State Tournament: Tuesday Preview
In this article:
2A Quarterfinal: #2 Hudson (23-2) vs. #7 Grundy Center (20-3), 10:30 am Analysis: These teams met very early in the season, a 66-55 Hudson win on December 1, while Grundy Center was still getting into basketball mode after a state…
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Continue Reading2A Quarterfinal: #2 Hudson (23-2) vs. #7 Grundy Center (20-3), 10:30 am
Analysis: These teams met very early in the season, a 66-55 Hudson win on December 1, while Grundy Center was still getting into basketball mode after a state championship run in football. Hudson has been dominant this season, winning their games against 2A competition by an average of 32.6 points a game, and their two losses have come to Decorah and Kennedy, the top seeds in the 3A and 4A tournaments, respectively. In 6-4 senior forward Camden Davis Camden Davis 6'5" | SF Hudson | 2024 State IA (19.5, 10.1 rebounds, 59.0 FG%), the Pirates have a go-to weapon in the paint that can go get a bucket when they need it, and they’re able to surround him with a lot of shooting and playmaking with the backcourt trio of Culin Ugrin Culin Ugrin 6'1" | SG Hudson | 2024 State IA (13.2, 43.9 3P%), Lyle Olsen Lyle Olsen 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2024 State IA (10.6, 5.6 assists), and Tanner Michael Tanner Michael 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2024 State IA (10.3, 45.5 3P%). Ugrin has been the team’s most consistent 3-point shooting threat and provides some secondary playmaking for this group. Olsen is the floor general, a tough, defensive-minded guard who loves to get his teammates involved and lock down the opposing team’s best player, and Michael is a versatile guard who can do a little bit of everything. The Pirates also get good production out of role players Kiean Crile (6.7), Oliver Thompson (4.3), and Nathan Rueber (4.0), giving them seven quality players in their rotation.
Grundy Center started the year 1-2 before rattling off 16 straight wins, and the Spartans have lost just once since December 4. A long, athletic team that plays really good defense, allowing just 46.3 points a game, they have the athletes to give Hudson some trouble on that end of the floor. Junior wing Jalen Kirkpatrick Jalen Kirkpatrick 6'6" | SF Grundy Center | 2025 State IA (15.9, 38.9 3P%) is the headliner, a long and athletic 6-6 wing who provides versatility on both ends of the floor. Tate Jirovsky Tate Jirovsky 6'5" | PF Grundy Center | 2024 State IA (9.1, 2.8 blocks) has been a difference-maker in the paint, protecting the rim and finishing around the bucket, while Tiernan Vokes Tiernan Vokes 6'4" | SF Grundy Center | 2025 State IA (10.5), Colin Gordon (8.7), and Brayden Wallis Brayden Wallis 6'4" | SG Grundy Center | 2025 State IA (8.4) give them some additional scoring. The Spartans share the ball really well, averaging nearly 21 assists a game, and their ball movement gets them really good shots on nearly every possession. Grundy will need to be really disciplined on the defensive end if they want to slow down this high-powered Hudson offense, which has improved since the early-season meeting.
Players to watch
Hudson: 2024
Camden Davis
Camden
Davis
6'5" | SF
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
(19.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 59.0 FG%); 2024
Culin Ugrin
Culin
Ugrin
6'1" | SG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
(13.4 points, 43.9 3P%); 2024
Lyle Olsen
Lyle
Olsen
6'0" | PG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
(10.6 points, 5.6 assists, 53.5 FG%); 2024
Tanner Michael
Tanner
Michael
6'0" | PG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
(10.3 points, 2.7 assists, 45.5 3P%)
Grundy Center: 2025
Jalen Kirkpatrick
Jalen
Kirkpatrick
6'6" | SF
Grundy Center | 2025
State
IA
(15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 53.6 FG%, 38.9 3P%); 2025
Tiernan Vokes
Tiernan
Vokes
6'4" | SF
Grundy Center | 2025
State
IA
(10.5, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists); 2024
Tate Jirovsky
Tate
Jirovsky
6'5" | PF
Grundy Center | 2024
State
IA
(9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 64.0 FG%); 2024 Colin Gordon (8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds); 2025
Brayden Wallis
Brayden
Wallis
6'4" | SG
Grundy Center | 2025
State
IA
(8.4 points, 3.7 assists, 50.3 FG%)
Our pick: Hudson 69, Grundy Center 58
2A Quarterfinal: #3 Underwood (24-0) vs. #6 Unity Christian (20-4), 12:15 pm
Analysis: Underwood is making their first state tournament appearance, but this senior class is accustomed to playing in big games after finishing runner-up in baseball and making a semifinal run in football, with many of the players on this roster being major contributors in those sports as well. The Eagles rank 3rd in 2A in both scoring offense (71.9) and defense (44.8), and they start five seniors, giving them a ton of experience. Guards Mason Boothby (13.8, 3.8 assists) and Josh Ravlin (12.5, 41.2 3P%) and forward Jack Vanfossan Jack Vanfossan 6'3" | PF Underwood | 2024 State IA (10.6, 10.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists) have all started since they were sophomores, and each provides a little something different, while Owen Larson Owen Larson 6'1" | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2024 State IA (10.9, 6.8 rebounds, 64.3 FG%) gives them some more size and interior scoring, and Luke Seidler (9.9, 38.6 3P%) and sophomore guard Garrett Luett (6.8, 41.2 3P%) give them more shooting on the wings. This is a balanced team with six players who can lead the team in scoring on any given night, and they play very well together.
