3A Substate Quarterfinal Preview
In this article:
Class 3A postseason action gets started tonight, with all 64 teams taking the court. We’ll be down to 32 teams in a matter of hours. We take a look at some of the top games, teams who should be on…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingClass 3A postseason action gets started tonight, with all 64 teams taking the court. We’ll be down to 32 teams in a matter of hours. We take a look at some of the top games, teams who should be on upset alert and pick each of the 32 games.
The Top Five Games
Wahlert Catholic at Waverly-Shell Rock
Wahlert got off to a strong 5-1 start this year, including some solid wins over Senior and Central DeWitt. Eventually, injuries and playing in the MVC caught up to them and they finished with an 8-9 overall record, but the Golden Eagles are dangerous. Senior wing Nathan Donovan (13.5) leads the team in scoring, while junior guards Ben Freed (10.9) and Carson Cummer (9.8) and senior TJ Fowler TJ Fowler 5'9" | PG Wahlert Catholic | 2021 State IA (9.8) give them solid perimeter shooting threats. Their ability to knock down 3s will be key against a Waverly-Shell Rock team that has one of the state’s best rim protectors in the paint. Like Wahlert, W-SR got off to a hot 7-1 start before stumbling down the stretch. The Go-Hawks are led by senior forward Caleb Burks Caleb Burks 6'6" | C Waverly-Shell Rock | 2021 State IA (12.3, 8.7 rebounds), who blocks 4.4 shots a game and completely changes the way teams can attack Waverly. Junior guard Keaton Farmer Keaton Farmer 6'2" | CG Waverly-Shell Rock | 2022 State IA (12.1, 40.2 3P%) is a good perimeter shooter, and Hogan Hansen Hogan Hansen 6'3" | SF Waverly-Shell Rock | 2022 State IA (10.1, 4.5 assists) has really developed as a playmaker for this group. Wahlert’s strength of schedule is a major edge here, and may be the deciding factor in this one.
Center Point-Urbana at Central DeWitt
These former league rivals were both trending in the wrong direction at the end of the regular-season, but have the talent to make some noise in substate. CPU is led by senior wing Trey Johannes Trey Johannes 6'4" | SF Center Point-Urbana | 2021 State IA (14.4), a versatile player who can score inside and out with efficiency. Senior forward Keegan Koppedryer (7.0, 7.1 rebounds) will be key in this one, as they’ll need to rely on him to help control the glass. Central DeWitt moved to the MAC this season and is playing 4A schools regularly as a result. The Sabers are led by 6-6 junior forward Shawn Gilbert (14.3), a massive young man with impressive footwork and touch on his jumper. He shot nearly 45% from 3 and is a handful in the paint as well. CPU will have to throw a number of different looks at him. Senior guard Henry Bloom Henry Bloom 6'1" | PG Central DeWitt | 2021 State IA (13.4) is the other key contributor for DeWitt.
Xavier at Marion
These two schools separated by just over eight miles don’t meet very often, but these kids are very familiar with each other and it should make for an entertaining game. Like the Wahlert/Waverly-Shell Rock game, Xavier will have a major edge in strength of schedule here, playing in the MVC. The Saints are led in scoring by sophomore wing Aidan Yamilkoski (10.1), the lone player in double-figures, but this is a team that plays a lot of guys and they like to get after teams on the defensive end, using their depth to play tough man-to-man. Marion enters postseason play on fire, winning eight straight games to close out the regular season. The Indians are led by sophomore guard Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA (15.8, 45.7 3P%), an elite shooting threat who has thrived this year and emerged as a go-to scorer. Senior point-forward Gage Franck Gage Franck 6'1" | SF Marion | 2021 State IA (12.4, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists) can do a little bit of everything and has a ton of experience. The experience edge goes to Marion, and they’re the hotter team, but Xavier has gone through the meat-grinder of the MVC this year, so this one should be fun.
Knoxville at Newton
Expect some fireworks in this one, with a pair of teams that can really fill it up. Knoxville is led by senior guard Kieren Nichols Kieren Nichols 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2021 State IA (19.4, 4.6 assists), a quick lead guard with a lethal mid-range game and the ability to get to the bucket. Senior wing Spencer Hixson Spencer Hixson 6'5" | SF Knoxville | 2021 State IA (15.4, 38.9 3P%) is a long scorer who can score from all three levels, and sophomore forward Luke Keitges (13.9, 8.8 rebounds) has been really strong this year. Newton stumbled down the stretch, but the Cardinals played in arguably the toughest 3A league in the state, the Little Hawkeye. The Cardinals are led by junior wing Adam Mattes Adam Mattes 6'3" | SG Newton | 2022 State IA (14.7), who pairs with sophomores Jake Ingle (10.1) and Brody Bauer (9.4) to give them some really strong perimeter shooting threats. Knoxville will need to defend the 3-point line hard against the Cardinals.
North Polk at Gilbert
These teams met on January 22 and played a one-point game, with Gilbert escaping with a 50-49 win. North Polk star junior Jevin Sullivan Jevin Sullivan 6'5" | SG North Polk | 2022 State IA (19.1, 7.1 rebounds) had 19 points in that game, but shot just 3-11 from the floor (13-14 from the FT line). The Comets will need to get more efficient production out of Sullivan, a big, physical scoring wing, if they want to advance to the semifinals. Gilbert is led by senior Tanner Henningsen Tanner Henningsen 6'4" | SF Gilbert | 2021 State IA (12.8) and junior Birk Hanson (12.7), each who can score from anywhere. They need to take much better care of the ball (16.8 turnovers a game), if they want to try and make a postseason run.
Upset Alert
ADM: The Tigers are the higher-seeded team and get their quarterfinal game at home, but Harlan is a tough matchup for them. Mitch Osborn generally gets the most out of his teams at this time of year, and in junior wing Connor Frame (15.3), they have the best player on the floor.
Waverly-Shell Rock: Both teams started off strong before stumbling in the second-half of the year. Wahlert’s ability to knock down shots from 3 will be key here, as they don’t want to test Burks on the inside.
Marion: Marion is the better team and will have the best player on the floor, but Xavier is battle-tested, going through the MVC. Look for them to throw a number of different looks at Laube to throw the Indians out of rhythm.
Picking all 32
Substate 1: Carroll over Sioux Center, Storm Lake over MOC-Floyd Valley, LeMars over Bishop Heelan, Sergeant Bluff-Luton over Denison-Schleswig
Substate 2: Clear Lake over Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Spencer over Esterhville-Lincoln Central, Algona over Boone, Humboldt over Webster City
Substate 3: Western Dubuque over Benton, Wahlert Catholic over Waverly-Shell Rock, Crestwood over Charles City, Decorah over Independence
Substate 4: Solon over South Tama, West Delaware over Maquoketa, Monticello over Vinton-Shellsburg, Central DeWitt over Center Point-Urbana
Substate 5: Assumption over Fairfield, Marion over Xavier, Mount Vernon over Fort Madison, Keokuk over Mount Pleasant
Substate 6: Pella over Centerville, Newton over Knoxville, Washington over Oskaloosa, Clear Creek-Amana over Grinnell
Substate 7: Ballard over Saydel, North Polk over Gilbert, Winterset over Carlisle, Bondurant-Farrar over Nevada
Substate 8: Dallas Center-Grimes over Perry, Harlan over ADM, Glenwood over Clarke, Atlantic over Creston