State Tournament: Championship Friday Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4A Championship: #3 Valley (22-3) vs. #4 Waukee Northwest (23-3), 1:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here: </strong>Two-time defending champion Valley has survived two scares to get to their third straight state championship, beating Ames 53-50 in the quarterfinals, and needing overtime and a game-winner from [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] to beat Linn-Mar, 58-56, in the semis. Waukee Northwest has looked really good in both of their games so far, beating a pair of MVC teams - Kennedy, 71-64, in the quarterfinals, and Cedar Falls, 57-49, in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>These teams met twice in the regular-season, both Valley wins. In the first meeting, a 66-54 Tigers victory, Northwest actually jumped out to a 13-5 lead, but Valley controlled the game the rest of the way. Star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] didn't play in the first meeting, still recovering from a football injury. He did suit up in the second meeting, which was tied at 44 after three quarters before an 18-5 final period from the Tigers. The Wolves combined to shoot just 11-48 from the 3-point line in those two games, and while they're a much better shooting team than that, it is really difficult to knock down shots at Wells Fargo Arena, and that can't be the focal point of their gameplan heading into round three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest has been arguably the most impressive team in the class this week, getting excellent play out of juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1978099' first='Colin' last='Rice'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'], who I've said all year both on here and on the Shooters Touch podcast, that guards [player_tooltip player_id='1288891' first='Bode' last='Goodman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2119115' first='Peyton' last='McCollum'] will get them here, but it will need to be Rice and Davis that close the door if the Wolves are going to live up to their full potential. They'll be asked to shoulder a heavy load this afternoon against the athletic and physical Tigers. If Davis is able to play [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak'] to a draw, or something close to it, Northwest will have to be feeling pretty good about their chances. The thing that Valley has struggled the most with all year, and especially this week, is when the game gets slowed down and forced into the halfcourt. Can Northwest do that? The Wolves like to play fast also, but playing up-tempo can play into Valley's hands with their athleticism and how good they are in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley is playing for the three-peat, with Robinson, Jirak, and [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'] being big parts of all three of them, and McGregory being a key contributor on last year's team. There's something to be said for big-game, championship experience, and that most certainly plays in Valley's favor. Their athleticism is at a higher level than Northwest's, and it's hard to go against what has already happened twice this year. This is going to be an absolute battle, and could be one of the best 4A championship games we've seen in a while, but I'll stick with the pre-season pick of Valley three-peating behind big championship game performances from Robinson and Jirak. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span><strong>Valley:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak']; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng']<br><strong>Waukee Northwest: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288891' first='Bode' last='Goodman']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2119115' first='Peyton' last='McCollum']; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978099' first='Colin' last='Rice']; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis']; 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419793' first='Mack' last='Heitland']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our pick: Valley 63, Waukee Northwest 58</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A Championship: #1 Clear Lake (26-0) vs. #6 MOC-Floyd Valley (22-4), 3:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here: </strong>Clear Lake was dominant in their quarterfinal win over Central DeWitt, 57-34, and then used a 15-0 run to close out the game against ADM, 66-57, in the semis. MOC-Floyd Valley has been arguably the most impressive 3A team so far this week, beating Ballard 55-51 in the quarterfinals and Xavier 44-41 in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Clear Lake is looking to not only close out an undefeated season, but win the school's first ever state championship in boys basketball. The Lions have been dominant all year, and they were especially impressive in the fourth quarter against ADM, when their press caused all sorts of chaos for the Tigers. MOC-Floyd Valley has struggled at times with turnovers this week, and I would expect to see a little more pressure applied against the Dutchmen than what the Lions have done the majority of the week, when they're only broken it out at the most desperate moments. Clear Lake can come at you in waves, using that pressure, their speed, and the toughness and strength of [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] in the middle, to dominate teams and put 15-0 runs on you in the blink of an eye. If MOC doesn't protect the ball, allowing the Lions to get out in transition, good night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That said, if the Dutchmen are able to force this into a halfcourt slugfest, they may be the 3A team best equipped to play that type of physical style against the Lions. Most teams don't have an answer for Meyer in the paint; ADM sure didn't, scoring 31 points on 13-17 shooting. But MOC may have an answer, or at least a partial answer, for him with their pair of big men - [player_tooltip player_id='1951793' first='Owen' last='Vander Pol'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1978131' first='Draeden' last='Punt']. Both are strong, physical, and athletic, and they can bang with Meyer in the paint and try to control the glass, an area that Clear Lake has cleaned up on all year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398061' first='Blake' last='Aalbers'] is coming off a fantastic semifinal against Xavier, and the Lions are going to need to identify him, especially in transition, as he loves to spot up on the 3-point line and knock down 3s before the defense is able to get set. Expect to see a number of different defenders get shots at him, perhaps even with some junk defenses thrown in, because if they're able to take him out of MOC's offense and make the others try to beat them off the dribble, they should have a ton of success. I'm interested to see what types of defensive looks Loren De Jong throws at Meyer to try and slow him down. If they can contain him, they'll have a chance at their first state title since 2005. