Class 1A District Final Top Guard Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Note: These are just a few of the many fantastic performers from Tuesday night's district finals. As of time of writing, the following schools had not put their box scores into Bound and none of their players will be included in this article: North Mahaska, Bedford, South Winneshiek, St. Edmond, North Union, Bishop Garrigan.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 SG [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (Madrid)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buck was fantastic in Madrid's win over Coon Rapids-Bayard, scoring a game-high 29 points on eye-popping efficiency. The 6-0 guard who can play on or off the ball went 12-15 from the floor, including 3-4 from behind the arc. He's a three-level scorer who is enjoying a breakout junior season for one of the best teams in the class. In addition to his scoring, he contributed 5 rebounds and 4 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2397192' first='Adam' last='Sobczak'] (Holy Trinity Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sobczak isn't a big-time scorer for the Crusaders, but as the guard who sets the table for his teammates, he does a great job, as he did against North Mahaska, dishing out 7 assists to go with 12 points on 3-5 shooting (2-3 3P, 4-5 FT). A quick, athletic guard who does a great job breaking down the defense and getting them to collapse then finding open shooters or cutters, he's the "straw that stirs the drink" for Holy Trinity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 SG [player_tooltip player_id='1476981' first='Cayde' last='Eberling'] (West Fork)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big 6-3/6-4 off-ball guard, Eberling had a great game against Ankeny Christian, scoring 26 points on 8-11 shooting, including going 6-8 from behind the arc. He's a streaky shooter, but when he gets it rolling, he's really tough to slow down, as he can shoot over the defense, and he has the big, physical frame to bully his way to the rim. In addition to his scoring, he also contributed 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2397266' first='Dalton' last='Mudderman'] (Kee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It took overtime for Kee to hold off South Winneshiek, and the 6-2 power guard was a big reason why the Hawks have advanced to their first ever substate final. He had 24 points on 8-13 shooting (2-3 3P, 6-11 FT) to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He uses his physicality to his advantage, bullying his way to the rim for finishes, and he can defend multiple positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 SG [player_tooltip player_id='1951831' first='Jordan' last='Cota'] (Kee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic guard with great size at 6-5, Cota was great on the glass in Kee's win over South Winneshiek, finishing with 9 rebounds to go with 16 points. He has the size and athleticism to be a major matchup problem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 SG Willie Conley (South O'Brien)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-3 guard who stuffs the stat sheet, Conley was really good against MMCRU, scoring 16 points on 7-14 shooting to go with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. His length is a major asset in the Wolverines' 2-3 zone, as is his court vision. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2204880' first='Kannon' last='Still'] (Marquette Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still's ability to stretch the floor and shoot it both off the dribble and the catch has been a real difference-maker for the Defenders this season, and he was at it again in their blowout win over Bellevue, finishing with 19 points on 7-13 shooting, including going 5-10 from behind the arc. He's armed with a lightning-quick release and his feathery stroke can get scorching hot and burn teams in a hurry when he gets it rolling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (Woodbine)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 5-11 guard who stuffs the stat sheet on a nightly basis for the Tigers, Gruver had 23 points on 7-17 shooting (2-5 3P, 7-9 FT) to go with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, while Woodbine avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Exira-EHK.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'] (North Linn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Betenbender has been one of the Lynx's best defenders over the last two years, and while he was really good in that area again against Waterloo Christian (5 steals), it was his offensive game that really stood out, scoring 21 points on 9-11 shooting (3-4 3P) to go with 5 assists. He's a good shooter off the catch, but he showed some more ability to get to the rim against the Regents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (North Linn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quick lead guard for the Lynx paces the attack on both ends of the floor and was up to his usual against Waterloo Christian, scoring 27 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3P, 1-1 FT) to go with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. He's a high IQ player who can break down the defense and get to the rim, which he pairs with excellent court vision and passing, finding open teammates when the defense rotates over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->