Playoff Preview: 3A-6
The favorite: Offensive juggernaut Pella has gone 7-0 against teams in this substate, winning those games by an average of 21.6 points per game. The Dutch have 3A’s highest scoring offense, averaging 77.5 points a night, and should be…
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The favorite: Offensive juggernaut Pella has gone 7-0 against teams in this substate, winning those games by an average of 21.6 points per game. The Dutch have 3A’s highest scoring offense, averaging 77.5 points a night, and should be considered one of the heaviest favorites of any team in any 3A substate. They’ve lost five games this season by a combined 14 points, so they’re incredibly close to being an undefeated team. This is a typical Pella team that likes to play fast, has incredible depth, and a number of players who can fill it up on a given night. Logan Shetterly (19.6) is the catalyst, leading the team in scoring and assists. He’s a capable shooter from deep, but is at his best when he’s attacking the rim for buckets or to get the defense to collapse and set up teammates. Treyton Sturgeon (14.5) is an athletic, 6-4 forward who controls the glass, while John Oltman (13.6, 73 3PM) is an outstanding 3-point shooter. As mentioned, this group is deep, with Grant Nelson (9.2), Josh Warner (4.7), Parker Elder (5.8), Karl Miller (7.3, 51.3 3P%) and Ryan Mace (3.2) all capable of contributing 12-15 points on a given evening. With the type of firepower Pella has, and the success they’ve already had against the other teams in the substate, it’d be a major upset if the Dutch don’t snap a two-year drought and get back to Des Moines.
The biggest threat: Defending state champion Oskaloosa has been frustratingly inconsistent this season, but there have been circumstances that could help explain. The Indians lost nearly every key contributor from last year’s group, and coach Ryan Parker underwent a kidney transplant in the middle of the season, taking him away from the team for nearly a month. Those are difficult things to contend with as high schoolers. But this team still has the best individual player in the substate in Xavier Foster (22.7, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 blocks), the 7-0 Iowa State commit who can dominate a game on both ends of the floor if he’s engaged and ready to roll. Noah Van Veldhuizen (12.1, 61 3PM) can fill it up from 3, and they have some pieces who have contributed and stepped into much larger roles this season, with the graduation of a large chunk of last year’s roster, and Foster missing time with mono. This team has had some moments where they look like a real contender again (narrow losses to Norwalk, Dallas Center-Grimes; a win over Pella Christian), but also games where you see the result, rub your eyes and wonder if it’s real (giving up 100 to Burlington).
The dark horse: It’s hard to see any of the teams at the top of the bracket pushing Pella in the semifinal, given the fact that the Dutch swept Grinnell and beat Knoxville by 30. So the dark horse comes from the bottom of the bracket in the form of Newton. The Cardinals are young, with their top two scorers being sophomores Adam Mattes (15.5) and Noah Allen (13.0). They split their season series with Oskaloosa, and have a pair of shooters who can get hot in Noah Allen and Kyle Long, who have combined to make 90 3s this season.
Players to watch
2020 Logan Shetterly, Pella
2020 John Oltman, Pella
2020 Treyton Sturgeon, Pella
2020 Xavier Foster, Oskaloosa
2022 Adam Mattes, Newton
2022 Noah Allen, Newton
2020 Jake Hull, Grinnell
2021 Kieren Nichols, Knoxville
2021 Spencer Hixson, Knoxville
2020 Matt McDonald, Centerville
2020 Quentin Koestner, Centerville
2021 Brady Kauzlarich, Centerville
2020 Nate Norton, Carlisle
2020 Marquis George-Townes, Bondurant-Farrar
2023 Colby Collison, Bondurant-Farrar