Substate Preview: 1A-2

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785667" /></a></figure>   District 3   The favorite: Behind a pair of all-state seniors, Dunkerton has 1A's most explosive offense, averaging 83 points a game, and the Raiders have to be considered heavy favorites to emerge from this district. Knowing that the Iowa Star wasn't going to test them much this year, the Raiders stepped up their non-conference schedule, adding games against Denver, Central City, North Linn, Hudson, Newman Catholic, and Sumner-Fredericksburg to the docket. With the exception of a setback against North Linn, they've sailed through. Senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'] (26.5, 11.9 rebounds) is a double-double machine, an efficient forward who is an excellent fit alongside all-state point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'] (22.3, 9.4 assists), one of the best passers in the state. Gillespie has improved his ball handling this year, allowing him to create his own looks at a higher level, but it's Gardner who makes this group go, and he does so at an extremely high level. He has tremendous command of the offense and controls the flow of the game, pushing when the opportunity is there, or knifing through the defense when the game slows down. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (14.2) has had an up-and-down year as a shooting threat but is capable of getting scorching hot and carrying this team offensively for stretches, and they can comfortably go eight deep. The Raiders shouldn't have too many difficulties navigating through this district.   The biggest threat: West Hancock earned the #2 seed in the district and will get their first two games at home. The Eagles play a lot of close games, with 11 of their 20 decided by single digits. They've posted a point differential of just +1.0, but in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1367450' first='Rylan' last='Barnes'] (15.2, 10.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists), they have one of the best players in the district and that will make them dangerous. Mitchell Smith (11.8) gives them another solid scoring option, and they do a pretty good job limiting turnovers and playing solid defense. They'll need to turn a potential district final against Dunkerton into a halfcourt game, but Barnes is a solid do-it-all player who can take over games.   The dark horse(s): The winner of the South Hamilton-Janesville game will have a good chance at knocking off West Hancock in the semifinals. South Hamilton got off to a strong 6-2 start but has struggled since the holiday break, going just 1-8 in their last nine games. That said, the Hawks have played against far-and-away the toughest schedule of any team in the district, playing in the 2A/3A heavy Heart of Iowa, which should prepare them for postseason play. Junior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2204891' first='Ryland' last='Ubben'] (10.4, 36.8 3P%) and Reece Ricke (9.6) are efficient options who can score around the bucket or stretch the floor, and the games against the likes of Roland-Story and Nevada in league play will have them ready here. Janesville is led by senior guard Rogan Gergen (13.5), while Keegan Eastman (9.9) is a solid lead guard who can get others involved and score from all three levels. In Gabe Meaney (5.4, 7.6 rebounds), they have an enforcer in the paint who can control the glass and protect the rim.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'], Dunkerton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'], Dunkerton 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'], Dunkerton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367450' first='Rylan' last='Barnes'], West Hancock 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2204891' first='Ryland' last='Ubben'], South Hamilton 2024 Reece Ricke, South Hamilton 2023 Rogan Gergen, Janesville 2023 Owen Almelien, North Butler 2023 Corbin Lewis, North Butler 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325508' first='Hunter' last='Hillman'], Saint Ansgar 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2221601' first='Javont' last='Froiland'], Central Springs   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-4-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/District-4-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1785684" /></a></figure>   District 4   The favorite: A pair of Iowa baseball commits lead a potent Newman Catholic team in [player_tooltip player_id='956891' first='Douglas' last='Taylor'] (24.7, 12.3 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='956889' first='Max' last='Burt'] (17.1, 8.0 assists), a pair of highly efficient scorers who can take over games on either end of the floor. Taylor is a long, 6-2 wing who loves to attack the rim and use his length and athleticism to his advantage, while Burt is a heady lead guard with a tremendous feel for the game and great court vision. Noah Hamilton (9.2, 7.4 rebounds) has provided some additional production as a tertiary scorer and strong rebounder, and rim protector. The Knights beat Bishop Garrigan, their likely semifinal opponent, by 18 points early in the season, so they should feel pretty good about the draw they got here.   The biggest threat: Just two weeks ago, West Fork blasted Newman Catholic, 76-56, avenging an earlier loss. The Warhawks have a pair of big-time perimeter scoring threats in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1587375' first='Cayde' last='Eberling'] (16.7) and [player_tooltip player_id='1454905' first='Sage' last='Suntken'] (14.5, 40.3 3P%). Both can handle it, get others involved, and create their own shots and carry the team offensively for stretches. In that win over Newman, they combined to score 56 points on 22-34 shooting, so they know that they can get loose against the Knights and should head into that district final with plenty of confidence if it does materialize.   The dark horse: Eight players average between 5.1 and 9.1 points a game for North Union, making the Warriors a tricky team to defend and prepare for, as anyone can beat you on any given night. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2377298' first='Kyan' last='Jones'] (7.2, 5.9 assists) is the straw that stirs the drink, an experienced guard who can get others involved at a high clip, and this is a team that pounds the glass hard on both ends of the floor. Their depth could be a major benefit in a tight game during postseason play.   Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956891' first='Douglas' last='Taylor'], Newman Catholic 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956889' first='Max' last='Burt'], Newman Catholic 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587375' first='Cayde' last='Eberling'], West Fork 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1454905' first='Sage' last='Suntken'], West Fork 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377298' first='Kyan' last='Jones'], North Union 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436503' first='Colby' last='Eskildsen'], Northwood-Kensett 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587391' first='Kooper' last='Julseth'], Northwood-Kensett 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751221' first='Sam' last='Mericle'], St. Edmond 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1332729' first='Jackson' last='Palmer'], St. Edmond 2023 Sam Fehr, West Bend-Mallard     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Dunkerton vs. Newman Catholic   Despite the fact that West Fork recently beat Newman Catholic, we'll take the Knights to come out of District 4, with the belief that they'll come up with a way to limit the Eberling/Suntken tandem a bit. That sets up a fantastic, high-scoring substate final against Dunkerton. The point guard matchup between [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='956889' first='Max' last='Burt'], and the matchup on the wing between [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='956891' first='Douglas' last='Taylor'], are both huge here. But those stars largely wash each other out, and it's the depth and scoring of Dunkerton's other pieces that send the Raiders to the state tournament for the first time since 2014.