Can Western Christian Navigate Tricky 2A-8, Earn Shot at 3-Peat?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3497327,"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-2026-02-14-at-12.43.01-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-14-at-12.43.01-PM.png?w=692" alt="" class="wp-image-3497327" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>The top-seeded team in the district, <strong>Tri-Center</strong>, will get a significantly easier semifinal game than Cherokee, which gives them a bit of an edge here. The Trojans got off to an 18-0 start before dropping a pair of games to Underwood and Treynor, a few more top-seeded teams in other 2A districts. They're led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2420786' first='AJ' last='Harder'] (19.6, 6.6 assists, 39.1 3P%), a fantastic athlete who controls the game on both ends of the floor. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2628806' first='Tyler' last='Baatz'] (17.8, 7.0 rebounds) leads the team in rebounding, is an efficient interior scorer, and has worked to extend his range. Five others average between 4.6 and 8.8 points per game, and this is a veteran team with five seniors and two juniors making up their seven-man rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Down at the bottom of the bracket, <strong>Cherokee</strong> is lurking and is a real threat. The Braves have some really nice wins over Ridge View and Hinton on their resume, and all of their losses have come to quality teams, with the exception of the puzzling loss to Central Lyon with one of their stars sidelined. [player_tooltip player_id='1978145' first='Jaxon' last='Paulsrud'] (16.4, 6.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists), their leader in scoring and assists, missed that Central Lyon game but is back in the lineup now and is a high-impact player on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2731759' first='Coy' last='Lewis'] (16.3, 9.5 rebounds) is a force in the paint on both ends, blocking 1.6 shots per game and shooting over 58% from the floor. Landan Stowater (9.8, 39.3 3P%) and Christian Vander Broek (6.8, 41.7 3P%) give them some more shooting alongside Paulsrud and Lewis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>With a trio of double-figure scorers and a team that can pound the glass, <strong>South Central Calhoun</strong> could give Cherokee some problems in the semifinal. Senior Charlie Nattress (12.3, 6.5 rebounds) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2404347' first='Evan' last='Myers'] (11.5, 7.3 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2853486' first='Garrett' last='Krause'] (11.0) are all viable scoring threats and strong on the glass. If the Titans are able to find a way to limit Paulsrud or Lewis, they can keep that game close and pull off an upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420786' first='AJ' last='Harder'] (Tri-Center)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2628806' first='Tyler' last='Baatz'] (Tri-Center)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978145' first='Jaxon' last='Paulsrud'] (Cherokee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731759' first='Coy' last='Lewis'] (Cherokee)<br>2026 Charlie Nattress (South Central Calhoun)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2404347' first='Evan' last='Myers'] (South Central Calhoun)<br>2026 Colson Carson (Ogden)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906489' first='Brayden' last='Miller'] (Ogden)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3497328,"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-2026-02-14-at-12.43.14-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-14-at-12.43.14-PM.png?w=699" alt="" class="wp-image-3497328" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> Playing in their last year as an independent, <strong>Western Christian</strong> has tested themselves once again against a difficult schedule filled with high-level teams from out-of-state and several games against bigger schools within Iowa. The two-time defending champion Wolfpack have lost three straight games heading into postseason play, but two of those came against some of the top teams in South Dakota, and the other came against 3A Heelan, a surging team in that class. Star wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (18.9, 53.8 FG%) has battled a back injury all season and been in-and-out of the lineup. He's playing now, but is certainly at risk of re-aggravating the injury at any point. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (17.8, 6.9 rebounds) missed a significant chunk of the early portion of the season but is back on the floor now and is among the best guards in the class. He's a tough, athletic, highly intelligent guard who can score and create. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3344376' first='Preston' last='Louters'] (11.0, 52.0 FG%) and sophomore Toby Van Regenmorter (10.5) have both been reliable scorers alongside De Stigter and Moret as well. You know what you're going to get from Western - they won't beat themselves, they'll share the ball, they'll be physical, and they'll be a real pain in the ass to try and beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Rock Valley</strong> lost to semifinal opponent Hinton, 52-51, just 12 days ago, but the I believe the Rockets have a better chance to beat Western Christian than Hinton would in the district final, making them the bigger threat. They lost to the Wolfpack, 71-65, on January 29 and would love to get another shot at them. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (14.5) leads the team in scoring, joined in double figures by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (12.6). Four other average between 5.1 and 8.7 points per game, giving them several options alongside Snuttjer and Van Schepen. A team that has some size on the perimeter, they can give the Wolfpack issues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Considering the fact that they are hosting the semifinal, it seems weird to call <strong>Hinton</strong> a dark horse. The Blackhawks are led by one of the most explosive scorers in 2A in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2413648' first='Logan' last='Kempema'] (24.1, 7.1 rebounds), a versatile wing who can score from all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id='2731835' first='Karver' last='DeGroot'] (10.2) and Logan Coffee (8.3) give them some additional scoring alongside Kempema, but they're going to go as he does. If he has it rolling, they're more than capable of winning this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (Western Christian)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (Western Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344376' first='Preston' last='Louters'] (Western Christian)<br>2028 Toby Van Regenmorter (Western Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2405597' first='Layton' last='Snuttjer'] (Rock Valley)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765545' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'] (Rock Valley)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413648' first='Logan' last='Kempema'] (Hinton)<br>2026 Drew Sauer (Sheldon)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri-Center vs. Western Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In all honesty, this looks like one of the most open substates in 2A. You could make strong arguments for Cherokee in District 15, and Rock Valley or Hinton in District 16, but we'll stick with the top seeded teams here. Tri-Center has had a great year, but there is something to be said for the way that Western Christian has had to test themselves, and with De Stigter back on the floor and presumably healthy by the way he's been playing, the Wolfpack are the team to beat here. <strong>Western Christian</strong> punches their ticket back to Des Moines yet again, where they'll have a chance at a third straight state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->