Class 1A Substate Final Preview

16 teams are going to punch their tickets to the state tournament on Saturday night, 8 in Class 2A, and 8 in Class 2A. Below we previewed all 8 of the games in Class 1A and made our picks to make their way to Des Moines. Get out there on Saturday night and check out some great basketball!   Class 1A postseason picks record (started with district semifinals): 43-5   Substate 1: Boyden-Hull (17-8) vs. MMCRU (23-2) [at Sioux Center]   MMCRU is red-hot, winners of 15 straight games heading into this one. The Royals have been really good defensively, using their depth, length, and athleticism to frustrate teams. This is a balanced offensive attack, with nine players averaging at least 3.2 points per game, and nobody averaging more than 12.9 - junior [player_tooltip player_id='1765534' first='Brayson' last='Mulder']. While they don't necessarily have a go-to weapon on that end of the floor, their balance and willingness to share the ball, assisting on 69.4% of their field goals, as well as the way they pound the offensive glass, makes them a tough nut to crack. Boyden-Hull junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (17.9) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (12.9, 7.7 rebounds) have been the headliners for the Comets, and they've been battle tested, having played seven games against teams who are playing in substate finals this season, so they won't be intimidated by the Royals. I picked MMCRU in my substate preview and I'm sticking with it, with them making the state tournament for the first time in school history, but this one should be really tight throughout. The pick: MMCRU   Substate 2: Bishop Garrigan (21-3) vs. St. Edmond (21-3) [at Humboldt]   In the season opener, St. Edmond beat Bishop Garrigan 56-51. Obviously a lot has changed since then for both teams, but it is a data point worth mentioning. In that game, the difference maker was that the Gaels were able to get to the free-throw line at a higher rate (15-23 compared to 9-16 for Garrigan). Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (24.4, 9.5 rebounds, 59.8 FG%) had 21 points and 11 rebounds in that game, got to the free-throw line 13 times, and is really difficult to slow down with his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (11.3, 8.4 rebounds) is great on the glass as well, and [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (9.2) gives them some real length and athleticism on the wing. Garrigan is led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (14.3, 4.7 assists) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (14.3), but perhaps the most important player in this game will be junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (13.5, 9.7 rebounds), who will be tasked with slowing down Horn. Can he stay out of foul trouble, and do the Golden Bears have enough offense to keep pace with St. Ed? This should be a great game. The pick: St. Edmond   Substate 3: Marquette Catholic (24-1) vs. Don Bosco (19-6) [at West Delaware]   It has been an extremely emotional week for Don Bosco, a program that suffered the death of their lone cheerleader in a tragic car accident earlier this week, causing their district final to be moved to Wednesday, where they outlasted Maquoketa Valley in overtime, and that came six days after getting a game-winning bucket as time expired to beat Kee. So, this could be a team of destiny, or this could be the end of a very emotional journey. The Dons are led by the Belew brothers, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2425897' first='Zach' last='Belew'] (19.2, 8.9 rebounds, 59.2 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2425891' first='Ben' last='Belew'] (15.3, 7.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists). Both are good athletes who pound the glass, can create quality looks, and are solid defensively. They're running into a buzzsaw in Marquette Catholic, the top-ranked team in the class. The Defenders finished runner-up last season in 1A, brought back several key players from that group, and have tested themselves this season against three 4A teams - North Scott, Waterloo East, and Dubuque Senior - as well as some quality 2A teams in the non-conference, preparing themselves for this moment. Senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (20.4, 9.8 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer'] (19.6, 57.3 FG%) have given them one of the best one-two punches in the state, regardless of class, and they play an up-tempo, attacking style on both ends of the floor that leads to a ton of transition buckets and open looks from 3. Marquette is a pretty heavy favorite here, but expect a big effort from Don Bosco. The pick: Marquette Catholic   Substate 4: North Linn (22-2) vs. Notre Dame (19-4) [at City High]   North Linn is looking for their ninth straight trip to the state tournament, and standing in their way is a really good Notre Dame team that is going to give them everything they can handle. The defending champion Lynx seem to be peaking at the right time, looking really good against Hillcrest Academy in their district final on both ends of the floor, and they have the best player in 1A basketball on their side in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (30.4, 57.3 FG%). An elite scorer who can get to his spots whenever he wants, he's been tasked with carrying a massive scoring load this season and has stepped up to the challenge. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] (12.7, 7.2 assists, 36.3 3P%) has been really good in a lead guard role, posting a 6.37 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Drew Ries (10.1, 7.5 rebounds), while undersized, has been excellent on the glass with his non-stop motor. The Lynx do a great job forcing turnovers (12.3 steals per game) and protecting the ball (7.2 turnovers per game). Notre Dame junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (21.1, 7.