STATE TOURNAMENT: Championship Friday Preview

3A Championship: #1 Ballard (25-1) vs. #2 ADM (24-2), 1:00 pm   How they got here: Ballard steamrolled Gilbert, 70-40, in the quarterfinals and survived a late scare against Carroll, 57-55, in the semifinals. ADM beat Xavier, 68-59, in the quarterfinals and then outlasted Storm Lake, 72-70 in double overtime, in the semifinals.   Analysis: Somebody is winning their first state title this afternoon. ADM is playing for the state title for the first time, while Ballard played in the championship game in 2021.   These teams met twice during the regular season, each winning on their home court. Ballard won the first matchup, 54-33, on December 19. That was a 6-point game in the fourth quarter that got away from ADM late, but it was a very, very physical game which plays into Ballard's hands. If their guards are allowed to defend physically and get away with a little bit of holding, they are really difficult to score against. The second meeting, a 62-57 ADM win on January 30, was a little bit more of a free-flowing game, which plays into ADM's hands. The Tigers guards aren't soft by any means, but when they're allowed more freedom of movement, they're obviously going to have more success on the offensive end. So, as simple as it sounds, this game may come down to how it's being officiated. If it's more of a physical, grind-it-out game, which state tournament games tend to be, that is an edge to Ballard. If the whistle is tight, advantage ADM.   There is so much familiarity with these two schools that it's going to be hard for Jeff Schertz or Trevor Mickelson to come up with a game plan that is something that the other coach hasn't seen from them. Who makes the big plays down the stretch, and how tight is the whistle? These are things we can't possibly predict, but we'll give the slight edge to the Bombers, knowing how physical these title games tend to be.   Players to watch Ballard: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419714' first='Evan' last='Abbott'] (19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 54.5 FG%, 38.2 3P%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.5 steals, 52.0 FG%, 41.3 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419750' first='Parker' last='Miller'] (11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.5 steals, 55.0 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731749' first='Easton' last='Ersland'] (8.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, 50.9 FG%) ADM: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] (23.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 53.0 FG%, 45.7 3P%, 94.0 FT%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978115' first='Trey' last='Bryte'] (14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.0 blocks, 54.7 FG%, 41.8 3P%, 80.6 FT%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] (10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 42.0 3P%, 89.5 FT%)   Our pick: Ballard 50, ADM 48   4A Championship: #1 Cedar Falls (24-0) vs. #6 Johnston (17-8), 3:00 pm   How they got here: Cedar Falls has looked dominant this week, breezing past Urbandale 73-53 in the quarters, and controlling the game throughout against Dowling Catholic, 59-46, in the semifinals. Johnston has become the Kings of Waukee, beating Northwest 48-42 in the quarters, and Waukee 57-49 in the semis to get here.   Analysis: Cedar Falls has been the best, most consistent team in Class 4A all season, and they've been great all week to close out the year. [player_tooltip player_id='1765553' first='William' last='Gerdes'], a Northern Iowa commit, is a dominant force in the paint on both ends of the floor and has had a stellar week. He's averaging 28 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game on 80% shooting this week, and Johnston doesn't have the size to match up with him in the paint. The Dragons have largely contained two bigs this week - Northwest's [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'] and Waukee's [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] - but Gerdes is a significantly better, more polished offensive player than either of those standouts. Courtney Henderson will certainly have some sort of game plan drawn up in an effort to limit his effectiveness, but the 6-8 big man could have a field day against the smaller Dragons. He's not alone, and if the Dragons try to swarm him on the catch, he's a gifted passer who recognizes quickly and the Tigers have a bevy of shooting threats that he can kick it out to, namely [player_tooltip player_id='1777914' first='Jaydon' last='Kimbrough'], one of the state's best perimeter scorers.   Johnston has ridden their elite guard play through the first two rounds this week, with [player_tooltip player_id='2419846' first='Nicare' last='Cavil'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] each having great games against Northwest and Waukee. Both are lightning-quick with the ball in their hands, shifty, and fearless. They're not going to back down from Gerdes in the paint, and they have the quickness and handles to create against the Tigers' perimeter defenders. They've shot it well from deep this week, especially 6-5 junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2116043' first='Joshua' last='Jenkins'], and they're going to need to shoot it well again in this one if they're going to pull off a third straight upset and claim their first title since 1995.   Players to watch Cedar Falls: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765553' first='William' last='Gerdes'] (20.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.1 blocks, 74.7 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1777914' first='Jaydon' last='Kimbrough'] (19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.4 steals, 54.2 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765549' first='Leyton' last='Wolf'] (8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, 60.8 FG%) Johnston: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419846' first='Nicare' last='Cavil'] (15.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] (12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.0 steals); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2116043' first='Joshua' last='Jenkins'] (11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 44.3 3P%)   Our pick: Cedar Falls 64, Johnston 54   1A Championship: #1 St. Edmond (25-2) vs. #6 Marquette Catholic (25-2), 5:00 pm   How they got here: St. Edmond controlled their quarterfinal game against Woodbine, 60-44, and then smothered Burlington, Notre Dame, 74-55, in the semifinals. Marquette Catholic won a thriller over Bishop Garrigan, 58-55, in the quarterfinals, and then raced past MMCRU in a 65-56 win in the semifinals.   Analysis: No matter what happens in this one, we're going to get a fun story to tell. Either St. Edmond wins the state title in legendary coach Adolph Kochendorfer's final game as a head coach, or Marquette Catholic finally gets over the hump after finishing as the bridesmaid each of the last two years.   