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Hawks’ Balderas a 2A all-state 2nd team member by IPSWA

Senior exits as 2-time all-state player

South Hamilton guard Marco Balderas (2) knocks down a mid-range jumper against Aplington-Parkersburg during a Class 2A state quarterfinal in Des Moines last Monday. Balderas, a senior, has been named to the all-state second team by the IPSWA. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WEBSTER CITY — It’s a career that has been lavished with honors. And now one final accolade has been added to the pile.

Marco Balderas, South Hamilton’s 5-foot-9 point guard and floor conductor, has been named to the Class 2A all-state second team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, it was announced today. He was a third-team all-state selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association following his junior season in 2017.

Balderas was the lone Heart of Iowa Conference player honored by the IPSWA. The award comes on the heels of first-team all-conference and all-substate accolades.

Despite missing six games in December, Balderas was the driving force behind one of the most successful seasons in the history of the South Hamilton program. The Hawks won a school-record 24 consecutive games before they fell to Aplington-Parkersburg, 54-51, in a Class 2A state quarterfinal contest.

Balderas averaged 15 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game, all team-highs. He also yanked down four rebounds a night. He shot 53 percent from the field and 79 percent at the free-throw line.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Balderas was at his best in the season-ending loss to the Falcons inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. He put South Hamilton on his back and finished with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists, and didn’t commit a turnover while playing the entire 32-minute affair.

Balderas exits the stage as one of the most prolific players ever to suit up for South Hamilton. His 1,020 points ranks sixth all-time. He’s the program’s all-time assists leader (406) and ranks second in steals (170). He also owns the single-game assists record (14) and the single-season free-throw percentage mark (87 percent).

During his four years on the court, South Hamilton went 66-30, including 46-4 over the past two seasons, and won a pair of HOIC championships. The Hawks played in three substate games and reached state twice during the Balderas regime.

Balderas will play college basketball at Briar Cliff University, a NAIA program, in Sioux City.

IPSWA All-State Teams

Boys Basketball

Mr. Basketball — Joe Wieskamp, sr, Muscatine.

CLASS 1A

First Team

Player Gr School

Jake Hilmer Jr N. Linn

Nicholas Ruden Sr Rem-SM

Brady Gavin Sr Mart-SM

Ryan Miller Sr N. Linn

Grant DeMeulenaere Sr GV Christ

Jake Carley Sr St. Albert

Zach Martinek Jr W. Fork

Jesse Van Wyk Sr L-Sully

Second Team

Player Gr School

Paul Rundquist Jr Wap Valley

TJ Schnurr Jr Garrigan

Peyton Brasser Sr S. O’Brien

Joe Weber Sr Boyer Valley

Carter Boothe Sr C. Decatur

Caleb Terhark Jr George-LR

Brett Givens Sr Lisbon

Brady Happel Jr Dunkerton

Third Team

Player Gr School

Caden Kickbush Sr G-R

Codey Hicks Jr Janesville

Brennan Sefrit So Bedford

Keontae Luckett Jr New London

Andrew Gibb Jr St. Edmond

Thomas Hensley Sr CAM

Jack Kelley Jr Don Bosco

Bryce Coppock So N-Fonda

CLASS 2A

First Team

Player Gr School

Trenton Massner Sr Wapello

Parker Badding Sr Kuemper

Alec Oberhauser Sr A-P

Jacob Vis Jr W. Christ.

Dillon Faubel Sr Treynor

Isaac Prewitt Sr DM Christ.

Carter Cuvelier Jr A-P

Haris Hoffman Jr Cascade

Second Team

Player Gr School

Marco Balderas Sr S. Hamilton

Zaine Leedom Sr E. Marshall

Luke Empen Sr NE Goose Lk

Tyus Arends Sr Sioux Ctr.

Jarod Nichols Sr Col-Mingo

Ryan Schmitt Jr Van Meter

Luke Clausen Sr Treynor

James Betz Jr GHV

Third Team

Player Gr School

Dev Patel Sr Camanche

Beau Cornwell Jr W. Branch

Sam Snyder Sr Forest City

RJ Harris Sr AHSTW

Mitch Gehling Sr Beckman

Jace Davidson Jr Pocahontas

Drew Olson Sr Osage

Kyle Boerhave Sr Sheldon

CLASS 3A

First Team

Player Gr School

Brady Sartorious Sr Mt. Pleasant

Luke Vaske Sr Norwalk

Zach Lester Sr Clear Lake

Elijah Hazenkamp Sr Heelan

Jarad Kruse Sr Oskaloosa

Nate Mohr Sr Glenwood

Andrew Blum Sr Glenwood

Matthew Mims Sr CR Xavier

Second Team

Player Gr School

Cole Henry Jr Oskaloosa

Derek Krogmann Jr W. Delaware

Jackson Molstead Jr Charles City

Cooper Ross Sr Carroll

Xavier Foster So Oskaloosa

Bowen Born So Norwalk

Steve Borneman Sr DC-Grimes

Owen Coburn Jr Spirit Lake

Third Team

Player Gr School

Connor Groves Jr SB-Luton

Spencer Touro Sr Benton

Scott Leonard Sr Atlantic

Chase Zielke Sr Marion

Luke Velky Jr Waverly-SR

Jackson Joens Sr CR Xavier

Gabe Shields Sr S. Tama

Shane Chamberlain Sr Harlan

CLASS 4A

First Team

Player Gr School

Joe Wieskamp Sr Muscatine

AJ Green Sr Cedar Falls

Patrick McCaffrey Jr IC West

DJ Carton Jr Bettendorf

Tyreke Locure Jr DM North

Garrett Sturtz Sr Newton

Corvon Seales Sr N. Scott

Devonte Thedford Sr DM Hoover

Second Team

Player Gr School

Nathan Johnson Sr Waukee

CaRondis Harris Sr Wat. West

Carter Stevens Sr Dub. Senior

Lucas Duax Sr Dub. Hemp

Luke Appel Sr Marshalltown

Trey Hutcheson Jr Linn-Mar

Sam Ingoli Sr Dowling

Boston Grimes Sr Johnston

Third Team

Player Gr School

Aidan Vanderloo Jr SC East

Seybian Sims Sr IC West

Malcolm Clayton Sr Fort Dodge

Dylan Jones Jr Waukee

Hunter Strait Sr Ank. Cent.

Troy Houghton Sr CBAL

Van Rees Sr SC East

Brian Dayman Sr Pl. Valley

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