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.8 steals) has been great on both ends of the floor to lead the Nikes. He's a quick, skilled guard who can score from all three levels and create looks for his teammates. [player_tooltip player_id='2394879' first='Jack' last='Drew'] (16.7) has been reliable as a secondary scorer and playmaker alongside Stephens, and they have five others averaging between 4.0 and 7.3 points per game. The guard battle between Stephens and Bechen will be a lot of fun to watch, and this should be a really competitive game. But at the end of the day, we'll side with the team with the best player on the floor. The pick: North Linn   Substate 5: North Mahaska (21-3) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (21-3) [at Marshalltown]   Gladbrook-Reinbeck's three losses this season have come to ranked 2A teams Grundy Center (twice) and Aplington-Parkersburg. The Rebels brought back nearly everything from last year's state tournament team, and their four seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (15.7, 10.3 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (15.0, 9.2 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (13.0, 40.9 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (12.5, 39.9 3P%) - are really experienced, talented, and have great chemistry. Eilers and Boyd give them some real size and toughness in the paint, and the Mathern boys can really, really shoot it. They should be able to control the glass against a North Mahaska team that has been really good on the glass themselves, but that is pretty undersized. [player_tooltip player_id='2721760' first='Asher' last='DeBoef'] (15.6, 9.9 rebounds) has been great on the glass all year for the Warhawks, but he's listed at 5-9 and will have his hands full trying to compete on the glass against Eilers and Boyd. Gabe Hora (15.6, 38.4 3P%) is a really good shooter, and Lucas Nunnikhoven (10.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2617312' first='Adrian' last='Smith'] (10.3) have been reliable scorers as well. North Mahaska is playing really good basketball, but the size advantage here for the Rebels may be tough to overcome. The pick: Gladbrook-Reinbeck   Substate 6: Ankeny Christian (17-7) vs. Madrid (24-0) [at Drake, 3:00 pm]   Madrid survived a scare against Lynnville-Sully in the district final, winning 50-46, and they also survived a scare from this very same Ankeny Christian Academy, winning just 70-67 back on January 6. The undefeated Tigers rank 2nd in the class in scoring offense (80.2) and 8th in defense (43.0). In that first meeting with ACA, they dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 42-20, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds, and that will need to be a point of emphasis for ACA if they want to pull off this upset. Madrid is led by a quartet of double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (23.3, 54.4 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (14.1, 4.5 assists, 41.5 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (13.4, 4.5 assists, 47.5 3P%), and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (15.8, 8.1 rebounds, 65.2 FG%). That quartet, along with sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (9.0, 7.0 rebounds), gives the Tigers the best starting five in the class; versatile, athletic, and skilled at all five spots. The Eagles counter with a trio of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2906492' first='Jed' last='Rood'] (13.2), Austin Lundberg (11.8, 42.3 3P%), and Hayden Davis (11.7), who combined for 47 points in the narrow loss earlier this season. That trio will need to be great again if they want to pull off an upset at the Knapp Center. The pick: Madrid   Substate 7: Coon Rapids-Bayard (22-2) vs. Woodbine (22-2) [at Council Bluffs Lincoln]   These two Rolling Valley Conference teams split during the regular season, with Woodbine winning 58-57 on January 3, and Coon Rapids-Bayard dominating the rematch, 54-25, on February 4. The Crusaders, who have been strong defensively all year, held Woodbine to an incredible 10-50 (20%) from the field and 3-33 (9.1%) from the 3-point line, packing the defense in and daring the Tigers to beat them from deep. It goes without saying that the Tigers will need to shoot it much better, and come in with a gameplan that gets them closer to the bucket, if they want to take the rubber match and get back to the state tournament for a second straight year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (17.6, 4.9 assists) leads the team in scoring and assists, and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (14.9, 7.0 rebounds) is a great athlete on the wing with length and the ability to score inside and out. Coon Rapids has been great all year and has been fantastic defensively, allowing just 39.5 points per game, 3rd in the class. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] 922.3, 8.0 rebounds, 56.7 FG%) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (11.3, 11.3 rebounds) are the standouts of the group. Their size and length can cause problems for teams, Woodbine included. Woodbine has the big-game experience from last year, but it's hard to ignore the demolition of the last meeting. The pick: Coon Rapids-Bayard   Substate 8: ACGC (22-2) vs. St. Mary's, Remsen (20-4) [at South Central Calhoun]   A high-powered offense in ACGC goes up against the best defense in the class in this one. The Chargers are averaging 72.4 points a game, 6th in 1A, while St. Mary's is once again the top defense in the state, allowing just 37.0 points a night. ACGC has four double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2480003' first='Jathan' last='South'] (19.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (14.0), [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (13.9, 13.6 rebounds), and Joe Crawford (12.2), giving them a number of high-level scoring options. That said, they haven't been very good from the 3-point line (29.2%), which could be an area that St. Mary's is able to exploit. The Hawks are big, long, and physical, led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1759937' first='Collin' last='Homan'] (14.0, 6.8 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1568264' first='Sam' last='Schmillen'] (12.6, 7.3 rebounds), while LeMars transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2617521' first='Jeshua' last='Phillips'] (9.4, 58.1 FG%) has been a really nice addition to the team on the wing. His size, length, and athleticism at 6-4/6-5 gives them another dimension to their attack on both ends of the floor. St. Mary's is accustomed to playing in slower games, and their defense can suffocate ACGC. This should be a fascinating chess match that can go either way. The pick: St. Mary's, Remsen

16 teams are going to punch their tickets to the state tournament on Saturday night, 8 in Class 2A, and 8 in Class 2A. Below we previewed all 8 of the games in Class 1A and made our picks to make their way to Des Moines. Get out there on Saturday night and check out some great basketball!