2024 Playoffs: State Predictions (Class 1A-2A)
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Now that every team has solidified their place for each Class in the State Tournament. It’s time to cover our predictions as to what might happen and who might be some players to keep an eye on over this next…
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Continue ReadingNow that every team has solidified their place for each Class in the State Tournament. It’s time to cover our predictions as to what might happen and who might be some players to keep an eye on over this next week.
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Class 1A
Overview:
As we head into the week, most of the teams that we imagine to be alive at this point, still are. There were not many upsets in the Regional rounds leading up to this point, making for a jam packed week ahead of us. If you take a look at the playing field and how everyone has played up until this point in the season, you can truly say that this Class is still wide open as it pertains to who is the favorite to bring home the State Title. There are so teams that have more of an edge then others but not by much. It’s really an even playing field that is going to come down to execution in the end. Whoever executes the best is going to have the best chance at etching their names in the history books when everything is finished for the 2023-2024 high school basketball season.
Quarter-Finals:
- #1 North Linn vs #8 Montezuma – In Round One, the top seeded matchup is one between North Linn and Monetzuma High School. In a game that is going to have talented players on each side of the ball, The Lynx are going to have an advantage with the kinds of players that they are bringing to the hardwood. Prospects like Kamryn Kurt Kamryn Kurt 5'6" | PG North Linn | 2024 State IA (18 PPG/4 RPG/6 APG), Macy Boge Macy Boge 5'7" | CG North Linn | 2024 State IA (16 PPG/4 APG), and Molly Boge Molly Boge 5'6" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA (12 PPG/4 APG) are going to be a lot to handle for the Bravettes. In the end, I think that it could be a close battle early on but when the final buzzer sounds, North Linn will be moving onto the Semi’s.
- #4 St. Albert vs #5 Bishop Garrigan – The second match listed in this bracket maybe the one that is the most interesting in the First Round. The personal and coaching in this contest is second-to-none. Both teams are going to have their chances to make their runs. It’s going to be whoever can weather the storm for the longest, is who is going to be move onto the next round to face the winner of the Lynx and Bravettes. On the Saintes side you have Ella Klusman (12 PPG), Avah Underwood (11 PPG/8 RPG/3 APG), and Missy Evezic Missy Evezic 6'4" | C St. Alberts | 2024 State IA (11 PPG/8 RPG). While for BG, the production of Graclyn Eastman Graclyn Eastman 6'0" | SF Bishop Garrigan | 2027 State IA (17 PPG/10 RPG) and Emmi Bartolo Emmi Bartolo 5'6" | PG Bishop Garrigan | 2027 IA (12 PPG/4 APG) has really carried this group throughout their winter. On paper, this could turn into a barn-burner in the end. I’m going to say that the Saintes pull this one out and move onto Round Two.
- #2 Newell-Fonda vs #7 Calamus-Wheatland – Newell Fonda being ranked #2 in this State Tournament is a blessing in more ways then one and it’s going to help them in the long run if they make it all the way to the State Title game for this 1A Class. Nothing against Calamus-Wheatland but their main producer is Kahlie Hill Kahlie Hill 6'3" | C Calamus-Wheatland | 2024 State IA (13 PPG/6 RPG) and the Mustangs have a player that will have the ability to guard here in Kinzee Hinders Kinzee Hinders 6'1" | PF Newell-Fonda | 2025 State IA (15 PPG/5 RPG). Newell-Fonda is the team with the most weapons on both sides of the ball in this Class. If they play to their full potential and execute over this next week, no one is going to slow them down.
- #3 Remsen St. Marys vs #6 Martensdale-St. Marys – Remsen St. Marys come into this game on a roll. They have been dismantling their competition as of late and I don’t think that is going to change here in their First Round matchup. I like the Blue Devils but the size of Remsen is what kills teams and I’m not sure who is going to stand up to that size for Martensdale. Both literally and metaphorically. Both programs have put together memorable seasons once again but if they want to finish things off with a bang, they are going to have to show up and play out of their minds moving forward. In this round, I’m going to go with the Hawks to move on.
