Grundy Center to Face Beckman for Substate Final

The #5 (2A) Grundy Center boys basketball team will take on Beckman Catholic for a 2A Substate Final on Saturday.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The #5 (2A) Grundy Center boys basketball team will face Beckman Catholic for a 2A Substate Final on Saturday inside the McLeod Center, which will air on 99 The Wave. Grundy Center is appearing in their third consecutive substate game and will look to build on playoff wins over Pleasantville and Van Meter. Beckman is coming off a 65-57 win at Denver in Tuesday's district final, with four players scoring in double figures.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with strong playoff momentum, as Grundy Center aims to continue their run while Beckman looks to pull off an upset. The winner will advance to the state tournament, making this a high-stakes game with significant implications for both programs.

The details

Grundy Center has been efficient on offense and taken care of the ball in their playoff wins, committing just nine and five turnovers. Beckman is led by Tayveon Barnhart, who averages 12.9 points per game. Grundy Center Coach Owen Thomas notes that Beckman has had players injured this season, which may explain their record, but says his team will need to be ready to play their brand of basketball to come out on top.

  • The game will be played on Saturday, February 29, 2026 inside the McLeod Center.
  • Pregame coverage will start at 6:15 p.m., followed by the tipoff at 6:30 p.m.

The players

Owen Thomas

The head coach of the Grundy Center boys basketball team.

Tayveon Barnhart

A player for the Beckman Catholic boys basketball team who averages 12.9 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“They've got a lot of momentum, they're definitely better than what their record shows. They've had guys hurt this year, so I'm not shocked that they're here. But we just got to be ready to go. We've got to play our brand of basketball. And again, I think it's going to really come down to whose four guys can be better, because we got eight guys averaging 10 plus on the court. It's going to be awesome to watch. And I think it's going really come down to that. And then also, you look at our bench and how hard our bench guys play. Every substate game has that one play where everyone remembers the turning point. Hopefully we're on the right end of that. I think the kids understand what it takes to be winners. And I'm excited to see how they adapt. Obviously playing in a super cool environment at the McLeod Center.”

— Owen Thomas, Grundy Center Head Coach (radioonthego.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Grundy Center vs. Beckman Catholic game will advance to the 2A state tournament.

The takeaway

This substate final matchup features two teams with strong playoff momentum, as Grundy Center looks to continue their run and Beckman Catholic aims to pull off an upset. The game will be played in the high-profile environment of the McLeod Center, adding to the excitement and stakes of the contest.