Class 3A Substate Quarterfinal Preview
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The Top Five Games Glenwood (12-8) at Lewis Central (13-6) Hawkeye Ten rivals meet for the third time this year after having split during the regular season. Each team won on their home floor, with Lewis Central winning 75-57 on…
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Continue ReadingThe Top Five Games
Glenwood (12-8) at Lewis Central (13-6)
Hawkeye Ten rivals meet for the third time this year after having split during the regular season. Each team won on their home floor, with Lewis Central winning 75-57 on December 19, and Glenwood nabbing a 60-55 victory on February 13. Senior guard Nash Paulson Nash Paulson 6'2" | SG Lewis Central | 2024 State IA (16.4, 43.2 3P%) is the go-to scorer for Lewis Central, a good shooter who moves well without the ball. Jackson Larsen (9.3) gives them some more scoring, and Curtis Witte (7.1, 5.8 assists) has been really good as the table-setter for the Titans. The Rams have three double-figure scorers in Kayden Anderson (15.2, 3.7 assists), Ayden Gibson (10.5), and Casey Godbout (10.3), giving them three scoring weapons they can rely on.
Storm Lake (12-8) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11-10)
Coach Adam Vander Schaaf once again has Sergeant Bluff-Luton playing well at the right time, as the Warriors have won seven straight heading into the postseason after starting the year 4-10. They’re a really good defensive team, allowing just 49.2 points a game, 6th in the class. Seniors Scott Dickson (12.6) and Emiliano Gonzalez (12.2) lead the team offensively, while sophomore Isaiah Jervik Isaiah Jervik 6'1" | SG Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2026 State IA (8.7, 4.5 assists) is a good playmaker who sets his teammates up. The Warriors will have their hands full with Storm Lake’s sophomore star Jaidyn Coon Jaidyn Coon 6'6" | SF Storm Lake | 2026 State IA (19.8, 8.7 rebounds), an athletic 6-6/6-7 combo forward who is drawing some Power 5 interest early in his recruitment. He’s a bouncy athlete who finishes above the rim with authority and flair, and he can stretch the floor. Fellow sophomore Cameron Boyd Cameron Boyd 6'1" | SG Storm Lake | 2026 State IA (12.6, 5.3 assists) can help space the floor, and Justin Guynn Justin Guynn 6'1" | SG Storm Lake | 2024 State IA (14.1) gives them a downhill scorer.
North Polk (10-12) at Algona (14-7)
A pair of state tournament teams from last season meet up in this quarterfinal game. North Polk lost a lot of production to graduation, but brought back senior guard Reggie Postel Reggie Postel 6'1" | SG North Polk | 2024 State IA (18.8, 3.0 assists), who leads the team in scoring and assists. Graedan Sullivan (10.0, 6.9 rebounds) gives them some rebounding and size, and Charlie Bunkers (7.5) and Brady Schultz (5.9) have been solid contributors on the wing. Algona is led by the one-two punch of juniors Ben Helmers Ben Helmers 6'4" | PG Algona | 2025 State IA (20.8) and Alex Manske Alex Manske 6'3" | SG Algona | 2025 State IA (16.6). Helmers, an athletic 6-3 guard who thrives when playing downhill, is a dynamic playmaker, while Manske, a future Iowa State quarterback, is an athletic and physical forward who can control the glass and stretch the floor. Algona has been a bit more consistent, but North Polk has played a tougher schedule and has some really nice wins on their resume.
Xavier (10-11) at Maquoketa (13-8)
According to BC Moore’s power ranking system, Xavier has played the hardest schedule in 3A, which will prepare them well for postseason play. The Saints are led by 6-8 big man Tyler Netolicky Tyler Netolicky 6'8" | C Xavier | 2024 State IA (13.2, 10.8 rebounds, 58.7 FG%), a mobile big with the size and skill that Maquoketa may not be able to match up with. Sophomore guards Zander Murray Zander Murray 6'0" | SG Xavier | 2026 State IA (10.2) and Lorenzo Pino Lorenzo Pino 5'11" | SG Cedar Rapids Xavier | 2026 State IA (5.9) are asked to do a lot of ball-handling for the Saints, and they’ll need to handle the speed of Maquoketa’s guards. Kaleb Wilgenbusch Kaleb Wilgenbusch 6'0" | SG Cedar Rapids Xavier | 2025 State IA (8.7) and Dominic D’Amico Dominic D’Amico 6'2" | SG Xavier | 2024 State IA (7.6, 38.3 3P%) are older players but they don’t have a ton of experience for Xavier. Maquoketa plays an up-and-down style with three double-figure scorers in seniors Tye Hardin Tye Hardin 6'0" | PG Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (20.1, 8.5 rebounds), Tyler Hinz Tyler Hinz 5'10" | PG Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (14.5, 5.2 assists), and Carter Meyer Carter Meyer 5'11" | SF Maquoketa | 2024 State IA (12.9), and they’re a team that launches 3s in bunches. If they’re knocking them down, they can drop 80+ on just about anyone.
