STATE TOURNAMENT: Class 3A Game Recaps

Semifinal #2: #2 Pella 46, #6 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 32

Pace wasn’t the issue for Pella on Thursday evening, but getting shots to fall was. That said, the second-seeded Dutch made enough and played some excellent defense, and advanced to tomorrow’s 3A championship with a 46-32 win over sixth-seed Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

Despite shooting just 6-23 from the floor in the first half, the Dutch went into the locker rooms with a 17-12 lead, in large part due to the 10 turnovers that they forced.

The offense flowed a little bit better in the second half, as they shot an improved 10-24 from the floor, using their defense to fuel their offense. The athletic Dutch used a variety of different trapping and pressing looks to apply pressure against a Sergeant Bluff-Luton team that is long, but lacking a true ball-handler. It was an ugly win, but a win is a win, especially in the state semifinals.

Pella (24-2) advances to the 3A championship, where they’ll face top-ranked Ballard. The Dutch are playing in the school’s sixth state championship, and will be looking for their first title since 2003. They were led by Karl Miller Karl Miller 6'4" | SF Pella | 2022 State IA , who had 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Grant Nelson Grant Nelson 6'1" | SF Pella | 2021 State IA , who chipped in 13 points. The Dutch forced 16 turnovers and held the Warriors to just 12-40 (30%) shooting.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s season ends with a 17-8 record, the school’s fifth straight state tournament and the third semifinal appearance in those five trips. They were led by Brady Schaap, who had 9 points. Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA had 6 points and 6 rebounds, and Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA added 4 points and 15 rebounds. Layman and Majouk will head to D2 Southwest Minnesota State to play their college ball.

MVP: Karl Miller Karl Miller 6'4" | SF Pella | 2022 State IA , Pella (2022) -- 14 points (6-14 FG, 2-7 3P), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals

Miller, a 6-5 junior wing, led the Dutch in scoring on what was a rough night for most of the team.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Sergeant Bluff-Luton	5	7	9	11	32
Pella	10	7	13	16	46

Team stats
Sergeant Bluff-Luton: 12-40 FG (30.0%), 3-16 3P (18.8%), 5-10 FT (50.0%), 8 assists, 16 turnovers
Pella: 17-48 FG (35.4%), 5-21 3P (23.8%), 7-9 FT (77.8%), 9 assists, 8 turnovers

Semifinal #1: #1 Ballard 74, #5 Assumption 65

For the first time in school history, Ballard will play for a state championship. The top-ranked Bombers built a 17-point lead, watched that lead evaporate, then iced the game away late to knock off a very good fifth-seeded Assumption team on Thursday afternoon, 74-65, advancing to tomorrow’s 3A championship game.

Ballard never trailed in this one, holding a 16-7 lead after one and a 32-22 lead at the half. They built a lead as large as 17 midway through the third quarter, but a late 13-3 run from Assumption pulled the Knights within 6, 51-45, at the end of the third after Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA drilled a 3 from inside the mid-court logo.

Ballard opened the final period with a 9-1 run to build their lead back up to 14, and it looked like they would cruise into Friday night. Not so fast. A 12-2 Assumption run, including 8 points from Ellis, brought the Knights back to within 4 with 1:35 to play. But it was too little, too late, as the Bombers went 12-14 from the free-throw line in the final 1:35 to ice the game away, overcoming a Herculean second-half effort from Ellis, in which he scored 23 of his game-high 33 points.

Ballard (25-1) advances to Friday’s championship game, where they’ll take on either Pella or Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The Bombers were led by their dynamic duo of junior guard Ashton Hermann Ashton Hermann 6'4" | SG Ballard | 2022 State IA , who had 26 points, and senior forward Connor Drew Connor Drew 6'6" | PF Ballard | 2021 State IA , who had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Assumption’s season ends with a 19-7 record. The Knights were led by Texas signee Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , who was sensational, finishing with 33 points on 10-22 shooting (6-15 3P). Matt Tallman added 13 points in the defeat.

