NHR Scout: WEM vs Maple River
The green and white jerseys of Maple River took on the white and green of WEM in the sub-section title game and from the opening tap to the final three seconds this was a closely fought game that brought the…
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Continue ReadingThe green and white jerseys of Maple River took on the white and green of WEM in the sub-section title game and from the opening tap to the final three seconds this was a closely fought game that brought the drama and excitement of what playoff basketball is all about.
Maple River won 51-46 and I would say in the end they were just a bit tougher than Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. When WEM needed a halfcourt basket out of a timeout Maple River defended perfectly not getting face-cut, getting hands in every passing lane, and being active on the ball.
When Maple River went to the foul line late they hit four crucial free throws. The battle of the late game boards seemingly went the way of Maple River ever time. And even when WEM got excited forcing a turnover from Jeff Lewis and got in his face you just saw a more confident and determined look from the guy that made the mistake.
The Eagles earned the sub-section championship medals after the buzzer sounded and will play Belle Plaine for the right to go to state. Who has the edge? I would say that Lewis gives Maple River the advantage in the backcourt where as Belle Plaine has two forward scorers to lean on while Maple River has Keller. Who will win? Tough to call.
Maple River
Jeff Lewis (6-1, Jr, G). Plays the point for Maple River and is very deliberate, doesn’t waste motions or movements. His full court push is quick, with head up, the first pass is always sent hard to the right spot followed by a hard cut. A smart player who attacks the rim with a lean to keep the defender from contesting him while touching the ball softly over the top. Had a second half cut off the post that was ideal because Jeff saw his man turn his head and moved right off the post for a beautiful score. Does a great job moving off the ball to the rim or relocating on the perimeter. Also liked when a WEM player got in his face after a turnover Jeff stared him down and didn’t back down. Coaches love that toughness without a word said. Also made the game winning free throws with three seconds left.
Ethan Sindelir (6-2, So, F). One of the more intense, physical sophomores I’ve seen and even though he is 6-foot-2 his fight allows him to defend bigger players. Plays with a ton of energy and seems like the type of guy the Eagles will love to have defending for the next three years. Very vocal. Took a charge late and let out a monster scream of excitement. It was like a battle cry.
Will Keller (6-5, Sr, PF). Will looks comfortable facing up and using a dribble or facing up and shooting a 13-footer. Also like his all around effort on the defensive end. Sits real deep in a stance and is disciplined possession after possession. Strong four man who also showed some range tonight at the arc. His footwork in the post has been well coached as has his defensive positioning. The effort on defense is good and he can move his feet laterally at the arc to angle guards on ball screens. Scored a team high 14 points.
Wyatt Johnson (6-6, Jr, C). A thick center who WEM tried to go at but he was able to move just enough with the wings to block or contest shots (three blocks actually). On the other end WEM didn’t play him around the arc so he hit a deep jumper with a much better touch than I expected. Hurt his knee in the second half.
Brandon Sohre (6-1, Sr, SG). Scored nine points but the biggest impact was his late free throws that push his team’s lead to three late and there were some crucial hustle plays on the defensive end that helped Maple River get important stops in the last minute. Hard working player that was crucial to the win defensively.
WEM
Tyler Tegmeier (5-9, Sr, G). Sparky and quick guard that has a quick first step shooting into gaps and is quick to finish before the defense can move to the right position. Plays off guard at his size and is able to make up for his size with a quick first step and a quick release on the move.
Logan Sendle (6-0, Jr, G). The lead guard for the Bucs, Logan loves to push with a zipping outlet igniting a Bucs running game that has really improved this year. Also like Logan’s effort in chasing top scorers around screens and laterally forcing players into bad spots on the floor. Made two top of the key treys that came at big times and had an excellent pass on a pick and roll to Olson late.
Kallen Doremkemper (6-2, Sr, G). Had a tough time finishing in the first half but his slashing potential was clear and Maple River was sprinting back aware of the tough spots that Kallen can put them in. He’s so quick up the floor that the only place Maple River could get a hand up to him was at the rim.
Zac Olson (6-5, Jr, PF). His perimeter touch has improved and there is no doubt that Zac has added a lot of muscle to his legs, shoulders, back, etc. A very strong kid who is moving just as well now as before he added all the muscle. He was too quick to stop from moving on the block so his shoulder turn was not stopped and too strong to get off balance. Also has a better second bounce to the glass than I recall. Did a nice job hitting free throw pairs in the second half and scored a hotly contested roll to the rim late.
Dallas McBroom (6-1, Jr, SG). Came off the bench and started slow, but in the second half he knocked out two treys and slashed for a third score that helped the Bucs keep pace when Maple River had the momentum. His three with four minutes to go was one of the biggest shots of the game based on the timing.