STORM LAKE — For the first time as Southeast Valley, the Jaguars will compete for a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.

Southeast Valley (21-1 overall) takes on second-ranked Unity Christian (21-2) here Saturday night at 8 p.m. for the Class 2A, Substate 1 title.

The Jaguars punched their ticket with the first district title since the inception of the school 12 years ago when they defeated Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on their home floor this past Tuesday night, 50-38.

Leading the way for the reigning Twin Lakes Conference champions is a defense ranked No. 1 in points allowed per game in 2A. Southeast Valley has won 21 straight since a one-point loss to reigning 1A state champion and fellow substate finalist Madrid.

Cornell Lowery, a senior, leads the Jaguars at 13.5 points per game with seven rebounds. He is shooting almost 56 percent from the field, as juniors Bryce Harrison (11.5 points) and Casey Hanson (9.1) follow.

Hanson is also the team assist leader at 6.5 per game while classmate Logan Jaeschke adds 6.5 rebounds a night.

Southeast Valley is led by head coach Kyle Johnson, a 1992 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate. Johnson is in his 16th season overall with the program.

For Unity Christian, Dylan Bosma averages a team-high 18.7 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line and 88 percent at the free throw stripe.

Tyce Van Donge adds 13.6 points and nine rebounds while Keagen Winterfeld averages 13 points a night.

Unity Christian has won five in a row since a 51-48 loss to defending 3A state champion MOC-Floyd Valley. The other loss for the Knights came in January to Sioux Falls Christian, a team from South Dakota who is 18-1 on the year.

The other 2A substate finals include No. 4 Treynor vs. 10th-ranked Underwood, Dyersville Beckman vs. No. 5 Grundy Center, top-ranked Carroll Kuemper vs. Roland-Story, Pella Christian vs. No. 8 Union, Northeast vs. third-rated Iowa City Regina, seventh-rated and two-time defending state champion Western Christian vs. ninth-ranked Tri-Center and Cascade vs. No. 6 Aplington-Parkersburg.

Winners advance to the state tournament in Des Moines from the Casey’s Center, which begins March 9.