South Hardin Boys Basketball Finishes Competitive NICL Season

Team posts 13-10 record, graduates 9 seniors including top scorers

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The South Hardin boys basketball team finished the 2025-26 season with a 13-10 overall record and 9-9 mark in the highly competitive North Iowa Cedar League (NICL), which produced three state qualifiers. After a first-round playoff win, the Tigers fell in the district semifinals to eventual state qualifier Kuemper Catholic.

Why it matters

The NICL is known as one of the toughest high school basketball conferences in Iowa, making South Hardin's performance all the more impressive. The team's identity and culture were shaped by its nine departing seniors, who set high standards for the program going forward.

The details

South Hardin opened the Class 2A District 2 playoffs with a 67-52 win over Woodward-Granger before falling 72-56 to Kuemper Catholic in the district semifinals. Head Coach John Phillips praised his team's ability to compete against the elite competition in the NICL, citing big wins over Denver and Union Community. The Tigers will graduate their top three scorers - Sam Benson, Jake Balvanz and Owen Larson - as well as other key contributors like Preston Dolash and Clayton Cable.

  • The 2025-26 season concluded in March 2026.
  • South Hardin's playoff run ended in early March 2026.

The players

John Phillips

Head Coach of the South Hardin boys basketball team.

Sam Benson

One of South Hardin's leading scorers who is graduating.

Jake Balvanz

One of South Hardin's leading scorers who is graduating.

Owen Larson

One of South Hardin's leading scorers who is graduating.

Preston Dolash

South Hardin player who ranked second on the team in rebounds and is graduating.

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What they’re saying

“The competition level is just absolutely amazing. So just really proud of the boys and how they competed, getting some big wins against Denver and Union, just to name a couple, that we were able to hang in there.”

— John Phillips, Head Coach (radioonthego.com)

“We have high standards. The players actually navigated that at the beginning of the season, especially the seniors. They wanted to leave a living legacy that can be passed down to all the other South Hardin Tigers coming through the program. Culture and standard over everything — that was their number one. And then two was the defensive identity and play really tough, sound defense.”

— John Phillips, Head Coach (radioonthego.com)

What’s next

The South Hardin boys basketball program will look to rebuild for the 2026-27 season after graduating nine seniors, including their top scorers.

The takeaway

South Hardin's ability to compete in the ultra-competitive NICL, which produced three state qualifiers, demonstrates the program's strength and culture. The departing seniors laid a solid foundation for the future, setting high standards for the Tigers to build upon.