tough, physical team that won't back down from anyone.   The dark horse: Chariton is led by four seniors - Brock Oxenreider (12.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2511580' first='Cameron' last='Gibson'] (12.3, 4.6 assists, 3.4 steals), [player_tooltip player_id='2617534' first='Quinten' last='Gruwell'] (12.1), and Logan Shore (9.2). Oxenreider is strong on the glass, Gibson a creative playmaker, and Gruwell a strong wing scorer. The Chargers don't shoot it very well from the 3-point line (27.5 3P%), but they do have a group that can run.   Players to Watch 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2297904' first='Gage' last='Chance'] (Albia) 2025 Cooper Bradley (Albia) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2381239' first='Andon' last='Watson'] (Van Meter) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2381204' first='Brody' last='Notz'] (Van Meter) 2025 Brock Oxenreider (Chariton) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511580' first='Cameron' last='Gibson'] (Chariton) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2617534' first='Quinten' last='Gruwell'] (Chariton) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887868' first='Vinny' last='Sebastian'] (Woodward-Granger) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906470' first='Colton' last='Lindsay'] (West Central Valley)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-14.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-14.png?w=625" alt="" class="wp-image-2774519" /></a></figure>   District 14   The favorite: Treynor has been red-hot since the holiday break, losing just once, a 5-point setback to Grand View Christian in their first game after the break. They've won 14 in a row heading into postseason play, and only one of those wins has come by single digits. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (19.5, 4.0 assists, 2.9 steals) is one of the top guards in the state, a dynamic, versatile scorer and playmaker with tight handles. Fellow juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (11.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (9.0, 6.9 rebounds) are really good second and third options alongside Lovely, each providing a little something different than what Lovely brings to the table. Scott Rucker has been one of the most successful coaches in the state over the last few decades, and he'll have the Cardinals well prepared for whatever they run into in this district and substate.   The biggest threat: The #2 seed in the district is Underwood, a team that has put together a really nice 16-5 season after losing nearly everyone from the team's first-ever state tournament team. The Eagles have a pretty special run of athletes going through the school right now, and they're back in a position to be a viable threat to make a run to Des Moines. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731691' first='Garrett' last='Luett'] (17.7, 13.7 rebounds, 64.6 FG%) is the lone returnee from that group, and he has been great as a junior. An athletic, mobile forward who does a great job on the glass on both ends of the floor, he has been extremely efficient as a scorer and has led this group well. A talented sophomore class buoys Luett in [player_tooltip player_id='2906407' first='Nolan' last='Baker'] (13.0, 36.6 3P%), Tayden Hull (7.2), and Landon Wigington (6.5, 6.0 rebounds), giving them three more solid scoring options. This team does a great job pounding the glass on both ends of the floor, and their ability to gain extra possessions could be big. They were swept by Treynor during the regular season but would love to get a third shot.   The dark horse: Clarinda got off to a strong start to the year, going 6-1 in their first seven games, but they've gone just 5-9 since then. That said, if anyone else in the district is going to get unexpectedly hot and go on a run, it's probably the Cardinals. Junior Sam Kline (12.2, 7.2 rebounds) leads a balanced attack that features seven players averaging at least 4.2 points per game. They don't shoot it well from the arc (27.8%), but pound the offensive glass (11.5), an area that could be beneficial.   Players to Watch 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (Treynor) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (Treynor) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (Treynor) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731691' first='Garrett' last='Luett'] (Underwood) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906407' first='Nolan' last='Baker'] (Underwood) 2026 Sam Kline (Clarinda) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721736' first='Nash' last='Dykes'] (Central Decatur) 2026 Paxon Applegate (Central Decatur) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2379147' first='Reese' last='Montgomery'] (Red Oak) 2025 Brayden Sifford (Red Oak) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772321' first='Carter' last='Sells'] (Shenandoah)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Albia vs. Treynor   Albia has put together a really nice season, but Treynor has been one of the best teams in 2A since the holiday break. The experience that [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] and crew gained on their run to the state tournament last year benefits them here, and the Cardinals punch their ticket to Des Moines for the second straight year.