Class 1A Substate Final Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 1: North Union (15-9) vs. MMCRU (24-1) at Storm Lake, 5:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn-Remsen-Union has a chance to make school history on Saturday night. The Royals have never reached the boys state basketball tournament, but they're heavy favorites to punch their ticket here. North Union has had a nice run, upsetting both Newman Catholic and Belmond-Klemme to get here, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886896' first='Khael' last='Jones'] (20.7, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals) is the type of dominant two-way guard who can carry the Warriors to another upset, but they'll have their hands full with a Royals team that ranks #2 in scoring defense in 1A, allowing just 39.3 points per game. They're really balanced offensively, with four averaging in double figures, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3255100' first='Kamden' last='Bork'] (15.5, 5.2 assists, 4.0 steals), who paces a defense that averages more than 17 steals per game. MMCRU won the Class A football title, and many of the players on this basketball roster where the main contributors there as well. They're looking to add more hardware to the trophy case, and if North Union doesn't protect the ball early, this could get out of hand with MMCRU's ability to turn defense into offense in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: MMCRU</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 2: South Winneshiek (21-3) vs. Bishop Garrigan (22-2) at Mason City, 7:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Winneshiek has proven throughout the postseason that their gaudy record didn't just come because they play in the Upper Iowa Conference, it's because they're just a good basketball team. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (17.8, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) leads a deep and balanced attack of scoring that sees four players averaging in double figures. [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (15.6, 5.1 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (14.0, 5.3 assists) give the Warriors a pair of reliable ball-handlers, and Jordan Einck (10.6, 38.9 3P%) has been a good 3-point shooting threat for a team that really needed some shooting. This team is athletic, but they're not very big, and that's where they could have an issue. Bishop Garrigan's senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (15.3, 13.0 rebounds) has been one of the state's elite rebounders, and despite being listed at just 6-4, he plays bigger than that with his athleticism and motor. The Golden Bears' leading scorer is junior [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (18.3), a high IQ, long wing who can score from all three levels and control the game on both ends. [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (14.5, 6.1 assists) has been really good as a lead playmaker, and Tate Foertsch (10.1) provides more scoring. This should be one of the more competitive games in 1A, but Garrigan's prowess on the offensive glass could be a determining factor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: Bishop Garrigan</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 3: East Marshall (18-6) vs. Bellevue (21-3) at Solon, 7:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the more fascinating matchups of the evening. East Marshall is a team that likes to get out and go, go, go, ranking second in 1A in scoring at 75.3 points per game. Conversely, Bellevue likes to play a bit more methodical, physical game, using their size, athleticism, and toughness to wear teams down. East Marshall is loaded with offensive talent, with six players averaging at least 7.2 points per game, and as a team, the Mustangs are shooting 39.2% from the 3-point line and 75.5% at the free-throw line. [player_tooltip player_id='2809470' first='Jackson' last='Bidwell'] (18.0, 45.5 3P%), a flamethrowing senior guard, is the leader of the attack, but they can attack you in a multitude of ways. Bellevue is led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (13.2, 8.3 rebounds), an athletic, bouncy forward that the Mustangs could struggle to keep off the glass. The Comets are deep and athletic, and they'll look to use that athleticism and physicality to their advantage, pounding the offensive glass and limit second chances for East Marshall. We mentioned how potent East Marshall is from deep and the charity stripe. Bellevue doesn't shoot it nearly as well (30.3 3P%, 60.0 FT%), and in a game that is expected to be close, that could be a determining factor. East Marshall makes school history and reaches the state tournament for the first time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: East Marshall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 4: Marquette Catholic (22-2) vs. Montezuma (21-4) at City High, 6:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite losing nearly everyone from back-to-back state runner-up teams, Marquette Catholic has pretty much picked up right where the 2024 and 2025 teams left off - scoring in bunches, frustrating teams defensively, and winning game after game. The Defenders have used their constant pressure defense to lead 1A in scoring at 76 points per game. Unlike previous years, they don't have a dominant, go-to scorer. Instead, six players average between 9.8 and 12.1 points per game, giving them a ton of balance and different ways to beat you. They've been exceptional on the offensive glass, averaging more than 15 second-chances per game, and they thrive at forcing turnovers and getting easy run-outs, so if Montezuma doesn't protect the ball, things could snowball here. Montezuma handed Lynnville-Sully their only loss of the season in the district final to get here, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765506' first='Brady' last='Boulton'] (22.4, 6.0 assists) is looking to cap his storied high school career with a state tournament trip. There will be a