For the second time this century, more than half of the teams in a Class 1A state tournament will be private schools.
The bracket for the boys’ basketball tournament starting today has Algona Garrigan, Grand View Christian, Council Bluffs St. Albert, Clinton Prince of Peace, and Remsen St. Mary’s in the final eight, a much higher proportion than the approximately 15% of Class 1A competitors that are private. It’s been 25 years since Clinton’s school made it to state, but Grand View Christian is the defending champion.
The five-private-school total ties the 2008 Class 1A state baseball tournament, although Don Bosco lost to undefeated Lisbon that year. The tilt in Class 1A baseball has been around a while — public vs. private in the championship game almost every year for more than a quarter-century — but as recently as 2015 no private schools made it to the Class 1A boys’ basketball tournament.