Semi-Finals:
- #1 North Linn vs #4 St. Albert – I’m predicting that facing off in Round Two on the top side of the 1A bracket will be The North Linn Lynx vs The Saint Albert Saintes. I’ve gone back and forth on this game. On one side, the Guard play for the Lynx is skilled, experienced, and hungry for another State Title run. On the other side, St. Albert’s is a really complete group that can score inside-to-out, almost at Will depending on the situation. They do a great job of setting each other up for success and because of that, they have won a lot this winter. If I had to choose, I would take the side of experience with the Guard play and think that North Linn is going to be able to get it done in the end somehow. I’m not sure how as anything could happen in a situation like this but that is what my gut is telling me so that is what I am going to sticking with.
- #2 Newell-Fonda vs #3 Remsen St. Marys – The Newell-Fonda Mustangs are going to keep their winning streak alive by killing it in the Quarterfinals and moving onto the Semi’s against a scary Remsen St. Marys group. The Mustangs are going to be a squad who could get it done against every team they matchup against the rest of the way and that includes against the Hawks. For the Hawks, my only question is going to be if they can keep up offensively. If the Mustangs get hot and go on a run, will Remsen be able to consisntely respond? If so, this is really anyone’s game in the end. Like I’ve said before, I think that Newell Fonda could very well be the best team from top to bottom in this Class. It’s going to have everything they have to move on from this round but I think they get it done.
Finals:
- #1 North Linn vs #2 Newell-Fonda – I have a feeling that the 1A Championship is going to come down to the North Linn Lynx vs The Newell-Fonda Mustangs. This battle is going to be high scoring from the three point line with some intense defensive pressures. Both of these groups will understand the assignment of one another from a strategic standpoint, so it’s all about who is going to be able to adapt the best. Styles make fights and I think this is could be a fight for the ages. In the end, I like the Newell Fonda Mustangs to hoist the trophy. If they play the style of team ball we have seen all winter long, they are going to be too tough to slow down.
Class 2A
Overview:
The 2A Class is one that pretty even across the board, if we don’t include the best team in this Class in the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines. I’ve said this from the very start of the season and I’m going to reiterate it once more, this is the DNH Wolverine’s State Title to lose. They dominated last year on their way to a Title run and that has been much of the same this season. I think that their toughest test will be in their Second Round matchup but during the Post-season, anything can happen. Every team that has qualified for the State Tournament has earned their right to be here and everyone has just as much of a chance as the others but when you break down factors like personal, coaching, experience and history, it’s hard to imagine anyone but the Wolverines coming out on top. That’s just the reality of the situation unless someone steps up and shows us something different.
Quarter-Finals:
- #1 Dike-New Hartford vs #8 Cascade – The first matchup of the 2A Class will be between #1 DNH and #8 Cascade. In a battle that is going to be a tough one for both sides, I like the Wolverines to handle their business and move onto Round Two. The Cougars have a few prospects that can make some things happen but I’m not sure that it will be enough. Prospects like Molly Roling Molly Roling 5'7" Cascade | 2025 State IA (13 PPG/7 RPG/4 APG), Addison Frake (11 PPG/10 RPG/2 APG), and Harper Sconsa Harper Sconsa 5'7" | SG Cascade | 2027 IA (6 PPG) have shown up consistently all season long. If the Cougars wants a shot to move on, that’ll will have to be the case once again. On the Wolverines side, it’s the usual suspects that you have to worry about. They have Jadyn Petersen Jadyn Petersen 5'8" | CG Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA (13 PPG/7 RPG/3 APG) at the PG spot, Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA (17 PPG/9 RPG/4 APG) at the Forward position, and Maryne Bixby (13 PPG/3 RPG/4 APG) at Shooting Guard. This three-headed monster that they have is not going to be easy to stop but if Cascade can at least slow them down, it gives them more of a chance.
