Official 3A Bracket

[sarcastico]

1. Waverly Shell-Rock
8. Atlantic

4. Xavier
5. Mt. Pleasant

2. West Delaware
7. Dallas Center-Grimes

3. Pella
6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

A couple surprises for me with Atlantic getting the 8 and Mt. Pleasant the 5. I think many were expecting both a little higher. Looks like schedule strength was a factor there. I think I would probably rather be on the bottom half of the bracket then the top. Either way some pretty good games in store first round already.

 

[fmclonefan]

Very tough #4-#5 game. Rematch from game #1 this year. I thought MP would probably get seeded above Pella. I would say brackets do seem heavy on the top half. Tough road for MP to get through Xavier, and if they can do that, then the odds are they would face a salty WSR team.

 

[GatorBait1988]

The top half looks like a nightmare.....jeez!

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Xavier- Mt. Pleasant could be for the championship. Really bad matchup for both teams. I know that Mt. Pleasant wants another shot at Xavier, which won 55-45 early, but Xavier- early and Xavier-now are two completely different ball clubs. It took over half the season for the Saints to get their act together. Brady Sartorius may be the best individual player on the court, but Xavier's defense can be stifling. Pella- SB-L is another tough game, as is WD vs. DC-G. Personally, I think the three best and strongest teams are in the top bracket-- Waverly, Mt. Pleasant and Xavier. Wow. But, you know what-- it is wide open because there is no absolute powerhouse ready to destroy anyone who gets near. Teams with good guards who don't choke under pressure have an advantage.

 

[HawkPT]

Pella was #1 according to BCMoore and only has two losses, each to teams that made the state tournament (a 2A and a 4A team). They won the second-toughest conference in the state, according to BCMoore. I'm a little surprised they ended up with the #3 seed.

I'm glad they aren't playing DC-G again, though.

 

[VanderHoops]

The top half looks like a nightmare.....jeez!

Agree!
Tune into that WSR/Atlantic game to watch Atlantic's Franken. A real 5 category guy that is heading to North Dakota.
Exciting player to watch.

 

[El_Doce]

Very tough #4-#5 game. Rematch from game #1 this year. I thought MP would probably get seeded above Pella. I would say brackets do seem heavy on the top half. Tough road for MP to get through Xavier, and if they can do that, then the odds are they would face a salty WSR team.

What basis are you using for MP over Pella on seeding? Not sure I am seeing it. They played a couple of Middle of the pack 4As but the rest of their schedule is very weak. I actually thought Pella would be 2 seed with West Del getting the 3 only because of the zero losses.

 

[Bulldog198240]

I think you can make an argument for all top 5 seeds...They all are good..I think the weakest of the 5 is West Delaware..THEY have played NOBODY.......and MP-Xavier will be exciting as there is a little personal blood there...Sartorius, Mims, and Joens all played for the Iowa Barnstormers together a couple years ago.....

 

[fmclonefan]

What basis are you using for MP over Pella on seeding? Not sure I am seeing it. They played a couple of Middle of the pack 4As but the rest of their schedule is very weak. I actually thought Pella would be 2 seed with West Del getting the 3 only because of the zero losses.

Can't say I have a real great reason, just a hunch I had...which didn't turn out to be correct. Pella got a good draw out of this.

 

[sarcastico]

Call me crazy but I think Sergeant Bluff-Luton might have a chance against Pella. I'm not crazy enough to actually pick them to win or anything. But if they can ugly up the game, make it physical and low scoring, I think they could be in it.

I think DCG will be in for a hard game against West Delaware. I have seen DCG play a couple times and they have excellent guard play and a couple good shooters, but the softest big guys I have ever seen. I don't know much about West Delaware but it looks like they have decent size which I think will give DCG lots of trouble. Not having seen them play though I could be wrong on that.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Agree with Pella getting a very good draw. They can watch the other bracket maul each other, and maybe some key player gets hurt. Last year, runner-up Wahlert lost one of their top players and leading scorers, 6-7 Sage Maiers, against MOC- Floyd Valley and I think it possibly may have cost them the championship because then Xavier could double and triple team Cordell Pemsl in the championship game, which was close. This is going to be a fun tourney, with several big-time players, like Waverly's 6-10 Austin Pfyfe, who could be a multi-year starter for UNI some day. Also agree that a weak schedule could hurt West Delaware, but I've seen them and they have a rangy and rugged team of football players and good athletes..

