Wahlert, Xavier on Collision Course in 3A-3?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3506638,"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-2026-02-18-at-1.51.15-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-18-at-1.51.15-PM.png?w=612" alt="" class="wp-image-3506638" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Wahlert Catholic</strong> has won five of their last seven games heading into postseason play, with the two losses coming to 4A #7 Prairie and 4A #1 Cedar Falls. The Golden Eagles, by virtue of playing in the 4A-heavy MVC, have a pretty significant edge in strength of schedule over everyone in the substate except for MVC rival Xavier. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2370429' first='Peter' last='Wedewer'] (15.3, 4.2 assists, 44.3 3P%) has been really good on both ends of the floor, giving them a quick, intelligent lead guard who can knock down shots from deep, create plays off the dribble, and he's a really good on-ball defender. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2881215' first='Alexander' last='Tanny'] (13.1, 6.1 rebounds, 51.7 FG%) is a mobile 6-8 big man with great hands and footwork, and he has been a major difference maker in the paint. Older brother [player_tooltip player_id='2419855' first='Brayden' last='Tanny'] (10.5, 36.8 3P%) is a versatile inside-out scorer who can defend multiple positions, while Graham Ahlers (7.9), [player_tooltip player_id='1978134' first='Connor' last='Walsh'] (7.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='2897197' first='Reid' last='Herrig'] (6.0) have all been really solid contributors on both ends of the floor. Wahlert absolutely dominated likely semifinal opponent Decorah, 76-45, before the winter break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threats: Xavier </strong>has had an up-and-down season, with their most notable wins being Waverly-Shell Rock, Heelan, and Wahlert. Like the Golden Eagles, playing in the MVC means they're battle tested, and they don't have a bad loss, with their eight losses coming to teams with a combined 72% winning percentage. They're led by a trio of seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (19.6), [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] (12.9, 8.8 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] (9.1) - each of whom were key contributors on last year's state semifinalist. Murray is a big-time scorer who can light it up from anywhere. Evans is a James Madison commit, a 6-8/6-9 mobile big man who can finish at the rim and protect the paint, and Pino is the steady guard who can do a bit of everything. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2521754' first='Andrew' last='Allen'] (5.1) has provided a bit of spark offensively, and the rest of their role players are seniors, which could be a big advantage with their age and experience. They beat likely semifinal opponent Waverly-Shell Rock, 58-33, in the season opener, and hold a win over Wahlert, 57-53, as well this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing as an independent this year, <strong>Waverly-Shell Rock's</strong> schedule has been creative, with a mix of 2A, 3A, and 4A teams. The good thing about that is that they've played some really good teams throughout the season - Aplington-Parkersburg, Center Point-Urbana, Xavier, Marion, Clear Lake, Grundy Center, Union, Clear Creek Amana, etc. They've been up-and-down, entering postseason play with a 12-9 record, but they've won four straight and are playing their best ball of the season right now. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2886796' first='Preston' last='Baumhover'] (11.9, 37.3 3P%) leads a balanced attack, with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2523910' first='Jayden' last='Stephens'] (7.9) probably being the team's most talented player. They were dealt a blow with the injury to [player_tooltip player_id='2906399' first='Henry' last='Ruzicka'], who had emerged as a strong secondary scorer. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2886803' first='Brady' last='Bodensteiner'] (6.7), [player_tooltip player_id='2828807' first='Sean' last='Howard'] (5.9), and Thomas Meyer-Lillibridge (4.9), and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3219734' first='Elijah' last='Wheeler'] (4.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3219056' first='Peter' last='Graening'] (4.1) have been solid role players. This group doesn't have a true star, but they share the ball, play solid defense, and have one of the best, most experienced coaches in the state leading them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Any time a team has a 6-11 Division I-caliber big man, they need to be considered a threat. That's the case with <strong>Decorah </strong>and senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2413531' first='Cael' last='LaFrentz'] (28.3, 15.4 rebounds, 5.0 blocks). He's a highly skilled big man with unmatchable size and length at this level. He shot just 6-18 against Wahlert in the regular season, and the Golden Eagles may not have the true size to match up with him, but they do have the physicality to push him around a bit, but if he plays better, the Vikings can scare Wahlert. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2731781' first='Noah' last='Milburn'] (14.3) is a good athlete who can get downhill and to the bucket, and [player_tooltip player_id='3255095' first='Peyton' last='Webb'] (11.6, 3.8 assists) has been a solid playmaker in the backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2370429' first='Peter' last='Wedewer'] (Wahlert Catholic)<br>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2881215' first='Alexander' last='Tanny'] (Wahlert Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419855' first='Brayden' last='Tanny'] (Wahlert Catholic)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (Xavier)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] (Xavier)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886796' first='Preston' last='Baumhover'] (Waverly-Shell Rock)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523910' first='Jayden' last='Stephens'] (Waverly-Shell Rock)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413531' first='Cael' last='LaFrentz'] (Decorah)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731781' first='Noah' last='Milburn'] (Decorah)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255095' first='Peyton' last='Webb'] (Decorah)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828827' first='Paul' last='Beswick'] (West Delaware)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2416409' first='Keaton' last='Emerson'] (West Delaware)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413548' first='Nolan' last='Ehlinger'] (Maquoketa)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731850' first='Parker' last='Burmeister'] (Maquoketa)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886875' first='Jacoby' last='Johnson'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906467' first='Colt' last='Koeppen'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2027 Leif Allen (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2026 Dawson Fuelling (Independence)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wahlert Catholic vs. Xavier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're projecting an all-MVC substate final here. These are not only the two best teams in the substate, they're also the two most battle-tested teams in the substate. Xavier won the regular season meeting, but that game was at home, while the Golden Eagles get to host this game, should it materialize. That gives <strong>Wahlert Catholic</strong> the edge, and the Golden Eagles get to Des Moines for the first time since 2016.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->