Class 3A - Substate 1[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate One
Sioux City Heelan
Cherokee
Estherville Lincoln
LeMars
MOC-Floyd Valley
Spencer
Spirit Lake
Storm Lake
How
did Substate 1 do at the State tournament?
MOC-Floyd Valley
Beat Webster City in the quarterfinals (48-45)
Beat Carroll in the semifinals (97-80)
Beat Cresco-Crestwood in the championship game (80-77 OT)
Thoughts on Substate 1 for the 2005-2005 Season:
Sioux City Heelan will be a much different team this year. The
Crusaders said goodbye to their top five scorers but return one of the best
juniors in Iowa. Clint Sargent had a big summer and will be even better
this year. With the football season over, Sargent can now focus on hoops
and will be looking for an All State year. Cherokee is another team who
said goodbye to a number of seniors. How their younger players adapt to
the varsity level will determine their success.
Estherville Lincoln graduated their top three scorers but does return Brad
Deling. This junior saw action last year and averaged nearly eight points
on varsity. LeMars only finished 12-10 last year Jared Clement is one of
the best juniors in Iowa. He averaged over fifteen points per game and
will see an even bigger role offensively this winter. MOC-Floyd Valley
took home the State title last year and return a very talented point guard in
Dale DeJong. With Mr. Basketball Josh Van Es gone, DeJong will be the
primary scorer. Spencer said goodbye to Brian Haak and the team may
struggle without him. Spirit Lake only won four games last year and
graduated their top three scorers. Storm Lake saw bigman Casey Morgan move
on to Buena Vista and his scoring and rebounding will be missed. But make
sure to keep an eye on Logan Masters.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Jared Clement - LeMars
Dale DeJong - MOC-Floyd Valley
Logan Masters - Storm Lake
Derrick Randall - Storm Lake
Clint Sargent - Sioux City Heelan *
Sleeper Team:
LeMars
Predictions:
1.) Sioux City Heelan
2.)
MOC-Floyd Valley
3.)
Storm Lake
4.)
LeMars
5.) Spencer
6.)
Cherokee
7.)
Spirit Lake
8.)
Estherville Lincoln
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 2[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Two
Algona
Charles City
Clear Lake
Forest City
Humboldt
Iowa Falls
Waverly-Shell Rock
Webster City
How
did Substate 2 do at the State tournament?
Webster City
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the quarterfinals (48-45)
Thoughts on Substate 2 for the 2005-2005 Season:
Algona was a senior dominated team last year. Although they struggled
at times, they do return Brad Hoover. This junior averaged eight points
per game. Charles City on the other hand won thirteen games and return
their two leading scorers. Both Brad Sloter and Josh Molstead averaged
double-digits and will need to put up more points this winter as seniors.
This team should compete for a #1 seed. Clear Lake had a great run last
year but was completely senior dominated. The top seven scorers for the
Lions were seniors. That means they will likely be going through a
rebuilding year. Forest City lost Joshua Hughes to Wayne State but brings
back some very talented players. They used a very balanced attacked
offensively last year and will likely do the same this season. On paper,
Humboldt may have the most talent out of any of these teams. Both Tyler
Nielson and Alex Tatman are very talented and should have big junior years.
Time will tell if they can live up to the promise but they both had big
off-seasons. Iowa Falls saw their top five scorers graduate and on top of
that freshman standout Jeff Janssen moved to Minnesota. This team will
have a much different look this year. Waverly-Shell Rock had big
expectations last year but just couldn't put it together to beat
Cresco-Crestwood. Bigman Clayton Vette is now a junior and has gotten much
better. He will see the most touches offensively so keep an eye on him.
Webster City is another one of those senior dominated teams. They lost
Brock Jacobson and a number of other talented players. I look for them to
rebuild this year.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Aaron Friederich - Forest City
Tyler Nielsen - Humboldt *
Brad Sloter - Charles City
Alex Tatman - Humboldt
Clayton Vette - Waverly-Shell Rock
Sleeper Team:
Waverly-Shell Rock
Predictions:
1.)
