What we learned from Grand View Christian's 63-46 1A Iowa boys state title victory over North Linn

Joe Randleman, Ames Tribune
·4 min read

Grand View Christian got its revenge.

The No. 1 Thunder defeated No. 2 North Linn with ease in the Class 1A championship game of the Iowa boys state basketball tournament Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

GVC rolled to a 63-46 victory to claim its fourth state championship and first since winning three in a row from 2017-2019.

Grand View Christian junior Noah John (35) and senior Daniel Tobiloba (34) hold their teams championship trophy after defeating North Linn in the class 1A championship game of the Iowa high school boys state basketball tournament.
Grand View Christian junior Noah John (35) and senior Daniel Tobiloba (34) hold their teams championship trophy after defeating North Linn in the class 1A championship game of the Iowa high school boys state basketball tournament.

"It's such an amazing feeling," said GVC guard and All-Tournament Team captain Josh Sanderson. "The amount of work we put in this offseason was just an absurd amount. This was the main goal all season and to come here and reach our goal is such a blessing from God."

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The Thunder avenged a 52-48 loss to North-Linn during last year's 1A title game. They finished the 2022-2023 season with a perfect 27-0 record.

North Linn finished 26-1. The Lynx have now reached six state title games in a row.

Here is what we learned from GVC's championship victory.

Noah John is the hero

Most of North Linn's focus was going to go on Sanderson and 7-foot Thunder center Daniel Tobiloba.

Sanderson was coming off a 41-point performance during GVC's 68-50 semifinal win over West Harrison on Wednesday and Tobiloba was the anchor to the Thunder's stout defense.

Sanderson still had 18 points and had Tobiloba 8 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. But junior Noah John may have hurt the Lynx the most, going for 18 points to nearly double his season average while adding six rebounds and two assists.

"That's what you dream about," John said. "I watched the state tournament when I was 10 years old and the (GVC) state champions before me. Going out there and having a good game was really awesome."

John was the "tweener" in the Thunder lineup. At 6-foot-5 he was between Tobiloba and 6-9 forward Emiliano Barrantes and Sanders and Frankie Chiodo, who are 5-11 and 6-0, respectively.

He ended up finding open spaces in the middle of the lane and taking advantage to constantly hurt North Linn off the drive and with his mid-range shot.

"He was just an absolute dog out there," Sanderson said. "Everything we needed him to do, he did. Defensively, offensively...he was an absolute machine."

Grand View Christian guard Josh Sanderson (2) dribbles against North Linn guard Ben Wheatley (13) during the class 1A championship game of the Iowa high school boys state basketball tournament.
Grand View Christian guard Josh Sanderson (2) dribbles against North Linn guard Ben Wheatley (13) during the class 1A championship game of the Iowa high school boys state basketball tournament.

Thunder play the second half with a purpose

GVC only led 32-30 at the half.

The Thunder had to rally from an early 16-7 deficit to take the lead at the half. In the second half, they really turned up the pressure on defense and John burned North Linn with 8 points in the third quarter as GVC built a 51-38 lead to take complete control.

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"The first half was a little bit rough, but in that locker room we trusted each other and really gave every single thing we had out there," Sanderson said. "That's what I think the difference was."

The Thunder held the Lynx to 36.7% shooting from the field. They posted a huge 41-25 rebounding advantage and totaled five blocks as a team.

"If you want to win the championship, you've got to go get it," Tobiloba said. "Everyone worked together to get us in that position."

North Linn seniors Tate Haughenbury (31) and Grant Rechkemmer (53) receiver their teams banner and runner-up trophy after losing to Grand View Christian in the class 1A championship game.
North Linn seniors Tate Haughenbury (31) and Grant Rechkemmer (53) receiver their teams banner and runner-up trophy after losing to Grand View Christian in the class 1A championship game.

Another amazing run by North Linn

Making six-consecutive state championship games is a remarkable achievement.

North Linn gave GVC a great run during the first half, but the Lynx just couldn't overcome the Thunder's size advantage and the hot hand of John in the second half. That didn't take away from another fantastic run by head coach Mike Hilmer's squad.

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"We just got outmatched tonight," said North Linn forward Tate Haughenbury. "(But) it's really special for a group of guys like this to put it all together for four years and to be able to come down here. You don't see a lot of small schools like this making runs like that every single year. It's pretty special in any class."

Haughenbury had 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists against the Thunder. Ben Wheatley added 13 points and Brecklyn Betenbender posted 7.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Grand View Christian tops North Linn to claim 1A boys state title