Playoff Preview: 3A-3
In this article:
Baumhover The favorite: Playing in the 4A-dominant MVC gives Western Dubuque (and Wahlert Catholic for that matter), a major edge against the rest of the teams in this substate. The Bobcats have posted some impressive wins this season, with…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
The favorite: Playing in the 4A-dominant MVC gives Western Dubuque (and Wahlert Catholic for that matter), a major edge against the rest of the teams in this substate. The Bobcats have posted some impressive wins this season, with their only losses coming to Hempstead, Cedar Falls, and Senior. They’re led by a trio of very talented scorers in seniors Dylan Johnson Dylan Johnson 6'6" | SF Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA (16.4, 7.7 rebounds) and Garrett Baumhover Garrett Baumhover 6'0" | PG Western Dubuque | 2021 State IA (14.7, 5.6 assists), and junior guard Nick Bryant Nick Bryant 5'9" | PG Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA (11.6, 41.5 3P%). The ’Cats are a good 3-point shooting team (38.8%) and they limit turnovers (9.1 a game), despite playing high-level competition on a nightly basis, and are rightfully a fairly heavy favorite to come out of this substate.
The biggest threat: The team that presents the biggest threat to Western Dubuque is probably Wahlert Catholic, who have played the Bobcats twice this year, with their losses coming by a combined three points. The Golden Eagles have one double-figure scorer in senior Nathan Donovan (13.6), but have four others averaging between 8.6 and 9.8 points a game. They pound the offensive glass, pulling down over 10 offensive boards a game, and have a senior guard in TJ Fowler TJ Fowler 5'9" | PG Wahlert Catholic | 2021 State IA (9.8) who can get hot and carry this group. They don’t have great efficiency numbers, and they turn the ball over too much, but they have a tendency to ugly games up, and they’re battle-tested in the MVC.
The dark horse: The favorite to come out of the bottom of the bracket at this point is probably Crestwood, who beat likely semifinal opponent Decorah 69-51 back on January 21. Their second meeting is tonight (February 16). The Cadets are led by scoring by senior Reid Wiley Reid Wiley 5'10" | CG Crestwood | 2021 State IA (17.3), but the real difference-maker is stat-sheeting stuffing guard Carter Henry Carter Henry 6'2" | PG Crestwood | 2021 State IA (8.4, 8.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists), who can dominate games without scoring. Getting the third meeting with Decorah in their home gym gives the Cadets another edge over the Vikings at the bottom of this bracket.
Players to watch
2021
Dylan Johnson
Dylan
Johnson
6'6" | SF
Western Dubuque | 2021
State
IA
, Western Dubquue
2021
Garrett Baumhover
Garrett
Baumhover
6'0" | PG
Western Dubuque | 2021
State
IA
, Western Dubuque
2022
Nick Bryant
Nick
Bryant
5'9" | PG
Western Dubuque | 2022
State
IA
, Western Dubuque
2021 Nathan Donovan, Wahlert Catholic
2023 Duke Faley, Wahlert Catholic
2021
Carter Henry
Carter
Henry
6'2" | PG
Crestwood | 2021
State
IA
, Crestwood
2021
Reid Wiley
Reid
Wiley
5'10" | CG
Crestwood | 2021
State
IA
, Crestwood
2021 JJ Ritter, Charles City
2023 Chase Low, Charles City
2021
Caleb Burks
Caleb
Burks
6'6" | C
Waverly-Shell Rock | 2021
State
IA
, Waverly-Shell Rock
2021
Charles Robinson
Charles
Robinson
6'2" | SF
Decorah | 2021
State
IA
, Decorah
2022 Joseph Bockman, Decorah
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Western Dubuque vs. Crestwood
Western Dubuque’s major edge in competition throughout the year, and their dynamic trio of scorers, helps lead the Bobcats back to State for the first time since 2012 in a strong win over Crestwood.