Humboldt
2.)
Forest City
3.)
Charles City
4.)
Waverly-Shell Rock
5.)
Webster City
6.)
Clear Lake
7.)
Iowa Falls
8.) Algona
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Three
Crestwood, Cresco
Decorah
Western Dubuque
Independence
New Hampton
Oelwein
Waukon
West Delaware
How
did Substate 3 do at the State tournament?
Cresco-Crestwood
Beat Cedar Rapids Xavier in the quarterfinals (57-49)
Beat Ballard Huxley in the semifinals (59-44)
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the finals (80-77, OT)
Thoughts on Substate 3 for the 2005-2005 Season:
After playing in the last two State championship games, Cresco-Crestwood is
the team to watch out of this substate. Leading the way are two very
talented twins, Kyle and Kelly McCarville. Both are finally seniors and
will be putting the team on their back this year. If the team can make the
transition over to basketball, watch out because they are loaded again.
Decorah had a very underrated season and even was one of the team who knocked
off Cresco-Crestwood. They return two of their top leading scorers,
including Derek Svestka, off of a team that won seventeen games last winter.
Western Dubuque struggled mightily last year and graduated their top three
leading scorers. That might make for a lot of trouble for the team.
Independece was very inconsistent last year but did win some big games.
The problem is that they said goodbye to their top five leading scorers to
graduation and will be very inexperienced. New Hampton won some close
games last season but saw a lot of games turn ugly. Gerry Burgart is back
and averaged double digits as a junior. Waukon has a chance to be one of
the surprise teams in the district because outside of Joe Miller, the team
returns the bulk of their scoring punch. They are going to be a tough team
to beat. West Delaware will be young but they are loaded with athletes.
BJ Hermsen showed to the State during the football season how good of an athlete
he is and averaged seven points per game as a freshman.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
BJ Hermsen - West Delaware
Kelly McCarville - Cresco-Crestwood
Kyle McCarville - Cresco-Crestwood *
Ben Rausch - Waukon
Derek Svestka - Decorah
Sleeper Team:
Waukon
Predictions:
1.) Crestwood, Cresco
2.)
Decorah
3.)
Waukon
4.)
West Delaware
5.)
New Hampton
6.)
Oelwein
7.)
Independence
8.)
Western Dubuque
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Four
Anamosa
Benton Community
Dewitt Central
Maquoketa
Marion
Vinton-Shellsburg
Dubuque Wahlert
Cedar Rapids Xavier
How
did Substate 4 do at the State tournament?
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Lost to Cresco-Crestwood in the quarterfinals (57-49)
Thoughts on Substate 4 for the 2005-2005 Season:
This substate is loaded and has a lot of depth. With that in-mind,
there are going to be a lot of good teams fighting for that one berth to the
State tournament. This means every game will mean a lot and there will be
few cupcakes when the postseason does start. Benton Community was a senior
dominated team last year but returns few players who saw time at the varsity
level. Look for the Bobcats to have a much different look. Maquoketa
returns a number of seniors who earned varsity experience last year and that
will greatly benefit them. If there is one that that Dewitt is always good
for, it is playing defense. The Sabers always play defense and return a
very talented senior in Cole Block. Marion was another one of those teams
who were hit hard by graduation but have some very talented younger players.
Vinton-Shellsburg returns All Stater Ross Timmermans. This senior has
shown that he can flat out score and will average over twenty points per game
this year. Dubuque Wahlert is talented like usual and bigman Alex Brant
returns. Will Cedar Rapids Xavier be able to send them home for another
year? Kevin Andrews of Xavier returns and it feels like he has been
playing varsity basketball for about ten years. As usual, the Saints will
be good.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Kevin Andrews - Cedar Rapids Xavier
Cole Block - Dewitt
Alex Brant - Dubuque Wahlert *
Andy Schauf - Maquoketa
Ross Timmermans - Vinton-Shellsburg
Sleeper Team:
Dewitt
Predictions:
1.)
