Substate Preview: 3A-6
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The favorite: Four different Little Hawkeye Conference schools have won the 3A title in the last four years. Could Newton become the fifth? The Cardinals will have a tricky substate to navigate if they want to have a chance, but…
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Continue ReadingThe favorite: Four different Little Hawkeye Conference schools have won the 3A title in the last four years. Could Newton become the fifth? The Cardinals will have a tricky substate to navigate if they want to have a chance, but behind the #5 scoring defense in the class, allowing just 49.4 points a game, they’ll have a good shot at getting to Des Moines and making some noise. Senior forward Cole Plowman Cole Plowman 6'4" | PF Newton | 2023 State IA (14.3, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) has been a dominant force in the painted area on both ends of the floor. A mobile big with good timing as a shot blocker, his ability to protect the rim has been key for this team’s strong defense throughout the year. Brody Bauer Brody Bauer 6'2" | SG Newton | 2023 State IA (12.5, 36.5 3P%) and Jake Ingle Jake Ingle 5'7" | PG Newton | 2023 State IA (10.3, 37.4 3P%) lead a veteran backcourt, and this is a senior-laden team, with the top seven scorers all being seniors. They share the ball well, limit turnovers, and play outstanding defense. They’ll be tough to beat.
The biggest threats: The bottom of this bracket has a pair of teams who could give Newton some trouble. We’ll start with the #2 seed, Mount Pleasant. The Panthers have the #2 scoring defense in the class, allowing just 47.8 points a game, and they’ve been hot since the holiday break, winning 12 straight before dropping back-to-back games to end the regular season. They’re led by a really good tandem of guards – junior Payton Hagans Payton Hagans 6'0" | SG Mount Pleasant | 2024 State IA (20.7, 8.2 rebounds) and senior Aaiden Ashton (14.7, 39.3 3P%). Hagans leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists, and is a high IQ guard who is at his best when he’s playing downhill and attacking the bucket, while Ashton is a good complement to him, a quality shooter off the catch who can also create as a secondary ball-handler. Owen Vansickel (7.0, 39.1 3P%) gives them some more perimeter shooting, and junior forward Nate Stroud (7.5, 53.3 FG%) has been an efficient interior option. The question for the Panthers lies in the difficulty of their schedule. With the exception of a split with Burlington, they’ve lost against all of the good competition on the schedule.
Solon has won six straight games down the stretch, including quality wins over Mount Vernon and Williamsburg. The Spartans are led by junior wing Jake Benzing Jake Benzing 6'2" | SG Solon | 2024 State IA (18.3), who is enjoying a breakout junior season. The 6-3 wing is long, athletic, and highly efficient, posting shooting splits of 54-47-83. He’s able to create his own looks by putting the ball on the floor, and he moves really well without the ball in his hands. The Spartans have a number of reliable ball handlers that they can turn to, with every player that they put on the floor capable of making decisions with the ball in their hands. A deep, athletic team that plays good defense and has a dominant scorer, Solon is peaking at the right time and is a real threat in this substate.
The dark horse: Washington has one of the best pure scorers in the substate on their side in senior guard Ethan Patterson Ethan Patterson 5'11" | SG Washington | 2023 State IA (19.3, 36.4 3P%), a dynamic shooter who is capable of getting scorching hot and carrying his team for long stretches. He has a quick release and tons of range and is the type of player that higher-seeded teams should be a bit scared of. The Six twins, Ajay Six Ajay Six 6'4" | SF Washington | 2023 State IA (11.2) and Aden Six (10.1), are a pair of long combo forwards who can impact the game on the defensive end with their length, and both score efficiently.
Players to watch
2023
Cole Plowman
Cole
Plowman
6'4" | PF
Newton | 2023
State
IA
, Newton
2023
Brody Bauer
Brody
Bauer
6'2" | SG
Newton | 2023
State
IA
, Newton
2023
Jake Ingle
Jake
Ingle
5'7" | PG
Newton | 2023
State
IA
, Newton
2024
Payton Hagans
Payton
Hagans
6'0" | SG
Mount Pleasant | 2024
State
IA
, Mount Pleasant
2023 Aaiden Ashton, Mount Pleasant
2024
Jake Benzing
Jake
Benzing
6'2" | SG
Solon | 2024
State
IA
, Solon
2024 Gehrig Turner, Solon
2024
Vince Steinbrech
Vince
Steinbrech
6'2" | SF
Solon | 2024
State
IA
, Solon
2023
Ethan Patterson
Ethan
Patterson
5'11" | SG
Washington | 2023
State
IA
, Washington
2023
Ajay Six
Ajay
Six
6'4" | SF
Washington | 2023
State
IA
, Washington
2023 Aden Six, Washington
2023 Waylon Bolibaugh, Oskaloosa
2023
Max Weaton
Max
Weaton
6'6" | PF
Fairfield | 2023
State
IA
, Fairfield
2023
JJ Lane
JJ
Lane
5'9" | PG
Fairfield | 2023
State
IA
, Fairfield
2024 Hunter Cresswell, Fort Madison
2024
Diego Garcia
Diego
Garcia
6'2" | SF
Keokuk | 2024
State
IA
, Keokuk
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Newton vs. Solon
The dominant defensive team against the dominant scorer. Solon is among the hottest teams in 3A entering the postseason, but Newton’s strong defensive team will make things difficult here. In a tight, lower-scoring game, Newton’s senior guards make just enough plays on the offensive end and the Cardinals suffocate Solon en route to a trip to the state tournament.