Unity Christian will almost certainly be at a size disadvantage in this one, but the Knights have been at a size disadvantage on a nearly nightly basis in their first journey into the Siouxland Conference, and they did just fine, going 16-3 against conference foes, including taking two out of three from West Lyon. Sophomore guards Dylan Bosma Dylan Bosma 6'1" | PG Unity Christian | 2026 State IA (13.7, 5.3 rebounds) and Austin Wieringa Austin Wieringa 6'0" | SG Unity Christian | 2026 State IA (12.0, 5.8 rebounds) lead the charge for the Knights. They’re both tough, physical guards who don’t shy away from contact on either end of the floor, and they make a major impact on the game on the defensive end, averaging over four steals a game combined. This is a team that knows they can beat anyone, playing bigger than their listed size, and they’re tough. This should be a really fun game, and a Unity win shouldn’t really be considered an upset, despite Underwood being undefeated. These teams are evenly matched.
Players to watch
Underwood: 2024 Mason Boothby (13.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.1 steals); 2024 Josh Ravlin (12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 41.2 3P%); 2024
Owen Larsen
Owen
Larsen
6'5" | PF
Underwood | 2024
State
IA
(10.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 64.3 FG%, 1.4 blocks); 2024
Jack Vanfossan
Jack
Vanfossan
6'3" | PF
Underwood | 2024
State
IA
(10.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 55.7 FG%); 2024 Luke Seidler (9.9 points, 38.6 3P%)
Unity Christian: 2026
Dylan Bosma
Dylan
Bosma
6'1" | PG
Unity Christian | 2026
State
IA
(13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.5 steals); 2026
Austin Wieringa
Austin
Wieringa
6'0" | SG
Unity Christian | 2026
State
IA
(12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 53.1 FG%); 2025
Jackson Vogel
Jackson
Vogel
6'3" | SF
Unity Christian | 2025
State
IA
(6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 50.0 FG%)
Our pick: Unity Christian 56, Underwood 50
3A Quarterfinal: #1 Decorah (22-2) vs. #8 Williamsburg (16-8), 2:00 pm
Analysis: The highest scoring team in 3A, putting up 77.5 points a game, Decorah comes to Des Moines boasting an explosive offense and opportunistic defense that can lead to game-changing runs as they’ve done all season. The Vikings have been extremely efficient, posting 54-47-72 shooting splits as a team behind the fantastic play of senior wing Ben Bockman Ben Bockman 6'5" | SF Decorah | 2024 State IA (19.8, 49.1 3P%) and guard Treyton McCain Treyton McCain 6'1" | PG Decorah | 2024 State IA (11.8, 7.1 assists). Bockman, a 6-4 wing who can shoot it from anywhere, has been great this season as a scorer, playmaker, and defender. And with McCain sidelined last season, he improved as a ball-handler and passer, turning himself into a dangerous all-around offensive weapon. McCain and Zach Driscoll Zach Driscoll 6'0" | SG Decorah | 2025 State IA (10.1, 4.7 assists) give the Vikings a pair of quick, dynamic playmaking guards, and sophomore big man Cael LaFrentz (15.8, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) has been dominant in the painted area on both ends of the floor. A balanced team filled with explosive scoring options and versatility on both ends of the floor, they look primed to win the first state tournament game in school history in their fourth appearance.
