(Des Moines, IA) — Fifteen years ago, Head coach Kyle Bartels took over a Woodbine boys basketball program that was struggling. There were seasons with few wins, plenty of losing, and a long road ahead. This afternoon, Bartels and the Tigers will make their third consecutive appearance at the state tournament, the first program in Woodbine history to ever accomplish that feat.
What makes this run even more remarkable is what the Tigers had to overcome to get there. Woodbine dealt with significant injuries throughout the season, losing sophomore starter Aiden Coenen, a 6-foot-5 post presence, for most of the year with a back injury. A talented 6-foot-2 freshman in Braden Berry suffered two concussions and later a knee injury, missing extended stretches in January before returning in time for the postseason. Due to those injuries, Woodbine was looking like a middle-of-the-pack team in the Rolling Valley Conference at the beginning of the year, but Bartels knew that he had something if the team was healthy:
Once healthy, it’s safe to say that Woodbine proved themselves by taking down the defending champions in Madrid:
This afternoon, a familiar team awaits the Woodbine Tigers. The St. Edmond Gaels were responsible for Woodbine’s early exit in last year’s tournament, edging out the Tigers 52-49 before falling short of Madrid in the semifinals. Bartels says executing on offense will be key in the contest, something Woodbine didn’t exactly do in last year’s match-up:
Tip-off is at 2:15 P.M. as the Woodbine Tigers seek revenge on the St. Edmond Gaels in the 1A State Tournament Quarterfinals.
