Boys’ state basketball recap

DES MIONES — They may not sell chalk at your local Casey’s store, but the first and final Iowa High School boys state basketball tournament at the newly named “Casey’s Center” in Des Moines had plenty of it.

Three of the four top seeds in the 2026 IHSAA boys state tournament took home a championship trophy over the weekend, and all four No. 1 seeds at least made the state championship game.

In a week that was full of fun for Cedar Falls area basketball teams, the unbeaten Tigers won the Class 4A tournament. Cedar Falls beat both Urbandale and Dowling Catholic by double digits, before knocking off Johnston, 56-48 in the title game.

In Class 3A, Ballard avenged its only loss of the season by sneaking past ADM 43-39 in a thrilling final. The Bombers had previously escaped Carroll, 57-55 in the semifinals after blowing out Gilbert by 30 points in the first round.

Class 2A was the only bracket to see the top seed go down, as second-seeded Unity Christian knocked off No. 1 Kuemper Catholic 67-64 in an all-private school final. Unity faced only private schools in its entire state run, beating Western Christian 70-64 in the first round, and then eliminating former Mt. Pleasant head coach Paul Rundquist and the Regina Regals 72-46 in the semis.

In Class 1A, it was St. Edmond who won another all-private school final, beating Marquette Catholic 54-42 for the championship. St. Edmond got past Southeast Iowa Super Conference champion Notre Dame, 74-55, in the semifinals after beating Woodbine, 60-44, in the opening round.

Next year, all four state tournaments in IHSAA boys basketball will move up north to Hilton Colosseum in Ames.