STATE TOURNAMENT: Wednesday Preview

2A Quarterfinal: #1 Kuemper Catholic (22-3) vs. #8 Union Community (22-3), 10:30 am   Analysis: Both of these teams have been dealt significant blows with injuries to star guards this season. For Kuemper, leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] was lost early in the season and they've had time to find their footing without him in the lineup. For Union, leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] suffered a broken leg and has missed the last three games and will obviously miss this one. The Knights found a way to sneak past a really good Pella Christian team in the substate final to get here, and, knowing that they stunned this Kuemper team in last year's substate final, they should still have plenty of confidence.   Kuemper has been the best team in 2A for quite a while now. Their three losses have come to Clear Lake, Carroll, and Dowling Catholic, all three bigger schools, two of which (Carroll, Dowling Catholic) are playing in state semifinals. The Knights are led by senior big [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'], a 6-5/6-6 forward who can score inside and out, and who should have a significant edge in his matchup in terms of size. They've gotten great production out of a pair of junior guards, [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] has been as steady as they come at point guard. Roland-Story did throw a zone at the Knights in the substate final that they struggled to figure out; could that have laid the groundwork for a Union game plan?   For Union, they snuck by both Columbus Catholic (district final) and Pella Christian (substate final), finding ways to win both of those games late. They're a senior-guard heavy team, with [player_tooltip player_id='1986602' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1943626' first='Sawyer' last='Spence'] all having a ton of experience and all three are capable of initiating the offense. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2678903' first='Tate' last='Van Dyke'] is the team's leading scorer and rebounder with Sorensen sidelined, and he'll need to be strong on the glass and limit Clair's effectiveness if Union is going to pull off the upset again this season. If they can keep this one tight going into the fourth, maybe Kuemper gets tight knowing what happened last year.   Players to watch Union: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2678903' first='Tate' last='Van Dyke'] (12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 52.0 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1986602' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'] (12.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] (7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals) Kuemper Catholic: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] (16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks, 62.5 FG%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'] (15.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 52.1 FG%, 43.3 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] (13.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals, 59.9 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.9 steals)   Our pick: Kuemper Catholic 64, Union 54   2A Quarterfinal: #4 Treynor (22-3) vs. #5 Grundy Center (23-1), 12:15 pm   Analysis: What a story Grundy Center has been. Under first year head coach Owen Thomas, who graduated from high school in 2021, the Spartans are back in the state tournament for the third year in a row. Their lone loss this season came at the hands of Union in the regular season finale, and they've shown plenty of comfort and poise playing in tight games, with eight of their wins coming by single digits. The Spartans are led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'], who is a do-it-all guard leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals. He's a tough, athletic guard who can score from all three levels, and he'll have the ball in his hands a ton. Look for Treynor to throw several different looks at him in an effort to get him sped up. [player_tooltip player_id='3255129' first='Brayden' last='Davie'] has been the Spartans' best shooting threat, knocking down 42% of his 3s, and he'll need to take advantage of any open looks that he gets here.   Treynor has also been a state tournament staple, making their third straight trip. The Cardinals have been dominant since their loss to Underwood, winning 10 straight games, with only one, a 70-65 win over Blair (NE), coming by single digits. [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'], a senior guard with a ton of big-game experience, is the headliner, but the Cardinals are able to go deep into their rotation with talented options, and just about all of them handle the ball well and can create looks for each other. This is a team that shares the wealth and can beat you playing any type of style. If you want to get out and run, they're happy to do so with Lovely leading the charge. If you want to grind it into a halfcourt game, Lovely is about as good as it gets in ball screen actions and in navigating the floor and dissecting what's going on defensively. The Cardinals, outside of 6-6 [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'], don't have much size, but they're tough, physical, and athletic. This should be another great game in what looks like a fantastic 2A field. Edge goes to Treynor, with the best player on the floor, but this is a true coin flip.   Players to watch Grundy Center: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 4.0 steals, 52.3 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255129' first='Brayden' last='Davie'] (12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 41.7 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3449831' first='Ethan' last='Meester'] (12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds); 2026 Ryder Slifer (11.