 

[StatewidePundit]

Call me crazy but I think Sergeant Bluff-Luton might have a chance against Pella. I'm not crazy enough to actually pick them to win or anything. But if they can ugly up the game, make it physical and low scoring, I think they could be in it.

I think DCG will be in for a hard game against West Delaware. I have seen DCG play a couple times and they have excellent guard play and a couple good shooters, but the softest big guys I have ever seen. I don't know much about West Delaware but it looks like they have decent size which I think will give DCG lots of trouble. Not having seen them play though I could be wrong on that.

OK you are crazy Pella rolls in this one. SBL should be the 8th seed and it looked like Heelan really wet the bed late to gift SBL the win. SBL actually had a player shoot 1-19, one player 1-19 ! they team went 1-24 from the three point line and still won the game !
Shoot even half that poorly vs Pella and they get rolled by 20 plus , at least.

 

[StatewidePundit]

Agree with Pella getting a very good draw. They can watch the other bracket maul each other, and maybe some key player gets hurt. Last year, runner-up Wahlert lost one of their top players and leading scorers, 6-7 Sage Maiers, against MOC- Floyd Valley and I think it possibly may have cost them the championship because then Xavier could double and triple team Cordell Pemsl in the championship game, which was close. This is going to be a fun tourney, with several big-time players, like Waverly's 6-10 Austin Pfyfe, who could be a multi-year starter for UNI some day. Also agree that a weak schedule could hurt West Delaware, but I've seen them and they have a rangy and rugged team of football players and good athletes..

More than anything the injury to Maiers killed DW defensively. Prior Pemsl was able to smother the passing lanes and get steals and deflection and dunks. DW wins three straight if not for that injury.

 

[StatewidePundit]

Agree!
Tune into that WSR/Atlantic game to watch Atlantic's Franken. A real 5 category guy that is heading to North Dakota.
Exciting player to watch.

Atlantic seemed to get the shaft in the seedings. Probably one of the better teams in the 3a tourney and have a very difficult opening game when they could probably beat DCG and SBL with ease and beat WD, Pella and Mt. P. Doubtful they can beat the favorite WSR. Tough draw.

 

[makelovenotwar]

1. Waverly Shell-Rock
8. Atlantic

4. Xavier
5. Mt. Pleasant

2. West Delaware
7. Dallas Center-Grimes

3. Pella
6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

When I look at the rankings I guess the thing that stands our to me is that IF the better ranked team wins (WSR, Xav, WD and Pella) your final four is pretty evenly set up. The gaps between 1-8, 2-7 and 3-6 seem pretty large to me.

I predict WSR vs Pella in title game. I will say one thing about WD though, they have a mobile bigman. One thing I have noticed over the years is that you need solid guard play to get to state but the team with the better bigman usually wins at state. Mostly, I think this is because the difference between the teams guards (and hence turnovers) tends to be smaller at the state level and the difference in post play shows up more importantly at this level. (FYI: Yes, that made Xav win last year over Wahlert even more impressive to me. That game clearly violated my theory.)

 

[fmclonefan]

Pella's team is very different than last years. This year's team isn't really blowing people out, but just keeps pulling out close games. I wouldn't want to be in a close game at end of the 4th quarter with them as they seem to always pull them out. Very senior heavy and is crazy the success they have had across the board.

I'm sure Pella is glad to see Xavier on the other side of the bracket. Nemesis in BBall.

 

[GatorBait1988]

1. Waverly Shell-Rock
8. Atlantic

4. Xavier
5. Mt. Pleasant

2. West Delaware
7. Dallas Center-Grimes

3. Pella
6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

Give me WSR, Xavier, WD, and Pella

Give me Xavier and Pella

Give me.......Pella....in a nail biter!

