Coon-Rapids Bayard and Boyden-Hull on a Collision Course in 1A-8?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3493124,"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-2026-02-12-at-8.13.40-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-12-at-8.13.40-PM.png?w=620" alt="" class="wp-image-3493124" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Coon Rapids-Bayard</strong> has lost just once this season, an 11-point loss to a Treynor team that is among the top five teams in 2A. They recently beat both ACGC and CAM, their semifinal opponents, by 30+ points, and should have no issues reaching the district final. Senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (23.5, 9.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists) is a do-it-all, hyper-versatile player with four years of varsity experience, and he's hungry to get the Crusaders over the last hurdle and get to the state tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (12.8, 11.5 rebounds), a junior forward, is dominant on the glass, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2906452' first='Caden' last='Oswald'] (10.2, 5.5 assists) has been excellent as well. In total, five players average at least 8.2 points per game, and this is a team that is winning by an average of 28 points per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Five players average between 9.2 and 11.7 points per game for <strong>Audubon</strong>, making the Wheelers a balanced attack that can be difficult to defend. Senior forard Austin Christiansen (11.7, 9.4 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, while Brody Schultes (10.6), Jorgen Nowatzke (10.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2853843' first='Aiden' last='Kjergaard'] (10.3), and Carson Wessel (9.2) give them a multitude of scoring options. This group doesn't shoot it well from the 3-point line (26.8% as a team), but they pound the offensive glass hard, averaging 14.4 offensive boards per game. The Wheelers played Coon Rapids-Bayard to a five-point game back in the season opener, so they know that they can play with the Crusaders if they get to the district final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (20.3, 4.6 assists) of <strong>IKM-Manning</strong> is probably the best non-Coon Rapids-Bayard player in the district, and he'll give the Wolves a chance to come out of the bottom of the bracket. He's a skilled volume scorer who can score from all three levels, and his playmaking and passing has taken a major step forward this winter. They limit turnovers, giving it away less than 10 times per game, and if they can continue that type of ball security, they'll be tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906442' first='Ty' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906452' first='Caden' last='Oswald'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard)<br>2026 Austin Christiansen (Audubon)<br>2026 Brody Schultes (Audubon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (IKM-Manning)<br>2028 Cale Cunard (Logan-Magnolia)<br>2026 Austin Rasmussen (Exira-EHK)<br>2026 Thomas Skram (ACGC)<br>2026 Joe Crawford (ACGC)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2799203' first='Collin' last='Bower'] (CAM)<br>2026 Dawson Evans (Lenox)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754681' first='Trevon' last='Keely'] (Paton-Churdan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3493126,"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-2026-02-12-at-8.14.58-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-12-at-8.14.58-PM.png?w=620" alt="" class="wp-image-3493126" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>According to BC Moore, <strong>Boyden-Hull </strong>has played the most difficult schedule in 1A, which is a major reason why, despite having "just" a 14-6 record, the Comets earned a top seed in district play. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (20.4, 39.5 3P%) leads a trio of explosive scoring threats and is the best individual player in this district. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (15.7) has been really good as a second scoring threat and primary playmaker, and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (12.2, 12.8 rebounds) is a dominant force in the paint on both ends of the floor, averaging nearly two blocks per game as well. With a schedule that includes two games each against Unity Christian, Rock Valley, Sioux Center, West Lyon, and MOC-Floyd Valley, nothing is going to scare this group in this substate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Gehlen Catholic</strong> has been one of the best defensive teams in 1A this season, allowing just 41.8 points per game, and they've held nine teams to 37 points or fewer this season. A strong, disciplined team on that end of the floor, they also do a good job limiting possessions on the offensive end, working the shot clock to find a quality look and keep that clock rolling. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2407451' first='Mason' last='Small'] (12.7) leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding. He'll need to be excellent if the Jays are going to upset Boyden-Hull.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>In senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='3255140' first='Landon' last='Howe'] (19.0, 4.3 assists) and Easton Nissen (13.3, 4.2 assists), <strong>Kingsley-Pierson</strong> has a pair of players who can take over games for stretches. Howe is a skilled scorer who can fill it up from anywhere, and if he gets rolling, he's tough to slow down. The Panthers have beaten West Monona, their quarterfinal opponent, twice in the last few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765526' first='Carter' last='Kleinwolterink'] (Boyden-Hull)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2412735' first='Jakob' last='Pottebaum'] (Boyden-Hull)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] (Boyden-Hull)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407451' first='Mason' last='Small'] (Gehlen Catholic)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255140' first='Landon' last='Howe'] (Kingsley-Pierson)<br>2026 Easton Nissen (Kingsley-Pierson)<br>2026 Hayden Versch (Westwood)<br>2026 Ryder Pepin (Westwood)<br>2027 Blake Pekarek (West Monona)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886847' first='Ben' last='Holverson'] (West Monona)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coon Rapids-Bayard vs. Boyden-Hull</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, it's playoff basketball and anything can happen, but this really looks like one of the most likely substate final matchups to happen in any 1A substate. Both of these teams are massive favorites to come out of their respective districts, and whichever one is able to get to the state tournament will have a legitimate chance to make some real noise. Coon Rapids-Bayard has been great all year, losing just once to a good 2A team, but the nightly grind of going through the Siouxland has prepared <strong>Boyden-Hull </strong>for games just like this. THe Comets punch their ticket to Des Moines in a classic substate final, rounding out our Class 1A field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->