Dubuque Wahlert
2.)
Dewitt Central
3.)
Cedar Rapids Xavier
4.)
Vinton-Shellsburg
5.)
Maquoketa
6.)
Marion
7.) Benton Community
8.) Anamosa
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Five
Clear Creek-Amana
Fairfield
Fort Madison
Keokuk
Mount Pleasant
South Tama
Washington
Williamsburg
How
did Substate 5 do at the State tournament?
No teams made State
Thoughts on Substate 5 for the 2005-2005 Season:
With the talented players that Clear Creek-Amana has returning this year,
they are going to be a tough team to stop. Three starters are back,
including Josh Hogue and Trey Scheetz.
These two seniors are talented guards who can score. Fairfield will once
again be a young team but they should improve over last year. Four
starters return, but there are two juniors and two sophomores among that group.
Leading scorer Woody Orne is one of the juniors, along with standout football
player Dirk Kool. Fort Madison said goodbye to Jon Heyland but does return
one starter who averaged double-digits. As usual, very little is known
about Keokuk. Mount Pleasant should make a push as one of the top teams in
the district but they must remain consistent. Two of their top four
leading scorers return. South Tama lost 6-foot-8 bigman Shea McMurray to
graduation but returns some solid players around him. Washington also
graduated a number of talented athletes and will have a much different look this
year. Williamsburg was young last year but should be better. What
hurts them is the fact that they play a lot of smaller teams in the Eastern Iowa
Hawkeye Conference.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Zach Davis - Washington
Trent Henderson - Williamsburg
Josh Hogue - Clear Creek-Amana *
Woody Orne - Fairfield
Trey Scheetz
- Clear Creek-Amana
Sleeper Team:
Fairfield
Predictions:
1.) Clear Creek-Amana
2.)
Mount Pleasant
3.)
Fairfield
4.)
Williamsburg
5.)
Washington
6.)
Fort Madison
7.)
South Tama
8.)
Keokuk
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Six
Albia
Centerville
Chariton
Clarke Osceola
Creston
Knoxville
Norwalk
Winterset
How
did Substate 6 do at the State tournament?
Creston
Lost to Ballard-Huxley in the quarterfinals (50-43)
Thoughts on Substate 6 for the 2005-2005 Season:
Creston is the early favorite but this substate is really up for grabs.
Albia brings back a strong nucleus of players led by senior Zach Simpson.
Centerville had an outstanding season last year but said goodbye to their top
ten scorers. Unless they can pull off a miracle, this should be a
rebuilding season for the team. Chariton brings back two starters after
they had a decent year last season. If they want to make an impact in
district play, they must have others step up their game. Brad Burgus of
Clarke Osceola returns and he had another big off-season playing summer
basketball. As a sophomore, Burgus put up seventeen points per game and
can flat out score. With their three leading scorers returning and heading
into their junior years, this is a team to watch. Creston went to the
State tournament and has three starters coming back who averaged double-digits.
If they can play up to their capability, they are the obvious team to beat in
this substate. Remember the names G.G. Harris and Dane Wardenburg.
Knoxville has three of their top five leading scorers back but they must find
quality depth around those players. It will be interesting to see who
steps up their game. Norwalk brings back a potential All Stater in James
Metzger. As a junior, this standout averaged seventeen points per game.
What will be fun to watch this year is that Norwalk is bringing up four freshman
to varsity. With that comes inconsistent play but also potential.
Winterset struggled last year but should continue to get better this season.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Brad Burgus - Clarke Osceola
G.G. Harris - Creston
James Metzger - Norwalk
Zach Simpson - Albia
Dane Wardenburg - Creston *
Sleeper Team:
Clarke Osceola
Predictions:
1.) Creston
2.)
Norwalk
3.)
Clarke Osceola
4.) Albia
5.)
Knoxville
6.)
Centerville
7.)
Chariton
8.)
Winterset
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Seven
ADM-Adel
Ballard-Huxley
Carlisle
Dallas Center-Grimes
Grinnell
Nevada
Pella
Saydel
How
did Substate 7 do at the State tournament?