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Can anyone tell us about Atlantic? They beat a good Glenwood by one to get to state, but I don't see many key wins on their schedule. Are they deep? Need some depth to run the gauntlet. Waverly's one loss was to A.J. Green and 4A Cedar Falls by a couple, and Green "went off" that night for nearly 30. When CF lost, it was when Green was held down. Waverly hit him when he was hot or they would be undefeated.

 

[Bakers Secret]

Atlantic is a solid all around team that plays unselfish. They can pound it inside or hit outside shots, they can game plan well and adjust to strengths. The ball movement is great and any player could step up and make a play. They go around 8 deep in any given game but the starters get probably 80% of the minutes.
They are very well coached by one of the youngest up in coming coaches, in my opinion, Alan Jenkins. On paper this probably isn't the match up that Atlantic wants but they do have the size to compete with WSR as they start four people over 6'4" with the aforementioned Franken, a North Dakota commit, standing at 6'7".
I know that two of their losses were to H-10 counterpart Kuemper whom is a state participant in 2A. One loss to Harlan by 3, CB Lewis Central by 6, and the one head scratching loss was to CB St. Albert by 22 points. They have beaten Glenwood three times this year. Atlantic plays with a chip on their shoulder, I guess we will see what happens Tuesday.

 

[bigfridaynite]

Would Alan be the Son of Don Jenkins by chance he was a very good girls coach back in the day that's for sure.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Thanks, Bakers Secret. Good to know this about Atlantic. Sounds like a good unit.

 

[Bakers Secret]

Would Alan be the Son of Don Jenkins by chance he was a very good girls coach back in the day that's for sure.

That is correct. Don is a great basketball mind and it showed frequently including a state title in the 6 on 6 era. My sister played for him on some great Atlantic teams back in the day.
Alan was a pretty good player as well on Atlantic's 2002 team that got third at state, the last time they played at state. That was such a great team to watch that year which included future ISU quarterback Bret Meyer. I vividly remember Meyer and Nate Funk battling back and forth in the semi-final game that year. Heelan won that game and eventually lost to a loaded Pella team.

 

[StatewidePundit]

Atlantic really got the job in the seedings , they should be at the very least switching places with SBL , who has no business being anything but a 8th seed.

 

[StatewidePundit]

1. Waverly Shell-Rock
8. Atlantic

4. Xavier
5. Mt. Pleasant

2. West Delaware
7. Dallas Center-Grimes

3. Pella
6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

When I look at the rankings I guess the thing that stands our to me is that IF the better ranked team wins (WSR, Xav, WD and Pella) your final four is pretty evenly set up. The gaps between 1-8, 2-7 and 3-6 seem pretty large to me.

I predict WSR vs Pella in title game. I will say one thing about WD though, they have a mobile bigman. One thing I have noticed over the years is that you need solid guard play to get to state but the team with the better bigman usually wins at state. Mostly, I think this is because the difference between the teams guards (and hence turnovers) tends to be smaller at the state level and the difference in post play shows up more importantly at this level. (FYI: Yes, that made Xav win last year over Wahlert even more impressive to me. That game clearly violated my theory.)

I believe your theories are true ( though Xav win over DW last year was do to injury to Maier more than anything, a healthy DW teams wins it's 3rd straight with ease ).
Only problem good big men have at state is the over officious Boone butt kissing refs like to think we are there to watch them ref and not the players. They know they are being ' observed' by the big bad Boone boys so they want to show who is in charge.

 

[bravos]

Pella has to be estatic with the draw. Waverly, Xavier and Mt P on the top half. West Delaware walked through a weak wamac this season. I really thought West Delaware would get the 4 seed.

 

[Bulldog198240]

Pella vs MP in final

 

[StatewidePundit]

Young MP team surviving Xavier then WSR. Not happening. Pella has got to be beyond happy. Basically a bye in the first round and then West Del in semi's. Not a draw that's a Christmas gift ! Skip over Atlantic, Xavier, MP, WSR all teams that could beat them to play get WD or DCG in semis.

