The #7 (2A) Grundy Center boys basketball team will take on Regina Catholic for the first time in the Bound Era when the programs meet in the Class 2A District 7 final on Tuesday, which will air on 99 The Wave. The game will be played at neutral site Benton Community.
Grundy Center (20-2) advanced with a 53-38 win over West Branch in the district semifinal on Thursday. The Spartans have taken care of business on both ends of the floor, holding opponents to an average 45.3 points per game and putting up 67.2 points behind 20 assists per game.
Spartans Head Coach Brent Thoren on maintaining identity and executing in every facet of the game.
“We need to really continue to do a really good job defensively, to make other teams work for their shots and work for their possessions. I think for us, it’s understanding what our identity is. We’re going to face some different styles of teams. Our ability to continue to understand that all of our guys are valuable and they’re going to have to contribute some way, whether it’s defensively or offensively,” says Thoren. “At this stage of the game, can you get extra possessions, can you rebound the basketball, can you get stops, can you make free throws. It’s cliche and coach speak, but really that’s what it comes down to.”
The Spartans have three players averaging double figures scoring, Tiernan Vokes with 13 points, Judd Jirovsky with 11 points and Brayden Wallis with 10 points per game.
Regina Catholic (19-3) advanced with a 48-42 win over Beckman Catholic in the district semifinal on Thursday. The Regals are selfless offensively with 15.5 assists per game. Will Litton leads with 17 points and Tate Wallace adds 16 points per game.
Thoren’s scouting report on the Regals.
“You look at their personnel, they’ve got height, they’ve got guard play. They are a little bit young. They do start some sophomores and a freshman, but they’ve got a nice mix of players. They play a lot of man-to-man defense, an aggressive style of man defense. They have a 6’7 kid, a 6’3 kid. They’ve got a lot of good athleticism. It’s gonna be a great challenge for us. At this time of the year, everybody’s gonna be good. Regina is 19-3, and they play a tough schedule. We will have our hands full with Regina.”
Coverage on 99 The Wave begins at 6:40 p.m. followed by the opening tip at 7:00 p.m. in Van Horne. The winner will advance to Saturday’s substate final against either Monticello or Northeast.