Ballard-Huxley
Beat Creston in the quarterfinals (50-43)
Lost to Cresco-Crestwood in the semifinals (59-44)
Lost to Carroll in the consolation game (83-67)
Thoughts on Substate 7 for the 2005-2005 Season:
With a substate full of talented teams, it is anyone's guess as to who will
make it to Des Moines in March. ADM-Adel had a better season than expected
last year but did see their coach move on. Leading scorer Ben Swinger is
back and he nearly averaged a double-double. Ballard-Huxley graduated
their entire starting five from a team that finished fourth in Class 3A last
year. One player to keep an eye on this team is Patrick Truby. He
averaged nine points as a sophomore and is very gutsy. Carlisle had
problems scoring at times last year and graduated their top five scorers.
They will be extremely young and inexperienced. Dallas Center-Grimes
struggled at times last year but senior and leading scorer Matt Patrick comes
back to the lineup. Grinnell will have to find someone to step up in the
place of point guard David Arseneault but this team has a chance to make a
serious run at State. The Tigers bring back three starters and a load of
bigmen. Avoiding foul trouble and having guards step up is the key to
their season. Nevada was one of the best stories last year as they
completely turned things around and made a run at State. Although they
ended up coming short, this year's team will be hoping for similar success.
Tyson Handsaker and Todd Sampson both are
returning starters to watch. Pella has a very strong junior class
returning, led by Kaleb Korver. This team will once again be young but the
future is bright for the Dutch. Will that future be this year or next?
The top three leading scorers for Saydel were all juniors and will be back this
winter. And after finishing 9-12, the team has all the makings for
improvement.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Tyson Handsaker - Nevada
Kaleb Korver - Pella *
Kody McCauley - Saydel
Ben Swinger - ADM-Adel
Patrick Truby - Ballard-Huxley
Sleeper Team:
Saydel
Predictions:
1.)
Pella
2.)
Grinnell
3.)
Nevada
4.)
Saydel
5.) ADM-Adel
6.)
Ballard-Huxley
7.)
Dallas Center-Grimes
8.)
Carlisle
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Eight
Atlantic
Carroll
Clarinda
Denison-Schleswig
Glenwood
Harlan
Kuemper Catholic
Perry
How
did Substate 8 do at the State tournament?
Carroll
Beat Davenport Assumption in the quarterfinals (77-63)
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the semifinals (97-80)
Beat Ballard-Huxley in the consolation game (83-67)
Thoughts on Substate 8 for the 2005-2005 Season:
Substate #8 has a chance for some great games down the stretch.
Atlantic struggled badly last year but leading scorer and talented athlete
Jerome Hoegh is back. Carroll made a serious impact last year at the State
tournament but lost four starters to graduation. Talented bigman Greg
Schulz is back and he can flat out shoot the ball. Clarinda said goodbye
to Andrew Stimson and Anthony Davis so the team will have a much different look.
Denison-Schleswig has Thomas Bassett coming back. When Bassett comes to
play, he is the best player in this substate. But when he lets refs, the
fans, or anything else distract him, things go on a downward spiral.
Harlan is my #1 team in Class 3A right now because of their tradition, the
players they have returning, and the fact that the majority are multi-sport
athletes and know what it takes to win in big games. Junior Neil Gross
returns as the leading scorer and this team has all the makings of something
special. Does Harlan really need another trophy to add to the collection?
Kuemper Catholic makes the move up to Class 3A after seeing the majority of
their top players graduate. The team has some solid younger players but
none that have made a serious impact at the varsity level. Perry brings
back their top two leading scorers from last year. Both players are now
only juniors and combined to average 25 points per game.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Thomas Bassett -
Denison-Schleswig
Neil Gross - Harlan *
Jerome Hoegh - Atlantic
Greg Schulz - Carroll
Jackson Whiton - Perry
Sleeper Team:
Perry
Predictions:
1.)
Harlan
2.)
