Playoff Preview: 3A-8
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Glasgow The favorite: The best backcourt in 3A basketball belongs to Dallas Center-Grimes, and as a result, the Mustangs are the clear favorite in this substate. They’ve spent a good chunk of the season ranked #1 in 3A on…
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The favorite: The best backcourt in 3A basketball belongs to Dallas Center-Grimes, and as a result, the Mustangs are the clear favorite in this substate. They’ve spent a good chunk of the season ranked #1 in 3A on the strength of that talented backcourt, and they have to be considered one of the top 3-4 contenders in the class. They’re led by junior guard Cole Glasgow Cole Glasgow 6'2" | SG Dallas Center- Grimes | 2022 State IA (17.2), a talented and efficient scorer who holds a handful of mid-major offers. Senior point guard Luke Rankin Luke Rankin 5'10" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA (13.8, 8.5 assists) is one of the best pure lead guards in the state, a very talented passer who takes excellent care of the ball and can stretch the floor. And junior guard Bo Huston (12.2, 48.8 3P%) has been a sniper on the perimeter alongside Glasgow and Rankin, giving them a real three-headed monster. Alex Thomas Alex Thomas 6'5" | PF Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA (8.2), a 6-5 forward, provides some size and athleticism in the paint. Guard play wins in high school basketball, and DCG has outstanding guards.
The biggest threat: Glenwood enters the postseason hot, winning 10 straight games. The Rams are heavy favorites to come out of the bottom of this bracket, holding a sweep of both of their possible semifinal opponents. They’re led by senior combo forward Ryan Blum Ryan Blum 6'4" | SF Glenwood | 2021 State IA (23.9, 8.8 rebounds), a talented scorer who was a key piece for Glenwood’s state title team as a freshman. The Rams crash the offensive glass hard, pulling down over 12 offensive boards a game, which helps offset a 40.8% field-goal percentage as a team.
The dark horse: Atlantic swept Creston in the regular-season, and should be favored to meet up with rival Glenwood in the semifinals. The Trojans are led by senior wing Skyler Handlos Skyler Handlos 6'2" | SF Atlantic | 2021 State IA (16.6, 5.8 rebounds) and junior Dayton Templeton (11.2, 6.3 rebounds). Like Glenwood, they hit the offensive boards hard, pulling down nearly 11 of them a game.
Players to watch
2022
Cole Glasgow
Cole
Glasgow
6'2" | SG
Dallas Center- Grimes | 2022
State
IA
, Dallas Center-Grimes
2021
Luke Rankin
Luke
Rankin
5'10" | PG
Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021
State
IA
, Dallas Center-Grimes
2022 Bo Huston, Dallas Center-Grimes
2021
Ryan Blum
Ryan
Blum
6'4" | SF
Glenwood | 2021
State
IA
, Glenwood
2021
Skyler Handlos
Skyler
Handlos
6'2" | SF
Atlantic | 2021
State
IA
, Atlantic
2022 Connor Frame, Harlan
2024 Jack Cooley, Clarke
2021
Colby Burg
Colby
Burg
6'0" | SG
Creston | 2021
State
IA
, Creston
2021
Tate Stine-Smith
Tate
Stine-Smith
6'0" | SF
ADM | 2021
State
IA
, ADM
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Dallas Center-Grimes vs. Glenwood
Dallas Center-Grimes has been to State five times (2010, 11, 13, 15, and 17), but have never won a game there. This group has a real chance to do so. Glenwood struggles to defend the Mustangs’ three-headed guard monster, and Dallas Center-Grimes cruises to Des Moines.