Class 3A Substate Quarterfinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Top Five Games</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Heelan (9-12) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (13-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These MRC rivals split during the regular season, with each team winning on their home floor. Sergeant Bluff-Luton won 57-56 on December 17, and Heelan took the rematch 51-44 on January 31. Heelan is led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765514' first='Noah' last='Conley'] (14.7, 2.5 assists), a skilled three-level scorer and playmaker who could be the best player on the floor in this one. [player_tooltip player_id='2731823' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] (9.0, 56.9 FG%) is an athletic forward who controls the glass, and if the Crusaders are going to pull off the minor upset, Charlie Vaandrager (8.5) will need to play well alongside Conley and Thomas as a shooting threat. Speaking of shooting threats, the Vander Schaaf brothers, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2754687' first='Ajay' last='Vander Schaaf'] (16.5, 46.9 3P%) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2772340' first='Kylen' last='Vander Schaaf'] (8.1, 37.3 3P%) are a pair of high-level shooters for Sergeant Bluff-Luton. [player_tooltip player_id='2754699' first='Gavin' last='Ahrendt'] (10.1, 6.3 rebounds) gives them some physicality, and [player_tooltip player_id='1978139' first='Isaiah' last='Jervik'] (8.1, 4.2 assists) has been really good as a playmaker. SBL has more talent and shooting, and gets this one at home, but with so much familiarity between these teams, this can go either way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Center (10-11) at Spencer (11-10)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams met early in the season, a 52-43 Spencer win on December 12. In that game, Sioux Center struggled with Jack Berends (9.0, 6.0 rebounds) on the glass, who had 14 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive end, to go with 13 points, while [player_tooltip player_id='2721680' first='Cael' last='Bruning'] (20.3) poured in 17 points. It was an ugly game, with the teams combining for 48 turnovers and 43 fouls. [player_tooltip player_id='2906403' first='Braedon' last='Perez-Hietbrink'] (13.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731903' first='Cody' last='Sandbulte'] (11.6, 7.0 rebounds) will need to lead a concerted effort for Sioux Center on the glass if they want to go into Spencer and come away with the upset win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles City (8-13) at Independence (8-13)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one that should be a really close game throughout, with not a whole lot separating these teams. Charles City is led by a trio of double-figure scorers: sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2906399' first='Henry' last='Ruzicka'] (12.9), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2204895' first='Victor' last='Ward'] (12.5), and senior Jordin Ritter (12.3). The Comets have struggled with turnovers (15.7 a game), but with their speed on the perimeter, they can force a bunch also. Independence is led by a pair of seniors - Brady Kurt (12.4) and Brayden Ridder (10.9). Will Charles City have an answer for Kurt's strength in the paint? Will Independence have an answer for Ward's speed on the perimeter? This one may not always be the prettiest basketball, but it should be really competitive with each team possessing some real advantages.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion (9-12) at Central DeWitt (10-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A young Marion team is having a down year by the standards that they've established over the last decade, but this is still a team that has the pieces to be a dangerous postseason team. They have a ton of shooting on the roster with [player_tooltip player_id='1402185' first='Austin' last='Goodrich'] (12.8, 36.5 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'] (10.6, 42.0 3P%), Mason Wagner (9.7, 40.2 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'] (9.4, 37.8 3P%), and they surround an athletic young big in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'] (7.1, 2.2 blocks). Coates has the size and athleticism to match up with Central DeWitt star forward [player_tooltip player_id='1484410' first='Ryan' last='Watters'] (15.6, 8.8 rebounds, 54.5 FG%), which is something that few other teams in 3A possess. The Sabers have quite a bit of shooting to put around Watters, who is a capable stretch-big man also, in [player_tooltip player_id='2811905' first='Max' last='Burgmeier'] (15.9, 42.2 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731756' first='Hudson' last='Krukow'] (7.2, 41.9 3P%). This one could be a game decided in the final four minutes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Polk (9-12) at Perry (13-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two very different styles meet up in this one, with North Polk playing a slower, more methodical style that likes to emphasize their length and athleticism on the defensive end, and Perry looking to get out and go, go go. North Polk is led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='2887875' first='Jack' last='Spieker'] (10.0), the only Comet averaging in double digits, but four others average between 7.2 and 9.1 points per game, giving them a balanced attack. This is a group that wins games on the defensive end, allowing 55.1 points per game. For Perry, it's the three-headed monster of [player_tooltip player_id='2721707' first='Owen' last='Myers'] (19.1), [player_tooltip player_id='2721697' first='Geren' last='Kenney'] (18.0, 10.