Hawks’ Balderas a 2A all-state 2nd team member by IPSWA
Senior exits as 2-time all-state player
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.
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