Episodes

  • State Tournament Preview & Championship Picks
    Mar 6 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop and Shooters Touch, it’s our Iowa State Tournament Preview episode.

    We break down everything we’re excited about heading into the week at the Casey's Center, including our picks and predictions for every class and a few teams we think could make serious runs.

    Teams we highlight and discuss include:
    Cedar Falls, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Waukee Northwest, Dowling Catholic, ADM, Ballard, Storm Lake, Western Christian, Unity Christian, Carroll Kuemper, Fort Dodge St. Edmond, Woodbine, and Boyden-Hull.

    Plus:

    • A quick Tommy rant on tucking in jerseys

    • Special guest Chris Larson (Uncle Chris) jumps back on with the crew

    • Plenty of debate, predictions, and classic Hoop Troop moments

    If you love Iowa high school basketball and the State Tournament, this episode gets you ready for the best week of the year.

    Hoops in Iowa — let’s go. Shooters shoot.

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 3A Girls Field Set, Boys Bracket Breakdown & Hoop Troop Chaos
    Feb 24 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop and Shooters Touch, we dive deep into girls postseason play with the Class 3A girls state tournament field officially set!

    3A Girls State Qualifiers:
    Mt. Vernon, Cherokee, Dubuque Wahlert, Williamsburg, Maquoketa, Mediapolis, Des Moines Christian, and Forest City.


    We break down what that bracket looks like, plus take a look at how the other girls classes are shaping up — especially the always competitive 4A class where multiple teams are still in the hunt for a banner.

    The big news on the boys side: Matt Baker, head boys coach at Woodward-Granger, joins us to help break down the 1A and 2A brackets. He talks about teams his squad faced, who he likes in each class, and even gives us his picks for the 3A and 4A championship matchups.

    We also spin the Hoop Troop Wheel of Death with random questions sprinkled throughout the episode, plus all your favorites:

    • Tommy’s Shoutout (and yes — he’s getting FLOODED with Lunch League Legend suggestions!)

    • Doug’s Pick of the Week

    And in case you missed it — Sioux City’s food scene gets a shoutout too

    This one was fun and packed from start to finish. If you love Iowa high school basketball, brackets, predictions, and personality-driven segments, this is a can’t-miss episode.

    Hoops in Iowa — let’s go. Shooters shoot.

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Brackets Are Out: 3A Drama, 4A Powerhouses & State Title Picks
    Feb 17 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop and Shooters Touch, the 3A and 4A Iowa high school basketball brackets are finally out — and the drama is already heating up.

    In 3A, we tackle the biggest question in the state:
    Will Storm Lake’s Jaidyn Coon play… and when?
    Plus:

    • Can ADM or Ballard actually be beaten?

    • Did Oskaloosa deserve a 2-seed?

    • Who’s coming out of the East side of the bracket?

    • Does Bondurant-Farrar really have a chance to make a run?

    In 4A, things are just as wild:

    • Johnston is on fire 🔥

    • Doug puts Dowling on upset alert

    • Cedar Falls with a clear path

    • Waukee and Waukee Northwest penciled in… but who else can make a run?

    Plus all your fan-favorite segments:

    • Tony’s Spotlight Athlete

    • Tom’s Shoutout

    • Lunch League Legend

    • Doug’s Pick of the Week

    And we also dive into real conversations about how to help and save girls basketball in Iowa.

    If you love Iowa high school basketball, brackets, predictions, and state tournament talk, this episode hits every angle.
    Hoops in Iowa — let’s go. Shooters shoot.

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    58 mins
  • Iowa High School Basketball: 1A & 2A Brackets, 3A Chaos & Rivalry Showdowns
    Feb 11 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop and Shooters Touch, the Iowa high school basketball postseason is officially here with the release of the 1A and 2A state tournament brackets — and things are already getting wild.

    We break down what the brackets mean, which teams got tough draws, and who has a real path to Casey's Center.

    It was also a crazy week in 3A, with most of the top 10 teams taking losses, and we try to make sense of the chaos heading into March.

    We also preview and react to some of Iowa’s biggest games:

    • Waukee vs Waukee Northwest

    • Kuemper Catholic vs Storm Lake

    • Clear Lake vs Fort Dodge St. Edmond

    Plus we talk about teams like Ballard, ADM, Johnston, Dowling, Knoxville, and Forest City as the playoff picture starts to take shape.

