Playoff Preview: 1A-7

<p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The favorite: Mount Ayr</strong> has put together a solid 18-2 record so far this season, with the two losses coming to a really good Martensdale-St. Mary's team, and an undefeated 2A Van Meter team. They've taken care of business against everyone else, posting an average margin of 20 points a game, including the pair of losses. The Raiders are led by senior wing <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dawson-frost/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dawson-frost/">Dawson Frost</a></a> (15.1), who leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Payton Weehler (12.1) has been strong as a lead guard, dishing out 59 assists against just 12 turnovers, and freshman guard Jaixen Frost (11.6) has been incredibly efficient, shooting 60.1% from the floor and 57.9% from 3. This group swept Bedford, who could come out of the bottom of the bracket, and has the offensive firepower to beat anyone in this district. </p> <p><strong>The biggest threat: East Mills</strong> has been one of the best defensive teams in 1A this year, allowing just 37.4 points a game, which ranks 3rd in the class. Some of that can be attributed to a strength of schedule that ranks 135th (out of 147 1A teams), but this is still a team that gets after it on that end of the floor. The Wolverines have three double figure scorers in Michael Schafer (19.9), Mason Crouse (13.9) and Nic Duysen (10.9). Schafer is a 40% 3-point shooter and a solid ball handler, while the other two are capable of shooting from deep as well. This group is going to need to slow down a game against Mount Ayr, and that's easier said than done.</p> <p><strong>The dark horse: Bedford</strong> was swept in the season series by Mount Ayr, but if anyone other than East Mills is coming out of the bottom half of the bracket, it's the Bulldogs. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brennan-sefrit/">Brennan Sefrit</a> (17.4), <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-nally/">Cooper Nally</a> (17.2) and Jordan Perkins (15.1) are a solid, veteran trio with lots of experience, and they'll be ready for a third shot at the Raiders if they get it. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch</span><br /> 2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dawson-frost/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dawson-frost/">Dawson Frost</a></a>, Mount Ayr<br /> 2021 Payton Weehler, Mount Ayr<br /> 2023 Jaixen Frost, Mount Ayr<br /> 2020 Isaac Grose, Mount Ayr<br /> 2020 Michael Schafer, East Mills<br /> 2023 Mason Crouse, East Mills<br /> 2020 Nic Duysen, East Mills<br /> 2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brennan-sefrit/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brennan-sefrit/">Brennan Sefrit</a></a>, Bedford<br /> 2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-nally/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-nally/">Cooper Nally</a></a>, Bedford<br /> 2020 Jordan Perkins, Bedford<br /> 2020 Noah Jorgenson, Sidney<br /> 2022 Cole Jorgenson, Sidney<br /> 2020 Eli Owen, Fremont-Mills<br /> 2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kade-klommhaus/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kade-klommhaus/">Kade Klommhaus</a></a>, Diagonal<br /> <br /> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The favorite: Martensdale-St. Mary's</strong> knew coming into the season that their schedule during league play wouldn't really prepare them for postseason play, so the Blue Devils went out and tested themselves with games against Woodward-Granger (18-2), Ankeny Christian (17-3), 3A Webster City (10-8), 3A Winterset (14-4), Panorama (15-6) and 3A Knoxville (11-8). A trio of juniors leads this group in Trey Baker (17.3), <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-franey/">Jack Franey</a> (10.2) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-elbert/">Carson Elbert</a> (12.7), while 6-10 senior big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-gavin/">Isaac Gavin</a> (11.6) is the other double figure scorer. Baker is the team's top scoring threat, and a good, slashing wing. Franey is the straw that stirs the drink as the lead guard, dishing out 137 assists against 42 turnovers, while Elbert and Hogan Franey (9.1) are the top 3-point shooters on the team. This group went a respectable 3-3 against the aforementioned non-conference tests, preparing themselves for this moment, and it'll pay off in a big way.</p> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> The favorite to come out of the bottom of the bracket is <strong>Stanton</strong>. The Vikings have cruised to another 18-2 record this year, but their strength of schedule ranks 142nd in 1A. Tyler Peterson (22.6) has been outstanding this season, shooting 62% from the floor and leading the team in rebounding and steals as well. The Vikings have been able to overwhelm the majority of the teams on their schedule with an athleticism edge, but they'll have more trouble competing with the length and talent of Martensdale. </p> <p><strong>The dark horse(s):</strong> Whichever team wins the <strong>CAM vs. Earlham</strong> quarterfinal will give Stanton a test in the quarterfinals. Earlham plays a largely 2A schedule and has a player in junior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tj-harkins/">TJ Harkins</a> (13.7, 60 3PM) who can get hot and carry this group to some wins. CAM is 16-4 with an extremely balanced rotation that has seven players averaging between 6.4 and 9.4 points a game, so they're tough to plan for, as there isn't one single player you can take out.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch</span><br /> 2021 Trey Baker, Martensdale-St. Mary's<br /> 2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-elbert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-elbert/">Carson Elbert</a></a>, Martensdale-St. Mary's<br /> 2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-franey/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-franey/">Jack Franey</a></a>, Martensdale-St. Mary's<br /> 2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-gavin/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-gavin/">Isaac Gavin</a></a>, Martensdale-St. Mary's<br /> 2020 Tyler Peterson, Stanton<br /> 2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tj-harkins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tj-harkins/">TJ Harkins</a></a>, Earlham<br /> 2022 Gabe Obert, Coon Rapids-Bayard<br /> 2020 Creighton Nelson, Exira-EHK<br /> <br /> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4 style="text-align: center">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h4> <p style="text-align: center"><strong>Mount Ayr vs. Martensdale-St. Mary's</strong></p> <p>This is a rematch of a game played back on January 24, won by <strong>Martensdale-St. Mary's</strong> comfortably, 62-45. We expect the rematch to play out pretty similarly, with the Blue Devils getting to State with a fairly comfortable win, punching their first State ticket.</p>