Class 1A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: North Lynn (23-1)<br></span>About the Lynx: </strong>North Linn is inevitable. For the eighth straight year, the Lynx have made it to Des Moines, and they're an unfathomable 210-7 over their last 217 games, with four of those seven losses coming in state championship games. They once again are the highest-scoring offense in the state, putting up 79.1 points a game, and rank 3rd in the class in scoring defense, giving up just 37.2 points a night. Three starters returned from last year's runner-up - [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (20.5, 5.7 assists, 3.3 steals), [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (20.0, 6.8 rebounds, 42.0 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1751216' first='Breckyn' last='Betenbender'] (10.2, 2.6 assists) - giving them a strong trio of experienced pieces to build this year's team around. Bechen, a junior guard, has been arguably the best player in 1A this season. He's a quick, tough guard who can score from all three levels and dominate the game as a scorer, facilitator, and defender. Pflughaupt, a 6-6 wing, is headed to play his college ball at Upper Iowa, where he'll give the Peacocks a long, rangy defender who knocks down shots with a feathery stroke. And Betenbender is a quick guard who loves to play defense and can knock down open looks from deep as well. Cole Griffith (7.3) has been a great defender for them, Jake Van Etten (8.6, 5.7 rebounds) gives them some size, as does Drew Ries (6.4). The Bechen-Pflughaupt tandem is the best in the class, and this is a program that just wins, wins, and wins some more. If you don't handle their constant ball pressure on the defensive end, things can get ugly in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>It's what they do. They're a team that thrives in big games, won't shy away from the moment, and loves to create chaos on both ends of the floor with their speed and precision. This is the team to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: Marquette Catholic (25-1)<br></span>About the Defenders: </strong>Marquette Catholic is making their first trip to Des Moines since going six out of seven years from 2000-2006. The Defenders have lost just once this year, a nine-point home loss to North Linn, and only two of their other games have been decided by single digits. Junior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (16.3, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists) is the headliner of the group, a versatile 6-5 wing who can score inside and out, and he has really improved his playmaking off the bounce. Junior guard Eli Scott (11.5, 4.6 assists) is the top ball-handler and playmaker, and [player_tooltip player_id='2204880' first='Kannon' last='Still'] (10.8) is a streaky shooter who can get scorching hot and carry the team offensively for stretches. The X-factor for the Defenders will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='1338777' first='Caden' last='Kettmann'] (11.3, 6.1 rebounds), an athletic 6-4 wing who can defend one through five at this level and can largely take a team's best player out of rhythm with his combination of size, toughness, and athleticism. In all, six Defenders average at least 8.2 points a game, giving them some depth, and they've been really, really good on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Their only loss of the season came against powerhouse North Linn, and they've rolled through the rest of the schedule. With their balance and defensive versatility, they're a tough team to match up with. They know that they can play with, and beat, anyone and they're playing with a ton of confidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: Lake Mills (24-1)<br></span>About the Bulldogs: </strong>The Bulldogs are another one-loss team in the field, with their lone loss coming by four to fellow state qualifier North Union. They avenged that loss later in the year, beating the Warriors by two, so round three should be a lot of fun in the quarterfinals. They're making their fourth state tournament trip in five years and have an explosive offensive attack that is averaging 77.3 points a game behind a quartet of double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'] (19.1, 53.2 FG%, 40.2 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1938210' first='Eli' last='Menke'] (16.4, 42.0 3P%), and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'] (16.0, 9.3 rebounds, 72.3 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1641849' first='Jackson' last='Gaul'] (11.7, 8.5 assists). Helming is an athletic 6-5/6-6 combo forward who can score inside and out; Menke is a knockdown shooter; Stensrud is the tough, physical enforcer in the paint; and Gaul is a fantastic playmaker off the dribble who has given the 'Dogs another dimension since becoming eligible following his transfer from Crestwood. A balanced, tough team that can fill it up in a hurry, and a coaching staff with a lot of experience in this venue, the Bulldogs will be another tough out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>A program that, like North Linn, has become accustomed to playing in this venue, Lake Mills has the balanced firepower that can win games in this tournament. Getting by North Union again will be tricky, but if they can win that one, they match up pretty well with Marquette or Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: Winfield-Mt. Union (20-2)<br></span>About the Wolves: </strong>The Wolves' two losses this season have come to 2A West Burlington, an undefeated state tournament qualifier, and Illini Bluffs (IL), a team ranked #2 in Illinois' Class 1A. They're the #1 scoring defense in the class, allowing just 35.0 points per game, and while some of that can be attributed to the competition that they face in the SEISC, and some can be attributed to the deliberate style that they like to play offensively, the fact of the matter is that they're supremely athletic, physical, tough, and disciplined on that end of the floor, and they make playing against them a nightmare. They have a pair of Division I football signees leading the way in [player_tooltip player_id='1171697' first='Cam' last='Buffington'] (19.1, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1171698' first='Abram' last='Edwards'] (14.4, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 blocks). Buffington, headed to Iowa, is a game-changing athlete in the painted area who uses his strength, athleticism, and physicality to wear teams down. And Edwards, an Army signee, is a big, long 6-6/6-7 forward who controls the glass, provides versatility and rim protection on the defensive end, and can make plays for his teammates out of the high post. [player_tooltip player_id='1381409' first='Jake' last='Edwards'] (10.7, 39.5 3P%, 4.0 assists), Abram's