 

[jdahawk]

Young MP team surviving Xavier then WSR. Not happening. Pella has got to be beyond happy. Basically a bye in the first round and then West Del in semi's. Not a draw that's a Christmas gift ! Skip over Atlantic, Xavier, MP, WSR all teams that could beat them to play get WD or DCG in semis.

Wrong

 

[BlackHawkPride1]

Not the least bit surprised SBL beat Pella last night. Pretty standard- no respect for NWIA. They played good competition all year, and got through maybe the toughest district to get to Des Moines.

 

[HawkPT]

It's not a lack of respect issue. It's an odds issue.

According to BCMoore (who I respect the heck out of), Pella was favored to win by over 5 points, a calculated guess using a detailed analysis of 24 games for each team. The probability of win for Pella was 70%, which means SBL should win 3 of 10 games in head-to-head match ups.

That happened last night. Congratulations to SBL for winning the game, but they defied the odds. They were definitely the better team last night.

 

[BushWhite]

Good call Sarcastico on SB vs Pella. Pella was awful must have played a bunch of bad teams to win 22 games.

 

[BandGetsToPlay]

OK you are crazy Pella rolls in this one. SBL should be the 8th seed and it looked like Heelan really wet the bed late to gift SBL the win. SBL actually had a player shoot 1-19, one player 1-19 ! they team went 1-24 from the three point line and still won the game !
Shoot even half that poorly vs Pella and they get rolled by 20 plus , at least.

Hmmm...Sounds like PHS was drinking the water PC usually drinks this time of the year and came up dry with no camel in site?

 

[StatewidePundit]

Wrong

Pella was a wreck, worst Pella team I've ever seen down here. Must be a football school only now. Nice job SBL being ready to play. Looked well coached besides those multiple air balls by their guards. Those two guards looked like they were competing against each other who could get up the most shots. Big kid had nice hands and touch and other forward really passed the ball well.

 

[HawkPT]

Hmmm...Sounds like PHS was drinking the water PC usually drinks this time of the year and came up dry with no camel in site?

What's that supposed to mean?

PC is in it's third straight 2A state tournament, has finished no lower than 3rd, and has a 5-2 record in state tournament games over that time span despite having nine (2016) and seven (2015) losses entering tournament play those years. Prior to this year, they were the #8 seed each of the previous two years, so they've knocked out the top seed both years.

PC has a 24-10 all-time record in 14 total state tournament appearances, and they've won three championships. That has to be a top 10 (if not close to #1) state tournament winning percentage in the state.

On another note, having seen Pella play a lot, it seems that people are making gross generalizations after seeing just one game. I get it. Their recent success makes them easy to root against from afar. I can vouch for the fact that they are exceptional athletes, unbelievable competitors, and excellent basketball players who did not execute well yesterday. It happens, and I'm sure they are feeling gut-punched about it today and will be for a long time.

 

[HawkPT]

Pella has to be estatic with the draw. Waverly, Xavier and Mt P on the top half. West Delaware walked through a weak wamac this season. I really thought West Delaware would get the 4 seed.

I wonder how much of this attitude impacted the Pella effort last night. I think that could explain the first half, but you still have to give SBL credit for its strong finish after they lost the momentum for the majority of the 2nd half.

 

[BushWhite]

I wonder how much of this attitude impacted the Pella effort last night. I think that could explain the first half, but you still have to give SBL credit for its strong finish after they lost the momentum for the majority of the 2nd half.

Agree. SBL had 9 losses not all to 4a schools , never been there and are a motley looking bunch. But they took care of business vs Pella and have a good chance of beating a West Delaware team that hasn't played much of anyone.
It would be great if SB and Xaiver were in the finals 15-9 vs 14-12. 21 losses between the two teams and one is the champion of 3a LOL.

 

[NeverReadTheTermsOfService]

Pella was the big surprise to me in the first round of games. Everything else went kind of expected. Thought MP-Xavier would be close throughout but it got a little ugly late. I think the two semifinal games have the potential to be great but I would pick Xavier or Waverly over the two from the bottom half of the bracket.