Substate Preview: 4A-1

<!-- wp:image {"id":2779271,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/4A-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/4A-1.png?w=784" alt="" class="wp-image-2779271" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Waukee</strong> earned the top seed in the substate, a fact that some in Council Bluffs are quite upset about, given the Lynx own a head-to-head win over the Warriors. However, that game was played without Waukee star forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] (19.2, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks), and the Warriors resume includes wins over Waukee Northwest , Dowling Catholic (twice), Johnston, and Western Christian. Jacobson is an athletic, skilled 6-7/6-8 big man who can score inside and out, control the glass, and protect the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] (14.6, 37.9 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1951798' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] (9.6, 50.0 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (8.4, 34.6 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2594655' first='Pete' last='Craig'] (7.1, 33.8 3P%) give the Warriors a ton of shooting around Jacobson, and they have some quality depth off the bench as well. In that loss to CBAL, the Warriors lost the rebounding battle 31-20, including 11 offensive rebounds for the Lynx. That's unlikely to happen again with Jacobson back on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Council Bluffs Lincoln</strong> probably feels a bit disrespected being given the #2 seed in this substate, and that should send them into postseason play with a chip on their shoulder. The Lynx are led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'] (16.6, 11.0 rebounds, 53.3 FG%), an efficient and effective big man who is a menace on the glass on both ends of the floor. A 6-6 big man with a non-stop motor, his ability to control the glass is a huge asset for CBAL. Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (11.2, 44.8 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2419843' first='Braylin' last='DeJager'] (5.8), along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1978104' first='Easton' last='Klement'] (4.7, 4.5 assists) give them a trio of talented lead guards who can initiate offense, and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1759908' first='Etienne' last='Higgins'] (9.7) and Aiden Sandbothe (8.7) have been key contributors for the last several years. This is a veteran team with some skilled young players, and they're going to be hungry and anxious to prove the rest of the state, and the IHSAA, wrong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dark horse: This substate seems like it's pretty well set up to get the CBAL/Waukee rematch in the substate final, but if anyone is going to have a say in changing that, it's probably Norwalk at the bottom of the bracket. A fairly inexperienced Warriors team has had some highs (a good win against Pella, really tightly contested game against Valley), and some lows (loss to Indianola), but they've largely played a quality schedule against really good teams and have for the most part been competitive, so they won't be intimidated going to Council Bluffs in the semifinals. Seniors Grady Sigfrist (13.8, 38.1 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (10.5, 47.1 3P%), Kaleb Foltz (9.1, 38.3 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2511589' first='Jack' last='Larson'] (4.0, 43.2 3P%), as well as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2419755' first='Tillman' last='Papcun'] (3.9, 38.1 3P%) give them a ton of perimeter shooting, and the 3-point shot is the great equalizer in postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] (Waukee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] (Waukee)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951798' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] (Waukee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (Waukee)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2594655' first='Pete' last='Craig'] (Waukee)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381403' first='Creighton' last='Bracker'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759908' first='Etienne' last='Higgins'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721768' first='Grady' last='Sigrist'] (Norwalk)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (Norwalk)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587303' first='Desmon' last='Campbell'] (Des Moines Lincoln)<br>2025 Charlie Fry (Des Moines Lincoln)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (Indianola)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (Indianola)<br>2027 Junior Gatkuoth (Council Bluffs Jefferson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Council Bluffs Lincoln at Waukee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a hotly contested game, with CBAL looking to prove the state wrong, and Waukee looking to get some revenge with Jacobson back in the lineup. The impact that he has on the Warriors lineup can't be understated, and having him back on the floor, as well as getting the game at home, gives <strong>Waukee </strong>the edge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->