Substate Preview: 3A-4

<!-- wp:image {"id":1797549,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/3A-4.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/3A-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1797549" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>The top seed in the substate is <strong>Marion</strong>, and the Wolves have to feel pretty good about the draw they got for the first two rounds of this bracket (a potential third meeting with Mount Vernon in the substate final, maybe not so much). They're led by explosive senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='956878' first='Brayson' last='Laube'] (pictured, 21.9, 51.9 FG%), one of the best pure scorers in the state. Capable of scoring from anywhere at any point in time. Laube is a threat to drop 30+ points on any given night. He has unlimited range, tight handles, and a quick first step that he uses to blow by unbalanced defenders. [player_tooltip player_id='1367405' first='Alex' last='Mota'] (10.3), an Iowa football signee, provides more athleticism on the perimeter, and they've gotten great production out of senior forward Calen Claypool (10.2, 6.2 rebounds) this season. Claypool has taken his game to another level as a rebounder and defender and turned himself into an extremely valuable piece for this team. [player_tooltip player_id='1476987' first='Myles' last='Davis'] (6.1, 37.7 3P%), an Iowa baseball commit, is a physical guard who moves his feet well defensively and knocks down open looks, and [player_tooltip player_id='1751227' first='Payton' last='Hodges'] (5.3) can provide some scoring spark off the bench for this group. The Wolves have the best player in the substate, and have largely been dominant this season. They shouldn't have too many issues getting to the substate final here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest threats: Mount Vernon enters postseason play hot, winning seven of their last nine regular-season games, including great wins over Xavier, Marion, and Waverly-Shell Rock. The Mustangs are led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171688' first='Jackson' last='Kutcher'] (17.1, 38.2 3P%), a high-level shooter who is enjoying a breakout junior season after injuries hampered his sophomore year. Brady Erickson (11.0, 51.4 FG%), an efficient senior wing, provides some additional scoring punch, while [player_tooltip player_id='1376688' first='Joe' last='Rhomberg'] (9.9, 8.2 rebounds) is a dominant interior force on the glass. The 'Stangs are athletic, deep, don't hurt themselves, and have proven down the stretch that they're capable of beating just about anyone in the class. This is probably a team that Marion didn't really want to see in their substate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles City</strong> has lost just three times since the holiday break - to 4A Waterloo West (15-5), 1A powerhouse Grand View Christian (21-0), and 2A powerhouse Aplington-Parkersburg (19-2). Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1167722' first='Chase' last='Low'] (16.1) is a fantastic athlete who can take over games with his ability to get to the rim and impact the game on the defensive end. He has improved his jumper and is posting impressive 56-47 shooting splits. [player_tooltip player_id='1945652' first='Kam' last='Mestas'] (14.6, 6.5 rebounds) and Keenan Wiley (11.4, 7.9 rebounds) provide additional scoring and rebounding. Wiley has been a very welcome addition as a transfer from Mason City, adding length, size, and athleticism to their frontline. The Comets are playing well, but there are certainly some questions about their quality of the teams they've beaten since the holiday break (with the exception of Waverly-Shell Rock).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse:</strong> In junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1256304' first='Ben' last='Bockman'] (22.6, 9.1 rebounds, 38.0 3P%), <strong>Decorah</strong> has one of the best scorers in the class, and that makes the Vikings dangerous. A 6-3/6-4 shooter with good size and length, Bockman is the type of player who can get hot and carry his team offensively for long stretches because of the variety of ways that he can fill it up. He can create his own shot, he moves well without the ball, and he shoots it really well both off the dribble and the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='1751170' first='Matthew' last='Bockman'] (10.6, 4.3 assists) and Tate Johnson (10.3) are also solid scoring threats, while junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2377280' first='Kaiden' last='Quandahl'] (8.4, 7.7 rebounds) has provided some physicality in the paint. Bockman is dangerous, and in turn, so are the Vikings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956878' first='Brayson' last='Laube'], Marion<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367405' first='Alex' last='Mota'], Marion<br>2023 Calen Claypool, Marion<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171688' first='Jackson' last='Kutcher'], Mount Vernon<br>2023 Brady Erickson, Mount Vernon<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167722' first='Chase' last='Low'], Charles City<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1945652' first='Kam' last='Mestas'], Charles City<br>2024 Keenan Wiley, Charles City<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256304' first='Ben' last='Bockman'], Decorah<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751170' first='Matthew' last='Bockman'], Decorah<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751232' first='Cameron' last='Dunbar'], Vinton-Shellsburg<br>2023 Bryce Smith, West Delaware<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288893' first='Tanner' last='Michael'], Independence<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738714' first='Zach' last='Mehmert'], Crestwood<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1738655' first='Maurice' last='Powell'], Crestwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion vs. Mount Vernon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams split their regular season meetings, with Marion winning 59-48 on January 13 and Mount Vernon winning 65-52 on January 30. Each team won on their home court, while this would be played at a neutral. In that game on the 30th, Mount Vernon let [player_tooltip player_id='956878' first='Brayson' last='Laube'] get his, as he went off for 36 points, and made the rest of the team beat them. The rest of the Wolves didn't beat them in that one, and [player_tooltip player_id='1171688' first='Jackson' last='Kutcher'] didn't play for Mount Vernon. Logically that would mean that the advantage would go to Mount Vernon, but we're going to side with <strong>Marion</strong> here, who will have the best player on the floor, and in a coin flip situation, I'm going to side with the team that has the most dynamic player on their side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->