Class 1A, Substate 6 Preview
DISTRICT 11 The favorite: One of 1A’s hottest teams is Lynnville-Sully, winners of 16 straight entering the postseason. The Hawks have the No. 2 scoring defense in the class, allowing just 38.9 points a game, and they’ve got a balanced…
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Continue ReadingDISTRICT 11
The favorite: One of 1A’s hottest teams is Lynnville-Sully, winners of 16 straight entering the postseason. The Hawks have the No. 2 scoring defense in the class, allowing just 38.9 points a game, and they’ve got a balanced offense with four players averaging in double figures, and three others who contribute on the score sheet, making them a fairly deep team for Class 1A. Jesse Van Wyk (12.3) leads the team in scoring, but this is a group that can beat you in a number of ways, and really uses their defense to spark the offense, excelling in transition. They must be wary of the team at the bottom of the bracket, however, as their one loss this season came to Montezuma, their likely district final opponent, who they split the season series with.
The biggest threat: Another highly ranked defensive team, Montezuma is allowing just 40.3 points a game, good for 5th in 1A. The Braves have a go-to scorer in Dakota Strong (20.1), and a solid sidekick in Logan Price (14.4). They’ve split the season series with Lynnville-Sully, and with the way they play defense, they’ll be extremely tough to beat.
The dark horse: Twin Cedars has a beast on the glass in Jake Crozier, who is averaging a state-high 14.5 rebounds a game. He can control the glass against anyone, and in a potentially low-scoring game against Montezuma, his work on the offensive boards could make a huge difference.
Players to watch
Jesse Van Wyk, Lynnville-Sully, 2018
Brevin Hansen, Lynnville-Sully, 2018
Dakota Strong, Montezuma, 2017
Logan Price, Montezuma, 2017
Jake Crozier, Twin Cedars, 2017
DISTRICT 12
The favorite: Yet another strong defensive team in this substate, Murray ranks No. 8 in 1A, allowing just 43.1 points a game. The Mustangs have not played a strong schedule, but this is a solid team with a pair of scorers who can take over a game in Kenny Boles (14.7) and Bryce Keller (14.5). Thane Simmons has blocked 46 shots for the ‘Stangs, providing an interior presence that allows their guards to take some risks. A group that will look to let their defense set the tone, a team will need to push the tempo to get them moving.
The biggest threat: On the other end of the spectrum is Martensdale-St. Mary’s, who ranks No. 6 in 1A in scoring offense, averaging 69.3 points a game. The Blue Devils are led by Brady Gavin, a walking double-double who is averaging 22.6 points and 13 rebounds on an astounding 73% from the floor. Bret Barnett (14.9) and Gibson Dakota (11.7) provide some additional punch on the perimeter for a team that likes to put points on the board, and can do so in a hurry. If Gavin is able to control the offensive glass and get some second chance points, it’d go a long way in beating Murray in a potential district final. The Blue Devils lost by two to Murray, 57-55, in the regular season finale.
The dark horse: If Bryce Alley (16.1) is able to get hot for Lamoni, they could potentially cause some issues early on. However, they’ve been swept by Murray by a combined 54 points, and we don’t really expect any team other than Murray and MSM to make the district final here.
Players to watch
Kenny Boles, Murray, 2017
Bryce Keller, Murray, 2017
Thane Simmons, Murray, 2017
Brady Gavin, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, 2018
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Lynnville-Sully vs. Murray
With two of the classes’ top six scoring defenses matching up here, anticipate a very low scoring game. The free throw shooting of Lynnville-Sully sends the Hawks to state.