Williamsburg got hot at the right time, beating Fort Madison, Clear Creek Amana, and Keokuk by a combined 37 points to get to the state tournament for the first time since 2015. The Raiders are led by senior wing Derek Weisskopf Derek Weisskopf 6'3" | SG Williamsburg | 2024 State IA (21.0, 8.0 rebounds), one of the best all-around athletes in the state. A 6-4 wing who can score from all three levels and defend multiple positions, he’ll play linebacker at Iowa and is a good enough prospect on the gridiron to have been selected to play in the Army All-American game. Grant Hocker Grant Hocker 6'3" | SF Williamsburg | 2025 State IA (10.4) can knock down shots from deep and help space the floor, and 6-6 forward Kellen Cockrell Kellen Cockrell 6'6" | PF Williamsburg | 2024 State IA (10.0, 8.1 rebounds) gives them some more size and athleticism in the paint. If Williamsburg is going to pull off the upset, Weisskopf will need to have the game of his life.
Players to watch
Decorah: 2024
Ben Bockman
Ben
Bockman
6'5" | SF
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 53.0 FG%, 49.1 3P%); 2026 Cael LaFrentz (15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 68.1 FG%); 2024
Treyton McCain
Treyton
McCain
6'1" | PG
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
(11.8 points, 7.1 assists, 51.2 FG%); 2025
Zach Driscoll
Zach
Driscoll
6'0" | SG
Decorah | 2025
State
IA
(10.1 points, 4.7 assists, 52.5 3P%)
Williamsburg: 2024
Derek Weisskopf
Derek
Weisskopf
6'3" | SG
Williamsburg | 2024
State
IA
(21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists); 2025
Grant Hocker
Grant
Hocker
6'3" | SF
Williamsburg | 2025
State
IA
(10.4 points, 2.8 assists); 2024
Kellen Cockrell
Kellen
Cockrell
6'6" | PF
Williamsburg | 2024
State
IA
(10.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 52.2 FG%)
Our pick: Decorah 74, Williamsburg 54
3A Quarterfinal: #4 Assumption (16-8) vs. #5 Ballard (16-8), 3:45 pm
Analysis: Two of the best sophomore guards in the state will meet up in this 4-5 game in Assumption’s Navon Shabazz Navon Shabazz 6'4" | CG Assumption | 2026 State IA (14.8, 3.4 assists) and Ballard’s Jude Gibson Jude Gibson 6'0" | PG Ballard | 2026 State IA (17.3, 5.3 assists), which should make for an extremely entertaining back-and-forth. Shabazz holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, and Wake Forest, among other mid-major offers, and is the explosive, athletic three-level scorer and playmaker who can dominate games on either end of the floor. He’s joined in the Knights’ backcourt by Damyen Jackson Damyen Jackson 6'0" | PG Assumption | 2025 State IA (15.1), a quick junior who leads the team in scoring. Junior wing Kayvion Hodges Kayvion Hodges 6'3" | SF Assumption | 2025 State IA (9.6, 7.0 rebounds), a Muscatine transfer, is a bouncy, long defender who can defend one through five, and Braylon Thomsen Braylon Thomsen 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2025 State IA (9.0) and Joey Funderburk Joey Funderburk 6'6" | PF Assumption | 2025 State IA (7.6) have been really good in their roles. When Assumption is locked in and wants to play, they might just be the most talented team in 3A. They’ve blasted teams in postseason play so far, winning their three substate games by an average of 31 points.
Gibson is joined in the Bombers backcourt by Jackson Brown Jackson Brown 6'1" | SG Ballard | 2025 State IA (14.2, 44.4 3P%), Mason Gatchel Mason Gatchel 6'1" | SG Ballard | 2025 State IA (6.2, 38.0 3P%), and Miles Mudd Miles Mudd 6'2" | SG Ballard | 2025 State IA (4.8, 42.9 3P%), a trio that complements his style of play very well. Gibson is one of the fastest guards in the state with the ball in his hands, and he excels when he’s playing downhill and attacking the rim. He has great court vision and can find open shooters when the defense collapses, and he is really good in ball-screen action. Nolan Cogdill Nolan Cogdill 6'7" | SF Ballard | 2024 State IA (9.8, 5.9 rebounds, 38.2 3P%) has been solid as a floor-stretching big man, but he’ll need to stay out of foul trouble because the Bombers will need all the size they can get on the floor to compete with the athletic Knights on the glass.