younger brother, is the team's lead guard and best perimeter shooting threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>The old saying is defense wins championships, and nobody has done that better this season than WMU. With a pair of Division I football players anchoring the team on both ends of the floor, they have the type of size, toughness, and athleticism that will fare well in a tournament setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: Lynnville-Sully (24-1)<br></span>About the Hawks: </strong>Another fantastic defensive team, the Hawks rank 5th in the class in scoring defense, allowing just 39.7 points a game. They're a balanced offensive team led by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2377418' first='Mitchell' last='Miller'] (12.8), a versatile three-level scoring wing who can shoot it well off the catch, move without the ball, and he's a solid secondary playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='1376719' first='Klayton' last='Van Dyke'] (12.5, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) is the eraser at the back end of the defense, an athletic 6-6 shotblocker, while senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171666' first='Corder' last='Noun Harder'] (8.9, 4.8 assists) is the straw that stirs the drink for the team on the offensive end, getting his teammates involved and playing downhill. His toughness in the backcourt rubs off on the rest of the team, and the Hawks play with a little bit of an edge to them on both ends. They pound the offensive glass hard (14.3 a game), which helps offset their perimeter shooting, which isn't a strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> Similar to Winfield-Mt. Union, the Hawks are great on the defensive end, and they have better depth than a lot of 1A teams, which is beneficial in a tournament setting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: North Union (22-3)<br></span>About the Warriors: </strong>The Warriors are making the first state tournament appearance in school history, and got here behind an extremely balanced attack that features six players averaging between 7.0 and 12.0 points per game. A senior-heavy team, they've been building for this year for the last several. They're led by forward Kody Irmiter (12.0, 8.5 rebounds, 53.7 FG%), an efficient big man who controls the paint on both ends of the floor. Preston Guerdet (11.5, 38.2 3P%) is the team's best perimeter shooter, while [player_tooltip player_id='2377373' first='Aiden' last='Lofstrom'] (11.3, 7.2 rebounds) pairs with Irmiter in the painted area. Danyal Fothergill (9.8, 3.2 steals) and [player_tooltip player_id='2377298' first='Kyan' last='Jones'] (7.3, 6.3 assists, 2.3 steals) give them good ball-handlers and perimeter defenders. This is a team that shares the ball well and will get after you on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>The type of balance that North Union has is extremely beneficial in a tournament setting, as you aren't just relying on one player to carry the load for you. If one player has an off night, you still have five others to fall back on. A balanced, athletic team that will defend and share the ball, they're not going to be an easy out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Gladbrook-Reinbeck (21-5)<br></span>About the Rebels: </strong>The Rebels lost their star guard from last year's state qualifying team but just kept trucking along this year with a little bit of a new approach. They're a bigger team this season than they have been in previous years, led by 6-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (14.2, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 56.3 FG%) and 6-3 big man [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (12.5, 10.1 rebounds), who combine to give them an edge on the glass in just about any game they'll play in. Boyd is enjoying a breakout junior year, showing the ability to score inside as well as stretch the floor (39.3 3P%), while Eilers is more of a throwback big man, doing all of his damage around the bucket with soft touch and good hands. They put three really good shooters around that tandem in Isaac Clark (11.7, 38.5 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (9.0, 35.3 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (5.2, 37.1 3P%), and they're shooting 37.5% from the 3-point line as a team, the best mark in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>With an 8-2 record in single-digit games, the Rebels are used to playing in tight contests and won't be intimidated if the game is tight late. With size and shooting, they have the recipe to win games in this tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: Woodbine (23-2)<br></span>About the Tigers: </strong>Woodbine is making their first state tournament appearance since back-to-back trips in 1995-96. They avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Exira-EHK to win their district, and then upset a Madrid team that had spent a majority of the season ranked within the top 3 in the state to get here. The Tigers are young, with two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman making up their top five scorers, so they may be a year ahead of schedule, but there is definitely talent here. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (20.6, 4.5 assists) is one of the most explosive scorers in the class, a heady guard who can score from all three levels and create off the dribble. Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (12.8) is one of the best athletes in the class, already an All-State football player, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] (10.8, 6.2 rebounds), junior [player_tooltip player_id='1951828' first='Carson' last='Kelley'] (9.4), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2413639' first='Brody' last='Pryor'] (8.8) provide more scoring. They've done a good job protecting the ball this season (9.8 turnovers a game), and that will be tested against the pressure defense that North Linn plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>With their win over Madrid, largely considered to be one of the top 4 contenders for the state title this season (among with the top three seeds in this tournament), the Tigers proved that they can play with, and beat, anyone. They have an explosive scorer in Gruver, a game-changing athlete in Blum, and a multitude of scoring threats alongside them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staff picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tony<br></span><strong>Quarterfinals: </strong>North Linn, Winfield-Mt. Union, Marquette Catholic, Lake Mills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>North Linn, Marquette Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion: </strong>North Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->