Can Shay Stephens Punctuate Stellar Career with State Tourney?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3486795,"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-9.07.34-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-9.07.34-PM.png?w=610" alt="" class="wp-image-3486795" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>Top-seeded <strong>Notre Dame</strong> has lost two of their last three games, but those losses came to a ranked 2A Pella Christian team by four, and a 3A Keokuk team that is 16-2 by two points. So they're six points away from entering postseason play undefeated and with some truly impressive bullet points on the resume. Western Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (25.7, 9.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists) is having a sensational senior year and is arguably the best player in 1A. He's posting 65-37-75 shooting splits and at 6-5, has the size to dominate games as a scorer and playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='3453714' first='Eli' last='Oleson'] (11.0), [player_tooltip player_id='3343991' first='LJ' last='Harris'] (10.2), and [player_tooltip player_id='3453701' first='Griffin' last='Kies'] (9.9) are all reliable scoring threats alongside Stephens, while senior [player_tooltip player_id='3453746' first='Payne' last='Prottsman'] (6.7) and freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='3453740' first='Kellan' last='Porter'] (6.1) round out a really good top six. Only one of their 20 wins has been decided by single digits, so they haven't really been tested very often, but that may not be a factor in this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>With an impressive 18-4 record, <strong>Pekin</strong> earned the second seed in this district and will get to host their district semifinal game against either Holy Trinity Catholic or WACO. The Panthers are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887859' first='Cole' last='Millikin'] (19.2), a versatile three-level scoring threat who can do it all on the offensive end. He's joined in the Panthers' backcourt by junior point guard Henry Adam (9.2, 7.0 assists), one of the assist leaders in the state. Alijah Brock (10.6, 9.4 rebounds) has been a force in the paint, and Nolan Glick (10.1) is another solid scoring threat. They've had a really nice season, but finding a way to slow down Stephens in the district final seems like a tall task for this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Holy Trinity Catholic</strong> has won 10 of their last 12 games, with the losses coming to Notre Dame and to 2A Mediapolis in overtime. Needless to say, the Crusaders are playing really good basketball down the stretch and may be one of the most dangerous #3 seeds in any district in 1A. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (20.1) was the lone returnee who saw significant time on last year's HTC team, and he has taken his game to another level in his final go-around. Freshman wing Jack Ragar (14.4, 7.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists) leads the team in rebounding, assists, and steals, and has had a tremendous freshman season, a big part of a talented 2029 group of talent at this school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (Notre Dame)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3453714' first='Eli' last='Oleson'] (Notre Dame)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343991' first='LJ' last='Harris'] (Notre Dame)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3453701' first='Griffin' last='Kies'] (Notre Dame)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887859' first='Cole' last='Millikin'] (Pekin)<br>2027 Alijah Brock (Pekin)<br>2026 Nolan Glick (Pekin)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887884' first='Layne' last='Rung'] (Holy Trinity Catholic)<br>2029 Jack Ragar (Holy Trinity Catholic)<br>2026 London Franklin (New London)<br>2026 Bryce Hazelett (Highland)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344410' first='Landon' last='Roling'] (Highland)<br>2027 Isaac Egli (Winfield-Mt. Union)<br>2027 Cody Milks (Winfield-Mt. Union)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906549' first='Connor' last='Hulett'] (Danville)<br>2026 Gavyn Jellison (Seymour)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2822660' first='Holden' last='Hughes'] (WACO)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3486798,"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-9.08.53-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-10-at-9.08.53-PM.png?w=616" alt="" class="wp-image-3486798" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> Behind one of the most explosive offensive attacks in 1A, <strong>Calamus-Wheatland</strong> is putting together their best season since finishing runner-up in 2010. Both of the Warriors losses have come at the hands of back-to-back runner-up Marquette Catholic, by a combined 10 points. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (20.2, 4.8 assists) stuffs the stat sheet on both ends of the floor, leading the team in every major category. Five other players average between 7.3 and 11.9 points per game, giving them a bevy of scoring options for a team that is putting up north of 73 points per game, fifth in the class. This is a team that feasts on their ability to create pressure and turn teams over, averaging 14 steals per game, which helps spark their offensive attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>The Ravens of <strong>Hillcrest Academy</strong> are the biggest obstacle for Cal-Wheat in this district, in large part because they have a guard in [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (15.2, 7.0 assists) who can handle the pressure that the Warriors will look to throw at them. Miller recently broke the school's all-time assist record and is a skilled floor general who can not only set his teammates up, but score in bunches as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (16.6, 6.5 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and pairs with sophomore Gibson Scott (13.4, 6.8 rebounds) to give them a presence on the glass. Hillcrest did lose to likely semifinal opponent Keota by 15 back on January 10, but getting the postseason rematch at home gives them an edge here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>The other team at the bottom of the bracket that can handle some pressure is <strong>Keota</strong>, a team that gives it away only 11.1 times per game, a pretty strong number in 1A. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (14.5, 5.2 assists) is the headliner, leading the team in scoring, assists, steals, and blocks, while Jackson Vittetoe (13.8, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists) gives them some additional scoring and playmaking. Porter Cave (11.2) has had a nice junior year as a tertiary scoring option, and Ayden Galindo (8.7, 8.3 rebounds) gives them some more rebounding. The Eagles don't shoot it well (28.0 3P%, 51.1 FT%), which could bite them in postseason play, but with their guards, they won't be intimidated by Cal-Wheat's pressure if they get past Hillcrest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2026 Dain Sprague (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2026 Brody Koch (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906526' first='Kale' last='Bailey'] (Hillcrest Academy)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519950' first='Rowan' last='Miller'] (Hillcrest Academy)<br>2028 Gibson Scott (Hillcrest Academy)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731700' first='Chase' last='Haifley'] (Keota)<br>2026 Jackson Vittetoe (Keota)<br>2026 Reece Holbrook (Lone Tree)<br>2027 Mason Walter (Belle Plaine)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (Iowa Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344408' first='Everett' last='Bender'] (English Valleys)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886826' first='Justyn' last='Faulkner'] (Wapello)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906554' first='Kinnick' last='Richenberger'] (Wapello)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765540' first='Holden' last='Roberts'] (Twin Cedars)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame vs. Calamus-Wheatland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No matter what happens here, someone is getting to the state tournament for the first time in a long time. Notre Dame's last trip came in 2009, while Cal-Wheat's last trip was the following year. The Nikes have been on a mission all year after falling one game short of a state tournament trip last season, and have looked like one of the best teams in the class all year long. They'll have far-and-away the best player on the floor, and [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] helps lead <strong>Notre Dame</strong> to the state tournament, where they'll be considered one of the top contenders to take home the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->