Class 1A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: Marquette Catholic (25-1)<br></span>About the Defenders:</strong> Last year's runner-up knew they would be good again and tested themselves in the non-conference this season, playing 4A schools North Scott, Waterloo East, and Dubuque Senior, as well as quality out-of-state teams Scales Mound and Galena, both from Illinois. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (20.4, 9.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists) was the team's best player last season and has been even better this year, showcasing his ability to score from all three levels, control the glass, and create quality looks for his teammates. The development of [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer'] (19.5, 43.0 3P%) is the biggest reason that the Defenders are back in this spot, turning himself into a reliable three-level scorer who can dominate games as a scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='2511527' first='Eli' last='Scott'] (12.3, 5.5 assists, 3.2 steals) is a quick guard who puts pressure on opposing defenses, and the Defenders are able to comfortably go eight deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They've tested themselves in the non-conference, preparing themselves for a deep run in this tournament. They're the highest scoring team in the state, averaging 79.8 points per game, and have a pair of dominant scorers in Roeder and Litterer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: Madrid (25-0)<br></span>About the Tigers:</strong> The only undefeated team left in the class, the Tigers are one of two teams to rank within the top 8 in scoring offense (2nd, 79.6) and defense (8th, 43.1). Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (23.0, 7.3 rebounds, 54.5 FG%) is one of the best players in the class; a long, lanky 6-4 wing who can score from all three levels and defend multiple positions. Freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (16.0, 8.1 rebounds) is a tremendous athlete in the paint who can bully his way to the rim for finishes, and he can also step out and stretch the floor. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (14.0, 4.4 assists, 40.2 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (13.4, 4.4 assists, 47.9 3P%) are both quality playmakers and floor spacers who shoot it at a high level, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (8.8, 7.0 rebounds) gives them some more size, athleticism, and toughness in the paint. The Tigers have the best starting five in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>An explosive offensive team with the best, most complementary starting five in the field, the Tigers can beat you in a variety of different ways and they're been great defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: St. Edmond (22-3)<br></span>About the Gaels: </strong>St. Edmond is making their first state tournament appearance since 2012, their longest drought since going from 1969 to 1980 between appearances. Their three losses have come to 3A teams, Humboldt and the top-ranked team in the class, Clear Lake (twice), so this is another group that has really been tested against bigger schools throughout the course of the year. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (24.4, 9.6 rebounds, 59.6 FG%) is one of the best players in the state, a big, athletic forward who can score inside and out. [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (11.1, 8.2 rebounds) gives them more size and rebounding, and [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (9.6) is a special athlete on the wing who is a terror in transition. Lead guard Jack McElroy (5.8, 5.9 assists) isn't a big scorer, but he's a really good playmaker and facilitator who protects the ball well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Another team that has gone through a really difficult schedule and performed at a high level, St. Edmond has a player in Horn that is going to be a really difficult matchup for teams in this field, and some really nice pieces surrounding him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: Gladbrook-Reinbeck (22-3)<br></span>About the Rebels: </strong>Another team that reached the state tournament last season and brought back a good chunk of that roster is Gladbrook-Reinbeck, whose three losses have come to 2A state qualifier Grundy Center (twice) and 2A Aplington-Parkersburg. The Rebels are led by a quartet of seniors - forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (15.6, 10.4 rebounds, 59.7 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (15.3, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) and guards [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (12.8, 40.9 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (12.7, 41.5 3P%). Boyd and Eilers are both fantastic on the glass and are efficient scorers around the bucket, and the Mathern boys are great shooters who can also control the game with the ball in their hands. A veteran team with balanced, complementary scoring, they can beat you offensively or by locking you down on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They have a pair of players who are great on the glass, and a pair of outstanding shooters on the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: North Linn (23-2)<br></span>About the Lynx: </strong>The defending champions have a new face on the sidelines in long-time assistant Travis Griffith, and this isn't your typical dominant Lynx team, but they have the best player in the field on their side in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (30.1, 57.0 FG%), the reigning all-tournament captain. A dominant three-level scorer and playmaker, he can control games on both ends of the floor. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] (12.6, 7.0 assists) has been really good as a floor general and creator, posting a 6.29 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Drew Ries (9.9, 7.6 rebounds) is undersized as a forward, but he has been really productive and strong in the paint. They're making their ninth straight trip to the state tournament and shouldn't be taken lightly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They have the best player in the field in [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'], a coach who, while he's making his state tournament debut as the head man, has been on the sidelines for eight straight tournaments before this one, and some solid role players who fill in the gaps alongside Bechen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: Woodbine (23-2)<br></span>About the Tigers: </strong>Woodbine is the only team in the field to rank within the top 5 in both scoring offense (5th, 71.6) and defense (4th, 40.6). They reached the state tournament last season, giving eventual champion North Linn a pretty good game in the quarterfinals, and brought back nearly everyone from that group, so they'll be itching to make a deeper run this season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (17.1, 4.9 assists, 49.1 3P%) has been remarkably efficient this season, posting 56-49-75 shooting splits while leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (14.7, 7.0 rebounds) is a long, athletic wing who can impact the game on both ends of the floor, and [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] (11.6, 56.2 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='1951828' first='Carson' last='Kelley'] (9.5), and [player_tooltip player_id='2413639' first='Brody' last='Pryor'] (7.8) are all reliable role players alongside the Gruver-Blum tandem. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>This is an experienced group that got a taste of the state tournament last season and is hungry to do more this year. Gruver and Blum is one of the best tandems in the field and they have some nice complementary pieces around them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Boyden-Hull (18-8)<br></span>About the Comets: </strong>The Comets may have eight losses on the resume, but six are to state tournament teams in larger classes (2A Unity Christian and West Lyon twice each, and 3A MOC-Floyd Valley twice). Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (17.8, 3.1 assists) is the team's leader in scoring and assists, and he's a skilled downhill attacker off the dribble. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (12.9, 8.0 rebounds, 57.2 FG%) has been a strong presence in the paint, and [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (10.2) and Brent Zylstra (9.5) are also reliable scoring threats. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> They've played by far the toughest schedule in the class, so they aren't going to be intimidated by Madrid in the quarterfinals, or by anyone else if they advance. They're a tough, athletic team that can defend and spread you out and attack off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: St. Mary's, Remsen (21-4)<br></span>About the Hawks: </strong>This isn't your typical #8 seed. St. Mary's is the best defensive team in the class, allowing just 37.5 points per game and they're making their eighth state tournament appearance since 2017, so this is a coaching staff and program that is used to the bright lights of Wells Fargo Arena. Senior forward Colin Homan (14.0, 6.7 rebounds, 50.4 FG%) is the team's leading scorer and is a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1568264' first='Sam' last='Schmillen'] (12.5, 7.2 rebounds) is another big, efficient forward who controls the glass, and senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617521' first='Jeshua' last='Phillips'] (9.3, 58.6 FG%) has provided the Hawks with a different dimension with his length and athleticism on the perimeter. Carter Tentinger (8.1), [player_tooltip player_id='2511517' first='Landon' last='Waldschmitt'] (7.8, 5.2 assists), and Keaton Harpenau (3.7) are all experienced players as well. This is a well-coached, disciplined team that does a great job protecting the ball, and they make life really difficult for opposing offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>The saying is that defense wins championships, and the Hawks have been the best defensive team in the class this season. They're a veteran group that is comfortable playing at a slower tempo that state tournament games often are played at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staff Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tony<br></span><strong>Quarterfinals: </strong>Marquette Catholic, North Linn, Madrid, St. Edmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>Marquette Catholic, Madrid</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion: </strong>Marquette Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->