MVPs: Ashton Hermann Ashton Hermann 6'4" | SG Ballard | 2022 State IA , Ballard (2022) -- 26 points (8-13 FG, 2-4 3P, 8-8 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals
Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , Assumption (2021) -- 33 points (10-22 FG, 6-15 3P, 7-9 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 6 steals

We had to split the honors in this one, as the head-to-head show that these two dynamic wings put on was fantastic to watch. Ellis was excellent in defeat, and Hermann kept getting big buckets when the Bombers needed them.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Assumption	7	15	23	20	65
Ballard	16	16	19	23	74

Team stats
Assumption: 20-49 FG (40.8%), 9-27 3P (33.3%), 16-19 FT (84.2%), 29 rebounds (7 offensive, 22 defensive), 7 assists, 21 turnovers
Ballard: 22-47 FG (46.8%), 5-14 3P (35.7%), 25-32 FT (78.1%), 33 rebounds (9 offensive, 24 defensive), 15 assists, 17 turnovers

Quarterfinal #4: #2 Pella 59, #7 Monticello 46

For the first 16 minutes on Tuesday night, it looked like second-seeded Pella would roll into the 3A semifinals without much resistance from seventh-seeded Monticello. Despite a much more spirited effort from the Panthers in the final 16 minutes, Pella held on for a 59-46 win, advancing to take on Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Thursday evening.

Pella scored the first eight points of the game, and held a 15-5 lead after the first quarter, and a 32-19 lead at halftime. They opened up a 15-point lead early in the third quarter before a big 15-3 Monticello run brought the Panthers back to within three. Give the veteran Panthers group a lot of credit - they could have rolled over after the poor start or at the half - but this experienced group wasn’t going to quit.

Pella always seemed to have an answer when Monticello would make their run, never allowing the Panthers to get closer than three points, and eventually, Monticello ran out of gas, and the hole they dug was just too big, and Pella was too athletic and talented.

Pella (23-2) was led by Grant Nelson Grant Nelson 6'1" | SF Pella | 2021 State IA , who had 17 points. Noah Allen Noah Allen 5'11" | PG Pella | 2022 State IA added 14 off the bench for the Dutch, who forced 14 Monticello turnovers and turned those into 17 points. Pella will be playing in the school’s 10th state semifinals.

Monticello’s season ends with a 22-1 record. The Panthers season ends in the state quarterfinals for the second straight year - last year in the 2A tournament, this year in 3A. They were led by senior Justin Recker Justin Recker 6'6" | PF Monticello | 2021 State IA , who concluded his fantastic career with an 18-point, 6-rebound effort. Fellow seniors Connor Lambert Connor Lambert 6'4" | SF Monticello | 2021 State IA (8), Ty Kehoe Ty Kehoe 6'0" | PG Monticello | 2021 State IA (8) and Luke Lambert Luke Lambert 6'3" | PG Monticello | 2021 State IA (3) won an awful lot of games for Monticello over the last four years, and should be celebrated. After a 60-year absence, that core led Monticello to back-to-back state tournaments.

MVP: Grant Nelson Grant Nelson 6'1" | SF Pella | 2021 State IA , Pella (2021) -- 18 points (6-13 FG, 1-5 3P, 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 steals

The leading scorer for the Dutch set the tone early, helping Pella build their big lead that Monticello wasn’t able to overcome. A big, physical guard, he was excellent at getting to the bucket and finishing.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Monticello	5	14	17	10	46
Pella	15	17	9	18	59

Team stats
Monticello: 18-40 FG (45.0%), 5-18 3P (27.8%), 5-9 FT (55.6%), 22 rebounds (5 offensive, 17 defensive), 9 assists, 15 turnovers
Pella: 21-44 FG (47.7%), 4-14 3P (28.6%), 13-20 FT (65.0%), 25 rebounds (8 offensive, 17 defensive), 11 assists, 9 turnovers

Quarterfinal #3: #6 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 38, #3 Western Dubuque 37 (OT)

It wasn’t always pretty, but Coach Adam Vander Schaaf and his Warriors will take the win, as sixth-seeded Sergeant Bluff-Luton advanced to Thursday’s semifinals with a 38-37 overtime win over third-seeded Western Dubuque on Tuesday night. They await the winner of the Pella/Monticello game.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s length played a major factor in this one, in particular the length of their two standout players, 6-8 Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA and 6-10 Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA , who helped take Western Dubuque out of their offensive rhythm early, holding the Bobcats to just 14 first-half points.

