Class 2A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: Western Christian (22-3)<br></span>About the Wolfpack: </strong>The defending champion Wolfpack are looking to add yet another state title to their record haul. They've been the top-ranked team in 2A all season, with their three losses coming to a pair of large-school, ranked teams from Nebraska, and 4A state tournament qualifier Waukee. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] (19.8, 4.9 assists, 42.4 3P%) is the most impactful player in the 2A field. His basketball IQ is off the charts, and he's capable of taking over a game on either end of the floor as a scorer, playmaker, rebounder, or defender. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] (14.9, 51.8 3P%) is an elite shooter who can bury shots from anywhere, and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (11.6) is a difference-maker with his length. A well-coached, disciplined team that can really, really shoot it (41.2 3P% as a team), it's going to take a huge effort to beat the Pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They've been the best team in the class all year, and their experience, depth, and having Van Regenmorter and Moret leading the way, gives them a significant edge over the rest of the 2A field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: West Lyon (21-3)<br></span>About the Wildcats: </strong>Senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'] (17.5, 3.5 assists, 47.3 3P%) may be the best lead guard in the field. A dynamic two-way player who can impact the game on nearly every possession on both ends of the floor, he's the vocal and physical leader of this group. He shoots it extremely well from the 3-point line, can attack off the dribble and get to the rim, and he's a talented playmaker. Jorden Meyer (15.2, 40.2 3P%) is another skilled shooter alongside Hoogeveen, and the 'Cats have four others averaging between 5.7 and 8.2 points per game. An extremely athletic, physical team with a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor, this is a group that can really lock you down defensively and pound the glass on either end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They have arguably the best guard in the class pacing their offensive attack, and they have a deep, balanced group of talented, physical athletes that can defend at a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: Unity Christian (20-4)<br></span>About the Knights:</strong> The Knights were inches away from being an undefeated, #1 seed in this tournament. Their four losses, all to state tournament qualifiers (West Lyon twice, MOC-Floyd Valley, Western Christian), have come by a total of 5 points. They brought back a ton of contributors from last year's state semifinalist, and look like a real threat to win it all this season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (16.3, 3.1 assists, 43.0 3P%) is a tough, physical guard who can get to the rim or knock down shots from deep. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (12.3, 8.6 rebounds) is a versatile, athletic forward who can score inside and out and control the glass, while senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1951824' first='Braeden' last='Bosma'] (11.0) is another skilled guard who can play downhill and get to the bucket. [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (10.0, 42.1 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (9.5, 52.3 3P%) give the Knights more perimeter shooting, and this team goes pretty deep into their bench. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They've been ridiculously close to going undefeated this season, with a nice mixture of perimeter and interior talent. They're athletic, physical, play good defense, and can beat you in a ton of different ways on the offensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: Grand View Christian (23-1)<br></span>About the Thunder:</strong> The Thunder are the only team in the field to rank within the top 7 seven scoring offense (4th, 72.3) and defense (7th, 46.9), and their only loss this season came against 3A #1 Clear Lake. They're led by their "Big Three" of senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (21.5, 14.3 rebounds, 4.1 blocks), junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2287857' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'] (16.8, 8.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 blocks), and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413533' first='Jameson' last='Scharnberg'] (16.7, 5.4 assists, 39.6 3P%). Barrantes, a 6-9 forward, will play his college ball at Illinois-Chicago, and his ability to protect the rim, dominate the glass, and score inside and out makes him a really difficult matchup. Hoben has great size and length on the wing at 6-5/6-6 and can block shots in bunches, just like Barrantes, and Scharnberg is a really skilled playmaker and shooter off the dribble. Thomas Childs (8.8, 4.0 assists, 39.3 3P%) gives them another shooter, as does William Seyler (3.9, 43.9 3P%). This group doesn't go very deep into their bench, and foul trouble could hurt them, but their "Big Three" is as good as anyone in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They have difference-making height with Barrantes and Hoben, and they're able to surround those two with a ton of shooting. Their rim protection is unrivaled in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: Treynor (22-3)<br></span>About the Cardinals: </strong>Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (19.3, 4.2 assists) leads one of the hottest teams in the state. Treynor has won 17 straight games, with their last loss coming way back on January 4th, an overtime setback against quarterfinal opponent Grand View Christian. The Cardinals rank 2nd in the class in scoring defense, allowing just 45.4 