Can Prairie Navigate a Tricky 4A-6, Filled with MAC Landmines?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3515092,"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-2026-02-22-at-9.09.04-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-22-at-9.09.04-PM.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-3515092" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>Since the calendar turned to 2026, Prairie has gone 13-3, with two of the losses (Cedar Falls, Senior) coming to top-five teams in the state. The Hawks are led by a quartet of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2023719' first='Will' last='Wehr'] (12.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2419791' first='Austin' last='Joens'] (11.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2419840' first='Cayden' last='Larson'] (11.4), and [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] (11.0), while senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731874' first='David' last='Fason'] (7.9, 4.7 assists) is another viable scorer and playmaker. A team filled with 3-point shooting, they're knocking down 37% of their attempts from distance on the season and average nearly nine made 3s per game. When a team can shoot that volume, and do so that efficiently, they're going to be tough to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Bettendorf and North Scott split their regular season series, with each winning on their home floor. Given that <strong>Bettendorf </strong>will host the semifinal, the Bulldogs get the edge here. The Bulldogs have been the cardiac kids, with 11 of their 17 wins coming by single digits, including a pair of games in which [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'] (19.8) made highlight reel game-winners. Gordon is having a great junior season, showing the ability to score from all three levels, and he's capable of dropping 30 on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='3344377' first='Caden' last='Gray'] (10.3), a junior forward, is the only other Bulldog averaging in double figures, while six players average between 4.0 and 5.5 points per game, giving them some good depth behind Gordon and Gray. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: North Scott </strong>has a ton of talent, but the Lancers have once again been in inconsistent team this season. They're led by Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='2309944' first='Josiah' last='Harrington'] (25.2, 8.6 rebounds), one of the most talented junior prospects in the country. With his 6-7 frame and ability to score inside and out, he can dominate games as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker, and defender. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2523928' first='Vasaun' last='Wilmington'] (16.5, 3.3 assists, 41.3 3P%) is having a breakout sophomore season. He's a really good athlete who has the ball on a string, creating quality looks for himself and his teammates routinely. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2107245' first='Zane' last='Rus'] (10.1, 37.8 3P%) is a big wing who can stretch the floor as well. When they're playing well, North Scott is capable of beating just about anyone in the state, but can they play three strong, consistent games here?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2023719' first='Will' last='Wehr'] (Prairie)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419791' first='Austin' last='Joens'] (Prairie)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419840' first='Cayden' last='Larson'] (Prairie)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] (Prairie)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'] (Bettendorf)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344377' first='Caden' last='Gray'] (Bettendorf)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2309944' first='Josiah' last='Harrington'] (North Scott)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523928' first='Vasaun' last='Wilmington'] (North Scott)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2107245' first='Zane' last='Rus'] (North Scott)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978112' first='Carter' last='Light'] (Davenport Central)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420796' first='Cole' last='Shannon'] (Clinton)<br>2026 Marshall Johnson (Clinton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731774' first='Caden' last='Green'] (Davenport West)<br>2029 Sentrell Gray (Davenport West)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bettendorf at Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Prairie's losses since the holiday break, the Hawks have struggled to score consistently, struggling to shoot it from 3 at the level that they're capable of. Of course, 3-point variance is a big part of basketball, especially at the high school level, but Prairie should also find it a little easier to crack Bettendorf than Senior or Cedar Falls. The Bulldogs will no doubt put up a great fight here, and with [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'], they're always going to be dangerous, but <strong>Prairie </strong>and their plethora of scoring options carries them through and to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->