Substate Preview: 3A-5

<!-- wp:image {"id":2779257,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-5.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-5.png?w=605" alt="" class="wp-image-2779257" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> Last year's runner-up <strong>Waverly-Shell Rock</strong> has been playing really good basketball since the holiday break, going 12-1 since the hiatus, with the lone loss coming to top-ranked Clear Lake. The Go-Hawks have largely dominated their schedule post-holiday break, winning their 12 games by an average of 26.3 points per game. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759905' first='Luke' last='Frazell'] (27.5, 7.8 rebounds, 45.7 3P%) has been playing like one of the best players in the state this season, scoring from everywhere on the floor and doing so at a highly efficient clip. While they lack a consistent secondary scorer, they have seven other players averaging between 3.7 and 9.2 points per game, giving them plenty of options alongside Frazell on any given night. If there is a concern with this group, it's that outside of Frazell and [player_tooltip player_id='2511478' first='Tyler' last='Gade'] (9.2, 50.7 FG%), there is very little postseason experience on the roster. Ball security (14.0 turnovers per game) will be important.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Another team that has been red-hot since the holiday break is <strong>Clear Creek Amana</strong>, who has gone 13-1 after the hiatus. The Clippers are one of four teams to rank within the top 8 in scoring offense (6th, 70.4) and defense (8th, 49.3). This is a veteran roster, led in scoring by six seniors. [player_tooltip player_id='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (16.9, 44.6 3P%) is a knockdown shooter who leads the team in scoring, while wing [player_tooltip player_id='2721822' first='Hayden' last='Umoren'] (11.4, 63.0 FG%) has been a nice addition to the roster this year, giving them an athletic, long playmaker and defender on the wing. The Clippers' four losses this year have come to 4A Iowa City West, 4A #6 Kennedy, 4A #10 Prairie, and a solid Solon team in the second game of the year. So they'll be ready for whatever this substate has to throw at them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse(s):</strong> Defending champion <strong>Assumption</strong> is lurking at the bottom of the bracket, and the Knights have shaken off a really slow start to the season by winning six of their last eight games at time of writing. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1759900' first='Damyen' last='Jackson'] (15.0) was the captain of the 3A all-tournament team last season and has a ton of big-game experience, while [player_tooltip player_id='1759943' first='Braylon' last='Thomsen'] (14.8, 42.4 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2511468' first='Isiah' last='Rose'] (9.5), and [player_tooltip player_id='2397362' first='Joey' last='Funderburk'] (9.4) were all quality role players on last year's team. This is a team that is certainly capable of getting hot and making some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The committee didn't do Waverly-Shell Rock any favors in this substate, with #14 CCA, #13 Assumption, and #12 <strong>Central DeWitt </strong>(BC Moore rankings) all looming as possible threats. The Sabers have a pair of big scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2811905' first='Max' last='Burgmeier'] (16.0, 42.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1484410' first='Ryan' last='Watters'] (15.5, 8.9 rebounds). Burgmeier is an excellent shooter and playmaker in the backcourt, while Watters is an athletic forward who can score inside and out, protect the rim, and create plays out of the post or high-post areas. This is a team that can go about eight deep, and with the shooting of Burgmeier and the size and athleticism of Watters, they have some real players as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759905' first='Luke' last='Frazell'] (Waverly-Shell Rock)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2811905' first='Max' last='Burgmeier'] (Central DeWitt)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484410' first='Ryan' last='Watters'] (Central DeWitt)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1402185' first='Austin' last='Goodrich'] (Marion)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754695' first='Jaryn' last='Griffith'] (Marion)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721822' first='Hayden' last='Umoren'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 Robert Meade (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874777' first='Griffin' last='Lott'] (West Delaware)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731902' first='Dylan' last='Weisskopf'] (Williamsburg)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397303' first='Grant' last='Hocker'] (Williamsburg)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759900' first='Damyen' last='Jackson'] (Assumption)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759943' first='Braylon' last='Thomsen'] (Assumption)<br>2026 Cyrell Etzen (South Tama)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana at Waverly-Shell Rock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a really tricky substate for Waverly-Shell Rock to try and navigate their way through, but the Go-Hawks have the best individual player in the substate in [player_tooltip player_id='1759905' first='Luke' last='Frazell'] and probably the best coach in the substate in Nate Steege. <strong>Waverly-Shell Rock</strong> is playing exceptional basketball right now, and they punch their ticket back to Des Moines after surviving a pair of difficult games in the semifinals and final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->