- #4 Sioux Center vs #5 EBF – Matchup #2 of this Class is between the #4 and #5 seed, Sioux Central and The EBF Rockets. This contest could swing anyone’s way. I have not had the chance to see both of these programs compete live yet this season but that all changes this week at the Well. Both programs come into this contest with some convincing winters under their belts and a lot on the line. Up until this point in their season’s, each team has lost very few games and has put together a lot of wins. This is a simple game of who is going to show up. Like in every contest, whoever shows up and executes to the best of their ability, is going to get a shot to continue on for a State Title when the final buzzer sounds. I’m learning toward the Rockets to pull this one out because of their persistent and presence in the middle but it only takes one moment for anyone to make a play, completely changing the outcome of a contest. We will just have to see who that is down the stretch.
- #2 Panorama vs #7 Grundy Center – As we get into the bottom half of this State bracket, we get a matchup that possess a lot of questions. Both programs are going to have their stars but it’s going to come down to the role players in this one. I’m expecting the Top 2-3 players from each team to have games, kinda of like we would expect but it’s who we wouldn’t expect that is going to make the biggest difference. Which-ever group has more players, who can step up when you’d least expect it, that’s the group that is going to be the biggest threat to move on here. It could go either way but in the end, I think that Grundy Center is going to make more shots and play better defense. They have more strategic schemes and that could make all the difference.
- #3 Westwood vs #6 Central Lyon – Westwood vs Central Lyon is not a contest for the faint of heart. In a game that is going to produce a lot of points under near the hoop. The “X-Factor” is going to come down to the offensive production of Central Lyon. I’m not worried about the Westwood Rebels and scoring the basketball but I somewhat am with Central Lyon. They have done a great job of producing when it’s matter the most this season but will they be able to do that in their Round One matchup? I’m not too sure. I have a feeling that Westwood is going to prove to be too much offensively for anyone at this point so give me the Rebels to make it through to Round Two.
Semi-Finals:
- #1 Dike-New Hartford vs #5 EBF – As we approach the First Semi-Final matchup, we have two teams that have size, skill, and the hunger to come out firing on all cylinders. As it pertains to the team with the best shot to beat the Wolverines this season, I think that the Rockets are the group that could do it. If they get past their first matchup against Sioux Central, I’m sure they could beat the Wolverines and take things all the way. It’s going to take everything they have, along with them getting some breaks as it pertains to loose balls, reffing calls, ect..but it’s possible. In the end, I think you have to favor the Wolverines here. They play team basketball and they have a ton of different weapons who can kill you, in a number of different ways. They will be favored here but it’s still going to take maximum effort on their part to move onto the Championship.
- #7 Grundy Center vs #3 Westwood – After a potential upset in the Quarter-Finals, the Grundy Center Spartans are going to look to upset another higher ranking seed in the #3 Westwood Rebels. The Rebels have size, experience, and the understand of what the objective is for their season as a whole. As it pertains to Grundy, they matchup with the Rebels pretty well, making this contest an even one – on paper. This is another game that when everything else is evened out, you ask yourself who can come up with the best game plan and who an execute that game plan to the best of their ability. I think in this case, it’s the Rebels.
Finals:
- #1 Dike-New Hartford vs #3 Westwood – My prediction is that the #1 ranked Dike-New Hartford Wolverines are going to face off with the #3 Westwood Rebels for the 2A State Title at the end of this week. If we get to this game with both of these teams still breathing, then I have the Wolverines hoisting the trophy when the final buzzer sounds solely because of their Guard-play. I have a feeling that the Forwards in this matchup would combat each other pretty well to start the game, leaving it up to the Guards to take a brunt of the work. Once the guards start to make a difference from the outside, that’s when the Wolverines will have the middle open up, leading them to a 2A State Title once again. For the fourth year in a row.