Substate Preview: 2A-6
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District 11 [player_tooltip player_id="1167714" first="Zane" last="Witt"] The favorite: A super talented Camanche team has battled major injury issues all year to still earn the top seed in this district. The Storm lost all-state wing Zach Erwin Zach Erwin 6'6" |…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 11
The favorite: A super talented Camanche team has battled major injury issues all year to still earn the top seed in this district. The Storm lost all-state wing Zach Erwin Zach Erwin 6'6" | SF Camanche | 2022 State IA to a knee injury before the start of the season. They lost point guard Tucker Dickherber Tucker Dickherber 5'10" | PG Camanche | 2022 State IA (8.7, 4.9 assists) to a wrist injury a few weeks ago, and recently lost forward Damarion Honaker (4.6), a key role player. Still, they’ve battled hard on both ends of the floor and put together another successful season. Junior big man Zane Witt Zane Witt 6'6" | PF Camanche | 2023 State IA (15.6, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. He’s a mobile 6-7 big who finishes efficiently around the rim and can protect the rim. Senior wing Adam Dunlap Adam Dunlap 6'3" | SF Camanche | 2022 State IA (15.0) is an athletic, slashing wing who can get to the bucket, and senior wing Mike Delzell Mike Delzell 6'0" | SF Camanche | 2022 State IA (8.7) is a stat-sheet stuffing wing who can defend multiple positions, score, and get others involved.
The biggest threat: Junior big man Caden Kirkman Caden Kirkman 6'8" | PF Wilton | 2023 State IA (21.0, 11.0 rebounds, 3.9 blocks) leads a young, but very talented Wilton team that has compiled a 17-5 record. The Beavers’ losses have come against Mid-Prairie (21-0, twice), Monticello (18-3), Camanche (17-4), and a 4A Liberty team. They’ve taken care of business against everyone else. Kirkman is a 6-7/6-8 forward with excellent footwork and touch around the rim, and he’s a mobile, versatile defender who protects the rim really well. Junior guard Aidan Walker (12.0) and sophomore wing Landyn Putman Landyn Putman 6'3" | SG Wilton | 2024 State IA (11.2, 48.2 3P%) are good perimeter scorers to put around Kirkman, and this is a team that does a good job sharing the ball (14.5 assists a game).
The dark horse: Northeast is always one of the top defensive teams in 2A, and this year has been no exception, allowing 45.1 points a game, which ranks 12th in the class. The Rebels play a fairly methodical style, really working the ball around to find a good shot, and that allows them to play a lot of close games. They’ve lost to Wilton (by 3), Camanche (1), Mid-Prairie (5), Monticello (6), 3A Central DeWitt (9), and Anamosa (3), and have a win over Monticello. Seniors Carter Pataska Carter Pataska 6'4" | SF Northeast | 2022 State IA (12.9) and Cade Hughes (12.8) are the team’s leading scorers and they provide a lot of size, with Pataska listed at 6-6 and Hughes at 6-4. Their size and length are a big reason why the Rebels are so good on the defensive end. They’ve proven they can play tight games against the top teams in this district, now it’s just a matter of getting over the hump against them.
