After Back-to-Back Runner-Up Finishes Marquette Has Eyes on Prize

<!-- wp:image {"id":3486686,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-7.59.36-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-7.59.36-PM.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-3486686" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> Despite losing a large majority of the major contributors from their back-to-back 1A runner-up teams, <strong>Marquette Catholic</strong> has continued to roll right along. The Defenders have the highest scoring offense in the class, averaging more than 76 points per game on the strength of a deep, balanced attack that sees six players averaging between 9.6 and 12.8 points per game. Koen Roeder (12.8) is the team's leading scorer, but it truly can be any one of those six who lead the charge on a given night. [player_tooltip player_id='2828832' first='Taegin' last='Smith'] (11.7, 44.6 3P%) is the top perimeter shooting threat, while [player_tooltip player_id='3344000' first='Canden' last='Weber'] (11.6, 35.0 3P%) is another viable shooter. [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'] (11.2, 4.6 assists) leads the team in assists, while Justin Severson (10.9, 10.2 rebounds) has given them some size and physicality int he paint. [player_tooltip player_id='2523923' first='Tate' last='Kueter'] (9.6) provides more scoring. A team that can beat you in a multitude of different ways offensively, they're also capable of forcing a ton of turnovers and really frustrating teams on that end of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>On the strength of a 10-point road win over Springville, <strong>Easton Valley</strong> will get to host the district semifinal rematch, should it materialize. The River Hawks are led by a pair of double-figure scorers in seniors Keagan Lee (14.2) and Easton Rathje (13.2, 9.9 rebounds), giving them a strong one-two punch, while Callan Messerich (8.8, 6.4 assists) sets the table well. This is a group that doesn't shoot it particularly well from the 3-point line (26.5% as a team), which could be a real downfall as postseason play progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Springville</strong> has played really good basketball down the stretch, winning eight straight games before losing their regular season finale to 2A West Branch. The Orioles are led by a pair of seniors - forward Conlin Rouse (15.4, 10.9 rebounds) and guard Mason Hoy (13.1). Rouse is dominant on the glass on both ends of the floor, while Joy and Kayd Wilson (9.4, 5.8 assists) give them a pair of good ball-handlers. [player_tooltip player_id='3433713' first='Luke' last='Chrisman'] (9.2, 8.9 rebounds) is great on the glass as well and is also blocking five shots a game. With that type of rim protector and domination on the glass, Springville can be dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 Koen Roeder (Marquette Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828832' first='Taegin' last='Smith'] (Marquette Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344000' first='Canden' last='Weber'] (Marquette Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'] (Marquette Catholic)<br>2026 Justin Severson (Marquette Catholic)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523923' first='Tate' last='Kueter'] (Marquette Catholic)<br>2026 Keagan Lee (Easton Valley)<br>2026 Easton Rathje (Easton Valley)<br>2026 Conlin Rouse (Springville)<br>2026 Mason Hoy (Springville)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344414' first='Carson' last='Newcomb'] (Prince of Peace)<br>2026 Gage Thompson (Cedar Valley Christian)<br>2026 Josh Skinner (Cedar Valley Christian)<br>2029 Tyler Kubovec (Lisbon)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3486690,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-8.02.51-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-8.02.51-PM.png?w=625" alt="" class="wp-image-3486690" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>The lone remaining undefeated team in 1A is <strong>Lynnville-Sully</strong>. The Hawks have the #6 scoring offense (71.9) and #5 scoring defense (39.3) in the class and have gone 3-0 against their likely district final opponents Montezuma or Sigourney. Senior guard Sawyer Veldhuizen (13.0, 40.7 3P%) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2419827' first='Will' last='Van Vark'] (11.5, 39.3 3P%) give them a pair of reliable shooting threats, while [player_tooltip player_id='2886854' first='Dawson' last='James'] (9.9, 6.6 rebounds), Cameyon James (8.8, 7.0 rebounds), and Jack Bowlin (7.8, 6.6 rebounds) are all highly efficient scorers and great on the glass. This is a team that doesn't beat themselves (8.8 turnovers per game), is elite on the glass (42.5 rebounds per game, 17.7 offensive), and plays smothering defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Conference rival <strong>Montzuma</strong> played the Hawks to a 7-point game a month ago and the Braves have arguably the best one-two punch in the substate in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765506' first='Brady' last='Boulton'] (22.6, 5.8 assists) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3343999' first='Dane' last='Strong'] (14.7, 7.1 rebounds). Boulton is a high-scoring guard who has had 50-point games in his high school career, and he's capable of dominating games as both a scorer and a playmaker. Strong has been a really nice complement to Boulton this season, giving them an undersized but athletic interior presence. The Braves can score in bunches and will be anxious to get another shot at Lynnville-Sully in the district final. They beat likely semifinal opponent Sigourney by 15 a month ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Sigourney </strong>has played really good basketball of late, winning 10 of their last 11 games as of the time of this writing. The lone loss in that stretch came against Lynnville-Sully. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (15.6, 9.6 rebounds, 64.1 FG%) has been really good on both ends of the floor, blocking 1.6 shots per game to go with his efficient scoring and work on the glass. Solon Yates (13.2, 42.7 3P%) is a good perimeter scoring threat, and the trio of Brayden Wood (10.0, 2.9 assists), Ike Molyneux (7.4, 4.6 assists), and Landon Conrad (4.4, 2.6 assists) are all capable playmakers. This is a group that is hot heading into postseason play and it wouldn't be a shock at all to see them knock off Montezuma and give the Hawks a scare in the district final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 Sawyer Veldhuizen (Lynnville-Sully)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419827' first='Will' last='Van Vark'] (Lynnville-Sully)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886854' first='Dawson' last='James'] (Lynnville-Sully)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765506' first='Brady' last='Boulton'] (Montezuma)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343999' first='Dane' last='Strong'] (Montezuma)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (Sigourney)<br>2026 Solon Yates (Sigourney)<br>2026 Reece Chiabotta (Melcher-Dallas)<br>2026 Declan DeJong (Moravia)<br>2028 Casen Woodward (Moravia)<br>2027 Chase Hanes (Moravia)<br>2028 Elias Bronson (Moravia)<br>2026 Trenton DeBruin (North Mahaska)<br>2026 Beau Burns (BGM)<br>2026 Cameron Swarts (Moulton-Udell)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette Catholic vs. Lynnville-Sully</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players on the roster are largely new, but the coaching staff at <strong>Marquette Catholic</strong> is the same and is looking to get back to Des Moines for another shot at the 1A crown. They can come at you in waves on both ends of the floor, and they hand Lynnville-Sully their first loss of the season here, punching their ticket back to Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->