A look at Saturday’s boys’ basketball substate finals

North Linn Linx guard Cade Haughenbury (20) jumps up past Janesville Wildcats forward Wiley Sherburne (3) and Janesville Wildcats guard Keegan Eastman (10) and shoots a basket for the Lynx in the first half of the game during the boys 1A substate semifinal game at West Delaware High School in Manchester, Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Here are capsules looking at Class 1A and 2A Iowa high school boys’ basketball substate final games in the area and around the state.

Saturday’s Class 1A substate finals

No. 2 NORTH LINN (23-1) vs. EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG (21-3)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at West Delaware H.S., Manchester

Overview: These teams played twice in the regular season and split those games. Ed-Co beat North Linn at home, 52-47, just before Christmas, handing the Lynx their first regular-season loss in 108 games. It also was the first time North Linn had lost to a Tri-Rivers Conference opponent since 2006. North Linn won the return matchup at Troy Mills in late January, 61-47.

Ed-Co’s other losses were to Alburnett by a point and Springville by three. The Vikings have 13 seniors on their roster. A balanced offense is led by Mason Ashline (13.8 points per game), Jack Wiskus (10.7) and Korey Putz (10.0).

Four North Linn players average double figures in scoring: Austin Hilmer (20.1), Tate Haughenbury (15.5), Dylan Kurt (13.4) and Cade Haughenbury (10.8). The Lynx are seeking their sixth consecutive berth to the state tournament. Ed-Co has qualified once, in 2018. Who wins the pace battle here will be important.

State

No. 5 Avoca AHSTW (23-1) vs. West Harrison (21-3) at Council Bluffs Jefferson
Danville (22-2) vs. WACO (20-4) at Fairfield
No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (23-1) vs. Bellevue (12-12) at Tiffin
No. 1 Grand View Christian (23-0) vs. Council Bluffs St. Albert (12-11) at West Des Moines Dowling
Lynnville-Sully (18-6) vs. North Mahaska (19-5) at Oskaloosa
No. 9 Newell-Fonda (22-2) vs. No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s (23-0) at Sioux Center
No. 4 Lake Mills (23-1) vs. No. 10 Dunkerton (22-3) at Clear Lake

Saturday’s Class 2A substate finals

JESUP (18-5) vs. No. 5 APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG (21-2)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Waterloo East H.S.

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Overview: Will the “Difficult to beat a team three times in a season” theorem hold true here? Aplington-Parkersburg handily won two regular-season meetings between these North Iowa Cedar League foes: 86-60 and 99-60.

A-P senior guard Jayden Mackie is a 1,000-point scorer in his career and leads the team with a 21.5 per-game scoring average. Garrett Hempen averages 15.3, Gavin Thomas 13.7 and Christian Haugstad 12.0. The 6-foot-7 Haugstad also averages over 10 rebounds a game.

Jesup is on a 15-game heater going into this game. That includes avenging a regular-season loss to Denver in a district final. Senior Carson Lienau is one of the top players around the area, averaging 21.3 points and 11.6 rebounds a game. Senior Corbin Fuelling averages 17 points a game.

A-P is seeking back-to-back state tournament berths. Jesup’s last berth came in 2016.

No. 2 MID-PRAIRIE (23-0) vs. NORTHEAST (16-7)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Muscatine H.S.

Overview: What a dream season thus far for Mid-Prairie, which is one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the state. Pleasant Valley (4A) and Grand View Christian and Remsen St. Mary’s (1A) are the others. The Golden Hawks beat Northeast in a regular-season encounter, 60-55, in overtime. Five points is their closest win this season, also accomplished over Camanche, fellow 2A substate finalist Williamsburg and West Branch.

Senior forward Carter Harmsen is M-P’s do-everything dude. He averages 20 points a game, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, two steals and a block. Ethan Kos, Jackson Pennington, Alex Bean and Will Kavanagh are the other starters, each averaging between 7.2 and 10.4 points a game.

Northeast avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Camanche in the district final to reach this game. Cade Hughes (13.2) and Carter Pataska (13.1) are the main two scorers.

Mid-Prairie last qualified for the state tournament in 2010, Northeast in 2007.

No. 6 WILLIAMSBURG (22-2) vs. No. 7 MONTICELLO (20-3)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Cedar Rapids Kennedy H.S.

Overview: Williamsburg seeks just its third state tournament appearance. The Raiders made it in 2003 and 2015, when they finished fourth in Class 3A. Monticello has qualified four prior times, including the last two seasons: 2A in 2020 and 3A last season.

Williamsburg swept through the predominantly 3A Wamac Conference, an impressive feat. The Raiders’ losses were to fellow 2A substate finalist Mid-Prairie and to 3A Fort Madison. Sophomore Derek Weisskopf is Williamsburg’s leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, someone who can play inside and outside. Eight players average five points or better for the Raiders.

Monticello has done the proverbial reloading this season, winning its division in the River Valley Conference despite four multi-year starters graduating from last season. Junior point guard Tate Petersen (19.2 ppg, 5.6 apg) and sophomore forward Preston Ries (18.6 ppg) are the primary scorers for the Panthers. Monti’s losses were to Northeast, Mid-Prairie and East Dubuque (Ill.).

State