Shooter’s Touch is a podcast dedicated to basketball in the state of Iowa. From packed high school gyms to intense college rivalries.
Each episode delivers thoughtful analysis, real conversations, and stories from across the state, featuring the players, teams, and moments that define Iowa basketball.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, player, or fan, Shooter’s Touch brings you closer to the game and the people who make it special.
No fluff. Just hoops.
Shooters shoot.
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.
24 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
3A Girls Field Set, Boys Bracket Breakdown & Hoop Troop Chaos
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.
17 Feb 2026
Brackets Are Out: 3A Drama, 4A Powerhouses & State Title Picks
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.
Inside a recent episode
State Tournament Preview & Championship Picks
Published 6 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] They had a few girls who could really go out and hoop. And then Newell Fonda, man, they just come at you in waves. I would say after watching today, I would think it's Dunkerton and Newell Fonda in the finals and flip a coin with that. Oh, wow. That's interesting. That'll be. I know. I'm telling you, though, Dunkerton looked really good. Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, Newell Fonda, like you said, they just kind of wear you down, wear you down, wear you down. You kind of know what that's going to look like. But yeah, Dunkerton might surprise a few people. Obviously, 23-2, they're no slouch. They've had a good year, but finishing out. […]
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