St. Edmond overcame a slow start to dominate Woodbine in the quarterfinals, and then didn't face much resistance against Notre Dame in the semifinals yesterday. [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] got nicked up a bit in the first round, but was dominant yesterday, scoring 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but the real story may have been the work they did on the defensive end against Notre Dame star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens']. [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] was the primary defender on Stephens in that game, and held the Western Illinois commit to just 5-19 shooting. Expect to see Koopman get shots at a number of different Marquette players, but I'd expect he starts out on [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'], who has been fantastic this week as both a scorer and shot creator for Marquette. The Gaels will have a slight size advantage here with Horn, who can score inside and out. They'll need to focus on rebounding, especially on the defensive end. They can't let Justin Severson control the glass and grab extra chances for the Defenders, who are loaded with shooters.   Marquette has been really impressive in both of their wins. They have so many different scoring options to attack you with, with six players averaging in double figures, and they can just come at you in waves. They have a ton of kids who can shoot the leather off the ball, and they're playing with a remarkable amount of confidence right now. Isaac Sturm, who is now 113-21 as a head coach, is one of the least talked about high-level coaches in the state, and he's going to have a great game plan prepared for this one. With the way [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'], [player_tooltip player_id='3554354' first='Koen' last='Roeder'], Severson, and company are playing, it's hard to pick against the Defenders. That said, I took St. Edmond in the preseason. I took St. Edmond pre-tournament. And it's too good a story for Kochendorfer to go out on a top. Somehow, someway, St. Edmond comes out on top in a tight, classic game.   Players to watch St. Edmond: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn'] (26.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.9 blocks, 57.3 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2517050' first='Carson' last='Bargfrede'] (12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] (9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 57.5 FG%) Marquette Catholic: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3554354' first='Koen' last='Roeder'] (11.8 points, 3.1 assists); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'] (11.6 points, 4.6 assists, 50.6 FG%); 2026 Justin Severson (11.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 62.9 FG%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828832' first='Taegin' last='Smith'] (10.7 points; 43.6 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344000' first='Canden' last='Weber'] (10.6 points); 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523923' first='Tate' last='Kueter'] (9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 39.0 3P%)   Our pick: St. Edmond 51, Marquette Catholic 49   2A Championship: #1 Kuemper Catholic (24-3) vs. #2 Unity Christian (24-2), 7:00 pm   How they got here: Kuemper Catholic cruised past Union Community, 70-54, in the quarters, and then held on for dear life against Treynor, 58-57, in the semifinals. Unity Christian used a big fourth quarter to escape Western Christian in the quarterfinals, and blew out Regina Catholic, 72-46, in the semifinals.   Analysis: As part of the 2A rankings committee, we talked many times this year about how these two teams had separated themselves from the rest of the pack, and that has proven to be the case. They've seemed to be on a collision course since early December, and the final game that the Casey's Center is going to see before the state tournament moves to Ames next year should be a classic.   Kuemper Catholic has gotten off to fast starts in both of their games this week, but then gotten into a bit of a rut midway through the first quarter and into the second. That can't happen against Unity, or they will dig themselves too big of a hole to overcome. The size of [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] gives Kuemper an edge in the paint, but he's going to need to play physical and tough against an undersized but strong, and really, really fast, group of defenders from Unity. They're going to swarm him on post touches and make him make quick decisions with the ball in his hands. He's more than capable of doing so, and if he has a good night, things will go well for Kuemper. [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] have both had good games this week, and their shotmaking will be of utmost importance here as well. If they're able to get downhill and put pressure on the Unity front court, they shouldn't meet too much resistance around the rim.   [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] didn't do a lot in the quarterfinals, but boy oh boy did he show up in the semis, going 9-13 from the 3-point line. If he's shooting like that, nobody is beating Unity. [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge']'s ability to create off the dribble at 6-4 could be a major advantage for Unity here as well. I wouldn't expect Clair to get that assignment, I would anticipate either Schon or Theodore Perkins to draw Van Donge to start, partially in an effort to keep Clair out of foul trouble, and partially because Van Donge may be too quick for him to stay in front of. These are the two best teams in 2A, not separated by much. This will come down to who executes their game plan better, and which coach makes better adjustments as the coach progresses. It should be a fascinating chess match to watch unfold.   Players to watch Kuemper Catholic: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] (17.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.2 blocks, 62.7 FG%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'] (15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 51.6 FG%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] (13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (10.1 points, 4.7 assists, 1.8 steals) Unity Christian: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals, 41.9 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (14.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 54.9 FG%, 45.5 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (12.7 points, 2.3 assists); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals)   Our pick: Kuemper Catholic 65, Unity Christian 62

3A Championship: #1 Ballard (25-1) vs. #2 ADM (24-2), 1:00 pm