The #7 (2A) Grundy Center boys basketball team will begin what it hopes is a lengthy state tournament run Tuesday. They’ll take on #4 (2A) Unity Christian in a 2A quarterfinal at 7:15 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena on 99 The Wave.
The 6-seed Spartans (22-2) are back in the state tournament for the second consecutive season, having bowed out in last year’s quarterfinal. They’ve won three straight, and have had a week off since a 71-62 substate final win over Northeast.
Unity Christian (20-4) is also making its second straight state tournament appearance, having been defeated in last year’s semifinal. They’ve had three decisive postseason wins, including 67-43 over Spirit Lake in the substate final.
Grundy Center coach Brent Thoren sees similarities between the Knights and some other opponents the team has faced.
“They’re very similar to Northeast Goose Lake in the style that they wanna play,” Thoren says. “Very similar to Caroll Kuemper from last year. Very similar to Aplington-Parkersburg actually. This is a team that shoots a high percentage of three pointers. They transition a lot. They really have five guys that can really score the basketball. They’re very balanced. In some ways, they’re similar to us, that they want to share the basketball. A very up tempo style, and they’ve been to the state tournament last year. Lost to Hudson in the semifinals by three points, and return pretty much everybody from that team. So in a lot of ways, they’re very similar to us and what they want to do.”
Dylan Bosma leads with 16.3 points per game, one of four double digit per game scorers. His 80 made three-pointers are among the best in Class 2A.
Pregame coverage will begin at 6:00 p.m. with “Meet the Spartans” featuring interviews. The winner will advance to Thursday’s semifinal against either West Lyon or Union.
