Class 2A State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 seed: Kuemper Catholic (22-3)<br></span><strong>About the Knights: </strong>The Knights have been white-hot since losing to Dowling Catholic on January 3. They've won 16 straight games since that point, winning games by an average of 26.4 points per game. They're the highest scoring team in 2A, averaging 76.8 points per game, led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] (16.7, 7.3 rebounds, 62.5 FG%). A dominant interior option who can also step out and stretch the floor, he can control the painted area on both ends of the floor and is the focal point of their offensive attack. [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'] (15.1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] (13.8) are both really talented shotmakers on the perimeter who have taken their games to another level since the injury to [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (10.2, 4.8 assists) have been really good as a lead playmaker. Roland-Story's zone gave them some trouble in the substate final, holding them to 54 points and really putting a scare into them, but when this group has it rolling on offense, they're capable of going on a 15-0 run on anyone in just a few minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They were the top-ranked team to start the season, and their three losses have come to 3A Clear Lake (20-3), 3A state qualifier Carroll (20-5), and 4A state qualifier Dowling Catholic (20-3). They've tested themselves, are explosive offensively, and have the most talented roster in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 seed: Unity Christian (22-2)<br></span><strong>About the Knights: </strong>After making back-to-back trips to the semifinals, Unity Christian has their eyes on the ultimate prize this time around. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (18.3, 3.9 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.3, 7.0 rebounds) are joined by junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (14.2, 8.9 rebounds, 54.1 FG%) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (13.0, 36.9 3P%) to give them four double-figure scorers who are each capable of taking over games. Bosma and Wieringa are both really good perimeter defenders with a ton of experience, and Van Donge is among the most improved players in the class. He has turned himself into a three-level scorer and talented playmaker who can initiate the offense. Their two losses have come at the hands of Sioux Falls Christian (SD), one of the best teams in South Dakota, and MOC-Floyd Valley, the defending 3A champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> They have a state tournament experienced backcourt in Bosma and Wieringa, both of whom are really good perimeter defenders and scoring threats. With their toughness, physicality, and athleticism, the Knights are going to be really difficult to match up with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 seed: Regina Catholic (22-1)<br></span><strong>About the Regals:</strong> The lone one-loss team in the field, Regina enters the state tournament on a 19-game winning streak. Their lone loss came way back on December 13 against 3A state qualifier Solon. They're the top scoring defense in 2A, allowing just 39.6 points per game, with their size and athleticism in the front court being the primary reason why they've been so good on both ends of the floor. The Regals go 6-3, 6-5, and 6-9 in their front court in [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] (16.6, 5.9 rebounds, 66.2 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'] (12.9, 6.3 rebounds, 53.0 FG%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade'] (10.5, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 55.4 FG%). Wallace and Litton are both standout football players who use their physicality and athleticism to dominate the game in the paint, while Wade is a sophomore who holds offers from Northern Iowa and Drake. The backcourt is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='2617531' first='Miles' last='Nuzback'] (8.5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2886831' first='Drew' last='Greve'] (6.1, 4.9 assists). Nuzback is their best perimeter scoring option, an athletic guard who can get downhill. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> The Regals are big, athletic, and red-hot. They have a state title winning coach in Paul Rundquist and are playing with a ton of confidence right now. They're the top scoring defense in the class and if they're able to dictate the tempo, they're really difficult to score against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 seed: Treynor (22-3)<br></span><strong>About the Cardinals: </strong>The Cardinals are making their third straight trip to the state tournament, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (17.4, 4.7 assists), who has been the best player on each of those teams. A skilled guard who can take over games as a scorer, playmaker, and on-ball defender, he's lightning-quick with the ball in his hands and is capable of scoring in bunches from all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (11.2, 3.5 assists) gives them additional playmaking in the backcourt, and [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (9.3, 62.8 FG%) has been a really efficient scorer in the paint. The Cardinals rotation will probably tighten up a bit when they get to Des Moines, but this is a team that can comfortably go 9-10 deep. Their three losses this season came to Tri-Center (21-3, by 3), Underwood (19-5, by 5), and Bellevue West, one of the best team's in Nebraska' biggest class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] is one of the best guards in the field, and he's among the most state tournament experienced guards in the field. With their depth, they can come at teams at waves, with their speed putting pressure on teams on both ends of the floor consistently. Scott Rucker is one of the best coaches in the state and he'll have this group ready to make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 seed: Grundy Center (23-1)<br></span><strong>About the Spartans:</strong> It's hard to have a much better first year on the sidelines than what Owen Thomas has had. A 2021 high school graduate, the son of Aplington-Parkersburg coach Aaron Thomas has led the Spartans to a 23-win season and another state tournament appearance. Like Grundy usually is, they're tough, physical, and athletic, filled with plenty of players from their always successful football team. