Substate Preview: 2A-3
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District 5 [player_tooltip player_id="1171681" first="Jonovan" last="Wilkinson"] The favorite: Roland-Story has been one of the best stories in 2A this year, rolling to a 19-2 record, with their two losses coming to Iowa Falls-Alden by 3, and a setback against 1A’s…
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The favorite: Roland-Story has been one of the best stories in 2A this year, rolling to a 19-2 record, with their two losses coming to Iowa Falls-Alden by 3, and a setback against 1A’s top-ranked team, Grand View Christian. The Norsemen have a fun, exciting young team that has only one senior who sees significant time, so expect to see them competing for glory in 2A again next year. They’re led by junior guard Isaiah Naylor Isaiah Naylor 6'0" | SG Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (16.7), who has emerged as a really good three-level scorer who can create his own shot and get red hot. Sophomore wing Jonovan Wilkinson Jonovan Wilkinson 6'2" | SF Roland-Story | 2024 State IA (13.2, 6.7 rebounds) is a good athlete on the perimeter who can shoot it and get to the rim. He’s also a versatile defender with the size and athleticism to defend bigs or guards. Junior forward Luke Patton Luke Patton 6'5" | PF Roland-Story | 2023 State IA (10.9, 10.8 rebounds) has been a steady force in the paint, an efficient scorer and rebounder who can also stretch the floor a bit. The Norse do a good job crashing the offensive glass (12.9 a game), and they share the ball well. This is a young team, but they’re talented and they fit well together.
The biggest threat: South Central Calhoun got off to a 10-0 start this year, building on last year’s momentum as a state-qualifier. The Titans earned the district’s #2 seed and will get their semifinal game at home as a result, which will be a boost. Senior forward Joshua Dietrich Joshua Dietrich 6'6" | SF South Central Calhoun | 2022 State IA (18.0, 7.4 rebounds) leads a trio of double-figure scorers. He’s shooting 57% from the floor and does a good job pounding the offensive glass (3.0 a game) and protecting the paint (2.9 blocks). Eli Wheelock Eli Wheelock 6'2" | PG South Central Calhoun | 2023 State IA (16.2, 3.7 assists) is the team’s top perimeter scorer and facilitator, and Tyler Lightner (11.2) has provided some versatility and secondary ball-handling. This is a team that likes to push the tempo, averaging 70.3 points a game, and if they can get into a track meet, they may be able to outscore Roland-Story in a district final. Their experience in making it to State last year should not be discounted.
The dark horse: Playing in the Hawkeye 10 Conference means that Kuemper Catholic plays against primarily 3A schools throughout the year, which is a benefit for the Knights when postseason play hits, as they’re accustomed to playing teams that are just a bit bigger, a bit faster, and a bit more physical than a majority of the teams that some of the other teams in their district face throughout the year. Junior Dawson Gifford Dawson Gifford 6'0" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2023 State IA (11.6, 3.1 assists) leads a balanced attack that has three double-figure scorers, and the Knights like to go deep into their bench. While the rotation will probably tighten up a bit come postseason play, they won’t be as vulnerable to foul trouble as some other teams may be. Dennis (DJ) Vonnahme Dennis (DJ) Vonnahme 6'4" | PF Kuemper Catholic | 2024 State IA (10.3, 2.1 offensive rebounds) and Isaac Evans (7.4, 2.8 offensive) provide some size and toughness, and they like to rebound offensively.