Carroll
3.)
Perry
4.)
Denison-Schleswig
5.)
Clarinda
6.) Atlantic
7.)
Kuemper Catholic
8.)
Glenwood
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 11/30 11:14 AM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate One
Sioux City Heelan
Cherokee
Estherville Lincoln
LeMars
MOC-Floyd Valley
Spencer
Spirit Lake
Storm Lake
How
did Substate 1 do at the State tournament?
MOC-Floyd Valley
Beat Webster City in the quarterfinals (48-45)
Beat Carroll in the semifinals (97-80)
Beat Cresco-Crestwood in the championship game (80-77 OT)
Sioux City Heelan will be a much different team this year. The
Crusaders said goodbye to their top five scorers but return one of the best
juniors in Iowa. Clint Sargent had a big summer and will be even better
this year. With the football season over, Sargent can now focus on hoops
and will be looking for an All State year. Cherokee is another team who
said goodbye to a number of seniors. How their younger players adapt to
the varsity level will determine their success.
Estherville Lincoln graduated their top three scorers but does return Brad
Deling. This junior saw action last year and averaged nearly eight points
on varsity. LeMars only finished 12-10 last year Jared Clement is one of
the best juniors in Iowa. He averaged over fifteen points per game and
will see an even bigger role offensively this winter. MOC-Floyd Valley
took home the State title last year and return a very talented point guard in
Dale DeJong. With Mr. Basketball Josh Van Es gone, DeJong will be the
primary scorer. Spencer said goodbye to Brian Haak and the team may
struggle without him. Spirit Lake only won four games last year and
graduated their top three scorers. Storm Lake saw bigman Casey Morgan move
on to Buena Vista and his scoring and rebounding will be missed. But make
sure to keep an eye on Logan Masters.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Jared Clement - LeMars
Dale DeJong - MOC-Floyd Valley
Logan Masters - Storm Lake
Derrick Randall - Storm Lake
Clint Sargent - Sioux City Heelan *
Sleeper Team:
LeMars
Predictions:
1.) Sioux City Heelan
2.)
MOC-Floyd Valley
3.)
Storm Lake
4.)
LeMars
5.) Spencer
6.)
Cherokee
7.)
Spirit Lake
8.)
Estherville Lincoln
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 2[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Two
Algona
Charles City
Clear Lake
Forest City
Humboldt
Iowa Falls
Waverly-Shell Rock
Webster City
How
did Substate 2 do at the State tournament?
Webster City
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the quarterfinals (48-45)
Algona was a senior dominated team last year. Although they struggled
at times, they do return Brad Hoover. This junior averaged eight points
per game. Charles City on the other hand won thirteen games and return
their two leading scorers. Both Brad Sloter and Josh Molstead averaged
double-digits and will need to put up more points this winter as seniors.
This team should compete for a #1 seed. Clear Lake had a great run last
year but was completely senior dominated. The top seven scorers for the
Lions were seniors. That means they will likely be going through a
rebuilding year. Forest City lost Joshua Hughes to Wayne State but brings
back some very talented players. They used a very balanced attacked
offensively last year and will likely do the same this season. On paper,
Humboldt may have the most talent out of any of these teams. Both Tyler
Nielson and Alex Tatman are very talented and should have big junior years.
Time will tell if they can live up to the promise but they both had big
off-seasons. Iowa Falls saw their top five scorers graduate and on top of
that freshman standout Jeff Janssen moved to Minnesota. This team will
have a much different look this year. Waverly-Shell Rock had big
expectations last year but just couldn't put it together to beat
Cresco-Crestwood. Bigman Clayton Vette is now a junior and has gotten much
better. He will see the most touches offensively so keep an eye on him.
Webster City is another one of those senior dominated teams. They lost
Brock Jacobson and a number of other talented players. I look for them to
rebuild this year.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Aaron Friederich - Forest City
Tyler Nielsen - Humboldt *
Brad Sloter - Charles City
Alex Tatman - Humboldt
Clayton Vette - Waverly-Shell Rock
Sleeper Team:
Waverly-Shell Rock
Predictions:
1.)