lot of pressure on him, [player_tooltip player_id='3343999' first='Dane' last='Strong'] (14.7), and Luke Brennan (4.9) to protect the basketball. If the Braves can slow the game down a bit and make it a more halfcourt setting, Boulton is good enough to score against anyone and any type of defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: Marquette Catholic</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 5: Calamus-Wheatland (23-2) vs. Notre Dame (23-2) at City High, 4:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect this game to be up-and-down, as these teams both rank within the top four in 1A in scoring offense. Calamus-Wheatland ranks 4th, averaging 73 points per game, and Notre Dame is 3rd, pouring in 73.8 a contest. Both these teams like to play fast, using their athletic guards to dictate the tempo. The best player on the floor will be Notre Dame guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] (24.7, 9.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 3.1 steals), a Western Illinois signee. A 6-5 lead guard, he can score from all three levels, create looks for his teammates, and dominate the game on the defensive end. The Nikes have gotten good production out of [player_tooltip player_id='3453701' first='Griffin' last='Kies'] (10.6), [player_tooltip player_id='3453714' first='Eli' last='Oleson'] (10.4), [player_tooltip player_id='3343991' first='LJ' last='Harris'] (9.6), and [player_tooltip player_id='3453740' first='Kellan' last='Porter'] (6.8) around Stephens, but they'll go as he goes. Cal-Wheat counters with a high-scoring senior guard of their own in [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (20.2, 4.6 assists). He's not as good of a shooter as Stephens, but he is an efficient scorer, shooting 62%, largely by getting to the rim. That'll be easier said than done against the Nikes' athletic perimeter defenders. Looking at common opponents is certainly not the be-all, end-all in games like this as matchups vary from team-to-team, but it's worth noting that Cal-Wheat beat Hillcrest Academy by just 2, 48-46, in their district final, while Notre Dame beat the Ravens, 86-58, three weeks ago. For the first time since 2009, Notre Dame should be punching their ticket to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: Notre Dame</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 6: Woodbine (16-8) vs. Madrid (20-4) at Drake, 5:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neither of these teams have been strangers to the state tournament of late, with Woodbine qualifying each of the last two years, and defending champion Madrid reaching two of the last three. Woodbine is led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (20.1, 9.2 rebounds) and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] (11.6, 7.5 rebounds), who was sensational in the Tigers' upset win over St. Albert, especially on the offensive glass. Woodbine dominated the rebounding battle against the Falcons, a key part of their win, but that will be easier said than done against the size, physicality, and athleticism of Madrid. [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (24.8, 9.9 rebounds, 64.0 FG%) is the headliner of a very young, but talented, Madrid team. He's a nightmare matchup at 6-4/6-5, with great footwork, soft touch, and plus-athleticism. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (11.5, 7.0 rebounds) gives them more size and rebounding, and their sophomore guards have really improved as the season has progressed. Severson should feast here as Madrid gets back to Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: Madrid</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 7: St. Edmond (22-2) vs. Riverside (14-10) at Drake, 7:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper, this is probably the biggest mismatch of the substate finals, but that's why they play the game. Riverside comes in riding high off back-to-back upsets over Southwest Valley and Bedford and the Bulldogs know they have nothing to lose here. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2853953' first='Peyton' last='Amdor'] (17.1) has been playing really well in the postseason and will need to have a sensational game here if they're going to knock off arguably the best team in the class. St. Edmond brought back nearly the entire roster from a state semifinalist and the Gaels are hungry to get Adolph Kochendorfer a second state championship. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (26.2, 56.9 FG%) should be able to get pretty much whatever he wants here as the Gaels win comfortably.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: St. Edmond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Substate 8: Boyden-Hull (17-7) vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard (23-1) at Sioux City East, 6:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This substate final matchup looks destined as soon as the brackets were released, and I'm glad it came to be as this should be a fantastic battle. Boyden-Hull, by virtue of playing in the Siouxland Conference, is battle-tested and has played the most difficult schedule in 1A, according to BC Moore. The Comets are led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (18.4), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (14.9), and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (12.7, 12.4 rebounds). Despite being the team's third leading scorer, Van Es will be the most important player in this game. He'll be tasked with keeping the Heydon brothers - [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (23.6, 8.9 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (13.4, 11.9 rebounds) - off the glass. Easier said than done. If Boyden-Hull can win the rebounding battle, or keep it fairly close, the Comets are probably the better all-around, more experienced, more tested team. But this should be a fantastic game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The pick: Boyden-Hull</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->