points per game, and Lovely leads a potent offensive attack that does a great job using their defense to spark the offense. Classmates [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (11.5, 3.0 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (9.2, 6.7 rebounds, 64.4 FG%), and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2820130' first='Peter' last='Young'] (8.5, 6.0 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2820123' first='Jared' last='Schwarte'] (6.1, 5.2 rebounds) round out a talented starting five. Lovely is capable of having explosive scoring nights with his ability to create quality looks off the dribble, and they do a great job pounding the glass, especially on the offensive end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Lovely is one of the most talented guards in the field, a dynamic offensive weapon who can score in bunches from anywhere on the floor as well as create quality looks for his teammates. Scott Rucker is one of the most experienced coaches in the field and will have quality game plans drawn up, and this team has been extremely hot over the last few months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: Grundy Center (22-2)<br></span>About the Spartans: </strong>Four starters and a pair of key bench players returned from last year's state tournament team, and this group survived having senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (16.5, 8.0 rebounds, 53.7 FG%) out for an extended period of time this season, allowing several role players to step into bigger roles and thrive, which could be beneficial in this tournament. Kirkpatrick is the headliner, a 6-5 wing who can score from all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id='1759911' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] (13.4) is another tough, physical scorer who can bully his way to the rim, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (11.5, 4.9 assists, 45.5 3P%) is an electric scorer and playmaker off the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id='1759941' first='Brayden' last='Wallis'] (10.2) is another double-figure scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='2820148' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] (8.8), Brody Zinkula (6.4), and Brayden Davis (6.0) are all capable scorers as well. A deep, balanced, experienced team that plays strong defense, they're anxious to make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They brought back a ton of experience from last year's team that got its feet wet in Des Moines, and they're loaded with quality options. They share the ball extremely well (20.4 assists) and are disciplined. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Union (17-9)<br></span>About the Knights: </strong>Union upset both Denver and Kuemper Catholic to get to the state tournament, and the Knights will be looking to stay hot against West Lyon in the opening round. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2678903' first='Tate' last='Van Dyke'] (12.4, 44.9 3P%) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers, joined by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2820139' first='Eric' last='Neipert'] (11.6, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks) and junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] (11.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='1986602' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'] (10.9). Neipert has been really good as a shot blocker, rebounder, and interior scorer, and the Van Dyke-Sorensen-Mullen trio, as well as role players [player_tooltip player_id='1943626' first='Sawyer' last='Spence'] (6.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] (5.4), are all capable 3-point shooters. Union is playing with house money, have a number of weapons, and while they don't shoot it at a really high clip from 3 (31.6%), they do take a lot of them, and if they're falling, they can keep riding this wave.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They have a quartet of double-figure scorers, giving them a multitude of ways to beat you, and they're playing with a ton of confidence right now following their win over #2 Kuemper Catholic in the substate final. They know they can play with anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: Jesup (16-9)<br></span>About the J-Hawks:</strong> Another North Iowa Cedar League team riding high after a pair of postseason upsets (Cascade, North Fayette Valley) to get to Des Moines, Jesup is led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1839807' first='Ryan' last='Treptow'] (20.3, 8.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists), who has been fantastic. An athletic 6-3 guard with length and three-level scoring and playmaking, he's playing at an extremely high level right now. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2820112' first='Landon' last='Vogel'] (11.6, 40.6 3P%) is a high-level shooter alongside Treptow in the backcourt, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2906478' first='Parker' last='Masteller'] (9.9, 9.2 rebounds) has been strong in the paint on both ends of the floor. If they're going to pull off another upset against Western Christian, they'll need those three, as well as Paxten McHone (6.3) and Gage Wymore (6.1), to play at a really high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Treptow has been great all year and is playing arguably his best ball down the stretch. Like Union, this is a team that is playing with house money and they can score in bunches.</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>Western Christian, Grand View Christian, West Lyon, Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>Western Christian, Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion:</strong> Western Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->