—Submitted photo South Central Calhoun boys basketball team members are, front row (left to right): Ethan Myers, Brennan Holder, T’Juan Hildreth, Cole Corey, Eli Wheelock, Evan Jacobs and Tyler Lightner. Back: head coach Clive Clark, Blake Thompson, Joshua Dietrich, Joe Clark, Gavin Batta, Jacob Kalkwarf, Keaton Daniel, Carson Pibal and Antonio Sanders. Not pictured: Homer Martz, assistant John Kennedy and assistant Brian Bean.

DES MOINES — Regardless of what happens from here on out, the South Central Calhoun boys will never forget the 2020-21 season.

It started for several members of the Titan roster in the fall when they reached the UNI-Dome and the state football semifinals for the first time since 2009.

That momentum carried right over into basketball, as South Central Calhoun punched its ticket to Wells Fargo Arena and the elite eight for the first time as a consolidated school.

The Titans (19-5 overall) face defending state champion Boyden-Hull (24-0) on Monday at 6 p.m. in a Class 2A quarterfinal.

“This has been so rewarding for all of us,” SCC senior Cole Corey said. “We are all thankful that we are one of the few teams in the state and get to compete at Wells Fargo.

“I think making it to state in both football and now basketball are huge accomplishments and many of us have been dreaming about both since we were kids. Now, being able to make both of those dreams come true in one years feels special.”

Corey is one of eight seniors on the roster along with T’Juan Hildreth, Evan Jacobs, Keaton Daniel, Homer Martz, Blake Thompson and Brennan Holder. They are joined by juniors Antonio Sanders, Ethan Myers, Joshua Dietrich and Jacob Kalkwarf with sophomores Joe Clark, Eli Wheelock and Tyler Lightner.

“Making it to the Dome was a huge achievement for us and the community,” Holder said. “We had been so close so many times. There was always a hump to get over in football but in basketball, it feels like nobody really expects it to ‘be the year’ they they do in football. It seems that it is a little more tough to make it to the Well than it is to the Dome.

“When we grabbed that banner, I felt very blessed to be part of this school and these group of guys. It feels so amazing to bring this school down to another state event.”

Both Corey and Holder have experience with the tournament, having watched as the South Central Calhoun girls battled against the best of the best. Those memories came flooding back after clinching their own bid with a thrilling substate final win over Iowa Falls-Alden.

“I still remember watching my sister’s team when they made it to state and hoping that I could have that same opportunity someday,” Corey said. “Now that it’s a reality, I’m just ready to make some more memories playing there with my teammates.”

Holder added “after the final buzzer sounded all I could do was smile. I was in shock at first because this had been a dream since I was a little kid watching the girls play at state. The feeling was indescribable.”

South Central Calhoun has been an effective offensive team this year, shooting over 42 percent from the field and 34 percent from the 3-point line. Holder leads the team at 16.5 points per game with Dietrich at 14.4 and Corey 13.6.

Dietrich leads the team in rebounding at nearly eight a night with Holder at six and Corey 4.5. Corey also dished out a team-high four assists per game.

Boyden-Hull has reached the state finals each of the past two seasons, falling to North Linn two years ago and avenging that defeat last winter. The Comets are led by junior Tanner Te Slaa, who averages 21.5 points per game, along with senior Marcus Kelderman.