Postseason Preview: Class 2A, Substate 3
Jake Hilmer The favorite: The top ranked team in 2A, North Linn, is the favorite here, but the state didn’t do the Lynx many favors in their move up to 2A this season. The Lynx have the state’s highest…
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The favorite: The top ranked team in 2A, North Linn, is the favorite here, but the state didn’t do the Lynx many favors in their move up to 2A this season. The Lynx have the state’s highest powered offense, averaging 93.3 points a game behind dynamic point guard Jake Hilmer (24.9), the state’s all-time leader in assists and steals. He paces a highly efficient offense that shoots just under 57% from the floor, with their defense routinely sparking the offense and leading to easy buckets. David Seber (15.1, 47 3PM), Trevor Boge (12.2, 26 3PM) and Austin Hilmer (11.6, 33 3PM) give the Lynx some perimeter shooting alongside Hilmer, while Austin Miller (12.0, 76.6 FG%) is highly efficient. Nobody in the state plays pressure defense like North Linn, and this group is highly experienced, deep and talented. They’re looking to finish the job that they couldn’t finish in 1A last year, and should get through this district relatively unscathed.
The biggest threat: Dyersville Beckman plays in the 3A WaMaC and has played a significantly more difficult schedule than North Linn has. The Blazers have shown they’re capable of beating big-time teams with wins over West Delaware and Maquoketa in recent weeks. They’re led by Michael Keegan (18.4), a highly skilled lead guard with great size who leads the Blazers in every major category. The issue for Beckman is that outside of Keegan, the rest of the roster has 148 assists to 163 turnovers. Look for North Linn to force the ball out of Keegan’s hands and try to make the other Beckman ball handlers try to beat them, which may not end well against the pressure the Lynx apply.
The dark horse: Dom Robertson (19.4) has put together a really strong senior season for Oelwein, helping lead the Huskies to their most successful season in years. His stat line of 19-7-6-4 with 53-43-70 shooting splits is one of the best and most efficient lines in the state. Mason Meyer (11.9) and Steven Nicolay (7.0) are great on the offensive glass, and Zach Wegner (8.7) and Dillon Arndt (8.3) give them some more shooting. If Robertson has a few big games, they could pull off a pair of upsets and win the district.
Players to watch
2019 Jake Hilmer, North Linn
2020 Austin Miller, North Linn
2019 David Seber, North Linn
2022 Austin Hilmer, North Linn
2019 Trevor Boge, North Linn
2020 Michael Keegan, Dyersville Beckman
2020 Ethan Sahr, North Cedar
2019 Dom Robertson, Oelwein
The favorite: The top four teams in this district are all fairly even, but Monticello has gone 7-0 against teams in the district, so they have to be considered the favorite here. The Panthers start five sophomores and have been really solid this season, headlined by Justin Recker (18.6), a 6-5 forward who does most of his damage around the rim but can stretch out and knock down occasional jumpers. Luke Lambert (11.7), Connor Lambert (9.9), Tyler Luensman (5.8) and Devin Kraus (4.4) are all pretty solid shooters to put around Recker. Until someone in the district knocks them off, it’s hard to pick against Monticello.
The biggest threat: The defending champion in 2A, Cascade has had a down year by their standards, but they’re still dangerous come postseason play because of the incredibly tough defense they play. The Cougars allow just 42.4 points a game, good for 5th in the class, and that 2-3 zone can be tough to prepare for. The most outstanding player from last year’s 2A state tournament, Haris Hoffman (14.1), is the team’s leading scorer and a deadly shooter, while Reid Rausch (12.4) gives the Cougs another solid scoring option. Coach Brindle is as good as it gets, and Cascade is always going to be tough to beat in a one-game setting. They’re as dangerous as anyone in the district, and if they were able to get through the district, they could give North Linn a game if they were able to slow it down.
The dark horse(s): Northeast should get through their opener against Bellevue with relative ease, setting up a meeting with a Cascade team that beat them by just 4, 53-49, earlier this year. The Rebels have a big-time athlete in the paint in Braeden Hoyer (15.8), a rim runner and rim protector who can control the game on both ends of the floor. If Dawson Stoll (11.8) is knocking down shots, the Rebels can be dangerous. Tipton lost by just 3, 60-57, earlier this year against Monticello, and can certainly give the Panthers a game in the semifinal. Andrew Stewart (16.8) is the team’s top perimeter threat, while Farnk Bierman (12.8, 12.4 rebounds) can control the paint and limit Recker’s production in a rematch.
Players to watch
2019 Haris Hoffman, Cascade
2019 Easton Botkins, Durant
2021 Justin Recker, Monticello
2021 Luke Lambert, Monticello
2019 Braeden Hoyer, Northeast
2019 Dawson Stoll, Northeast
2019 Andrew Stewart, Tipton
2020 Frank Bierman, Tipton
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
North Linn vs. Monticello
The Lynx would probably rather see Monticello than a team like Cascade that is going to really try to slow the game down. Jake Hilmer and company are on a mission to win a state title, and North Linn wins comfortably here to return to Des Moines. They just have too much firepower and far and away the best player on the floor.