Western Dubuque took the lead for the first time since it was 4-2 with a layup by Tommy DeSollar on the first possession of the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged the lead before a 6-1 spurt from Western Dubuque gave them a 34-29 lead with 3:26 to play. About a minute later, Brady Schaap got loose for a layup and with 1:20 to play, Nick Muller drilled a 3 from the left corner, right in front of his Warrior bench to tie it at 34. After Nick Bryant Nick Bryant 5'9" | PG Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA missed a 3 with 1:02 left, Sergeant Bluff-Luton tried to hold for the last shot, but turned it over with 24 seconds left. The length of the Warriors again played a major factor, as they disrupted Western Dubuque’s final play and Bryant tossed up an airball, sending the game into overtime.

Western Dubuque got the overtime scoring started with an Andrew Oltmanns layup, taking a 36-34 lead. Neither team scored again until the 1:01 mark, when Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA made a pair of free throws. He had previously missed three free throws in the period. Garrett Baumhover Garrett Baumhover 6'0" | PG Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA got to the line on the ensuing Western Dubuque possession and was fouled. He went 1-2 at the stripe to give the Bobcats the lead, but Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA was then fouled on a drive on the next SB-L possession. The 6-8 senior calmly sank both of his free throws for the final margin. Western Dubuque got a pair of good looks for the win, but neither fell.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton (17-7) will play in their third 3A semifinal in the last five years. The Warriors were led by Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA , the lone player in double figures with 17 points.

Western Dubuque’s season ends with an 18-5 record. The Bobcats were led by Andrew Oltmanns, an unsung hero of the night who had 14 points, and Dylan Johnson Dylan Johnson 6'6" | SF Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA , who added 13 points and 5 assists in his final high school game.

MVP: Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA , Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2021) -- 17 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3P, 8-11 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

The future Southwest Minnesota State wing netted a game-high 17 points, none bigger than the two free throws he sank to send the Warriors to the semifinals.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	OT	F
Sergeant Bluff-Luton	5	13	5	11	4	38
Western Dubuque	6	8	9	11	3	37

Sergeant Bluff-Luton: Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA 17, Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2021 State IA 8, Brady Schaap 6, Jacob Imming Jacob Imming 6'2" | SF Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2022 IA 4, Nick Muller 3
Western Dubuque: Andrew Oltmanns 14, Dylan Johnson Dylan Johnson 6'6" | SF Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA 13, Tommy DeSollar 4, Garrett Baumhover Garrett Baumhover 6'0" | PG Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA 3, Carson Schute 2, Nick Bryant Nick Bryant 5'9" | PG Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA 1

Team stats
Sergeant Bluff-Luton: 13-26 FG (50.0%), 2-9 3P (22.2%), 10-19 FT (52.6%), 22 rebounds (4 offensive, 18 defensive), 6 assists, 13 turnovers
Western Dubuque: 14-37 FG (37.8%), 3-14 3P (21.4%), 6-12 FT (50.0%), 21 rebounds (6 offensive, 15 defensive), 8 assists, 9 turnovers

Quarterfinal #2: #5 Assumption 56, #4 Dallas Center-Grimes 42

A dominant performance from Texas signee Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA helped lift fifth-seeded Assumption into the 3A semifinals, as the Knights beat fourth-seed Dallas Center-Grimes, 56-42. Assumption advances to play top-seed Ballard on Thursday at 2:00 pm.

A tight game throughout the first half, Assumption’s defense took over in the second half. The Knights were excellent on the defensive end in their substate final win over Mount Vernon, but gave up a lot of dribble penetration in the first half. They tightened up on that end of the floor in the second half and took control of the game, holding the high-powered Mustangs to just 13 points and 22.2% shooting in the second half.

The Knights in particular locked up Mustangs’ star guard Cole Glasgow Cole Glasgow 6'2" | SG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2022 State IA , holding him to just 8 points on 3-7 shooting. The junior guard holds a handful of mid-major offers, but the Knights defense just never let him get going, making everything difficult.

Assumption led by at least two possessions for the entire second half, and led by as much as 15 late in the contest.

Assumption (19-6) was led by Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , who had 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. The Texas signee was clearly the best player on the floor in this one, and he dominated the game on both ends. JJ Stratman chipped in 14 points in the win for the Knights, who shot 50% from the floor.

