Playoff Preview: 3A-5

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/3A-5.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1130417" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/3A-5.png" alt="" width="780" height="695" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_1074196" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Emarion-Ellis.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1074196" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Emarion-Ellis-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Ellis[/caption] <p><strong>The favorite: Assumption</strong> scuffled a bit in the middle of the year, but the Knights got star wing [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"] (17.1, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists) back from injury last night, and that makes them the favorite in this substate. Ellis, a Texas signee, missed a month-and-a-half of action with a hand injury, but returned last night against Bettendorf and had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in a blowout win over Bettendorf. With Ellis in the lineup, the Knights posted wins over Pleasant Valley, North Scott, Hempstead and Davenport North, and with the talent, size and athleticism that he brings to the floor, this is an entirely different team than the one that dropped four straight in late January/early February. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="962602" first="Noah" last="Mack"] (13.1) stepped up in Ellis’ absence, and he gives the Knights some high-level perimeter shooting, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="964862" first="Dayne" last="Hodge"] (10.2) gives them a veteran, physical presence in the backcourt. Assumption’s role players gained valuable experience with Ellis sidelined, and now he’s back and they’re ready to make a run. </p> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> The other team with a Division 1 player in this substate, <strong>Mount Vernon</strong>, is playing good basketball right now, winning eight of their last 10 games heading into postseason play. The two losses came to a red-hot Kennedy team by 5 and to Marion by 2. [player_tooltip player_id="530135" first="Keaton" last="Kutcher"] (22.2, 41.7 3P%), who will play at South Dakota, is a threat to score 30+ on any given night and can take over games in a heartbeat. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="964883" first="Jayden" last="Meeker"] (15.1) has really emerged as a strong secondary scoring option as well, giving them a pair of high-scoring threats on the perimeter. Ed Timm always gets his teams to play good defense, and this year is no exception, with the ’Stangs allowing just 51.6 points a game. </p> <p><strong>The dark horse(s):</strong> Playing in the MVC always prepares <strong>Xavier</strong> well for postseason play, and makes them dangerous. The Saints are led by sophomore wing Aidan Yamilkoski (10.5, 39.8 3P%), a 6-3 shooter, with four others averaging between 5.8 and 8.4 points a game. <strong>Marion</strong> has won eight straight games heading into postseason play, and 11 of their 13 games since the holiday break. The Indians are led by sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"] (15.8, 45.7 3P%), a sniper on the perimeter who could get hot and carry this group to a substate final. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="964866" first="Gage" last="Franck"] (12.4) is experienced, and Marion has a pair of other guards in junior Cael Hodges (8.8) and sophomore Alex Mota (8.0) who can shoot the ball as well. Whoever wins the first-round game between these two teams could push Assumption in the semifinals. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Players to watch</span><br /> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="678937" first="Emarion" last="Ellis"], Assumption<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962602" first="Noah" last="Mack"], Assumption<br /> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="964862" first="Dayne" last="Hodge"], Assumption<br /> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="530135" first="Keaton" last="Kutcher"], Mount Vernon<br /> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="964883" first="Jayden" last="Meeker"], Mount Vernon<br /> 2023 Aidan Yamilkoski, Xavier<br /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956878" first="Brayson" last="Laube"], Marion<br /> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="964866" first="Gage" last="Franck"], Marion<br /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962688" first="Dayton" last="Davis"], Fort Madison<br /> 2022 Max Wheaton, Farifield</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Assumption vs. Mount Vernon</em></p> <p>Mount Vernon is playing good ball down the stretch, but this Assumption group was one of the best in 3A with Ellis in the lineup, and with him back, they have to beat considered the team to beat in this substate. For the first time since 2013, <strong>Assumption</strong> makes their way to Des Moines. </p>