High School Boys Basketball Preview

The Class 3A postseason has been set according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association. A boys basketball teams now know who it must defeat to make the state tournament March 8-12 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Four of the six Southeast Conference teams -- Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk, Fort Madison -- are in Substate 5. Burlington is a 4A school and Washington is in Substate 6.

Mt. Pleasant (11-8) and the Trojans are on opposite sides of the bracket. The Panthers (11-8) face Keokuk (12-6) for a third time this season. The game will be in Keokuk where the Chiefs won 61-50. They later won at Mt. Pleasant 64-52. Fort Madison (8-8) plays at Mount Vernon (11-5) with the winner playing the Keokuk-Panthers winner.

Fairfield (4-10) must go to No. 10 Davenport Assumption (11-6) with the winner playing the winner of Marion (12-7) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-9).

In Substate 6, Grinnell (7-12) plays Clear Creek-Amana on the lower half of the bracket. CCA is 14-5 after Saturday's loss to Washington (13-5) and Tuesday's 68-52 loss to No. 8 Western Dubuque (13-3). The other game on the bracket's lower half has Washington as hosts to 1-16 Oskaloosa. The Indians won their first game of the season 58-45 over Davis County.

Knoxville has an 11-6 record and plays Newton (7-9) for the chance to meet Pella, possibly.

Centerville (5-11) will try to upset the Dutch. Previously No. 1-ranked, Pella (16-2) is now ranked sixth and a 76-46 winner over Grinnell on Tuesday.

IHSAA Pairings

CLASS 3A SUBSTATE 5

Quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 22

At Davenport Assumption

Davenport Assumption vs. Fairfield

At Marion

Marion vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier

At Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon vs. Fort Madison

At Keokuk

Keokuk vs. Mount Pleasant

Semifinals Thursday, Feb. 25

At Davenport Assumption

Davenport Assumption/Fairfield winner vs. Marion/Cedar Rapids Xavier winner

At Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon/Fort Madison winner vs. Keokuk/Mount Pleasant winner

Final Monday, March 1

At TBA

Semifinal winners

CLASS 3A SUBSTATE 6

Quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 22

At Pella

Pella vs. Centerville

At Newton

Newton vs. Knoxville

At Washington

Washington vs. Oskaloosa

At Tiffin

Clear Creek-Amana vs. Grinnell

Semifinals Thursday, Feb. 25

At Pella

Pella/Centerville winner vs. Newton/Knoxville winner

At Washington

Washington/Oskaloosa winner vs. Clear Creek-Amana/Grinnell winner

Final Monday, March 1

At Oskaloosa or TBD

Semifinal winners

All games at 7 p.m.

Substate champions advance to the state tournament March 8-12 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.