TR Photo by Jake Ryder – The Grundy Center Boys’ Basketball team will pos for the state qualifying banner after beating the 71-62-year-old Northeastern in the Class 2A Substate 4 Finals on Waverly’s Wartburg College campus. The Spartans will head to the state for the second year in a row.
Des Moines – Grandi Center’s previous state experience in boys’ basketball will be tested immediately in the second go-round from Tuesday.
The Spartans will face Unity Christian in the Class 2A quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena at 7:15pm.
The Knights were the 2A semifinalists last year and were exiled by Hudson, who ultimately finished runner-up, like Grandi Centre.
The two schools also have state experience that has undoubtedly been the most returning from last year’s 2A field. Unity Christian returns four key contributors from last year’s state run, along with senior Brayden Bosma, who missed most of last season with a season-ending injury.
Bosma averaged 11 points per game, with younger brother Dylan Bosma, junior and 16.3 points per game, and sophomore Tais Van Dongge scored 12.3 points per game.
“They’re really offensively efficient,” said Grandi Center head coach Brent Tollen. “They do a great job of cutting into baskets, moving it quickly and getting some easy scores from simple scores, so if they know what the people we’re protecting can do, then they need to identify their personnel.”
Toren believes the nature of Grandi Center’s athletic success in recent years could put Spartans on top.
“Grandy has a victory mindset,” added GC senior Brayden Wallis. “We’re used to being in a stressful situation no matter what sport it is. …We put the effort of the whole group. Everyone goes there and does their best, but with our experience we might have the edge.”
The Knights were hit hard before the season began. Junior Austin Wieringa was injured during the football season, kicking the Knights’ third leading scorer (12.3 points per game) out of the winter equation. However, with four points in a double figure with Jackson Vogel adding 10 points per game, Unity Christian cruised to the state’s return with a 67-43 bang for Spirit Lake in the Subgenbe Finals. The Knights are 20-4 overall, with only losses to 2A state qualifiers West Lyon, West Tank Lischan and 3A qualifier MOC-Floyd Valley.
“Unity is a good team and we need to bring in the ‘A’ game,” said Spartan senior Ryker Thoren. “We look forward to that, but I think we can run deep this year.”
Six of the Spartans’ main seven-player rotation were on the floor in Des Moines last year. Four of them — Jalen Kirkpatrick, Tiannan Vokes, Judd Zirovski and Wallis, averaged double-digit scores.
Kirkpatrick, who missed the chunks of the season due to injury, averaged 16.5 points, eight rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Spartans in 13 games.
Grundy Center was able to turn to the next guy, but Kirkpatrick healed this winter, but it’s definitely a complete feeling for the Spartans to be back in the 2024 All-State third team AA back to the floor.
“I think his height and being able to cut into the basket will really help us,” GC senior Brody Zinkra said. “I think he’s helping our team’s chemistry, and if we can run seven guys in our rotation it’s useful if someone needs a blow.”
And with Kirkpatrick in the All-Senior starting lineup, the Spartans can jump into the game as the sixth guy who is productive from the bench, as Zilovski scored 14 points with five rebounds and five assists.
“We have five incredible seniors right in front of us. I’m willing to do my part,” Zirovsky said. “I’m coming in and giving the game a different vibe, something that can be used to get a better start.”
Jirovsky was the Times co-football player of the year in the state championship that won the Spartan Football team.
“For almost every team we face, he’s going to be a starter,” Brent Tollen said. “But he just brings the extra elements from the bench. The whole spark plug. It’s very offensive, but he can also smash people defensively.”
Tiannan Vokes led the Spartans and scored 20 points in the final victory of the Sats board. Uni Football’s commit also brings his hardnose soccer mentality to hardwoods, leading the team with a total rebound average of 5.4 per game.
“There are ups and downs throughout the season, but we’ve been together all the time and really came the last time,” Vokes said. “We love each other, we love playing for each other, and we love when others are successful.
Each game day is a chance for another Spartan to step up. At least three Spartans scored 10 or more points in four of their last five games.
“If someone is having a night off, others can step up,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’ve been working really hard over the last few weeks to get to this point. We have to keep grinding.”
Brent Tollen sees his approach to Tuesday’s game as a big difference from last year. There, Grandi Centre won Hudson in the first match of the morning.
“I think what we’re more used to is that it’s the game day preparation routine,” Toren added. “We can get off there and tackle the atmosphere rather than getting up in the morning and getting ready to get on the bus and play.
“We’re really proud of how both juniors and seniors approached practice. Judd and BraidenDavy have also done an incredible job for us, so it’s not just seniors. And while Dayton Myers and Preston Martens don’t get much playing time, they help us prepare and bring lightness to practice. We’re proud that we kept shooting one game at a time and have a very professional and Workman-like approach this week.”
Boys State Basketball Tournament
At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines
Quarterfinal pairing
Class 4a
Monday, March 10th
No. 4 Waukee Northwest (21-3) vs. No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (20-4), 10:30am
No. 1 Cedar Falls (21-2) vs. No. 8 Dubuque Senior (17-6), 12:15pm
No. 2 Linn-Mar (21-2) vs. No. 7 Waukee (18-6), 2pm
No. 3 West Des Moines Valley (20-3) vs. No. 6 Ames (21-2), 3:45pm
Class 3a
Monday, March 10th
No. 1 Clear Lake (24-0) vs. No. 8 Central Dewitt (13-11), 5:30pm
No. 4 Storm Lake (22-1) vs. No. 5 ADM, Adel (21-4), 7:15pm
Tuesday, March 11th
No. 2 Knoxville (24-0) vs. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-9), 10:30am
No. 3 Ballard (21-2) vs. No. 6 Moc-Floyd Valley (20-4), 12:15pm
Class 2a
Tuesday, March 11th
No. 1 Western Christian (22-3) vs. No. 8 Jesup (16-9), 2pm
No. 4 Grandview Christian (23-1) vs. Trainer No. 5 (22-3), 3:45pm
No. 2 West Lyon (21-3) vs. No. 7 Union Community (17-9), 5:30pm
No. 3 Unity Christian (20-4) vs. No. 6 Grundy Center (22-2), 7:15pm
Class 1A
Wednesday, March 12th
No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (22-3) vs. No. 5 North Linn (23-2), 10:30am
No. 1 Bellevue Marquette (25-1) vs. No. 8 Remsen-St. Mary (21-4), 12:15pm
No. 2 Madrid (25-0) vs. No. 7 Boyden-Hull (18-8), 2pm
No. 3 Fort Dodge St. Edmond (22-3) vs. No. 6 Woodbine (23-2), 3:45pm
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