Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Half of the field for the 2026 boys state basketball tournament is set.

Teams in Classes 1A and 2A secured spots at the state tournament schedule for March 9-13 at Casey’s Center in Des Moines with substate finals on Saturday.

Now the attention turns to the big schools.

Class 3A substate finals are set for Monday across the state with the Class 4A field being finalized with substate finals on Tuesday.

Here is a quick breakdown of the Class 3A substate title game between Solon and Central DeWitt.

Class 3A, Substate 4

No. 10 Central DeWitt (15-8) vs. No. 8 Solon (22-2)

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Solon High School

Statistical leaders: Solon – Tate McCollum, 5-10, Jr. – 19.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg. 2.3 apg; Maddox Kelley, 5-10, Jr. 10.5 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 4.1 spg., 3.5 apg. Central DeWitt – Brady Meadows, 5-9, Sr., 14.1 ppg., 5.4 apg., 2.8 rpg.; Hudson Krukow, 6-4, Sr., 14.1 ppg,, 7 rpg., 3.9 apg., 1.2 bpg.

About the Spartans: Solon returns to the substate title game for the fifth time in the past six seasons seeking its first state tournament berth since 2016.

The Spartans bring a five-game winning streak in the substate title game after a 71-51 win over Davenport Assumption the Substate 4 semifinals on Thursday.

Solon won 14 consecutive games to open the season before a home loss to Center Point-Urbana.

The other loss for Solon was a 59-55 overtime loss to Decorah on February 7.

Solon has four players averaging better than six points per game led by junior point guard Tate McCollum who is averaging 19.8 points per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

Junior Maddox Kelley averages 10.5 points per game while junior Grant Gordon is averaging 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Simon Einwalter averages 6.7 points, Kaden Hoeper averages 5.5 points and Tanner Heims averages 5.4 points per game.

About the Sabers: Central DeWitt is seeking its second consecutive state tournament trip and third in the past five seasons after falling in the 3A quarterfinals a year ago.

The Sabers started the season 5-7 but have won 10 of 11 since with the lone loss during that stretch coming to Class 4A substate final qualifier Muscatine.

Central DeWitt advanced to the Substate 4 title game with a 54-52 semifinal win over Marion on Thursday.

The Sabers are led by the senior trio of Brady Meadows, Hudson Krukow and Cal Kueter.

Meadows averages 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.

Krukow averages 14.1 points, 7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range.

Kueter is averaging 9.9 points and 5 rebounds per game and is shooting 59 percent from the floor.

Who to watch: Solon – In his first season in the Solon lineup junior point guard Tate McCollum has emerged as one of the most dynamic scorers in Class 3A. The 5-foot-10 McCollum is averaging a team-high 19.8 points per game while shooting 40 percent (97-of-240) from 3-point range and 42 percent from the floor.

As valuable as McCollum is as a scorer for the Spartans he is just as capable of impacting the game with his ability to draw opposing defenders and find open teammates.

He has nine assists in a pair of postseason wins and ranks second on the team with 2.3 assists this season.

If Central DeWitt elects to focus its defensive plan on McCollum he has shown he is capable of finding teammates for open looks.

Central DeWitt – Senior wing Hudson Krukow is a big reason for the late-season surge for Central DeWitt that has the Sabers a win away from a second consecutive state tournament appearance. The 6-foot-4 Kruklow has been at his best down the stretch and enters the substate final leading the Sabers in scoring (14.1), rebounds (7), steals (1.2) and blocked shots (1.2) and second in assists (3.9).

Kruklow has been at his best in big games, posting a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over 4A ninth-ranked Bettendorf and he had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a win over 4A substate finalist North Scott.

What to watch: One stat stands out in the box score of both of the losses for Solon this season – rebounding.

The Spartans were outrebounded by a combined total of 71-41 in losses to Center Point-Urbana and Decorah and allowed 24 offensive rebounds in those two setbacks.

A key for Solon on Monday will be keeping the rebounding numbers relatively even.

The Spartans were outrebounded 27-21 in a 20-point semifinal win over Davenport Assumption proving rebounding numbers aren’t fool proof.

However, against a Central DeWitt team that wants to pound the glass rebounding will be a key on Monday.

Central DeWitt has held the rebounding edge eight times in its last 11 games, going 10-1 in that stretch while outrebounding opponents by an average of nearly five boards per game.

The Sabers are averaging eight offensive rebounds per game over that span.

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