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2731871' first='Gustavo' last='Drahos'] (14.7, 4.5 assists). Any of the three are capable of dropping 25 on a given night, and all three are also capable playmakers. Whichever team is able to dictate the tempo should have the edge here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Upset Alert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sergeant Bluff-Luton:</strong> As mentioned above, the Warriors split with Heelan during the regular season, with each winning at home. While they'll get the rubbermatch on their home floor, playing a conference rival for a third time can always lead to some wonky things happening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carroll: </strong>The Tigers are capable of going on a run in 3A-2, having already handed Storm Lake their only loss of the season. That said, if they're caught looking ahead to a potential rematch with the Tornadoes, Saydel has the offensive weapons and playmakers in [player_tooltip player_id='2731882' first='Gage' last='Moreno'] (14.4, 6.8 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420787' first='Brady' last='Hicks'] (14.8, 10.3 rebounds) to make things interesting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central DeWitt: </strong>Marion actually has the size to compete with [player_tooltip player_id='1484410' first='Ryan' last='Watters'] in this one in sophomore big [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'], and if the Wolves are able to limit Watters, things could open up in a big way. Marion also has a lot of shooting in [player_tooltip player_id='1402185' first='Austin' last='Goodrich'], Mason Wagner, [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2754674' first='Tait' last='Rahe'], each of whom made at least 28 3-pointers and shot at least 36.5% from the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keokuk:</strong> Oskaloosa probably doesn't have an answer for Keokuk big man [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'], but the Chiefs could have issues with Oskaloosa guard [player_tooltip player_id='2757890' first='Tommy' last='North'] (12.6), who has really come on strong down the stretch. The Indians, having gone through the gauntlet of the Little Hawkeye, won't be intimidated going down to the far southeast corner of the state for this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grinnell: </strong>This is another one where Grinnell is probably a significantly better team than Centerville, but if they're caught looking ahead to a potential meeting with ADM in the semifinals, they could slip up. Centerville has a pair of big-time scorers in the Rice brothers - junior [player_tooltip player_id='2731635' first='Malachi' last='Rice'] (21.6) and senior KJ Rice (16.5) - who can score in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Perry:</strong> The concern for the Bluejays in this one is the massive gap in differences in strength of schedule. Perry's ranks 63rd, while North Polk's is 19th. The Comets have proven they can play with the big boys, beating Ballard this season, and they have the length and athleticism to slow down Perry's high-powered attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Picking all 32<br></span>Substate 1: MOC-Floyd Valley over LeMars, Spencer over Sioux Center, Glenwood over Harlan, Sergeant Bluff-Luton over Heelan<br>Substate 2: Storm Lake over Denison-Schleswig, Carroll over Saydel, Gilbert over Winterset, Humboldt over Algona<br>Substate 3: Clear Lake over Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Center Point-Urbana over Vinton-Shellsburg, Solon over Benton, Nevada over Webster City<br>Substate 4: Decorah over Clinton, Independence over Charles City, Xavier over Maquoketa, Wahlert Catholic over Western Dubuque<br>Substate 5: Waverly-Shell Rock over South Tama, Central DeWitt over Marion, Clear Creek Amana over West Delaware, Assumption over Williamsburg<br>Substate 6: Knoxville over Mount Pleasant, Fort Madison over Washington, Mount Vernon over Fairfield, Keokuk over Oskaloosa<br>Substate 7: ADM over Clarke, Grinnell over Centerville, Pella over Hoover, Newton over Boone<br>Substate 8: Ballard over Atlantic, North Polk over Perry, Des Moines Christian over Carlisle, Bondurant-Farrar over Creston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->