Iowa Playoffs: Class 2A, Substate 4 Preview
The favorite: Despite every team in this district being above .500 entering postseason play, Dyersville Beckman should be considered an overwhelming favorite here. Playing in the WaMaC is a huge advantage for the Blazers, and they’ve been paced by the dynamic backcourt…
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Continue ReadingThe favorite: Despite every team in this district being above .500 entering postseason play, Dyersville Beckman should be considered an overwhelming favorite here. Playing in the WaMaC is a huge advantage for the Blazers, and they’ve been paced by the dynamic backcourt of Colin Squiers (19.2 points per game) and Colton Willenbring (17.5). Squiers is one of the state’s top shooters, hitting 49.5% of his 3-pointers, and the Blazers are shooting 41.6% from the arc as a team. This is a talented group that shouldn’t have too many problems in this district.
The biggest threat: MFL-Mar-Mac ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak, playing without leading scorer Tristen Kautman. The Bulldogs still have a number of scoring options and a solid inside-out game with guards Mason Hertrampf and Ty Hefner, and big man Cade Kuenster.
The dark horse: Austin Callahan (19.1) is an efficient scoring option for North Fayette Valley, shooting 54.0% from the floor. He could give MFL-Mar-Mac problems in the semi-final, and then anything can happen in a final.
Players to watch
Colin Squiers, Dyersville Beckman, 2016
Colton Willenbring, Dyersville Beckman, 2016
Cade Kuenster, MFL-Mar-Mac, 2017
Mason Hertrampf, MFL-Mar-Mac, 2016
Austin Callahan, North Fayette Valley, 2016
Haden Hammel, Waukon, 2016
The favorite: A 14-point win in the regular season finale gives Monticello the edge here over Cascade. The Panthers have been rolling since the winter break, winning 12 of 13. Derek Manternach (18.3 points, 73 3PM) has been fantastic this season, and they’ve got a solid group of role players alongside him. This is a well-coached bunch on both ends of the floor, they take great care of the ball (315-186 assist-to-turnover ratio), and they shoot it well from the perimeter (38.2 3P%) – something that will help against Cascade’s zone.
The biggest threat: Legendary coach Al Marshall will be looking to go out with another state tournament trip, and his Cascade team is certainly capable. They split with Monticello during the season and have a dominant big man in Devin Green (20.4 points, 62.6 FG%). They flank him with a pair of good perimeter shooters in Trace Hoffman (41.4%) and Jarrett Knepper (43.8%). The Cougars are always a disciplined group that plays great defense, and this district final will be a battle.
The dark horse: I’m not sure anything is stopping Monticello and Cascade Part III, but Union, La Porte City has a better chance to win on a neutral court than Oelwein has at winning at Cascade. Cael Lambe can get hot from deep and keep them in the game, but they’ll need to find some help for him if they want to pull off an upset or two.
Players to watch
Derek Manternach, Monticello, 2016
Matt Manternach, Monticello, 2016
Devin Green, Cascade, 2016
Trace Hoffman, Cascade, 2016
Jarrett Knepper, Cascade, 2016
Cael Lambe, Union, La Porte City, 2017
SUBSTATE PREDICTION
Dyersville Beckman vs. Monticello
In a fascinating contrast, Monticello’s top ranked defense (41.9 points a game) does enough to slow down Beckman’s fantastic shooters, and gets just enough scoring from Derek Manternach and company to punch their ticket to Des Moines.