Humboldt
2.)
Forest City
3.)
Charles City
4.)
Waverly-Shell Rock
5.)
Webster City
6.)
Clear Lake
7.)
Iowa Falls
8.) Algona
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Three
Crestwood, Cresco
Decorah
Western Dubuque
Independence
New Hampton
Oelwein
Waukon
West Delaware
How
did Substate 3 do at the State tournament?
Cresco-Crestwood
Beat Cedar Rapids Xavier in the quarterfinals (57-49)
Beat Ballard Huxley in the semifinals (59-44)
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the finals (80-77, OT)
After playing in the last two State championship games, Cresco-Crestwood is
the team to watch out of this substate. Leading the way are two very
talented twins, Kyle and Kelly McCarville. Both are finally seniors and
will be putting the team on their back this year. If the team can make the
transition over to basketball, watch out because they are loaded again.
Decorah had a very underrated season and even was one of the team who knocked
off Cresco-Crestwood. They return two of their top leading scorers,
including Derek Svestka, off of a team that won seventeen games last winter.
Western Dubuque struggled mightily last year and graduated their top three
leading scorers. That might make for a lot of trouble for the team.
Independece was very inconsistent last year but did win some big games.
The problem is that they said goodbye to their top five leading scorers to
graduation and will be very inexperienced. New Hampton won some close
games last season but saw a lot of games turn ugly. Gerry Burgart is back
and averaged double digits as a junior. Waukon has a chance to be one of
the surprise teams in the district because outside of Joe Miller, the team
returns the bulk of their scoring punch. They are going to be a tough team
to beat. West Delaware will be young but they are loaded with athletes.
BJ Hermsen showed to the State during the football season how good of an athlete
he is and averaged seven points per game as a freshman.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
BJ Hermsen - West Delaware
Kelly McCarville - Cresco-Crestwood
Kyle McCarville - Cresco-Crestwood *
Ben Rausch - Waukon
Derek Svestka - Decorah
Sleeper Team:
Waukon
Predictions:
1.) Crestwood, Cresco
2.)
Decorah
3.)
Waukon
4.)
West Delaware
5.)
New Hampton
6.)
Oelwein
7.)
Independence
8.)
Western Dubuque
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Four
Anamosa
Benton Community
Dewitt Central
Maquoketa
Marion
Vinton-Shellsburg
Dubuque Wahlert
Cedar Rapids Xavier
How
did Substate 4 do at the State tournament?
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Lost to Cresco-Crestwood in the quarterfinals (57-49)
This substate is loaded and has a lot of depth. With that in-mind,
there are going to be a lot of good teams fighting for that one berth to the
State tournament. This means every game will mean a lot and there will be
few cupcakes when the postseason does start. Benton Community was a senior
dominated team last year but returns few players who saw time at the varsity
level. Look for the Bobcats to have a much different look. Maquoketa
returns a number of seniors who earned varsity experience last year and that
will greatly benefit them. If there is one that that Dewitt is always good
for, it is playing defense. The Sabers always play defense and return a
very talented senior in Cole Block. Marion was another one of those teams
who were hit hard by graduation but have some very talented younger players.
Vinton-Shellsburg returns All Stater Ross Timmermans. This senior has
shown that he can flat out score and will average over twenty points per game
this year. Dubuque Wahlert is talented like usual and bigman Alex Brant
returns. Will Cedar Rapids Xavier be able to send them home for another
year? Kevin Andrews of Xavier returns and it feels like he has been
playing varsity basketball for about ten years. As usual, the Saints will
be good.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Kevin Andrews - Cedar Rapids Xavier
Cole Block - Dewitt
Alex Brant - Dubuque Wahlert *
Andy Schauf - Maquoketa
Ross Timmermans - Vinton-Shellsburg
Sleeper Team:
Dewitt
Predictions:
1.)
Dubuque Wahlert
2.)
Dewitt Central
3.)
