Playoff Preview: 2A-6
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The favorite: Led by a brother pair in Senior Blake Chance Blake Chance 6'4" | PG Albia | 2021 State IA (15.4) and Sophomore Drew Chance (15.7), Albia has a good inside-outside combo. Blake runs the point for the team and…
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Continue ReadingThe favorite: Led by a brother pair in Senior Blake Chance Blake Chance 6'4" | PG Albia | 2021 State IA (15.4) and Sophomore Drew Chance (15.7), Albia has a good inside-outside combo. Blake runs the point for the team and initiates offense with his ability to drive the ball, or shoot from the perimeter. Drew on the other hand has shot one 3pt basket all season (0/1 on the season), but is strong on the inside and has good touch around the rim even at 6’2, what he lacks in height, he brings in power and finesse. Brayden Messamaker Brayden Messamaker 6'1" | SG Albia | 2021 State IA (12.0) is a good addition on the perimeter who brings a little shooting (35.9% 3pt) and some size (6’1) to defend. 3pt and Free Throw shooting will be key for the Blue Demons to get where they want to be in Des Moines.
The biggest threat: Pella Christian is a team to keep an eye overall in this district, as they’ve played top Class 3A talented teams all season. The Eagles have size to spare up and down the roster, but just haven’t quite fit the right pieces together yet. They are led by big 6’8, Junior big man Eric Mulder (14.0), who with a little bit more consistent outside jumper could have a bright future and 5’9, guard Junior Levi Schelhaas (12.5). They like to crash the board and are able to do so with Mulder, 6’7 Niko Schirz (7.0), 6’6 Luke Mulder (4.7) and 6’4, wing man Jaedon Huisman (6.6). Opposing teams have had success allowing the Eagles to beat them from the perimeter and they haven’t done it yet, but if they hit their shooting stride they could make some noise in the postseason.
The dark horse: It has been said at various levels of basketball in today’s game, that you win with guards and Cardinal-Eldon have some good guards on their roster. Led by Junior, guard Landon Becker Landon Becker 6'1" | SG Cardinal | 2022 State IA (16.7), paired with Junior, guard Griffin Greiner Griffin Greiner 6'1" | CG Cardinal | 2022 State IA (13.7) and another Junior, guard Blaine Bryant (11.3). The Comets have to take care of the ball if they want to give themselves a chance at getting further into the postseason.
Players to watch
2021 Blake Chance Blake Chance 6'4" | PG Albia | 2021 State IA , Albia
2023 Drew Chance, Albia
2022 Eric Mulder, Pella Christian
2022 Levi Shelhaas, Pella Christian
2022 Landon Becker Landon Becker 6'1" | SG Cardinal | 2022 State IA , Cardinal
2022 Griffin Greiner Griffin Greiner 6'1" | CG Cardinal | 2022 State IA , Cardinal
2024 Derek Wiesskopf, Wiliamsburg
2022 Dalton Reeves Dalton Reeves 6'3" | SF Davis County | 2022 State IA , Davis County
2022 Ethan Davis, Eddyville-Blakesburg Fremont
The favorite: Having only lost to one of the top Class 3A teams in Dallas Center-Grimes by 4, and Panorama once by 1 point, Des Moines Christian are surely a team that could make some noise in Class 2A. Ben Loverude Ben Loverude 6'6" | PF Dmc | 2021 State IA is the top shooter from the perimeter for the Lions and at 6’6 is able to get to the hoop and finish above the rim on the break. This team also pairs two undersized post men together who don’t play undersized. Junior Adam Witty Adam Witty 6'2" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2022 State IA (14.1) and Senior Grant Veenstra Grant Veenstra 6'2" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2021 State IA (12.3) are good around the rim but use their quickness to take bigger, slower post players off the dribble to the hoop. Guard play will be the key for the Lions as they come down the stretch, taking care of the ball and being able to shoot the outside shot.
The biggest threat: I don’t expect Des Moines Christian to have many problems with the original pairings, but Prairie City-Monroe could be a team that puts up a good fight. The Mustangs bring a 10-10 record into the postseason as a #2 seed, and are led by Senior, guard Andrew Mitchell (13.8) and Junior, guard Carson Vandelune (13.1). If the Mustangs were to play Des Moines Christian, it would be there first meeting and everyone knows how difficult a scout can be on short notice and no recent knowledge of the opponent.
The dark horse: This spot could go to either the balanced attack of Woodward-Granger, or Pleasantville led by a top 2A scorer in Mason Scheve Mason Scheve 6'1" | SG Pleasantville | 2022 State IA (19.4). If there’s one thing to know it’s that if one player gets hot at the right time, there’s no telling what could happen, and Scheve has good attributes to be able to help his team get further. The thing working against the Trojans is that they get Des Moines Christian in their second game assuming they win their first.
Players to watch
2021 Ben Loverude Ben Loverude 6'6" | PF Dmc | 2021 State IA , Des Moines Christian
2021 Grant Veenstra Grant Veenstra 6'2" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2021 State IA , Des Moines Christian
2022 Adam Witty Adam Witty 6'2" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2022 State IA , Des Moines Christian
2021 Andrew Mitchell, Prairie City-Monroe
2022 Carson Vandelune, Prairie City-Monroe
2022 Mason Scheve Mason Scheve 6'1" | SG Pleasantville | 2022 State IA , Pleasantville
2021 Worth Henry, Woodward-Granger
2024 Mason Smith, Chariton
2021 Jake Nichols, Colfax-Mingo
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Albia vs Des Moines Christian
I think this game is close, as both teams have played Class 3A competition and either competed with tough teams or beat those teams. They haven’t each other yet this year, and would be their first time if they were to get here. The edge is going to go with Des Moines Christian as the balance they have offensively and the way they can get out in transition gives them an upper hand.