Playoff Preview: 3A-5
Sean Peeters The favorite: Assumption has been really strong this season and deservedly earned the top seed in the substate. The Knights have the 4th ranked scoring defense in 3A, allowing just 46.6 points a game, despite playing one…
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The favorite: Assumption has been really strong this season and deservedly earned the top seed in the substate. The Knights have the 4th ranked scoring defense in 3A, allowing just 46.6 points a game, despite playing one of the more difficult schedules of any 3A team in the 4A MAC. Athletic forward Sean Peeters (22.4) has been dominant this year, and will be the best player on the floor in every game Assumption plays in this bracket. He has fantastic footwork and can dominate a game on both ends of the floor. Long, athletic 6-5 forward Bill Flaherty has paired well with Peeters on the interior, giving the Knights a solid rim protector, blocking 29 shots this season. Dayne Hodge (10.5), a transfer from Alleman (IL), has been a solid secondary scorer, leading the team with 34 made 3s, while Grayson Heiser (4.8) isn’t much of a scorer, but does a great job protecting the ball and running the team. Assumption is tested, and has the best player on the court on a nightly basis. This is their substate to lose.
The biggest threat: Few teams in 3A have been hotter since the holiday break than Clear Creek-Amana. The Clippers are 11-2 since the break, and have been led by a dynamic duo of shooters in Nick O’Connor (11.8, 49 3PM, 44.5%) and Tyler Schrepfer (11.2, 47 3PM, 47.5%), who have helped this group become the 3rd best team in the class in 3-point percentage. Christian Withrow (15.3) is the team’s leading scorer. He has the ball in his hands a lot, leading the team in assists and steals in addition to his scoring prowess. TJ Bollers (5.6), a highly coveted defensive end recruit on the gridiron, is a solid defender on the hardwood as well, blocking 33 shots this season. In addition to the trio of double figure scorers, five other players average at least 3.0 a game, meaning this group has some real depth.
The dark horse: Washington has a solid young core, and they’ve put together a strong season, going 14-6, but they’ll have their hands full with Assumption in the semifinals. As such, our dark horse comes out of the bottom of the bracket in Keokuk. The Chiefs have the 6th best scoring defense in 3A, allowing 47.4 points a game. Anthony Potratz (15.6) is a solid player who can take over a game with his scoring ability, and if this team can protect the ball, they could make it to the substate final, where anything can happen.
Players to watch
2020 Sean Peeters, Assumption
2021 Dayne Hodge, Assumption
2021 Christian Withrow, Clear Creek-Amana
2020 Tyler Schrepfer, Clear Creek-Amana
2020 Nick O’Connor, Clear Creek-Amana
2022 Kasen Bailey, Washington
2023 Ethan Patterson, Washington
2021 Anthony Potratz, Keokuk
2020 Clayton Lowery, Mount Pleasant
2020 Jayden Fedler, Fort Madison
2020 Drew Martin, Fairfield
2021 David Bluder, Solon