Players to watch
2023
Isaiah Naylor
Isaiah
Naylor
6'0" | SG
Roland-Story | 2023
State
IA
, Roland-Story
2024
Jonovan Wilkinson
Jonovan
Wilkinson
6'2" | SF
Roland-Story | 2024
State
IA
, Roland-Story
2023
Luke Patton
Luke
Patton
6'5" | PF
Roland-Story | 2023
State
IA
, Roland-Story
2022
Joshua Dietrich
Joshua
Dietrich
6'6" | SF
South Central Calhoun | 2022
State
IA
, South Central Calhoun
2023
Eli Wheelock
Eli
Wheelock
6'2" | PG
South Central Calhoun | 2023
State
IA
, South Central Calhoun
2023
Dawson Gifford
Dawson
Gifford
6'0" | SG
Kuemper Catholic | 2023
State
IA
, Kuemper Catholic
2024
Michael Kasperbauer
Michael
Kasperbauer
5'11" | PG
Kuemper Catholic | 2024
State
IA
, Kuemper Catholic
2022
Aaron Graves
Aaron
Graves
6'5" | PF
Southeast Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Southeast Valley
2022
Kolson Kruse
Kolson
Kruse
5'11" | SG
Southeast Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Southeast Valley
2023 Richard Daugherty, Greene County
2024 Drake Canavan, Eagle Grove
District 6
The favorite: Like Roland-Story, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows has been an excellent story this season, putting together their best season in decades. The Cowboys have put together an 18-3 record, with two of those losses coming to a Humboldt team that spent some time ranked #1 in 3A this year. (The other loss was an upset last night against Southeast Valley.) They’ve been really strong on the defensive end, allowing just 44.8 points a game, which ranks 9th in 2A. This is a senior-laden team, with seniors making up the top six, and eight of the top nine scorers, so this is the last hurrah for a group that has been playing together for a long time. Connor State Connor State 6'4" | PF Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022 State IA (16.1, 7.6 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, an efficient interior scorer, while Jaxon Carpenter Jaxon Carpenter 6'2" | SF Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022 State IA (12.5, 3.4 assists) is the team’s top perimeter threat. All five starters are viable scoring threats, but they don’t shoot it well from the arc (25.7% as a team). Their defense is what will carry this team.
The biggest threat: Osage earned the #2 seed in the district and will get a meeting with GHV at home as a result. The Green Devils beat the Cardinals 69-65 earlier this season, which was probably the data point that gave them the nod for the #2. Senior forward Nathan Havel Nathan Havel 6'2" | PF Osage | 2022 State IA (15.4, 8.1 rebounds) leads a balanced attack that sees three averaging in double-figures. Havel is the focal point of the team on both ends of the floor, a solid defender and versatile offensive player. Senior guard Tyler Oberfoell Tyler Oberfoell 5'9" | PG Osage | 2022 State IA (12.4, 5.0 assists) is the team’s top perimeter scoring threat, while sophomore Max Knudsen Max Knudsen 5'10" | SG Osage | 2024 State IA (12.7) has emerged as a solid secondary scorer and ball-handler.
The dark horse: If you were to go by BC Moore’s power rankings system, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura is actually the second-best team in this district, with the Cardinals ranked six points ahead of Osage. They’re a really good defensive team that is allowing just 43.5 points a game, fifth-best in 2A. Junior guard Drew Britson Drew Britson 6'1" | SG Garner-Hayfield-Ventura | 2023 State IA (16.3) has emerged as a leader on both ends of the floor, pacing the team in scoring, assists, and steals and proving to be a dangerous 3-point shooter. He’s a strong guard with loads of confidence who can carry this team to several wins. Five others average between 4.0 and 9.0 points a game, so someone new can step up on any given night. They shouldn’t have any difficulty with Belmond-Klemme in the first round, then they’ll get a rematch with Osage. If they can make it to the district final, they could certainly win a rock fight against CGD and make it to the substate final.
Players to watch
2022
Connor State
Connor
State
6'4" | PF
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022
State
IA
, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2022
Jaxon Carpenter
Jaxon
Carpenter
6'2" | SF
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows | 2022
State
IA
, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
2022
Nathan Havel
Nathan
Havel
6'2" | PF
Osage | 2022
State
IA
, Osage
2022
Tyler Oberfoell
Tyler
Oberfoell
5'9" | PG
Osage | 2022
State
IA
, Osage
2024
Max Knudsen
Max
Knudsen
5'10" | SG
Osage | 2024
State
IA
, Osage
2023
Drew Britson
Drew
Britson
6'1" | SG
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura | 2023
State
IA
, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
2022 Andrew Snyder, Forest City
2022
Angel Jose
Angel
Jose
6'4" | PF
Central Springs | 2022
State
IA
, Central Springs
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Roland-Story vs. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
If this game materializes, it’s an interesting contrast in styles. Roland-Story likes to use their athleticism to play a little more up-tempo and beat teams with their multitude of scoring weapons, while CGD looks to rely on their strong half-court defense to stifle teams. CGD hasn’t made a state tournament appearance since 1959, and this senior-laden team is looking to make some history. But the Norsemen’s balance and having a few more offensive options give them the edge, sending Roland-Story to the state tournament in this battle between two of the best stories of the year.