RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup Preview: Bertrand Versus Alma

On Thursday evening, December 4th, the 2025-2026 Basketball Season begins. Our first set of games we are covering for the year is Alma versus Bertrand for a girls' and boys' double-header. Tip-off is set for 6:00 P.M. CT for the girls and 7:30 P.M. CT for the boys.

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Let's take a look at the matchup for the girls' game first. Last season, Alma won this game by a final of 51-14.

Alma

• Record from 2024-2025: 20-5, finished 4th in Class D1 at NSAA State Tournament.

• Head Coach: Amanda Davis, 18 years with the program.

• Return three starters, including senior Tierston Moore (11.2 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 3.7 steals per game), First Team RPAC East and RPAC Rundown Second Team Honors; junior Kamryn Scott (13.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 3.6 SPG), earned RPAC East and RPAC Rundown First Team Honors, and Kamri Neal, a junior who averaged 5.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, earned Honorable Mention RPAC East Honors and RPAC Rundown Honorable Mention. Another key returner for Alma will be Vayden Epp, a sophomore who averaged 5.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG.

• Alma will have Kinley Ford, a freshman who potentially will be one of the most intriguing players not just in the conference but in the state as well.

• Alma will be in Class C2, Region 3.

• There is significant athleticism and experience on the roster, as we highlighted.

Bertrand

• Record in 2024-2025: 9-15

• Head Coach: Trey Stutheit, Third Season

• Returning for the Vikings will be senior Addison Andersen, who averaged 8.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 3.6 steals per game, RPAC East, and RPAC Rundown

  Honorable Mention Honors, and Livia Philips, who averaged 5.1 PPG and 4.1 RPG.

• As the season went on for Bertrand last year, the Vikings became a tough out each evening. They have a chance to improve, and I do anticipate that they will play hard once again this year.

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Now, for the boys' game, there will be quite a little athleticism on the floor. Last year, these two teams met twice, and Alma won both games, 54-31 and 54-38.

Alma

• Record in 2024-2025: 22-4, fell in a district final.

• Head Coach: Mike Ford

• Alma returns all five starters: That includes seniors Titus Epp, Zavier Mitchell, and Isaiah

  Neal, Tucker Biskup, and junior Grady Faimon. Biskup and Mitchell were RPAC East First-Team selections, and Neal was an Honorable Mention selection. Mitchell was an RPAC Rundown First-Team selection, Biskup, a second-teamer, and Neal, an Honorable Mention.

• Won the RPAC Title last season.

• Mitchell led the scoring with 14.8 points per game, and just behind him was

  Biskup at 14.0 PPG. Neal is a solid, do-it-all player who often gets a tough defensive assignment. Epp runs the offense with high efficiency for the Cardinals, and Faimon, a big man in the middle, averaged 7.5 PPG and 6.3 rebounds per game.

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Bertrand

• Record in 2024-2025: 20-7, season ended in district final.

• Head Coach: Marcus Schwarz, first year as the head coach, spent 12 years as an assistant on the staff.

• This is a Bertrand squad that played in a district final and returns a lot of experience. Look for Thunder Nelson, a senior who averaged 17 points per game. Nelson was an RPAC First-Team East choice and an RPAC Rundown Second-Team honoree. Fellow seniors, Marshall Steinbrink, who stands at 6’4, and Scott Bieker, who’s 6’6, will be key on defense for the Vikings.

• Hunter Nelson, a sophomore, averaged 10 PPG and will be critical to the offense for the Vikings. Schwarz mentioned 6’2 junior Payton Way as a defender to watch, too.