Class 2A District Final Picks

Game Location The Pick Reasoning OABCIG vs. East Sac County MVAOCOU OABCIG Fantastic matchup between East Sac’s Camden SchroederCamdenSchroeder6'5" | SFEast Sac County | 2021StateIA (22.8, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.7 blocks) and OABCIG’s Cooper DeJeanCooperDeJean6'2" | CGOABCIG | 2021StateIA (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 SlaaTannerTe Slaa6'4" | SFBoyden-Hull | 2022StateIA and Marcus KeldermanMarcusKelderman6'1" | SGBoyden-Hull | 2021StateIA. 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 EssenTyVan Essen6'4" | PFWestern Christian | 2022StateIA (16.0, 60-49-75 splits) is a matchup problem, but so are Rock Valley’s Bryson Van GrootheestBrysonVan Grootheest6'0" | CGRock Valley | 2022StateIA (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 KatzfeyVanceKatzfey6'2" | SGSpirit Lake | 2022StateIA (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 WemarkDrakeWemark6'2" | SFNew Hampton | 2022StateIA 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 GallagherPadraigGallagher6'4" | SFBeckman Catholic | 2023StateIA. 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 BowieJeffBowie6'5" | PFWest Branch | 2021StateIA and Simon PalmerSimonPalmer6'5" | PFWest Branch | 2021StateIA to help limit Anamosa star forward Sam WiltSamWilt6'2" | SFAnamosa | 2022StateIA. 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 JacksonMarvionJackson6'5" | PFWest Burlington | 2021StateIA, an athletic forward who runs the floor and is versatile. West Burlington may struggle with Pekin lead guard Brady MillikinBradyMillikin6'0" | PGPekin | 2021StateIA. 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 ShararKarsonSharar6'2" | SGIowa Falls-Alden | 2021StateIA 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 HolderBrennanHolder6'1" | SGSouth Central Calhoun | 2021StateIA 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.