The Iowa Yellow Jackets say they feel more comfortable this time around as they prepare for a second consecutive appearance in the boys state basketball tournament.

The No. 1 Yellow Jackets will play No. 4 Brusly in the nonselect Division II semifinals at 8 p.m. today in Burton Coliseum.

“It is going good,” Iowa head coach Rob Melanson said. “It is a lot better than last year.

“Last year I think there was a lot more excitement. There is still excitement, but it is just a little different, I can tell. We are not going over there in awe. We are going over there to win a ball game.”

Iowa (28-4) beat Brusly (28-1) 75-57 in the quarterfinals last year and hopes to do to the Panthers what Carroll did to them in the semifinals last season.

“We went back and watched last year’s quarterfinal game against Brusly,” Melanson said. “We jumped on them early, and we did that in the quarterfinals against Franklin Parish. That is what we have to do. We have to jump on Brusly early.

“They have been here before, but probably this group here is their first time to make it. We have to jump on them kind of like Carroll smashed us in the mouth early.”

While Iowa had to battle in the lane in a physical game against Franklin Parish in last week’s quarterfinals, but Melanson said Brusly prefers to stay out of the lane. That opens the door for Iowa to use its size inside with forwards Luke Guillory and Andrew Duhon.

“They are two totally different teams,” Melanson said. “Franklin Parish was huge, big inside and wanted to pound it inside.

“This team here is going to go five out, and they want to dribble-drive or shoot the 3. I have watched several films on them and I haven’t seen them post up one time. They are going to try to back-door cut you or shoot the 3.

“We have to use our size. We have to make them play to us, and we have to get them to go to their bench. I think our bench is a lot stronger and deeper than their bench. They will only play about seven kids. We have to play with some energy. We have to stay focused and composed.”

Six-foot-3 senior Cody Loupe leads the Panthers with 13 points and 11 rebounds a game.

“They do have a lot of the same players,” Melanson said. “The coach’s son, the Loupe kid, we are going to have to be aware of him on the floor.

“They kind of go as he goes. He keeps them under control out on the floor. He is their biggest player but plays outside, which they all play outside.”

Iowa’s senior class, led by Desa’Monte Gradney and Dashawn Ceaser, combined to score 77 of the Yellow Jackets’ 80 points in the quarterfinals and has led the program to seven playoff wins in the last four seasons. In the previous 18 seasons, Iowa won four playoff games.

“They have improved each year,” Melanson said. “They have had a huge impact on the program.

“We are going to go as they go, and they have been good leaders for our basketball team and our school. Some of them are dual-sport athletes, and they have won in every sport they play.”