A look at Monday’s Iowa high school boys’ basketball substate finals

Here are capsules looking at Class 3A Iowa high school boys’ basketball substate final games in the area and around the state Monday night.

Monday’s Class 3A substate finals

No. 1 DECORAH (21-1) vs. CLEAR LAKE (17-5)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Waterloo East High School

Overview: Decorah has won 20 games in a row after its lone loss to Western Dubuque, 49-46, on Dec. 3. The Vikings have beaten opponents by an average of 25.3 points per game and lead Class 3A in scoring at 72.6 points per game. Decorah has amazing offensive balance, with five players averaging double figures in scoring, with the high scorer (Joseph Bockman) averaging just 13.7. Ben Bockman is next at 12.4, Trey McCain after him at 11.8, followed by Carson Wemark (10.5) and Jacob Pipho (10.0).

Clear Lake has won eight of nine coming into this game. It lost twice in the regular season to Clarion CGD and once each to Webster City, Humboldt and Iowa Falls-Alden. Senior guard Carson Toebe is the Lions’ top guy, averaging 19.6 points per game. He had 21 in a district final win over Waverly-Shell Rock. W-SR and Charles City are the common opponents here, with Clear Lake beating W-SR twice and Charles City once. Decorah beat W-SR twice and Charles City three times.

Decorah has qualified for the state tournament just twice, the last time in 1977. Clear Lake has played in five state tournament, including last year, when it lost to Ballard in a 3A quarterfinal game.

MARION (18-5) vs. CLEAR CREEK-AMANA (16-7)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Iowa City Liberty High School

Overview: There sure appeared to be some heat between these teams and their coaching staffs during and after Marion’s 77-61 home win Feb. 1, which perhaps adds to the plot of this already-intriguing game. The Wolves pulled away late, outscoring CCA in the fourth quarter, 20-9.

Junior guard Brayson Laube is Marion’s most potent offensive weapon, averaging 19.3 points per game. He shoots 43.7 percent from 3-point range but has expanded his game this season to include the dribble drive and pull-up jumper. Marion lost two of its final three regular-season games but picked up wins of 22 and 16 points in its two prior substate games.

Clear Creek-Amana went just 3-3 to end the regular season but knocked off Fairfield in its first substate game, then upset eighth-ranked Fort Madison in a substate semifinal, 66-60. The Clippers outscored FM in the fourth quarter, 25-14. A team full of good athletes, CCA is led in scoring by senior forward Ben Swails (17.7 ppg) and senior Kyle Schrepfer (14.1).

Clear Creek-Amana is in search of its second trip to state in three years, as it finished third in 3A in 2020. Marion has made six previous appearances at state, including four between 2009 and 2019.

SOLON (15-9) vs. DEWITT CENTRAL (17-6)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Mount Vernon High School

Overview: Solon took down No. 5 Washington (Iowa) in a substate semifinal, 48-44, in overtime. The Spartans trailed by 10 points at halftime. Washington beat Solon in the final regular-season game, 41-34. The Spartans ranked 56th of 64 teams in 3A in scoring at 48.3 points per game, yet they only allow 42.0, which is tops in 3A. No Solon player averages double figures in scoring, with sophomore Jake Benzing leading the team at 9.6.

DeWitt Central took down Cedar Rapids Xavier in a 3A substate semifinal, 82-75, behind a massive 45-point performance by massive 6-9 senior center Shawn Gilbert. Gilbert averages 23.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, shooting 62 percent from the field. Keep in mind, Central plays in a predominantly Class 4A league in the Mississippi Athletic Conference. Five of the six Sabers losses were to 4A teams, including unbeaten Pleasant Valley twice. They split two games with fellow 3A substate finalist Davenport Assumption.

Solon has qualified for the state tournament six times, including winning a state title in 2009. It last qualified in 2016. DeWitt Central also has a state championship (1981) and three other appearances, the last in 2014.

State

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com