Substate Preview: 4A-2

<!-- wp:image {"id":2779274,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/4A-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/4A-2.png?w=789" alt="" class="wp-image-2779274" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Johnston</strong> went through a rough patch from January 4-31, going just 1-7 during that stretch, and it cost them a #1 seed in a substate. The Dragons have rebounded since then, winning five straight to close out the regular season, including a ridiculous 27-point win over two-time defending champion Valley. [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] (16.3, 48.6 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1381420' first='Jalen' last='Richardson'] (10.9, 38.3 3P%) lead the offensive attack, but the Dragons are built on their defense. A long, athletic, and well-coached defensive team, they're allowing just 45.5 points per game, 2nd in 4A. They have a ton of athletic, quick guards who apply all sorts of ball pressure, and they make life extremely difficult for opposing ball-handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Ames</strong> has been absolutely suffocating on the defensive end yet again this season, allowing just 38.2 points per game, tops in 4A. The Little Cyclones have held 12 teams to 40 points or less throughout the year, including holding seven to 30 or fewer. Like Johnston, they have a number of lengthy wings that they can throw at you defensively, but they also have a dominant rim protector in [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (8.2, 1.8 blocks).[player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'] (10.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (9.8), [player_tooltip player_id='1951821' first='Manny' last='Lueth'] (9.1), [player_tooltip player_id='2820092' first='Isaiah' last='Knight'] (8.6), Dau, and [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (6.8) give them a balanced scoring attack. The Little Cyclones have been efficient (51-36-68 shooting splits as a team), and they limit turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> If a team in this substate is going to create some chaos and force Johnston and Ames into a faster-paced game, it's <strong>Des Moines North</strong>. The Polar Bears are small, but fast and they love to play up-tempo, using their speed to cause turnovers and get out in transition. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2398133' first='Da'corion' last='White'] (16.4), Tarian McNeley (12.1), [player_tooltip player_id='2511630' first='Naszir' last='Lamar'] (10.4), and [player_tooltip player_id='1951820' first='Aaron' last='Poe'] (9.3) lead an attack filled with players who can create their own looks off the dribble. Ultimately, ti's likely that the size of Johnston and/or Ames is too much for North to overcome, but crazier things have happened.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (Ames)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'] (Ames)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951821' first='Manny' last='Lueth'] (Ames)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2820092' first='Isaiah' last='Knight'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (Ames)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] (Johnston)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381420' first='Jalen' last='Richardson'] (Johnston)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398133' first='Da'corion' last='White'] (Des Moines North)<br>2025 Tarian McNeley (Des Moines North)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511630' first='Naszir' last='Lamar'] (Des Moines North)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1950542' first='Davis' last='Hardersen'] (Urbandale)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978111' first='Jake' last='Pargeon'] (Urbandale)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951797' first='Trae' last='Brown'] (Ottumwa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnston at Ames</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Points will obviously be at a premium in this game between the top two scoring defenses in 4A, and it could be the first to 30 wins. I think the best individual offensive player on the floor is [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'], and he's the one that I trust the most to get a good look late in a tight game. While this game is played up in Ames, <strong>Johnston</strong> has played the tougher schedule, has the better weapon on offense, and escapes in a tight, low-scoring game to get back to Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->