Knoxville (14-7) at Newton (10-11)
This is another instance of a major gap in strength of schedule rankings, with Newton having played the 8th most difficult schedule in the class, and Knoxville checking in at 56th. Newton is led by seniors Caleb Mattes Caleb Mattes 6'0" | SG Newton | 2024 State IA (14.0, 4.3 assists) and Chandler Lawson (11.0, 7.0 rebounds), and sophomore guard Caden Klein Caden Klein 5'10" | SG Newton | 2026 State IA (10.2, 42.6 3P%). The Cardinals are playing well, having gone 5-2 in their last seven games. Knoxville is led by the Norris brothers – junior Landen Norris Landen Norris 6'4" | PG Knoxville | 2025 State IA (19.9, 8.5 rebounds) and freshman Lincoln Norris Lincoln Norris 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2027 State IA (10.5). Both are good three-level scorers who can play with or without the ball, and junior forward Kaiden Smith (7.3, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) is a bit of an X-factor for the Panthers because of his size (6-6/6-7), length, and defensive versatility.
Upset Alert
Lewis Central: The Titans split with Glenwood during the regular season, and while getting the rubber match at home is certainly an advantage, the Rams know they can beat this group.
Sergeant Bluff-Luton: The Warriors are playing really good ball, especially on the defensive end, but Storm Lake has the most dynamic individual player on the floor, which makes the Tornadoes dangerous.
Denison-Schleswig: Carroll lost to the Monarchs by 7 back on February 3 and will be anxious to get another crack at them. The Tigers shot just 3-12 from the line in that game.
Algona: North Polk has a go-to scorer in Reggie Postel Reggie Postel 6'1" | SG North Polk | 2024 State IA , and the Comets have played good basketball down the stretch and have a resume that includes wins over Pella, Winterset, Bondurant-Farrar (twice), and Ballard.
Wahlert Catholic: Wahlert and Western Dubuque split during the regular season, with each winning on their home court. Bobcats big man Kanyon Bryte Kanyon Bryte 6'8" | C Western Dubuque | 2024 State IA is a difficult matchup, and he’ll be looking to bounce back against Wahlert after fouling out in the last meeting.
Maquoketa: The Cardinals can certainly score, but do they have an answer for Netolicky in the paint? Xavier won’t be intimidated by anyone after going through the rigors of the MVC.
Mount Vernon: The Mustangs could struggle with the size and athleticism of Central DeWitt’s frontcourt – 6-7 Landon Schroeder Landon Schroeder 6'6" | PF Central DeWitt | 2024 State IA and 6-6 Ryan Watters Ryan Watters 6'6" | PF Central DeWitt | 2025 State IA , who combine to average 27.1 points and 14.6 rebounds a game.
Keokuk: The Chiefs and Mount Pleasant split during the regular season, with each winning on their home court. The rubber match is being played in Keokuk, but guard Payton Hagans Payton Hagans 6'0" | SG Mount Pleasant | 2024 State IA , averaging 23.4 points for Mount Pleasant, can go off at any point in time.
Newton: The Cardinals have played the more difficult schedule, but the one-two punch of the Norris brothers can score in bunches for Knoxville.
Picking all 32
Substate 1: MOC-Floyd Valley, Lewis Central, Heelan, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Substate 2: Clear Lake, North Polk, Ballard, Humboldt
Substate 3: Decorah, Western Dubuque, Charles City, Hampton-Dumont-CAL
Substate 4: Marion, Xavier, Assumption, Mount Vernon
Substate 5: Solon, Keokuk, Clear Creek Amana, Williamsburg
Substate 6: Waverly-Shell Rock, Gilbert, Nevada, Grinnell
Substate 7: Winterset, Knoxville, Pella, Clarke
Substate 8: ADM, Carroll, Bondurant-Farrar, Harlan