Players to watch
2023
Zane Witt
Zane
Witt
6'6" | PF
Camanche | 2023
State
IA
, Camanche
2022
Adam Dunlap
Adam
Dunlap
6'3" | SF
Camanche | 2022
State
IA
, Camanche
2023
Caden Kirkman
Caden
Kirkman
6'8" | PF
Wilton | 2023
State
IA
, Wilton
2023 Aidan Walker, Wilton
2024
Landyn Putman
Landyn
Putman
6'3" | SG
Wilton | 2024
State
IA
, Wilton
2022
Carter Pataska
Carter
Pataska
6'4" | SF
Northeast | 2022
State
IA
, Northeast
2022 Cade Hughes, Northeast
2023
Nolan DeLong
Nolan
DeLong
6'0" | SG
Durant | 2023
State
IA
, Durant
2023 Garrett Hollenback, Durant
2022
Caleb Wulf
Caleb
Wulf
5'9" | PG
West Liberty | 2022
State
IA
, West Liberty
District 12
The favorite: Mid-Prairie is the lone undefeated team left in 2A, and the Golden Hawks reward is a district with all SEISC teams, which gives them a major edge in regular-season competition. They’ve been a dominant defensive team, allowing just 43.2 points a game, and they’ve allowed just 33% of their opponents to score 50+ points in a game. Senior wing Carter Harmsen Carter Harmsen 6'5" | SF Mid-Prairie | 2022 State IA (20.4, 8.0 rebounds) is an efficient scorer and facilitator who can score from all three levels and take over games at any point. He’s a good athlete at 6-4/6-5 who competes on the glass and is a physical finisher. Big man Ethan Kos Ethan Kos 6'4" | PF Mid-Prairie | 2022 State IA (10.1) is a solid interior presence on both ends of the floor, and the guard trio of Jackson Pennington Jackson Pennington 5'10" | PG Mid-Prairie | 2022 State IA (8.5), Alex Bean Alex Bean 6'1" | PG Mid-Prairie | 2023 State IA (8.4), and Will Cavanagh (7.2) are solid pieces to put around Harmsen and Kos. This is a team that really plays together well and the pieces all fit well together.
The biggest threat: The top six scorers for Cardinal are all seniors, and the Comets have been building for this season for the last several years. They are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Dawson Lewis Dawson Lewis 6'4" | SF Cardinal | 2022 State IA (15.1, 8.3 rebounds), Griffin Greiner Griffin Greiner 6'1" | CG Cardinal | 2022 State IA (13.4), and Landon Becker Landon Becker 6'1" | SG Cardinal | 2022 State IA (10.5). Lewis is a really good athlete who can score from all three levels, rebound, and defend multiple positions. A veteran team that has a lot of experience together, Cardinal has swept likely semifinal opponent West Burlington, beating the Falcons by 17 and 18 points.
The dark horse: Since West Burlington doesn’t have to face Mid-Prairie until the district final, we’ll peg them as the dark horse in this district. The Falcons are led by sophomore guard Brady Martin Brady Martin 6'0" | PG West Burlington | 2024 State IA (13.1, 42.9 3P%), a sharpshooter who is capable of getting hot and carrying this team to some wins. They do a good job limiting turnovers and have a great shooter who can lead them to a few upsets.
Players to watch
2022
Carter Harmsen
Carter
Harmsen
6'5" | SF
Mid-Prairie | 2022
State
IA
, Mid-Prairie
2022
Jackson Pennington
Jackson
Pennington
5'10" | PG
Mid-Prairie | 2022
State
IA
, Mid-Prairie
2022
Dawson Lewis
Dawson
Lewis
6'4" | SF
Cardinal | 2022
State
IA
, Cardinal
2022
Griffin Greiner
Griffin
Greiner
6'1" | CG
Cardinal | 2022
State
IA
, Cardinal
2024
Brady Martin
Brady
Martin
6'0" | PG
West Burlington | 2024
State
IA
, West Burlington
2023 Cole Lipper, Mediapolis
2023
Jackson Manning
Jackson
Manning
5'11" | PG
Van Buren County | 2023
State
IA
, Van Buren County
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Camanche vs. Mid-Prairie
If Camanche were completely healthy, the Storm would probably be considered one of the top five contenders in the class. Alas, they’ve dealt with health issues throughout the year, and it may catch up with them here in a battle against the lone undefeated team left in 2A. Mid-Prairie uses their strong defense to stifle a Camanche team that has lost several of their offensive weapons and Carter Harmsen Carter Harmsen 6'5" | SF Mid-Prairie | 2022 State IA leads the Golden Hawks to the state tournament for the first time in 12 years.