Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

When Brandon Clubb took over the Clear Creek Amana boys basketball program one of the first things he did was invest in his future point guard.  

Four years later Clubb and the Clippers are enjoying the dividends of those early investments.

Senior Tyler Schrepfer has blossomed into one the top point guards in Class 3A in his final season leading the Clippers to the state tournament for the first time since 1993.

“He is a kid that we took a chance on four years ago,” Clubb said. “We saw something in him and elevated him to that varsity status on purpose as kind of an investment.”  

Prior to his first season as head coach at Clear Creek Amana Clubb pulled Schrepfer up to the varsity level with an eye on the future.

There were certainly some struggles during the first few seasons as Schrepfer cut his teeth at the varsity level.

Clear Creek Amana won two games during the first season for Clubb and Schrepfer and before winning nine games two seasons ago.

After an 11-point season last year the breakthrough for Clear Creek Amana has come this season and Schrepfer has been at the forefront.

“I think he was smart enough to see the investment,” Clubb said. “Obviously it paid off for him,”

Under the direction of Clubb and led by its senior point guard Clear Creek Amana (19-5) won its first ever WAMAC title then reached the state tournament for the first time since 1993 with a 79-66 substate final win over Davenport Assumption on Wednesday.

At the center of it all has been Schrepfer.

“It’s been amazing,” Schrepfer said of his career. “We’ve come a long way, this year I wouldn’t trade this team for anything.”

The Clippers’ climb from a two-win team to the state tournament has followed the same ascent as their senior leader.

As a freshman Schrepfer averaged five points per game, shot 34 percent from the field and had twice as many assists as turnovers.

“Freshman year we had a new coach and a new style of play and a little bit of adjusting had to be done,” Schrepfer said. “The first year is obviously something, especially with a new coach that you don’t expect to be top tier.”

As Schrepfer grew into the point guard role the Clippers continued to improve.

He jumped to 8.2 points per game during a nine-win sophomore season and averaged a team-high 12.1 points as Clear Creek Amana won 11 games last year.

“Being a junior I knew I had a lot of power on the team and I really started being a leader that year,” Schrepfer said. “That was really the time I realized we could be this type of team.”

This season has been the breakthrough.

The 5-foot-11 Schrepfer ranks second on the team with 11.5 points per game while shooting a career-high 47 percent from the field including 45 percent from 3-point range.

Schrepfer also leads the Clippers with 3.1 assists and has more assists (74) than turnovers (49) for the first time in his prep career.

“To me he is that stereotypical point guard where he is doing stuff and I don’t even have to tell him,” Clubb said. “He knows what we want, he is helping other guys out, he is that floor general and he is content with having a four-point night or he can go out and score 20. He is doing is willing to do whatever we need him to do and it’s great to have a guy like that.”

Schrepfer is the key to a Clear Creek Amana offense that has been nearly impossible for opponents to solve in the postseason.

The fast-paced, spread-out Clippers are averaged 77 points in three postseason wins.

Schrepfer had 15 in a semifinal win over Keokuk last Thursday and 16 in the substate final victory over Assumption.  

“I love that we are spread out and moving around and having people flying all over the place,” Schrepfer said. “Dribble drives, screens it just opens up a lot of opportunities for guys at all three levels.”

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.