    And of course, all your favorite segments:

    • Doug’s Pick of the Week

    • Tony’s Spotlight Athlete

    • Tom’s Shoutout

    • A new Lunch League Legend

    If you love Iowa high school basketball, postseason brackets, rankings, and state tournament talk, this episode has you covered.

    Hoops in Iowa — let’s go. Shooters shoot

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    56 mins
  • Hoop Troop: Iowa High School Basketball Upsets, Rankings & the Road to State
    Feb 2 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop and Shooters Touch, we break down two wild weeks of Iowa high school basketball as the season hits the dog days and everything starts to shift across the state.

    We dive into:

    • Big upsets and teams shaking up the rankings

    • Who’s still undefeated

    • Players putting up silly numbers

    • Who’s surging and who’s slipping as March gets closer

    We also play “How Far Back Is Too Far Back?” — breaking down what a team really needs to be ranked to still have a legit shot at making the Iowa State Tournament.

    Plus all your favorite segments:

    • Doug’s Pick of the Week

    • Tony’s Spotlight Athlete

    • Tom’s Shoutout

    • A new Lunch League Legend

    We cover 40+ teams from all across Iowa, giving you a true statewide look at who’s built for a run.

    Schools discussed include:
    Storm Lake, Solon, Cedar Falls, Johnston, Ankeny, Fort Dodge St. Edmond, Kuemper Catholic, Saydel, Ballard, ADM, Pella, and MOC-Floyd Valley.

    If you love Iowa high school basketball, rankings, upsets, player stats, and state tournament talk, this episode is for you.
    Hoops in Iowa — let’s go. Shooters shoot. 🏀

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    40 mins
  • Built for March: Iowa’s Toughest Road Games, Roles, and Winning Lineups
    Jan 21 2026

    This week on Hoop Troop, we break down Iowa high school basketball with a full preview of the MLK Classic, upset alerts, and the toughest places to play in Iowa.

    We dive into:

    • How to define roles and build winning lineups

    • Which teams are overachieving and under the radar

    • Could Harrison Barnes’ team make a run at the Iowa 1A state title?

    Plus:

    • A new Lunch League Legend

    • Tony’s expert analysis

    • Doug’s Pick of the Week

    If you love Iowa hoops, high school basketball, rankings, and game predictions, this episode is for you.
    Shooters shoot.


    LUNCH LEAGUE LEGEND: Thatcher Doughan - MOC Floyd Valley


    Schools mentioned: Waukee Northwest, Dowling Catholic, Valley, Cedar Falls, Ames, Pella, Norwalk, St. Eds, LeMars, Urbandale, Decorah, Heelan, Council Bluffs AB Lincoln

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Who’s Better Than They Look? Breaking Down Iowa High School Hoops
    Jan 13 2026

    Hoop Troop is your roundtable for Iowa high school basketball — covering the game from every corner of the state.

    In this episode, we bring together experienced basketball minds to break down what they’re seeing on the floor: what teams are doing well, where growth is still needed, and how the season is beginning to take shape.

    We dive into:

    • Strength of schedule and how it’s viewed by the committee

    • Teams that are better than their record

    • Surprise teams so far this season

    • Programs that could be dangerous matchups when tournament time comes around

    A lot of ground gets covered, but this conversation is just the beginning. The table is being set for another strong season of Hoop Troop on Shooter’s Touch — with honest takes, statewide perspective, and real basketball conversations.

    If you follow Iowa high school basketball as a coach, parent, player, or fan, this episode is for you.

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    54 mins
  • Next Up in Iowa: AAU Standouts, Prep Talent & Miss Iowa Talk w/ Jeremy Brooks
    Oct 16 2025

    Join us on this episode with Jeremy Brooks — Lead Scout for Prep Girls Hoops for an inside look at the girls’ AAU season, up-and-coming high school talent, and what to watch this winter.

    We break down standout performers from the summer, share who’s rising in our state, and dig into the Miss Iowa Basketball debate for class of ’26 — featuring Jenica Lewis (5'10" PG from Johnston, All Iowa Attack), Jayla Williams (5'9" combo guard from Ankeny, Mokan Girls) and Macy Comito (5'10" PG, Carlisle / All Iowa Attack) .

    Tune in for scouting insight, player spotlights, and perspectives you don’t hear in your average high school recap.


    Connect with us! @ShootersTouchIA

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    43 mins