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (15.7, 6.3 assists) leads a quartet of double-figure scorers, and their physicality and athleticism can really wear teams down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all:</strong> Their only loss of the season came against Union, a fellow state tournament qualifier. They have plenty of close game experience, winning eight games by single digits, and playing in so many tight games can give them an edge and sense of comfort that many other teams in the field may not have when the game is tight late. Jirovsky is one of the most poised guards in the field and this is a program filled with athletes that just know how to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#6 seed: Aplington-Parkersburg (22-3)<br></span><strong>About the Falcons:</strong> Since getting [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] back from injury, the Falcons have gone 14-1. Waller, averaging 21.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, is an explosive three-level scorer who has really improved as a playmaker and shot creator over the last year. He's joined in the backcourt by [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] (15.6, 38.4 3P%), a sophomore sharpshooter. Freshman big man Charlie Wessels (9.2, 5.6 rebounds, 58.4 FG%) will be the X-factor for this group. He's a 6-5 forward who can score efficiently around the rim, and he has progressively gotten better as the season has gone on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>They've been about as good as anyone in the state since getting Waller back from his injury. Waller is one of the best scorers in the field, and they have one of the deeper teams in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#7 seed: Western Christian (18-6)<br></span><strong>About the Wolfpack: </strong>In senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (19.3, 6.6 rebounds, 51.5 FG%) and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (19.3, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists), the Wolfpack have arguably the best one-two punch in the 2A field. De Stigter has battled injuries all year but has been really good when he's on the floor. A 6-5 wing who can shoot it and defend multiple positions, he can control games on both ends of the floor. Moret is among the best guards in the field, a skilled and athletic guard who can score and facilitate at a high level. The Wolfpack played as an independent again this season, so they've been able to really test themselves with a schedule that included games against Bishop Garrigan, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Boyden-Hull, Unity Christian, MOC-Floyd Valley, Rock Valley, MMCRU, Heelan, and Sioux Falls Christian (SD). The two-time defending champions are the most decorated program in state history and are certainly capable of adding yet another trophy to their trophy case this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>With De Stigter and Moret, the Wolfpack not only have one of the best one-two punches in the field, they also have a ton of state tournament experience. Both of them were key contributors on last year's state title winning team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">#8 seed: Union (22-3)<br></span><strong>About the Knights: </strong>The Knights were dealt a blow late in the season when leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] broke his leg. He was averaging over 16 points a game and shooting better than 42% from the 3-point line. Without him, they were still able to sneak past Pella Christian in the substate final, but that is a significant blow in terms of their chances at making a deep run next week. [player_tooltip player_id='2678903' first='Tate' last='Van Dyke'] (12.7, 9.3 rebounds, 52.0 FG%) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, an efficient forward who the offense can flow through. [player_tooltip player_id='1986602' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'] (12.7), [player_tooltip player_id='1943626' first='Sawyer' last='Spence'] (9.0), [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] (7.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='2729443' first='Bryson' last='DeWinter'] (6.8) are all capable ball-handlers who can initiate offense, giving them a number of different options and ways to attack you. Despite the loss of Sorensen, this is still a team loaded with options.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why they can win it all: </strong>Pella Christian is arguably the best team that didn't reach the state tournament, with Union beating them. The Sorensen loss is obviously a huge blow, but this is a veteran team that gained plenty of valuable experience with their run to the state tournament last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staff Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tony</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinals:</strong> Kuemper Catholic, Treynor, Unity Christian, Regina Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>Kuemper Catholic, Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion: </strong>Kuemper Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Eliot</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinals: </strong>Kuemper Catholic, Treynor, Unity Christian, Regina Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong>Treynor, Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champion: </strong>Unity Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->