Players to watch
Assumption: 2025
Damyen Jackson
Damyen
Jackson
6'0" | PG
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists); 2026
Navon Shabazz
Navon
Shabazz
6'4" | CG
Assumption | 2026
State
IA
(14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists); 2025
Kayvion Hodges
Kayvion
Hodges
6'3" | SF
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(9.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 54.5 FG%); 2025
Braylon Thomsen
Braylon
Thomsen
6'4" | SF
Assumption | 2025
State
IA
(9.0 points)
Ballard: 2026
Jude Gibson
Jude
Gibson
6'0" | PG
Ballard | 2026
State
IA
(17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.0 steals); 2025
Jackson Brown
Jackson
Brown
6'1" | SG
Ballard | 2025
State
IA
(14.2 points, 44.4 3P%); 2024
Nolan Cogdill
Nolan
Cogdill
6'7" | SF
Ballard | 2024
State
IA
(9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 38.2 3P%); 2025
Mason Gatchel
Mason
Gatchel
6'1" | SG
Ballard | 2025
State
IA
(6.2 points, 38.0 3P%)
Our pick: Assumption 66, Ballard 59
3A Quarterfinal: #3 MOC-Floyd Valley (21-3) vs. #6 Bondurant-Farrar (15-9), 5:30 pm
Analysis: Defending champion Bondurant-Farrar is the only returning team from last year’s 3A field, which could be a significant advantage for the Bluejays this week. They lost their top two scorers from that team to graduation, and third leading returnee Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'4" | PG Bondurant Farrar | 2024 State IA suffered a knee injury during the football season, but nonetheless, the Jays are playing good ball and are back in Des Moines. Tanner Berggren Tanner Berggren 6'3" | SF Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 State IA (22.3, 38.9 3P%) has been one of the best scorers in 3A this season, an off-ball wing with a quick release off the catch. He has been very efficient, and his constant movement is a bear for defenders to keep up with. Lead guard Cole Miller Cole Miller 5'10" | PG Bondurant-Farrar | 2025 State IA (12.6, 7.4 assists) was outstanding at the state tournament last season and returns at the most important position in the game, and Hudson McConnell Hudson McConnell 6'2" | SF Bondurant-Farrar | 2025 State IA (11.3, 52.5 FG%) has been good as a third scorer this season. Miller is the only returnee who saw significant action at the state tournament last year, with Berggren getting some run, but every little bit of experience counts in this setting and can be an advantage.
While Berggren has been one of the best scorers in the class this season, MOC-Floyd Valley wing Jesse Van Kalsbeek Jesse Van Kalsbeek 6'6" | SF MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024 State IA (25.2, 10.8 rebounds, 61.0 FG%) has been even better. A 6-6 wing who loves to play downhill and get to the rim, he’s having a ridiculous senior season and is a player who could work his way into Mr. Basketball conversations with a big week. Blake Aalbers Blake Aalbers 6'0" | PG MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025 State IA (14.5, 65 3PM) is the team’s best 3-point shooting threat, while Ahman Langton Ahman Langton 5'11" | PG MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025 State IA (9.9, 3.0 assists) is a quick guard who, like Van Kalsbeek, is at his best when he’s attacking. The Dutchmen have a pair of young, athletic, physical big men in Owen Vander Pol Owen Vander Pol 6'5" | PF MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025 State IA (7.9) and Draeden Punt Draeden Punt 6'5" | PF MOC-Floyd Valley | 2026 State IA (7.0) who give them some size in the paint as well. This may be the game of the day on Tuesday, and while Van Kalsbeek has been superlative, the experience of the Bluejays could be a factor here in a tight one.
