Substate Preview: 1A-5

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-9.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-9.png?w=781" alt="" class="wp-image-2771886" /></a></figure>   District 9   The favorite: North Mahaska was given the top seed in the district in large part because of their season sweep of Montezuma, but this is not going to be an easy road to a district title for the Warhawks. This is a tricky district with several potential landmines. The Warhawks are led by Gabe Hora (15.5, 36.3 3P%), a volume 3-point shooter who can get scorching hot and carry the team offensively for stretches. [player_tooltip player_id='2721760' first='Asher' last='DeBoef'] (14.8, 10.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists) is a small guard, but he's really athletic and fantastic on the glass and as a playmaker, and Lucas Nunnikhoven (11.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2617312' first='Adrian' last='Smith'] (9.9) are both solid third options as scorers alongside those two. This is a group that is excellent on the glass on both ends of the floor, they protect the ball, and they force quite a few turnovers.   The biggest threat: [player_tooltip player_id='1765506' first='Brady' last='Boulton'] (29.1, 5.0 assists, 43.8 3P%) is one of the top scorers in the state and leads a Montezuma team that isn't going to go quietly. The Braves are always solid defensively, using their quick zone defense to cause plenty of turnovers, and they like to play fast offensively, using their speed to put constant pressure on opposing teams. Boulton has been elite as a scorer and playmaker, and his ability to play with or without the ball in his hands makes him difficult to defend. Kohen Holland (10.3, 7.8 rebounds), Max Anderson (9.9), and Dane Strong (8.8) have all been reliable options as well for the Braves this season. Getting the district semifinal at home, where the gym is always rocking, will be big for Monte.   The dark horse(s): In most districts, it's hard to make a good argument for any team beyond the top two seeds, but in this district, you could make at least a viable argument for the top five seeds, meaning Sigourney, Baxter, and Iowa Valley could all make some noise here. We'll start with Sigourney, a team that lost by just 3 to Montezuma right before the holiday break. The Savages have three double-figure scorers in senior Isaac Bruns (16.4) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (14.9, 12.3 rebounds) and Solon Yates (12.5), giving them a trio of reliable scorers. They know they can play with the Braves and won't back down in a rematch.   Baxter is led by one of the classes' elite scorers in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (29.1, 40.2 3P%), an electric shooting threat who can also create plays off the dribble at a high level. The Bolts also have a dominant senior forward in Perrin Sulzle (14.9, 9.8 rebounds, 55.6 FG%), an efficient interior weapon who can control the glass and protect the rim. That one-two punch, but in particular the firepower of Dee, makes them dangerous.   Iowa Valley has one of the state's best-kept secrets in [player_tooltip player_id='1951796' first='Caleb' last='Haack'] (20.0, 13.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 5.5 blocks), an athletic 6-7 big man who will play college football, but he could have been a real college basketball prospect if he wanted to go that route. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor with his size, skill, and athleticism makes Iowa Valley a team that could at least be a difficult team to play.   Players to Watch 2025 Gabe Hora (North Mahaska) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721760' first='Asher' last='DeBoef'] (North Mahaska) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765506' first='Brady' last='Boulton'] (Montezuma) 2025 Isaac Bruns (Sigourney) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886798' first='John' last='Berg'] (Sigourney) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (Baxter) 2025 Perrin Sulzle (Baxter) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951796' first='Caleb' last='Haack'] (Iowa Valley) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906474' first='Cole' last='Long'] (Iowa Valley) 2025 Peyton Roth (HLV)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-10.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-10.png?w=787" alt="" class="wp-image-2771887" /></a></figure>   District 10   The favorite: Gladbrook-Reinbeck has lost three games this year - twice to Grundy Center, a team with a 19-0 record and ranked #5 in Class 2A, and once to Aplington-Parkersburg, a team with a 18-1 record and ranked #9 in Class 2A. They've blown through the rest of the schedule, including a ton of wins over Class 2A teams, so they'll be ready for whatever the rest of this district has to throw at them. They're led by four seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (15.7, 10.3 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (15.1, 9.4 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (pictured, 13.1, 4.2 assists, 43.9 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (12.1, 39.0 3P%). Eilers and Boyd control the glass and hold down the painted area, and the Mathern boys are both knockdown shooters who can also create quality looks for their teammates. This is a group that can beat you in a variety of ways, and they're strong defensively.   The biggest threat: Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (19.1) and wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759946' first='Noah' last='Fuelling'] (17.0) lead a Dunkerton team that is dangerous, just ask North Linn. Marquart is a nearly 42% 3-point shooter and has "in the gym" range, and Fuelling can take some of the scoring and playmaking pressure off of him. A team that can play up-tempo or beat you with execution in the halfcourt, the Raiders are certainly a team that can make some noise here.   The dark horse: Gannon Short (17.5, 8.1 rebounds) and Mark Bower (13.4) lead Colo-Nesco, a team that has done a really good job protecting the ball this year, turning it over just 9.0 times per game, an area that will obviously be big in the postseason. They don't shoot it well from the 3-point line (29.5%) or the free-throw line (52.5%), but they're good on the glass on both ends of the floor, solid defensively, and they limit mistakes.   Players to Watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1436496' first='Dylan' last='Marquart'] (Dunkerton) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759946' first='Noah' last='Fuelling'] (Dunkerton) 2025 Gannon Short (Colo-Nesco) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425904' first='Eli' last='Evans'] (Waterloo Christian) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2729431' first='Kayler' last='Morris'] (North Tama) 2025 Josh Dostal (North Tama) 2026 Rider Kupka (GMG) 2025 Grady Dieleman (GMG) 2025 Colin Teske (GMG) 2025 Sam DeMeulenaere (Belle Plaine)     SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   North Mahaska vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck   Having to play against some high-level teams in the North Iowa Cedar League will have prepared Gladbrook-Reinbeck well for postseason play, and the Rebels should be considered one of the bigger favorites of any team in any 1A substate. For the second year in a row, the Rebels head to Des Moines.