Iowa Class 1A Title Favorites: MMCRU

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rolling through a series of at least three schools per class that have the best chance at winning the state title. Now done with 2A, 3A and 4A, we move on to 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Case for the Royals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After taking the state football title in Class A, MMCRU knows what it takes to reach the pinnacle of their sport. With much of the same talent that helped the Royals put together an undefeated, state title winning season on the gridiron, MMCRU may be the team to beat in 1A hoops next month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, the Royals are led by one of the <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/five-iowa-class-1a-surprise-standouts/">Class 1A surprise standouts</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='3255100' first='Kamden' last='Bork']. Moving from an off-the-bench role as a junior to a full-time starter, Bork is averaging 14.5 points, five assists and 4.3 steals per game -- a top five mark in 1A. A rim attacker that likes to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, the 6-foot-3 senior guard is shooting 61% from the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second in scoring is fellow senior in the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='3041731' first='Wyatt' last='Alesch']. Putting up 12.4 points per game, the other ball-dominant guard also dishes out 4.4 assists per game while grabbing four steals per contest. So far this season, he's put together an an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.54.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third in a trio of seniors that are atop the box score, Michael Schmillen puts up 10.8 points, 4.6 assists and three steals per game. An All-State wide receiver and defensive back for the football squad in the fall, Schmillen uses his same athleticism, bounce and ball skills he displays on the football field for the Royals to be a key contributor on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between the leadership and numbers that Bork, Alesh and Schmillen have put up in the backcourt this fall for the Royals, MMCRU leads 1A in steals (392) and assists (483).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josh Peterson, the 6-foot-5 center, is just as pivotal to what the Royals do on both sides of the floor. The rim protector and leading rebounder for his squad, Peterson puts up 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. An uber-efficient scorer at the rim, Peterson shoots a whopping 68% from the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between all the weapons on this MMCRU team, they're going to be tough to beat when they presumably arrive in Des Moines in March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->