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 59.9 FG%) Treynor: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (17.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.0 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] (11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 62.8 FG%)   Our pick: Treynor 58, Grundy Center 55   2A Quarterfinal: #2 Unity Christian (22-2) vs. #7 Western Christian (18-6), 2:00 pm   Analysis: These teams met in the regular season, a 7-52 Unity Christian road win back on January 15. The Knights won the third quarter 28-13 in that game, dominated the glass (37-23), and held the Wolfpack to just 30% shooting. It is worth noting, however, that Western Christian was playing that game without leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'], a 6-6 wing who has the type of size and shooting ability that Unity could struggle to match up with. A 19-point scorer, De Stigter has dealt with back injuries all year, but is playing well down the stretch and appears to be as healthy as someone can be at this point in the season. With him back on the floor, it moves players like [player_tooltip player_id='3344376' first='Preston' last='Louters'] and Toby Van Regenmorter into more complementary roles, and allows for De Stigter and [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] to be the stars. The two-time defending champion Wolfpack should put up a much better fight this time around.   The question for Western is going to be whether they have the horses to slow down the Knights' standout backcourt. In that regular season win, [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'], [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] combined to score 39 points on 14-27 shooting, with 17 rebounds, and 7 assists. Bosma and Wieringa, in particular, can be tricky matchups because of how physical they play as guards. They love to drive and finish or kick, and they can put quite a bit of shooting around them. [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'], a 6-4 forward, has taken his game to another level in his junior year and could be the X-factor here. To be the champs, you've got to beat the champs, and Unity Christian has a chance to de-throne the Wolfpack here. Another tight game, edge to the team with the better, deeper stable of guards.   Players to watch Western Christian: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] (19.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 51.5 FG%); 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772345' first='Tayden' last='Moret'] (19.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3344376' first='Preston' last='Louters'] (11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 51.8 FG%); 2028 Toby Van Regenmorter (9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds) Unity Christian: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] (18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 41.1 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] (14.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 54.1 FG%, 46.0 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'] (13.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 57.6 FG%)   Our pick: Unity Christian 58, Western Christian 55   2A Quarterfinal: #3 Regina Catholic (22-1) vs. #6 Aplington-Parkersburg (22-3), 3:45 pm   Analysis: The 2A quarterfinals wrap up with another great game (this field is awesome, isn't it?). Regina, with a big, athletic front court, is the top scoring defense in 2A, allowing just 39.6 points per game. Paul Rundquist has a starting lineup that includes 6-4 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617531' first='Miles' last='Nuzback'], 6-3 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'], 6-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'], and 6-9 center [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade']. The Regals have a ton of length and physicality, especially with Wallace and Litton, both standout football players as well. Offense, especially in the backcourt, can be a struggle at times for the Regals, but they have the ability to pound the offensive glass and force the ball inside to Wallace and Litton, who are both highly efficient scorers. Look for A-P to maybe throw some pressing looks at the Regals here in an effort to get their guards sped up and force some turnovers. If they're able to lock this into a halfcourt game, the Falcons may struggle with the size.   Aplington-Parkersburg counters with a starting lineup that goes 6-0, 5-10, 6-1, 6-5, 6-1, so the Regals figure to have a size edge at every position on the floor. That said, the Falcons know who they are, and the style they like to play. They're going to get out and run, and then run, and then run some more. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] has been sensational since returning from injury, averaging over 21 points a game, and he'll need to be really good in this one, as will sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking']. Look for the Falcons to play five-out, trying to draw the 6-9 shot blocker [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade'] out to the perimeter so they can attack off the dribble a bit easier. Freshman big man Charlie Wessels will have a tall (literally) task in front of him as well trying to keep Regina off the glass here. This is going to be a fascinating chess match between a pair of extremely experienced coaches. Aaron Thomas and Paul Rundquist have been head coaches for a combined 52 years and have a combined 837 wins between them. Whoever has the better game plan, and makes the right adjustments at the right time, probably wins this one.   