Substate Preview: 3A-8

<!-- wp:image {"id":2779260,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-8.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-2779260" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Ballard</strong> probably hasn't been as dominant as many expected heading into the season, with eight of their 18 wins coming by single digits, but there's something to be said for taking care of business and just winning games, and that's what they've done. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (15.9) is the headliner of the group, a quick guard who loves to play downhill and attack the bucket, putting constant pressure on opposing defenses. [player_tooltip player_id='2397342' first='Jackson' last='Brown'] (12.6, 39.2 3P%) is a really good shooter, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419750' first='Parker' last='Miller'] (11.1, 6.4 rebounds) has been a revelation as an interior option. This is a team that really gets after it defensively and forces teams into a lot of mistakes, averaging 12.5 steals a game. They're clearly comfortable playing in close games, and they have the playmakers and free-throw shooting (Gibson 76.5%, Brown 76.8%) to ice games away late. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Des Moines Christian</strong> ranks 3rd in 3A in scoring defense, allowing just 45.9 points per game. The Lions are a new addition to 3A this season, and it will be interesting to see how they adjust to playing bigger competition in the postseason after playing a 1A/2A schedule throughout the course of the regular season. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (17.4, 7.8 rebounds) is an athletic, long wing who can defend multiple positions and get out in transition, while junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978133' first='Max' last='Town'] (16.4, 34.2 3P%) is the team's top perimeter scoring threat and shooter. The Lions are usually a team that is comfortable going deep into their bench, and that looks like the case again this year. Getting a home game against Bondurant-Farrar in the semifinals gives them an edge, and with the strength of their defense, and Ballard's penchant for playing tight games, they'll have a chance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse(s):</strong> Sitting at the bottom of the bracket is a team with some state championship pedigree, <strong>Bondurant-Farrar</strong>. The Bluejays are led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2397327' first='Hudson' last='McConnell'] (16.9, 36.5 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (12.3, 4.7 assists), who were both on the undefeated state championship team of 2022-23. Miller was a starter and key contributor on that team, while McConnell played very few minutes but was a part of the roster and got to practice against a great team every day. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2617495' first='Drake' last='Pfaltzgraff'] (11.1, 7.1 rebounds, 55.8 FG%) is a mobile big man with good hands and soft touch around the rim. The Jays would love to get a shot at DMC,a team that plays a weaker schedule, in the semifinals and then get a third shot at Ballard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a team lurking in the 4-5 game that Ballard probably doesn't want to see, and that's <strong>North Polk</strong>, the only team who has beaten the Bombers this season. The Comets' leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='2887875' first='Jack' last='Spieker'], only averages 10 points per game, but they have a balanced attack with six players averaging at least 5.4 a night, and they play great defense. An athletic, physical team that is comfortable playing a slower, defensive-minded game, North Polk is the type of team that nobody wants to see in postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (Ballard)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397342' first='Jackson' last='Brown'] (Ballard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419750' first='Parker' last='Miller'] (Ballard)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413616' first='Gavin' last='McLaren'] (Atlantic)<br>2025 Kinnick Juhl (Atlantic)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721707' first='Owen' last='Myers'] (Perry)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721697' first='Geren' last='Kenney'] (Perry)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731871' first='Gustavo' last='Drahos'] (Perry)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887875' first='Jack' last='Spieker'] (North Polk)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (Des Moines Christian)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978133' first='Max' last='Town'] (Des Moines Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721719' first='Calvin' last='Frey'] (Carlisle)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754714' first='Trey' last='Osterhaus'] (Carlisle)<br>2025 Jack Norton (Carlisle)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397327' first='Hudson' last='McConnell'] (Bondurant-Farrar)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (Bondurant-Farrar)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2617495' first='Drake' last='Pfaltzgraff'] (Bondurant-Farrar)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874784' first='Jake' last='Hoyt'] (Creston)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2481793' first='Rhett' last='Driskell'] (Creston)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Christian at Ballard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bondurant-Farrar/Des Moines Christian game in the semifinals will be interesting, and if Ballard isn't careful in the semifinals, they could slip up themselves. That said, if this game materializes, Ballard has the most dynamic player on the floor in Gibson, has played the tougher schedule, and gets the game at home. <strong>Ballard</strong> advances to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->