Substate Preview: 2A-8

<!-- wp:image {"id":2774520,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-15.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-15.png?w=612" alt="" class="wp-image-2774520" /></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: </strong>Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2420786' first='AJ' last='Harder'] (18.4, 5.0 assists, 3.7 steals) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2628806' first='Tyler' last='Baatz'] (15.9, 8.1 rebounds) form the best one-two punch in the district for <strong>Tri-Center</strong>. Harder is a talented, quick guard who loves to get his teammates involved, using his speed and handles to blow by defenders and put constant pressure on opposing defenses. Baatz is a hyper-efficient (62.6 FG%) finisher around the rim and is solid on the glass. Six other players average between 2.9 and 8.5 points per game, giving them some depth, but this group is going to go as Harder and Baatz do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>The #2 seed in the district, <strong>OABCIG</strong>, is a program that has some special athletes on its roster. The Falcons are always really good on the football field, and their strong, athletic players play in a similar way on the hardwood - looking to attack the rim and apply pressure defensively. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381205' first='Brysen' last='Kolar'] (17.9, 3.0 assists, 2.9 steals) is the team's leading scorer and is a strong on-ball defender, while Evan Hoffman (13.8, 8.4 rebounds) and Jaxx Dejean (10.0, 8.6 rebounds) are dominant on the glass on both ends of the floor. The Falcons need to do a better job protecting the ball (17.2 turnovers a game), but their dominance on the glass will help them get extra possessions, obviously huge in postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Southeast Valley</strong> has a big-time scorer in Fort Dodge transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2474862' first='Drake' last='Warland'] (24.2), a player who can take over a game and score from all three levels. Of the players who don't play for Tri-Center or OABCIG, Warland is the best talent and is the one player in the district who can get hot and carry the team to a district crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch</span><br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420786' first='AJ' last='Harder'] (Tri-Center)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2628806' first='Tyler' last='Baatz'] (Tri-Center)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2381205' first='Brysen' last='Kolar'] (OABCIG)<br>2027 Evan Hoffman (OABCIG)<br>2027 Jaxx Dejean (OABCIG)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2474862' first='Drake' last='Warland'] (Southeast Valley)<br>2025 Sam Julin (East Sac County)<br>2026 Layton Maasen (Missouri Valley)<br>2025 AJ Draper (Panorama)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2774521,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-16.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-16.png?w=621" alt="" class="wp-image-2774521" /></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>It would be a monumental upset if anyone other than <strong>Western Christian</strong> came out of this district (and this substate). The Wolfpack have played an incredibly difficult schedule, with their three losses coming to two of the best teams in Nebraska's biggest classes and a 4A Waukee team that has spent almost the entire season ranked in the top 10. The defending 2A champions are led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (19.0, 43.4 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (14.3, 50.5 3P%), experienced players who were fantastic during the state title run last year and have picked up right where they left off. [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (10.7) is another long, lanky wing who can do a little bit of everything offensively, and freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (7.2, 39.2 3P%) has been a revelation as another versatile three-level scorer who can shoot the lights out and attack off the dribble. This is an efficient, well-coached, disciplined team that just knows how to win games, and they do so resoundingly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Hinton </strong>was given the #2 seed in the district and will get their semifinal game at home as a result. The Blackhawks beat presumed semifinal opponent Lawton-Bronson by 24 points back in December and should be a pretty heavy favorite in that rematch. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2413648' first='Logan' last='Kempema'] (15.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731835' first='Karver' last='DeGroot'] (12.4) are the headliners of the group, a pair of three-level scorers who share the ball well. It would take a massive effort from Hinton on the defensive end to slow down the high-powered and efficient Wolfpack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> The #4 seed <strong>Rock Valley </strong>has a pair of solid scoring threats in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (14.8, 38.5 3P%) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (11.5). The Rockets have played a much more difficult schedule than any of the other teams in the district not named Western Christian and will be prepared for whatever is thrown at them in the district. Going through Hull will obviously be extremely difficult, but crazier things have happened.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch</span><br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (Western Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (Western Christian)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (Western Christian)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (Western Christian)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413648' first='Logan' last='Kempema'] (Hinton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731835' first='Karver' last='DeGroot'] (Hinton)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2532829' first='Leo' last='Scott'] (Lawton-Bronson)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (Rock Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (Rock Valley)<br>2026 Drew Sauer (Sheldon)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530660' first='Gavin' last='Gerritson'] (West Sioux)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri-Center vs. Western Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the easiest substates in any class to predict, it's <strong>Western Christian</strong>, who punches their ticket back to Des Moines to try and add to their record haul of state title trophies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->