Dallas Center-Grimes’ season ends with a 20-4 record. The Mustangs were led by Luke Rankin Luke Rankin 5'10" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA , who finished his stellar high school career with 13 points and 5 assists. Alex Thomas Alex Thomas 6'5" | PF Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA added 11 points. The ’Stangs return Glasgow and fellow junior guard Bo Huston next season, which will give them a potent backcourt.

MVP: Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , Assumption (2021) -- 25 points (9-18 FG, 3-7 3P, 4-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals

This was arguably the best I’ve seen Ellis play. The Texas signee was in complete control of this game on both ends of the floor. He got off to a hot start from behind the arc, and when the defense came out to the arc to guard him tighter, he used that to blow by the defender and get to the bucket, either for finishes or dump-off passes to teammates. Playmaking for others is something he’s worked hard on, and that was evident here. The 6-6 wing showed his versatility on the defensive end, especially as a help defender.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Assumption	18	15	9	14	56
Dallas Center-Grimes	16	13	6	7	42

Team stats
Assumption: 21-42 FG (50.0%), 6-17 3P (35.3%), 8-10 FT (80.0%), 23 rebounds (3 offensive, 20 defensive), 7 assists, 8 turnovers
Dallas Center-Grimes: 14-38 FG (36.8%), 3-11 3P (27.3%), 11-13 FT (84.6%), 23 rebounds (5 offensive, 18 defense), 8 assists, 12 turnovers

Quarterfinal #1: #1 Ballard 68, #8 Clear Lake 45

The top-ranked team in 3A looked every bit the part on Tuesday afternoon, as Ballard rolled to a 68-45 win over eighth-seeded Clear Lake to advance to Thursday’s semifinals. The Bombers will await the winner of the Dallas Center-Grimes/Davenport Assumption tilt.

The experienced Bombers fell behind 11-7 midway through the first quarter but responded in a big way, closing the quarter on a 16-0 run to grab control of the contest. They led by double-digits for the final 24:44 of this game, building a lead as large as 24.

A balanced and efficient attack, Ballard showed the ability to score in the halfcourt, but they thrived in transition, with a player leaking out as soon as a Clear Lake shot went up, and the Bombers constantly looked to push the tempo and get easy looks. The Bombers shot over 70% in the first half before cooling down a bit in the final 16 minutes as they cruised to the win.

Ballard (24-1) was led by Ashton Hermann Ashton Hermann 6'4" | SG Ballard | 2022 State IA , who led a balanced attack with 18 points. Mason Murphy Mason Murphy 5'9" | PG Ballard | 2021 State IA had 14 points and 9 assists, and Connor Drew Connor Drew 6'6" | PF Ballard | 2021 State IA added 12 points and 9 rebounds. The Bombers entered this week with the top-ranked scoring offense and second-best scoring defense in 3A, and they showed why in this one, an absolutely dominant performance on both ends of the floor. The Bombers scored 40 points in the paint in the win.

Clear Lake’s season ends with a 22-3 record. The Lions were led by Carson Toebe Carson Toebe 6'3" | PG Clear Lake | 2022 State IA , who had 22 points in the loss. Senior forward Andrew Formanek Andrew Formanek 6'6" | PF Clear Lake | 2021 State IA added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Toebe and lead guard Travaughn Luyobya are both back next year, and Clear Lake has won the most games of any 3A program in the last three years. Expect this program to keep it rolling next year.

MVP: Ashton Hermann Ashton Hermann 6'4" | SG Ballard | 2022 State IA , Ballard (2022) -- 18 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3P, 2-4 FT), 4 steals

You could make great arguments for Hermann, Drew or Murphy here, but we’ll give the nod to Hermann, who set the tone early with his work on the defensive end and in transition. His quickness and willingness to run the floor led to a number of easy buckets that seemed to kill Clear Lake’s spirit early on.

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Clear Lake	11	16	10	8	45
Ballard	23	20	15	10	68

Team stats
Clear Lake: 17-41 FG (41.5%), 4-16 3P (25.0%), 7-16 FT (43.8%), 24 rebounds (5 offensive, 19 defensive), 7 assists, 12 turnovers
Ballard: 29-57 FG (50.9%), 8-17 3P (47.1%), 2-4 FT (50.0%), 34 rebounds (10 offensive, 24 defensive), 18 assists, 6 turnovers