Cedar Rapids Xavier
4.)
Vinton-Shellsburg
5.)
Maquoketa
6.)
Marion
7.) Benton Community
8.) Anamosa
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Five
Clear Creek-Amana
Fairfield
Fort Madison
Keokuk
Mount Pleasant
South Tama
Washington
Williamsburg
How
did Substate 5 do at the State tournament?
No teams made State
With the talented players that Clear Creek-Amana has returning this year,
they are going to be a tough team to stop. Three starters are back,
including Josh Hogue and Trey Scheetz.
These two seniors are talented guards who can score. Fairfield will once
again be a young team but they should improve over last year. Four
starters return, but there are two juniors and two sophomores among that group.
Leading scorer Woody Orne is one of the juniors, along with standout football
player Dirk Kool. Fort Madison said goodbye to Jon Heyland but does return
one starter who averaged double-digits. As usual, very little is known
about Keokuk. Mount Pleasant should make a push as one of the top teams in
the district but they must remain consistent. Two of their top four
leading scorers return. South Tama lost 6-foot-8 bigman Shea McMurray to
graduation but returns some solid players around him. Washington also
graduated a number of talented athletes and will have a much different look this
year. Williamsburg was young last year but should be better. What
hurts them is the fact that they play a lot of smaller teams in the Eastern Iowa
Hawkeye Conference.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Zach Davis - Washington
Trent Henderson - Williamsburg
Josh Hogue - Clear Creek-Amana *
Woody Orne - Fairfield
Trey Scheetz
- Clear Creek-Amana
Sleeper Team:
Fairfield
Predictions:
1.) Clear Creek-Amana
2.)
Mount Pleasant
3.)
Fairfield
4.)
Williamsburg
5.)
Washington
6.)
Fort Madison
7.)
South Tama
8.)
Keokuk
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in Substate Six
Albia
Centerville
Chariton
Clarke Osceola
Creston
Knoxville
Norwalk
Winterset
How
did Substate 6 do at the State tournament?
Creston
Lost to Ballard-Huxley in the quarterfinals (50-43)
Creston is the early favorite but this substate is really up for grabs.
Albia brings back a strong nucleus of players led by senior Zach Simpson.
Centerville had an outstanding season last year but said goodbye to their top
ten scorers. Unless they can pull off a miracle, this should be a
rebuilding season for the team. Chariton brings back two starters after
they had a decent year last season. If they want to make an impact in
district play, they must have others step up their game. Brad Burgus of
Clarke Osceola returns and he had another big off-season playing summer
basketball. As a sophomore, Burgus put up seventeen points per game and
can flat out score. With their three leading scorers returning and heading
into their junior years, this is a team to watch. Creston went to the
State tournament and has three starters coming back who averaged double-digits.
If they can play up to their capability, they are the obvious team to beat in
this substate. Remember the names G.G. Harris and Dane Wardenburg.
Knoxville has three of their top five leading scorers back but they must find
quality depth around those players. It will be interesting to see who
steps up their game. Norwalk brings back a potential All Stater in James
Metzger. As a junior, this standout averaged seventeen points per game.
What will be fun to watch this year is that Norwalk is bringing up four freshman
to varsity. With that comes inconsistent play but also potential.
Winterset struggled last year but should continue to get better this season.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Brad Burgus - Clarke Osceola
G.G. Harris - Creston
James Metzger - Norwalk
Zach Simpson - Albia
Dane Wardenburg - Creston *
Sleeper Team:
Clarke Osceola
Predictions:
1.) Creston
2.)
Norwalk
3.)
Clarke Osceola
4.) Albia
5.)
Knoxville
6.)
Centerville
7.)
Chariton
8.)
Winterset
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Seven
ADM-Adel
Ballard-Huxley
Carlisle
Dallas Center-Grimes
Grinnell
Nevada
Pella
Saydel
How
did Substate 7 do at the State tournament?
