Saturday's Class 1A, 2A boys' basketball substate final capsules

JESUP (21-3) vs. DUNKERTON (24-1)

What: Class 1A substate final

Where: Independence

When: 7 p.m.

Scouting Report: Dunkerton comes in ranked eighth by The Gazette/Iowa Prep Sports, Jesup is unranked. Dunkerton is led by 6-foot-11 senior center Kory Kuenstling, a Drake signee who averages 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He shoots 67 percent from the field. Guards Trevor Jacobsen (13 ppg) and Jordan Kubitz (10.8) are the team's primary 3-point shooters. Dunkerton's only loss was to Meskwaki Settlement School. It has been to state three times and won two championships (in 1933 and 2004). Jesup has not been to the state tournament since 1999. Senior guard Trevor Larson leads the J-Hawks in scoring (16.7 points per game). Kyle Schulz, a 6-5 sophomore, averages 12.9 points. Jesup has played 11 games decided by seven points or less and is 9-2 in those games.

KEOTA (23-1) vs. VAN BUREN (21-3))

What: Class 1A substate final

Where: Oskaloosa

When: 7 p.m.

Scouting Report: Keota is ranked fifth, Van Buren unranked. Keota has made one state tournament appearance, winning it all in 1A in 1989. The Eagles' loss this season was 45-33 to Lynnville-Sully in mid-January. Keota is led by the one-two punch of guards Luke Lyle and Kolton Greiner, both of whom average 19 points per game. The Eagles have just 10 players on their roster, four sophomores. They have just one player taller than 6-2 (6-4 Nate Owen). All five Van Buren starters average double figures in scoring, led by 6-5 center Thomas Fitzsimmons (15.5). Van Buren, which has not been to state since 1980, has lost to Burlington Notre Dame, Iowa Mennonite and Fort Madison Holy Trinity. The Braves also own wins over Notre Dame and Holy Trinity.

MFL/MAR-MAC (17-6) vs. CASCADE (20-3)

What: Class 2A substate final

Where: Manchester

When: 7 p.m.

Scouting Report: MFL is seeking its third consecutive trip to the state tournament. The Bulldogs finished fourth in both 2012 and 2013. Cascade has been to state five times under veteran head coach Al Marshall, the last in 2011. MFL/Mar-Mac beat Cascade last season in a substate final. Four of MFL's losses came in an 11-day span in mid-February. Senior guard Cody Mason is a 1,000-point scorer in his career and averages a team-best 20.8 points this season. Senior guard Haris Takes leads Cascade in scoring (18.4 ppg). Six-foot-6 sophomore center Devin Green averages 14.1. The biggest key, as always, is how MFL handles Cascade's trademark 2-3 zone defense.

NORTH CEDAR (20-4) vs. MOUNT VERNON (18-5)

What: Class 2A substate final

Where: Cedar Rapids Jefferson

When: 7 p.m.

Scouting Report: These teams met way back on Dec. 7, with Mount Vernon winning, 74-52. North Cedar is looking to make it to the state tournament for a fourth straight season under successful veteran coach Scott Jackson. Jayden Johnson, a 6-4 junior, leads the Knights in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). North Cedar has won 14 of its last 15 games. Mount Vernon has not lost to a 2A team this season, with its five defeats coming to 3A opponents from the Wamac Conference. The Mustangs' top four scorers all are underclassmen, including leading scorers Connor Herrmann and Tommy Hook, both sophomores. Mount Vernon won a 2A state title in 2012.