Players to watch
MOC-Floyd Valley: 2024
Jesse Van Kalsbeek
Jesse
Van Kalsbeek
6'6" | SF
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2024
State
IA
(25.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 61.0 FG%); 2025
Blake Aalbers
Blake
Aalbers
6'0" | PG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(14.5 points, 2.5 assists); 2025
Ahman Langton
Ahman
Langton
5'11" | PG
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(9.9 points, 3.0 assists); 2025
Owen Vander Pol
Owen
Vander Pol
6'5" | PF
MOC-Floyd Valley | 2025
State
IA
(7.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 58.0 FG%)
Bondurant-Farrar: 2024
Tanner Berggren
Tanner
Berggren
6'3" | SF
Bondurant-Farrar | 2024
State
IA
(22.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 38.9 3P%); 2025
Cole Miller
Cole
Miller
5'10" | PG
Bondurant-Farrar | 2025
State
IA
(12.6 points, 7.4 assists); 2025
Hudson McConnell
Hudson
McConnell
6'2" | SF
Bondurant-Farrar | 2025
State
IA
(11.3 points, 52.5 FG%); 2024 Nick Pfantz (2.7 points, 7.1 rebounds)
Our pick: Bondurant-Farrar 62, MOC-Floyd Valley 60
3A Quarterfinal: #2 Waverly-Shell Rock (20-3) vs. #7 Pella (15-9), 7:15 pm
Analysis: These teams met a little less than a month ago, an 86-72 Waverly-Shell Rock win at Pella in which the Go-Hawks shot nearly 57% from the floor. They’re the most dangerous 3-point shooting team in the state, knocking down over 11 3-pointers a game at an eye-popping 43.6% clip. They have four players averaging in double figures, and each of them is a sniper from deep in seniors Noah Frazell Noah Frazell 6'1" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA (17.0, 51.3 3P%), Cole Marsh Cole Marsh 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA (16.0, 43.4 3P%), and Benny Ramker Benny Ramker 5'8" | PG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024 State IA (12.5, 46.6 3P%), and junior Luke Frazell Luke Frazell 6'6" | SG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025 State IA (18.8, 55.0 3P%). All four of them are equally dangerous shooting it off the dribble or the catch, and they move the ball extremely well, finding open spaces in the defense and getting quality looks on nearly every possession. Going into Wells Fargo Arena and shooting with the unusual backdrop is always a risky proposition for 3-point heavy teams, but the Go-Hawks have also proven that they are capable of creating good looks inside the arc with the sets that they run.
Pella played well offensively in that regular-season loss, shooting 52% from the floor themselves; they just couldn’t get stops. In that game, Luke Hardman Luke Hardman 6'0" | SF Pella | 2024 State IA (11.7, 37.3 P%) had 18 points, Jack McGuire Jack McGuire 6'5" | SF Pella | 2026 State IA (14.3, 7.7 rebounds) had 16, and Cameron Rowe Cameron Rowe 6'3" | SF Pella | 2024 State IA (10.5) chipped in 13. McGuire, a lanky sophomore wing, has been the Dutch’s most consistent player throughout the season, a 6-4 playmaker with good size on the wing. Hardman is their best shooter, while Cole Griffith Cole Griffith 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA (9.4, 35.3 3P%) and Austin Schulte Austin Schulte 6'3" | SF Pella | 2026 State IA (7.6, 38.0 3P%) are also capable scorers and shooting threats on the wing. Scoring has almost never been the issue in Pella, this is a program that almost always plays really good, free-flowing offensive basketball. Defense will be the question for this team, and if they can defend like they did in their substate games, they could pull off an upset here. But that is a big ask against such a potent offensive team.
Players to watch
Waverly-Shell Rock: 2025
Luke Frazell
Luke
Frazell
6'6" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2025
State
IA
(18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 55.0 3P%); 2024
Noah Frazell
Noah
Frazell
6'1" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(17.0 points, 51.3 3P%); 2024
Cole Marsh
Cole
Marsh
6'6" | SG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 43.4 3P%); 2024
Benny Ramker
Benny
Ramker
5'8" | PG
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2024
State
IA
(12.5 points, 3.9 assists, 46.6 3P%)
Pella: 2026
Jack McGuire
Jack
McGuire
6'5" | SF
Pella | 2026
State
IA
(14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 61.0 FG%); 2024
Luke Hardman
Luke
Hardman
6'0" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
(11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 37.3 3P%); 2024
Cameron Rowe
Cameron
Rowe
6'3" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
(10.5 points); 2025
Cole Griffith
Cole
Griffith
5'10" | PG
North Linn | 2025
State
IA
(9.4 points, 3.3 assists); 2026
Austin Schulte
Austin
Schulte
6'3" | SF
Pella | 2026
State
IA
(7.6 points, 50.0 FG%)
Our pick: Waverly-Shell Rock 74, Pella 66