Substate Preview: 3A-3

<!-- wp:image {"id":2779241,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/3A-3.png?w=607" alt="" class="wp-image-2779241" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>The top-ranked team in the state, <strong>Clear Lake</strong>, is a clear favorite to come out of this substate. The Lions rank 3rd in the class in scoring offense, putting up 74.2 points per game, and are 2nd in defense, allowing just 44.8 a night. Their resume includes big wins over ADM (by 16), Waverly-Shell Rock (11), Grand View Christian (21), and a season sweep of St. Edmond (28, 15). A balanced team with a lot of different options and ways to beat you, they're led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] (17.2, 8.0 rebounds, 64.8 FG%), a future Iowa tight end. He's an extremely athletic and physical forward who controls the game on both ends of the floor. Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (11.3, 3.2 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2377642' first='Carson' last='Riser'] (9.9, 40.7 3P%) give them a dynamic backcourt of playmaking and shooting, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] (.8, 5.2 assists) is the veteran leader in the backcourt. A team that can pretty comfortably go 9 or 10 deep, they apply a lot of pressure defensively, pound the glass on both ends, get to the rim, and knock down 3s. An explosive team that can drop a 15-0 run on you in the blink of an eye, this is the team to beat in 3A for a reason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Solon</strong> has been playing really well down the stretch, going 12-1 since January 7 behind the strength of excellent defense. In the last 13 games, the Spartans are allowing just 50.8 points per game, using their length, athleticism, and physicality to control the game on that end.Seniors Isaiah Zoske (12.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2721815' first='Caleb' last='Bock'] (12.5, 7.7 rebounds, 55.4 FG%) are the leading scorers and both are capable of exploiting their athletic advantages. This is a team that will make life difficult for opposing teams offensively, grinding the game to a slow pace and suffocating them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>The #3 seed in the substate is <strong>Nevada</strong>, who actually has a pretty tricky game in the quarterfinals against Webster City, a team they beat by just 3 points in the middle of January. The Cubs are led by junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765535' first='John' last='Nelson'] (15.5, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks), an athletic forward who can score inside and out as well as protect the rim defensively. Six other players average at least 4.7 points per game, giving them a multitude of options. If players like Nelson, Easton Gray (11.5, 32.0 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2906523' first='Benjamin' last='Weiss'] (7.6, 42.4 3P%) can get hot from the 3-point line, this is a team that could make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419796' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2377642' first='Carson' last='Riser'] (Clear Lake)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] (Clear Lake)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731814' first='Brady' last='Harr'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413508' first='Kinnick' last='Covington'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886875' first='Jacoby' last='Johnson'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2025 Isaiah Zoske (Solon)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721815' first='Caleb' last='Bock'] (Solon)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731750' first='Eli' last='Patterson'] (Benton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887899' first='Carson' last='Pickering'] (Benton)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765535' first='John' last='Nelson'] (Nevada)<br>2025 Easton Gray (Nevada)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (Webster City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon at Clear Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranked team in the state was handed a pretty clear path to the state tournament, with a #2 seed in Solon ranked 28th at BC Moore and a #3 seed in Nevada ranked 24th. It would be a pretty significant upset if anyone not named <strong>Clear Lake </strong>came out of this substate. The Lions advance to Des Moines for the first time since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->