Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – Clear Creek Amana had not seen this version of Davenport Assumption.

Sure, the Clippers opened last season with a scrimmage against the eventual Class 3A boys’ basketball state champions.

But this version of the Knights contained a few new faces and a somewhat pedestrian record of 12-10.

That win-loss mark proved deceptive.

“They are really well put together,” Clear Creek Amana senior Brody Clubb said after the 10th-ranked Clippers were eliminated by Assumption, 76-55, in a Class 3A substate semifinal Thursday night at Clear Creek Amana High School. “I think what they did last year sparked them tonight. You saw visions of them last year, for sure. Evidently, they were more physical, stronger and then just outplayed us, for sure.”

Assumption (13-10) can return to the state tournament to defend its title with a win in Monday night’s substate final.

Assumption will host Central DeWitt in the Substate 5 title game on Monday at 7 p.m.

Central DeWitt defeated top-seeded Waverly-Shell Rock 70-66 in the other semifinal on Thursday.

After a back and forth first few minutes of the game, Assumption used a 16-2 explosion to claim a 21-9 lead after one quarter as CCA struggled to regain some offensive flow.

“They were bigger and stronger and the intimidation factor kind of got to us,” Clubb said. “It didn’t allow us to get downhill as much as we like.”

Assumption drilled seven three-point baskets in the first half to keep the Clippers at bay and charged into the halftime locker room with a 36-23 advantage.

“We were really trying to take away their inside looks and really kind of focused on that,” CCA Coach Brandon Clubb said. “It kind of opened up some of those guys out there. We were helping (defend) down off of them and they really exposed us with that. That was big time for them.”

The loss was the first in 13 games for CCA (19-5), which got within seven points on two occasions midway through the third quarter before the Knights closed with a 15-7 burst and entered the final frame up, 57-42.

Assumption led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.

“They were clicking tonight,” Brandon Clubb said. “The role players for them really stepped up and had big games.”

Assumption senior Isiah Rose – who started just one game for the Knights last season and was averaging just 9.8 points per game this year – led all scorers with 27 points, which included three three-point baskets.

Three other Knights – Illinois transfer Synceare Simons (15 points), plus 2023-24 standouts Damyan Jackson (15) and Joey Funderburk (11) – also scored in double figures.

A North Dakota State football signee, Clubb led the way with 21 points and Hayden Umoren added 10 for CCA, which missed 13 of its 21 free throw attempts.

CCA senior Andrew Rotzoll – who averaged a team-high 16.5 points per game before Thursday – made just one basket and finished with eight points.

“They were face-guarding, denying him the ball,” Brandon Clubb said. “Not letting him get it, so we were trying to put him in some screening actions. Early on, it kind of helped us but we went away from it. Just limiting his touches and making him frustrated. Getting up into him so he can’t do much.”

Clubb, Rotzoll and Umoren – plus fellow starters Brock Hilsman and Robert Meade and reserves Cale Berry, Reece Cochran, Carter Cooper and Owen Rosenberg – comprise a robust senior class for CCA that definitely made its mark on the boys’ basketball program.

“A lot of those guys have played varsity for three years,” Brandon Clubb said. “They left their legacy. They won the overall WAMAC which has never been done before. Obviously, we were hoping to make a little bit of a run here, but you’ve got to tip your hat to Assumption. There was not much I don’t think anyone could have done tonight.”

Davenport Assumption      21 15   21 19  –  76

Clear Creek Amana              9  14  19  13  –  55

Davenport Assumption (76) – Damyen Jackson 6 0-0 13, Synceare Simons 7 0-0 15, Braylon Thomsen 0 4-6 4, Joey Funderburk 4 0-0 11, Isiah Rose 12 0-3 27, Jack DiIulio 1 0-0 3, Ben Armstrong 1 0-0 3, Totals 31 4-9 76.

Clear Creek Amana (55) – Hayden Umoren 4 2-10 10, Brock Hilsman 2 0-0 4, Andrew Rotzoll 1 5-6 8, Robert Meade 3 1-5 7, Brody Clubb 8 0-0 21, Cale Berry 0 0-0 0, Beckett Boeset 2 0-0 5, Owen Rosenberg 0 0-0 0, Totals 20 8-21 55.

Three-point goals – Davenport Assumption 10 (Funderburk 3, Rose 3, Jackson 1, Armstrong 1, Simons 1, Dilulio 1), Clear Creek Amana 7 (Clubb 5, Rotzoll 1, Boeset 1). Total fouls — Davenport Assumption 18, Clear Creek Amana 13. Fouled out — None.

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