Class 2A District Final Picks
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Game Location The Pick Reasoning OABCIG vs. East Sac County MVAOCOU OABCIG Fantastic matchup between East Sac’s Camden Schroeder Camden Schroeder 6'5" | SF East Sac County | 2021 State IA (22.8, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.7 blocks) and OABCIG’s…
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Continue ReadingGame | Location | The Pick | Reasoning |
OABCIG vs. East Sac County | MVAOCOU | OABCIG | Fantastic matchup between East Sac’s Camden Schroeder Camden Schroeder 6'5" | SF East Sac County | 2021 State IA (22.8, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.7 blocks) and OABCIG’s Cooper DeJean Cooper DeJean 6'2" | CG OABCIG | 2021 State IA (26.6, 7.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 3.2 steals). DeJean is unstoppable here and leads OABCIG to a Saturday night meeting with Boyden-Hull. |
Boyden-Hull vs. Unity Christian | West Lyon | Boyden-Hull | Defending champion Comets won the regular-season meeting by 20, shouldn’t have too many issues in this one, setting up a huge game against OABCIG. Too much Tanner Te Slaa Tanner Te Slaa 6'5" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2022 State IA and Marcus Kelderman Marcus Kelderman 6'1" | SG Boyden-Hull | 2021 State IA . |
Western Christian vs. Rock Valley | Sheldon | Western Christian | Great matchup between a pair of teams that will probably open the season 1-2 next year in 2A. Western Christian’s Ty Van Essen Ty Van Essen 6'4" | PF Western Christian | 2022 State IA (16.0, 60-49-75 splits) is a matchup problem, but so are Rock Valley’s Bryson Van Grootheest Bryson Van Grootheest 6'0" | CG Rock Valley | 2022 State IA (16.2) and Landyn Van Kekerix (16.4). Should be a fantastic game, slight edge to Western Christian, who is slightly better on both ends of the floor. |
Spirit Lake vs. Sioux Central | Okoboji | Spirit Lake | Spirit Lake was very impressive in their win over Okoboji in the semifinals, looking to carry that momentum into this district final. Indians have the two best players on the floor in Creighton Morisch (17.3) and Vance Katzfey Vance Katzfey 6'3" | SG Spirit Lake | 2022 State IA (14.7), have the bodies to throw at Sioux Central star Jacob Hargens (19.2). Major strength of schedule edge for Spirit Lake here. |
Aplington-Parkersburg vs. Forest City | Hampton-Dumont-CAL | Aplington-Parkersburg | Contrasting styles here, as Forest City likes to slow it down and rely on their defense, while A-P has a ton of offensive weapons and averages 72.5 points a game. Falcons dictate tempo early and race out to a lead, making it tough on Forest City. |
Denver vs. New Hampton | Sumner-Fredericksburg | Denver | New Hampton coming off the upset of Osage and the Chickasaws have a player in Drake Wemark Drake Wemark 6'3" | SF New Hampton | 2022 State IA who Denver could struggle to match up with. But the Cyclones high-powered attack featuring five drive-and-kick guards proves to be too powerful here. |
Beckman Catholic vs. Waukon | West Delaware | Beckman Catholic | Beckman outscored Waukon 46-34 in the second half of their regular-season meeting, a 70-65 win, behind 30 from Padraig Gallagher Padraig Gallagher 6'5" | SF Beckman Catholic | 2023 State IA . Blazers will need to play better start-to-finish in this one if they want to move on. Should be one of the top few games of the night in 2A. |
West Branch vs. Anamosa | Northeast, Goose Lake | West Branch | Bears won the regular-season meeting, 76-64, on Dec. 19. They have the bodies in Jeff Bowie Jeff Bowie 6'5" | PF West Branch | 2021 State IA and Simon Palmer Simon Palmer 6'5" | PF West Branch | 2021 State IA to help limit Anamosa star forward Sam Wilt Sam Wilt 6'2" | SF Anamosa | 2022 State IA . |
Camanche vs. Mid-Prairie | West Liberty | Camanche | Camanche won the regular-season meeting by 15 on Jan. 22. Indians have too much size, depth, and athleticism for Mid-Prairie to contend with. They’ve got a number of different players they can throw at Golden Hawks’ star Carter Harmsen. |
Pekin vs. West Burlington | Ottumwa | West Burlington | Interesting game between a pair of SEISC teams. Pekin may struggle to defend West Burlington big Marvion Jackson Marvion Jackson 6'5" | PF West Burlington | 2021 State IA , an athletic forward who runs the floor and is versatile. West Burlington may struggle with Pekin lead guard Brady Millikin Brady Millikin 6'0" | PG Pekin | 2021 State IA . Interesting game, and whichever supporting cast steps up wins. |
Albia vs. Pella Christian | Oskaloosa | Pella Christian | Albia won the regular-season meeting, 75-66, on Dec. 1. PC big man Eric Mulder could be a major difference-maker here. Eagles have great size and are playing much better ball since that loss. Major SOS edge here for the Eagles as well. |
Des Moines Christian vs. PCM | Pleasantville | Des Moines Christian | Strong defensive group from DMC puts the clamps on PCM and holds them to under 40 points in this one, as the Lions cruise into the substate final. One of the bigger mismatches in 2A tonight. |
Dike-New Hartford vs. Iowa Falls-Alden | South Hardin | Dike-New Hartford | Great guard matchup here between Iowa Falls’ Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA and Dike’s stable of talented scorers. Wolverines have too many options to account for, while their defensive game plan keys in on Sharar and makes life difficult. |
Roland-Story vs. South Central Calhoun | Greene County | South Central Calhoun | Should be a highly entertaining game between a pair of teams that were surprisingly good this year. South Central Cal’s Brennan Holder Brennan Holder 6'1" | SG South Central Calhoun | 2021 State IA leads the Titans to a win in a tight one. |
Van Meter vs. Panorama | ADM | Van Meter | Van Meter took the regular-season meeting, 54-45, on Dec. 15. Young Bulldogs are balanced, deep, and great defensively. |
AHSTW vs. Treynor | Council Bluffs Lincoln | AHSTW | Teams split the regular-season meetings with AHSTW winning 76-73 on Dec. 15 and Treynor taking the rematch 68-64 on Feb. 1. A pair of really good basketball teams, the edge goes to the slightly hotter AHSTW team. |