Can Anyone Challenge Heavy Favorite Unity Christian in 2A-1?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3494649,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/2A-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/2A-1.png?w=615" alt="" class="wp-image-3494649" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> After back-to-back semifinal appearances, <strong>Unity Christian</strong> entered this season on a mission to not only get back to the state tournament, but to finish the job, and they shouldn't have too many issues getting through this district and substate. The Knights are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (18.2, 3.9 assists, 42.7 3P%), one of the best two-way guards in the state. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (13.7, 8.9 rebounds, 52.7 FG%) has improved as a playmaker and is a versatile inside-out scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (13.4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.2) give them some more scoring and ball-handling. The Knights are explosive offensively, averaging 72.5 points per game, second in the class, and have played one of the most difficult schedules in the class. They should roll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> With star wing [player_tooltip player_id='2731892' first='Jorden' last='Meyer'] sidelined all year, <strong>West Lyon</strong> hasn't had quite the season they expected, but the Wildcats are still dangerous. They're led by senior guard Sam Underberg (11.2), who leads the team in scoring and is probably their best perimeter shooting threat. [player_tooltip player_id='2887823' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] (9.7, 4.9 rebounds) is the team's top rebounder and can be a force inside, while Easton DeJong (9.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731896' first='Jared' last='Ciesielski'] (7.6) are both quality scorers as well. In all, seven players average at least 4.7 points per game, giving them some depth, and despite being the #3 seed in the district and having to go on the road for the semifinals, going through the loaded Siouxland means they won't be scared at all by going to HMS.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>By virtue of getting the #2 seed in the district, <strong>Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn</strong> will need to just win one home game to reach the district final. The Hawks have a really talented senior guard leading the way in [player_tooltip player_id='2853881' first='Isaac' last='Schierholz'] (17.8, 8.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists), who does a little bit of everything. He's posting 46-40-69 shooting splits, leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks, and can take over games. Caden Douma (13.1) is a nice secondary scoring option, and the Hawks have done a nice job limiting turnovers (10.0) on the season. If they can protect the ball against the athletic Wildcats in the district semifinal, they'll be in business.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (Unity Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (Unity Christian)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (Unity Christian)<br>2026 Sam Underberg (West Lyon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887823' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] (West Lyon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2853881' first='Isaac' last='Schierholz'] (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn)<br>2028 Caden Douma (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2833521' first='Miles' last='Wasson'] (Okoboji)<br>2026 Avery Simington (Okoboji)<br>2026 Cooper Chizek (Emmetsburg)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765548' first='Wesley' last='Walz'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344411' first='Bennett' last='Stecker'] (Spirit Lake)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3494651,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/2A-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/2A-2.png?w=616" alt="" class="wp-image-3494651" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Southeast Valley</strong> has won 19 straight games since a season-opening one-point loss to Madrid. The Jaguars have the #5 scoring offense (69.5) and #2 scoring defense (41.3) in the class. They're led by senior Cornell Lowery (13.7, 7.0 rebounds), who leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Juniors Bryce Harrison (11.7), Casey Hanson (9.8, 6.5 assists), and Ian Brunner (8.7) are all reliable scoring threats, and five others average between 3.4 and 6.3 points per game. Their depth is unmatched in this district, they're on a roll right now, and they'll get to host the district final, new this year in 1A and 2A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Sioux Central</strong> has a pair of athletic guards in the backcourt leading the charge in [player_tooltip player_id='2731640' first='Owen' last='Mills'] (19.0, 6.3 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='3255146' first='Jack' last='Christian'] (15.3, 40.9 3P%), giving them a pair of big-time scorers who can control the game on the offensive end. Both are quality shooting threats, and they're shooting 38% from the 3-point line as a team, one of the top marks in the class. The Rebels do a great job limiting turnovers (8.7 per game) and are stout defensively, with junior forward Colin Christian (9.0, 2.0 blocks) patrolling the paint. They lost 62-60 in double overtime to Southeast Valley about a month ago and will be anxious to get another crack at the Jaguars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (19.0, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks) leads a <strong>Clarion-Goldfield-Dows </strong>team that just played Southeast Valley to a four-point loss in the regular season finale. He's a 6-4 big man who finishes well around the rim, is great on the glass, and can protect the rim at a high level. Classmates Huxley Lingenfelter (12.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2754709' first='JD' last='Morrical'] (7.2, 40.8 3P%) provide some more scoring, and freshman wing Paxton Lingenfelter (4.8) has had some real bright spots in his first season. Knowing how tightly they played the Jaguars days ago, they'll be oozing with confidence in the district final if they're able to clip Sioux Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 Cornell Lowery (Southeast Valley)<br>2027 Bryce Harrison (Southeast Valley)<br>2027 Casey Hanson (Southeast Valley)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731640' first='Owen' last='Mills'] (Sioux Central)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255146' first='Jack' last='Christian'] (Sioux Central)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2027 Huxley Lingenfelter (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2028 Karson Welander (Pocahontas Area)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2865242' first='Adrian' last='Whipple'] (Eagle Grove)<br>2027 Kaden Fechter (Estherville Lincoln Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unity Christian vs. Sioux Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're going with the slight upset in District 2, with Sioux Central getting revenge on the red-hot Southeast Valley to get here. Unfortunately for the Rebels, that's where the road ends, as <strong>Unity Christian</strong> is on another level than all but one other team in the class and they appear to be on a path for Championship Friday. The Knights roll into the state tournament here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->