Players to watch Aplington-Parkersburg: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (21.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.0 steals); 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] (15.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals, 38.4 3P%); 2029 Charlie Wessels (9.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 58.4 FG%) Regina Catholic: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419768' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] (16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 66.2 FG%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419815' first='Will' last='Litton'] (12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 53.0 FG%); 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade'] (10.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 55.4 FG%)   Our pick: Regina Catholic 53, Aplington-Parkersburg 52   3A Semifinal: #1 Ballard (24-1) vs. #5 Carroll (21-5), 5:30 pm   Analysis: These teams met twice during the regular season, a Ballard sweep in which they held Carroll to 41 points in each meeting. The Bombers forced a combined 44 turnovers in those two games, and unless the Tigers really clean that up, we can expect to pretty much see the same results here.   Ballard's constant pressure and their speed in the backcourt is a bad matchup for Carroll here on both ends of the floor. The Tigers may need to come up with another wrinkle, some sort of junk defense to throw at Ballard to keep them out of the paint and slow the game to a halt. If there is any sort of pace to this game, Ballard should cruise. The Bombers looked like they were clearly the best team in 3A in their quarterfinal win over Gilbert, and [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2419714' first='Evan' last='Abbott'], and company should win this third meeting pretty comfortably.   Players to watch Carroll: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413644' first='Jared' last='Mohr'] (15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 steals); 2026 Trey Tassell (11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413647' first='Mac' last='Collison'] (11.5 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 steals, 40.8 3P%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3255087' first='Lual' last='Tharjiath'] (9.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) Ballard: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419714' first='Evan' last='Abbott'] (19.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, 54.7 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.6 steals, 51.9 FG%, 43.3 3P%); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419750' first='Parker' last='Miller'] (12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.6 steals, 55.9 FG%)   Our pick: Ballard 59, Carroll 41   3A Semifinal: #2 ADM (23-2) vs. #3 Storm Lake (24-2), 7:15 pm   Analysis: These teams met in the 3A quarterfinals last year, a 59-53 ADM win, and both teams have only gotten better since then. In that ADM quarterfinal win, neither team's star, [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'], had efficient games. Lorensen was 5-14 from the floor, and Coon was 5-16. Both will need to be better in this one.   ADM controlled their quarterfinal game against Xavier pretty much from start-to-finish, while Storm Lake needed overtime to get past Solon in the quarters.   The biggest advantage that Storm Lake has here is with their size and length. Cade Fisher was massive in this matchup last year for ADM, grabbing 19 rebounds, but he has graduated and left a significant hole in the middle for the Tigers. They'll need to make a concerted effort to keep Coon, [player_tooltip player_id='2419850' first='David' last='William'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2420795' first='Timothy' last='Yanga'] off the glass here, especially on the offensive end. On the flip side, the biggest advantage that ADM has is their guard play. [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1978115' first='Trey' last='Bryte'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] are about as good as it gets in the state. All three are poised guards who handle it well, and they shouldn't succumb to the pressure looks that Storm Lake likes to throw at teams. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='2419850' first='David' last='William'], who was great defensively against Solon star guard [player_tooltip player_id='2530471' first='Tate' last='McCollum'] in the quarters, to get shots at both Lorensen and Bryte in an effort to limit their productivity. This is a fantastic way to end the night, but we'll give the slighest edge to the team with the better guards.   Players to watch Storm Lake: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] (21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 53.2 FG%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765508' first='Cameron' last='Boyd'] (20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals, 50.5 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 87.5 FT%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2833525' first='Garbieno' last='Weno'] (10.6 points, 7.8 rebounds); 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419850' first='David' last='William'] (8.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals) ADM: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] (22.9 points, 53.1 FG%, 45.7 3P%, 93.8 FT%); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978115' first='Trey' last='Bryte'] (14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.4 steals); 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] (10.2 points, 43.0 3P%)   Our pick: ADM 64, Storm Lake 61

2A Quarterfinal: #1 Kuemper Catholic (22-3) vs. #8 Union Community (22-3), 10:30 am