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span><strong>Clear Lake: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer']; 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire']; 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2377642' first='Carson' last='Riser']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt']<br><strong>MOC-Floyd Valley:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398061' first='Blake' last='Aalbers']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1523401' first='Ahman' last='Langton']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951793' first='Owen' last='Vander Pol']; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978131' first='Draeden' last='Punt']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our pick: Clear Lake 56, MOC-Floyd Valley 52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2A Championship: #1 Western Christian (24-3) vs. #2 West Lyon (23-3), 5:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here: </strong>Top-ranked Western Christian blew out Jesup in the quarterfinals, 69-38, and controlled the second half against Grand View Christian, 53-46, in the semifinals. West Lyon destroyed Union, 81-50, in the quarterfinals and used a dominant fourth quarter to skate past Unity Christian for the third time this season, beating the Knights 69-55 in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> I know this will come as a shock, but we've got another all-northwest Iowa Class 2A championship game. As someone who watches a lot of 2A basketball serving on the rankings committee, it's incredible to watch the difference between teams from that part of the state compared to every other part of the state in this class. They're all big, athletic, strong, move without the ball, and all five players can dribble, pass, and shoot it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Christian is looking to not only defend their title, but add another to their already state-record haul of 11 state championships. The Wolfpack have been the clear-cut best team in the class this season, playing an incredibly difficult schedule that has prepared them well for this week. [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter'] is the best player on the floor, a 6-4 wing who can control the game on both ends, and the Pack is able to surround him with shooting. [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret'] has had another sensational week at the state tournament, routinely knocking down big shots, and they've gotten huge production out of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] as a tertiary scorer. They're able to beat you in transition or in the halfcourt, executing their offense beautifully, and they'll have the best player on the floor, which means something in a big game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Lyon has been extremely impressive this week with their athleticism, physicality, and depth. They've gotten tremendous production out of forward [player_tooltip player_id='2887823' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] off the bench, and the wing tandem of Jorden Meyer and [player_tooltip player_id='2731896' first='Jared' last='Ciesielski'] gives them some real explosiveness on the perimeter. But what really makes this team go is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen'], who will need to unseat Van Regenmorter as the best player on the floor if West Lyon is going to dethrone the Wolfpack. He's a really skilled shooter and playmaker with an elite first step and handles, but you can bet that Western is going to have some different looks to throw at him. If they're able to limit him, West Lyon could struggle to get offense going. This should be another great championship game, but we'll stick with the preseason and pre-tournament pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span><strong>Western Christian: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436462' first='Kaden' last='Van Regenmorter']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484412' first='Karsten' last='Moret']; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter']; 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret']<br><strong>West Lyon:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759936' first='Carson' last='Hoogeveen']; 2026 Jorden Meyer; 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731896' first='Jared' last='Ciesielski']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our pick: Western Christian 68, West Lyon 62</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>1A Championship: #1 Marquette Catholic (27-1) vs. #2 Madrid (27-0), 7:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong> Top-ranked Marquette Catholic beat St. Mary's, 64-54, in the quarterfinals, and held Gladbrook-Reinbeck to just 2 points in the fourth quarter of their semifinal win, 57-45. Madrid has looked really good, especially late in games, against both Boyden-Hull, 68-57, and St. Edmond, 71-58.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> History is going to be made tonight, as neither of these teams have won a boys state basketball championship before. It seems as though we've been on a collision course with these two teams since the season started. They've been far-and-away the most impressive teams in the class this season, and it would've been an upset if we didn't get this matchup to close out the high school season. After finishing runner-up last season, Marquette is itching to close the deal this year. The Defenders brought back two starters and four key contributors from that group, so they'll have the edge in championship game experience over Madrid. Knowing they were going to have another good team, coach Isaac Sturm went out and scheduled aggressively, playing three 4A teams to prepare them for the athleticism and toughness they'd see down here. [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] has been fantastic all year, and is having a great state tournament, but the Defenders are going to need to get more out of [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2511527' first='Eli' last='Scott'], and the rest of the crew today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madrid has the size and athleticism to throw at Roeder with sophomore combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'], the length with [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'], and the quickness and toughness of [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'], which will allow them to throw a number of different defensive looks at him. The Tigers have been really impressive this week with their ability to close out games with their offensive weapons. Buck, Severson, and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] are all really skilled ball-handlers and playmakers who can create good looks late in the shot clock. They're able to spread you out, burn time, and then still get good shots, and if you are fortunate enough to force a miss, Bridgewater or [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] are there to clean up on the glass. [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] has been the best player in the field this week, averaging 31 points in their two wins, and Marquette is going to need to find some sort of way to slow him down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the only game we're I'm switching from what I had pre-tournament, and I'm going with Madrid here. Their ability to close out games when they have the lead by spreading you out and still getting great looks makes them so dangerous. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span><strong>Marquette Catholic: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721446' first='Jacob' last='Litterer']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511527' first='Eli' last='Scott']<br><strong>Madrid:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck']; 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz']; 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater']; 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our pick: Madrid 62, Marquette Catholic 57</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->