Will East Marshall’s Offense or Bellevue’s Defense Win in 1A-3?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3483778,"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-2026-02-09-at-10.49.23-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-10.49.23-PM.png?w=611" alt="" class="wp-image-3483778" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>Playing in the 2A-heavy River Valley Conference has given <strong>Bellevue </strong>ample opportunity to play some big-time competition, and the Comets have performed at a really high level, compiling a 17-3 record against a schedule that ranks third toughest in 1A according to BC Moore. They have wins over Monticello, Cascade, Northeast, Beckman Catholic, and Marquette Catholic on their resume, a much better resume than any other team in the district can claim. Athletic senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (13.3, 8.4 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but this is a group that is pretty balanced and deep, with eight players averaging at least 3.3 points per game. They don't shoot it particularly well from 3 (29.2%), but they are suffocating on the defensive end, physical, athletic, and use their depth to their advantage. It would be a significant upset if the Comets don't come out of this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Likely district semifinal opponents Maquoketa Valley and Edgewood-Colesburg split their regular season meetings, with each winning on the other's home floor. That said, getting the playoff game at home will be a significant edge, making <strong>Maquoketa Valley </strong>the biggest threat to Bellevue here. The Wildcats are playing good basketball down the stretch, winners of six straight heading into postseason play including good wins over Dunkerton and Monticello. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (18.9) is the only player averaging in double figures, and they will go as he goes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse(s): </strong>Sophomore guard Jax Steger (14.7, 4.5 assists) leads a trio of double-figure scorers for <strong>Edgewood-Colesburg</strong>, who not only split their season series with Maquoketa Valley, they also split with first round foe North Linn. Steger is joined by Carter Battin (11.1) and Jaden Miller (10.5) as the top scoring threats, and if they can limit turnovers, they're able to grind games to a halt and smother teams defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other potential sleeper team here is <strong>North Linn</strong>. This is definitely not your typical Lynx team, averaging 51 points a game with 38-30-62 shooting splits, but they do have some quality wins this season against Edgewood-Colesburg, Don Bosco, and Dunkerton. Sophomore guard Jackson Nielsen (14.6, 38.8 3P%) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3343993' first='Nolan' last='Woods'] (11.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='3343992' first='Waylon' last='Raue'] (10.4) give them some real scoring punch, and this is a program, despite a lot of new faces, that knows how to win. They won't be scared of Ed-Co in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2530470' first='KeShawn' last='DeShaw'] (Bellevue)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413527' first='Spencer' last='Abbott'] (Bellevue)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765510' first='Cameron' last='Casel'] (Bellevue)<br>2027 Jaxton Leach (Bellevue)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731675' first='Brady' last='Wall'] (Maquoketa Valley)<br>2028 Jax Steger (Edgewood-Colesburg)<br>2026 Carter Battin (Edgewood-Colesburg)<br>2028 Jaden Miller (Edgewood-Colesburg)<br>2028 Jackson Nielsen (North Linn)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343993' first='Nolan' last='Woods'] (North Linn)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343992' first='Waylon' last='Raue'] (North Linn)<br>2028 Kaden Koth (North Cedar)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906437' first='Owen' last='Hammersland'] (Central Elkader)<br>2028 Griffin Hammersland (Central Elkader)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2771928' first='Kaiel' last='Scott'] (Starmont)<br>2027 Chris Hanson (Central City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3483780,"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-2026-02-09-at-10.51.45-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-10.51.45-PM.png?w=615" alt="" class="wp-image-3483780" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> One of the most pleasant surprises in the class this season has been <strong>East Marshall.</strong> Like Bellevue in the opposing district, the Mustangs have the benefit of playing in a 2A-heavy league that features plenty of teams that have been ranked this season in 2A. The 'Stangs have a high-powered attack that is averaging 73.4 points per game behind the sterling play of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2809470' first='Jackson' last='Bidwell'] (18.8, 48.5 3P%), who has been remarkable for them this season. He paces an attack that sees four regulars shooting at least 38.7% from the 3-point line, and their ability to spread teams out with their shooting opens up things for the dribble-drive. This is a potent offensive team loaded with a multitude of options. Blake Neuroth (11.0, 38.7 3P%), Cody Weaver (9.8, 42.4 3P%), and Jaxson Boswell (9.5, 40.4 3P%) are all dead-eye shooters, while Jackson Busch (8.2), [player_tooltip player_id='2906538' first='Cael' last='Curphy'] (5.9), Dallas Miller (4.6), Kael Koch (3.2), and Eli Burns (3.1) give them plenty of depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> The most explosive scorer in 1A basketball resides in <strong>Baxter</strong>. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] is averaging 31.2 points per game on 58% shooting, and just had a game in which he put up 56 points. A versatile three-level scorer who can take over games on either end of the floor, he's the type of player who can carry the Bolts to a win against anyone. Five others average between 5.0 and 8.1 points per game, giving them some solid options alongside Dee, but no doubt about it, they're going to go as far as he can take them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (14.6, 12.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) is the type of big, athletic forward who could give teams in this district some trouble. He's strong, physical, and bouncy, and with his ability to control the glass on both ends of the floor as well as protect the rim defensively, the Dons will have a chance against just about anyone. [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (12.4, 55.0 FG%), Ryan Steils (8.7, 36.8 3P%), Charlie Steils (7.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='2822674' first='Evan' last='Schares'] (7.0) are all reliable scorers alongside Weber.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2809470' first='Jackson' last='Bidwell'] (East Marshall)<br>2026 Blake Neuroth (East Marshall)<br>2026 Cody Weaver (East Marshall)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (Baxter)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (Don Bosco)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (Don Bosco)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887863' first='Kayler' last='Morris'] (North Tama)<br>2026 Rider Kupka (GMG)<br>2027 Ethan Klemesrud (GMG)<br>2028 Easton Sash (GMG)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2828865' first='Kyle' last='Peck'] (East Buchanan)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344409' first='Brady' last='Van Scoyoc'] (East Buchanan)<br>2026 Paden Myers (Collins-Maxwell)<br>2026 Cooper Wierson (Collins-Maxwell)<br>2026 Tucker Donaldson (HLV/TC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellevue vs. East Marshall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A battle between a pair of teams that are accustomed to playing against bigger competition. Will it be the offense of East Marshall or the defense of Bellevue that wins out? The old saying is that defense wins championships, but in this case, I'm going to side with the offensive firepower and shooting of <strong>East Marshall </strong>to deliver the Mustangs their first ever trip to the state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->