Ballard-Huxley
Beat Creston in the quarterfinals (50-43)
Lost to Cresco-Crestwood in the semifinals (59-44)
Lost to Carroll in the consolation game (83-67)
With a substate full of talented teams, it is anyone's guess as to who will
make it to Des Moines in March. ADM-Adel had a better season than expected
last year but did see their coach move on. Leading scorer Ben Swinger is
back and he nearly averaged a double-double. Ballard-Huxley graduated
their entire starting five from a team that finished fourth in Class 3A last
year. One player to keep an eye on this team is Patrick Truby. He
averaged nine points as a sophomore and is very gutsy. Carlisle had
problems scoring at times last year and graduated their top five scorers.
They will be extremely young and inexperienced. Dallas Center-Grimes
struggled at times last year but senior and leading scorer Matt Patrick comes
back to the lineup. Grinnell will have to find someone to step up in the
place of point guard David Arseneault but this team has a chance to make a
serious run at State. The Tigers bring back three starters and a load of
bigmen. Avoiding foul trouble and having guards step up is the key to
their season. Nevada was one of the best stories last year as they
completely turned things around and made a run at State. Although they
ended up coming short, this year's team will be hoping for similar success.
Tyson Handsaker and Todd Sampson both are
returning starters to watch. Pella has a very strong junior class
returning, led by Kaleb Korver. This team will once again be young but the
future is bright for the Dutch. Will that future be this year or next?
The top three leading scorers for Saydel were all juniors and will be back this
winter. And after finishing 9-12, the team has all the makings for
improvement.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Tyson Handsaker - Nevada
Kaleb Korver - Pella *
Kody McCauley - Saydel
Ben Swinger - ADM-Adel
Patrick Truby - Ballard-Huxley
Sleeper Team:
Saydel
Predictions:
1.)
Pella
2.)
Grinnell
3.)
Nevada
4.)
Saydel
5.) ADM-Adel
6.)
Ballard-Huxley
7.)
Dallas Center-Grimes
8.)
Carlisle
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Class 3A - Substate 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
Substate Eight
Atlantic
Carroll
Clarinda
Denison-Schleswig
Glenwood
Harlan
Kuemper Catholic
Perry
How
did Substate 8 do at the State tournament?
Carroll
Beat Davenport Assumption in the quarterfinals (77-63)
Lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in the semifinals (97-80)
Beat Ballard-Huxley in the consolation game (83-67)
Substate #8 has a chance for some great games down the stretch.
Atlantic struggled badly last year but leading scorer and talented athlete
Jerome Hoegh is back. Carroll made a serious impact last year at the State
tournament but lost four starters to graduation. Talented bigman Greg
Schulz is back and he can flat out shoot the ball. Clarinda said goodbye
to Andrew Stimson and Anthony Davis so the team will have a much different look.
Denison-Schleswig has Thomas Bassett coming back. When Bassett comes to
play, he is the best player in this substate. But when he lets refs, the
fans, or anything else distract him, things go on a downward spiral.
Harlan is my #1 team in Class 3A right now because of their tradition, the
players they have returning, and the fact that the majority are multi-sport
athletes and know what it takes to win in big games. Junior Neil Gross
returns as the leading scorer and this team has all the makings of something
special. Does Harlan really need another trophy to add to the collection?
Kuemper Catholic makes the move up to Class 3A after seeing the majority of
their top players graduate. The team has some solid younger players but
none that have made a serious impact at the varsity level. Perry brings
back their top two leading scorers from last year. Both players are now
only juniors and combined to average 25 points per game.
Five Players to Watch
(* Denotes Pre-season Substate MVP):
Thomas Bassett -
Denison-Schleswig
Neil Gross - Harlan *
Jerome Hoegh - Atlantic
Greg Schulz - Carroll
Jackson Whiton - Perry
Sleeper Team:
Perry
Predictions:
1.)
Harlan
2.)
Carroll
3.)
Perry
4.)
Denison-Schleswig
5.)
Clarinda
6.) Atlantic
7.)
Kuemper Catholic
8.)
Glenwood
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 11/30 11:14 AM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
