Substate Preview: 2A-1

<!-- wp:image {"id":2774496,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-1.png?w=619" alt="" class="wp-image-2774496" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>The top-seeded Knights of <strong>Unity Christian</strong> look like a pretty heavy favorite here. They've compiled a 17-4 record with their four losses coming at the hands of 3A MOC-Floyd Valley (by one), 2A #3 West Lyon (twice, by two and one), and 2A #1 Western Christian (by one). Four losses by a combined five points against high-level teams. The common thread in those losses has been poor shooting at the free-throw line, but that likely won't be a factor in any of their district games. They swept the season series against semifinal opponents Okoboji or Central Lyon, winning those four games by an average of 29 points per game. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (16.5) leads a highly efficient attack that is shooting 52% from the floor. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (12.0, 8.7 rebounds), senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1951824' first='Braeden' last='Bosma'] (10.2), and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (10.2, 64.5 FG%) all average in double figures as well, and sophomore sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (9.7, 54.2 3P%) has been awesome from distance. This is a balanced, deep team with athleticism, toughness, and they know that they can play with the best teams in the state. They shouldn't have any issue getting through this district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Bringing nearly everyone back from an 18-win team, expectations were pretty high in <strong>Emmetsburg</strong> this season and they've been solid, not spectacular. The E-Hawks have four reliable scoring threats in [player_tooltip player_id='1874771' first='Byron' last='Maina'] (15.3, 37.1 3P%), Carter Hudson (10.9, 7.3 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='2520001' first='Carson' last='Baak'] (9.6, 4.2 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520000' first='Kale' last='Fank'] (9.4), all seniors. They have been one of the best defensive teams in the class this season, allowing just 45.6 points per game, and they'll need to be dominant on that end of the floor if they are going to have a chance at slowing down the high-powered Unity attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Given how much Unity has dominated both Okoboji and Central Lyon this year, the dark horse of the bracket has to come from the bottom, leaving us with #3 seed <strong>Garner-Hayfield-Ventura</strong>. The Cardinals play at a pretty slow pace, averaging just 48.4 points per game, and they'll look to dictate the tempo if they meet Unity in the district final. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2389723' first='Lane' last='Gayken'] (11.0), [player_tooltip player_id='2204887' first='Nicholas' last='Zrostlik'] (10.0), and Zach Flatebo (9.0) are all viable ball-handlers who can handle pressure and protect the ball, which will be paramount. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (Unity Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951824' first='Braeden' last='Bosma'] (Unity Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874781' first='Jackson' last='Vogel'] (Unity Christian)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874771' first='Byron' last='Maina'] (Emmetsburg)<br>2025 Carter Hudson (Emmetsburg)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2389723' first='Lane' last='Gayken'] (Garner-Hayfield-Ventura)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2204887' first='Nicholas' last='Zrostlik'] (Garner-Hayfield-Ventura)<br>2027 Miles Wasson (Okoboji)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1426697' first='Ephraim' last='Hoefert'] (Central Lyon)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1573093' first='Koury' last='Serck'] (Central Lyon)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721777' first='Sincere' last='McMurran'] (Estherville Lincoln Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2774497,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/2A-2.png?w=620" alt="" class="wp-image-2774497" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>District 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: Spirit Lake</strong> has been one of the hottest teams in the state since the holiday break, going 14-2 since the hiatus, with their two losses coming to a highly ranked 3A Storm Lake team, and the top-ranked team in 2A, Western Christian. Outside of those two setbacks, the Indians have largely been dominant behind the strength of a trio of double-figure scorers. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1759904' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'] (20.1, 8.6 rebounds, 57.5 FG%) is having a great year, scoring inside and out and using his length, athleticism, and skill to control games on both ends of the floor. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765548' first='Wesley' last='Walz'] (14.8, 3.2 assists) is a talented scorer and playmaker, and [player_tooltip player_id='2398038' first='Ethan' last='Stecker'] (13.0, 57.1 FG%) is another highly efficient weapon. They should have no problems getting through their semifinal game against either Belmond-Klemme or Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, setting up an interesting contrast in styles against either Forest City or Osage, both of whom like to play a little slower than Spirit Lake. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Hailing from different divisions of the Top of Iowa Conference, Forest City and Osage haven't met this year, but given the fact that they'll host the semifinal (and play one fewer game), <strong>Forest City</strong> is the biggest threat to Spirit Lake in this district. Always a stout defensive team, they rank 14th in the class, allowing 47.9 points per game, and they've been very balanced offensively, with five players averaging between 8.5 and 11.8 points per game. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2388492' first='Holden' last='Reynolds'] (11.8, 7.9 rebounds, 61.9 FG%) is the leading scorer and rebounder, and he has been great as a rim protector as well, turning away 2.4 shots per game. Senior guards Ty Dillavou (10.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2397233' first='Carsen' last='Hall'] (9.2, 5.6 assists) give them a pair of reliable playmakers in the backcourt, and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2387213' first='Cooper' last='Blaser'] (10.5, 39.6 3P%) is a skilled shooting threat. With their balance and rim protection, they can be dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Osage</strong> is also great defensively, allowing just 44.2 points per game, 3rd in the class. The Green Devils have a pair of solid guards leading the way in [player_tooltip player_id='1765543' first='Quinn' last='Street'] (19.8, 4.3 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1759935' first='Madden' last='Uhlenhopp'] (16.2), while senior forward Maddox Cockrum (11.1, 40.9 3P%) has shown the ability to score inside and out. They've done a great job protecting the ball (9.2 turnovers per game), and they'll be comfortable playing at the slower pace that often happens in postseason games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759904' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765548' first='Wesley' last='Walz'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398038' first='Ethan' last='Stecker'] (Spirit Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2388492' first='Holden' last='Reynolds'] (Forest City)<br>2025 Ty Dillavou (Forest City)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2387213' first='Cooper' last='Blaser'] (Forest City)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765543' first='Quinn' last='Street'] (Osage)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759935' first='Madden' last='Uhlenhopp'] (Osage)<br>2025 Maddox Cockrum (Osage)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754716' first='Brody' last='Heifner'] (Belmond-Klemme)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754720' first='Kysen' last='Lamb'] (Belmond-Klemme)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754705' first='Chaz' last='Lane'] (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unity Christian vs. Spirit Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Spirit Lake has been really good down the stretch and has the weapons to be dangerous, <strong>Unity Christian</strong> has been among the top five contenders in the class all year, and that isn't stopping now. They're a few free throws away from being undefeated and the top-ranked team in 2A, and they should punch their ticket back to Des Moines for a second straight season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->