Substate Preview: 1A-6

<!-- wp:image {"id":2771893,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-11.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-11.png?w=780" alt="" class="wp-image-2771893" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 11</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>Despite being the #3 seed in this district, <strong>Earlham</strong> is the highest ranked team at BC Moore, and probably deservedly so, given that the Cardinals play in a significantly tougher league than any of the other top four seeds in the district. For comparison, Earlham's strength of schedule is ranked 29th, with Southeast Warren checking in at 119, Martensdale-St Marys 110, and Ankeny Christian 127. That's a huge advantage here for Earlham. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2397202' first='Blake' last='Reynolds'] (17.1) and Carter Hohertz (16.9) are the top scorers for this group, while six others average between 3.9 and 5.8 points per game, giving them some depth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2397232' first='Cam' last='Seuferer'] (19.6, 12.1 rebounds), an athletic three-level scoring threat from <strong>Southeast Warren</strong>, may be the best individual player in this district. The Warhawks are the #1 seed in the district, and as such, should be considered the favorite to come out of the top of the bracket. His combination of size, length, and athleticism at 6-4/6-5 will be a really tough matchup for any of the other teams in this district. [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (12.8), Brogan Ewing (11.6), and [player_tooltip player_id='2496427' first='Jamison' last='Ewing'] (8.3) are all experienced pieces around Seuferer as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Martensdale-St Marys</strong> has been one of the best defensive teams in 1A this season, allowing just 40.7 points per game, good for 5th in the class. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381427' first='Trey' last='Wright'] (10.6) leads a balanced attack that sees seven players averaging at least 4.3 points per game. This isn't a high-powered attack by any means, but they'll get the district semifinal, presumably against Earlham, at home, and they've been really good defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397232' first='Cam' last='Seuferer'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886812' first='Lucas' last='Dirkx'] (Southeast Warren)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381427' first='Trey' last='Wright'] (Martensdale-St Marys)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397202' first='Blake' last='Reynolds'] (Earlham)<br>2025 Carter Hohertz (Earlham)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906492' first='Jed' last='Rood'] (Ankeny Christian)<br>2025 Hayden Davis (Ankeny Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721729' first='Owen' last='Anderson'] (Mormon Trail)<br>2026 Kelan Stevenson (Lamoni)<br>2026 Gage Swan (Wayne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2771894,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-12.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/1A-12.png?w=789" alt="" class="wp-image-2771894" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Madrid</strong> is the biggest favorite of any team in any district, probably in any class. The Tigers have been absolutely dominant this season, rolling to an undefeated record while ranking in the top 10 in both scoring offense (2nd, 80.6) and defense (10th, 43.0). Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (22.4, 7.3 rebounds) is one of the most versatile two-way players in the state, a high-level scorer and defender who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. His younger brother, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (15.9, 8.2 rebounds, 67.0 FG%) has been a dominant force in the painted area, using his physicality and athleticism to dominate the game on both ends of the floor. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (14.3, 45.3 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (13.6, 47.5 3P%) have been playing with the older Severson for years, and that trio complements each other well. The addition of South Tama transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (9.2, 7.0 rebounds) has given them some additional size and toughness in the paint as well. This is a well-rounded, versatile team with shooting, rebounding, playmaking, length, and athleticism. It will take a monumental effort to knock them off in this district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Perennial contender <strong>Lynnville-Sully</strong> has another solid, balanced team again this year, led by junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2886854' first='Dawson' last='James'] (13.1, 52.5 FG%). Sawyer Veldhuizen (11.7, 45.0 3P%) has knocked down 63 3-pointers at a high clip, and Carson Maston (10.1, 9.1 rebounds) controls the painted area on both ends of the floor. The Hawks are always a well-coached, disciplined team on both ends of the floor that doesn't beat themselves, and if they're able to force Madrid into a halfcourt game on a neutral site in the district final, anything can happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Collins-Maxwell </strong>has put together a really nice season, with a 17-3 record heading into postseason play. The Spartans have four reliable scorers in Paden Myers (17.3), Josef Dvorak (12.6, 8.7 rebounds), Cooper Wierson (10.4), and Ian Beattie (9.6), giving them several different ways to beat you. They could certainly beat Lynnville-Sully in the district semifinal, but seeing them competing with Madrid in the district final may be a bit of a stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (Madrid)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (Madrid)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (Madrid)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420789' first='Emerson' last='Bridgewater'] (Madrid)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886854' first='Dawson' last='James'] (Lynnville-Sully)<br>2025 Carson Matson (Lynnville-Sully)<br>2026 Paden Myers (Collins-Maxwell)<br>2025 Josef Dvorak (Collins-Maxwell)<br>2026 Declan DeJong (Moravia)<br>2026 Gavyn Jellison (Seymour)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765540' first='Holden' last='Roberts'] (Twin Cedars)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlham vs. Madrid</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These conference foes met at the end of January, a 74-44 Madrid win. While we'd never call for a 30-point win in a substate final, it's hard to imagine a whole lot changing within the span of about three weeks. <strong>Madrid </strong>punches their ticket to Des Moines, where they have to be considered one of the top two or three contenders to win the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->