Class AAAA State Tournament Preview
The Class AAAA state tournament starts Wednesday morning so get ready for the event with the NHR prospect and game preview. Osseo (29-0) vs Eden Prairie (16-13) Osseo Line-Up: PF Kameron Bettie (12.5pg, 5.1 rb), PG Allen Anderson (10.5pg, 3.9…
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Continue ReadingThe Class AAAA state tournament starts Wednesday morning so get ready for the event with the NHR prospect and game preview.
Osseo (29-0) vs Eden Prairie (16-13)
Osseo Line-Up: PF Kameron Bettie (12.5pg, 5.1 rb), PG Allen Anderson (10.5pg, 3.9 ast), SG Demario Armstrong (11.6pg, 3.7rb, 2.9st, 3.2 ast), SG Donate Jones (9.6pg, 4.5rb), SF John Bezdicek (9.1pg, 4.7rb), SF Matt Bezdicek (7.4pg, 3.3 rb), PG Mar Mar Hughes (7.2 pg), PG Kyle Williams (5pg).
Eden Prairie Line-Up: SG Owen Chose (18.1pg), SG Brady Rudrud (11.6pg, 4.8rb, 3.8 ast), SF Nick Geolat (9.5pg, 3.7rb, 3ast), SG Ryan Jacobus (8.7pg, 3.6 ast, 3.2 rb), PG Kyler Kluge (7.3pg, 2ast), PF Will Pahl (4.8pg, 2.4rb)
Notes: Osseo leading scorer sophomore Zach Theisen (13.2pg) hurt his foot in the last game of the year…Osseo has been to state tournaments under Coach Tim Theisen…EP played the top ranked strength of schedule in the state…Demario Armstrong is also one of the top football prospects in the state
Top 5 Prospects Watch: 1 – Owen Chose (2017 SG), 2 – Allen Anderson (2016 PG), 3 – Brady Rudrud (2016 SG), 4 – Nick Geolat (2016 SF), 5 – Demario Armstrong (2016 SG)
Prediction: Osseo 60 EP 56. The Orioles and Eagles will likely battle throughout but Osseo has the better team connection and team speed giving them a two basket edge.
Lakeville North (24-5) vs Maple Grove
Lakeville North Line-Up: PF Nathan Reuvers (19.8pt, 8.2rb), SF Carter Brooks (12.8pt, 5.5rb, 2.3ast), SG Cal Pesola (9pt, 3.6rb), SF Nick Fossey (6.3pg, 4.2rb), SF Trevor Schermann (5.8pg, 3.6rb), PG Ethan Igbanugo (5.7pg, 2.4ast, 1.9rb), SG Drew Stewart (5.3pg, 2,7ast), PG David Lindstrand (4.3pg)
Maple Grove Line-Up: PG Brad Davison (21.3pg, 6.2rb, 7.5ast), SG Jack Hutchison (10.9pg), PG Taron Pickford (10.7pg, 4.8rb), Reed Nikko (10.5pg, 6.7rb, 3.2blck), PF Jared Martinson (3.5pt, 2.7rbg), SF Bubba Horton (3.5pg), PF Ryan Bredensteiner (2.9pt, 2.9rb).
Notes: Cal Pesola has committed to Viterbo, Carter Brooks is headed to Concordia-St. Paul, Reed Nikko is going to Mizzou, Jared Martinson to Bethel…Drew Stewart and Nick Fossey will play football at Augustana and Northern Iowa respectively…Brad Davison set a school record for points overall and points in a season…Jack Hutchison is two treys made from setting a school record for triples sunk…Reed Nikko holds all school records for blocks…Maple Grove guard Tywhon Pickford averaged 18.3 points per game before getting injured after 11 games…
Prospect Watch: 1- Nathan Reuvers (2017 PF), 2- Brad Davison (2017 G), 3- Jack Hutchinson (2017 SG), 4- Taron Pickford (2016 PG), 5- Trevor Schermann (2017 SF)
Prediction: Lakeville North 69 Maple Grove 67. North is going to have their work cut out for them slowing down Davison but North is a more physical squad and it’s tough to look past what John Oxton has done year after year.
North St. Paul (24-5) vs Hopkins (28-1)
NSP Line-Up: SF Adreon Wadlington (12.2pg, 4.4rb), SG Goodnews Kpegeol (11.5pg, 4.2rb, 2.2 ast), SG Josh Steckler (7.9pg, 2.8rb), PG Tremaine Daniels (6.6pg, 3.3rb), SF Thomas Acquoi (6.5pg, 2.3rb), PF Joe Johnson (6.1pf, 5.5rb), C Jake Weber (5.4pg, 3.2), G Bryce Phillips (5.9pg, 2.1rb)
Hopkins Line-Up: SG Amir Coffey (19.1pg, 6.7rb, 3.9ast), SG Ishmael El-Amin (16.6pg, 3.1rb), PG Vinnie Shahid (15.2pg, 3.1ast, 2.3rb), SG Xavier Johnson (13.9pg, 2.4ast), SF Simon Wright (11.3pg, 4.9rb), SG Anthony Davis (8.6pg), Erik Davis (8.6pg, 4.2rb)
Notes: NSP is playing in the first state tournament in 17 years and won their first conference title in 45 years…Amir Coffey has signed with the University of Minnesota. Coffey was just named the Metro Player of the Year…Joe Janquart coached with Henry Sibley in three state tournaments and is now the NSP leader. They won 6 games last year, 24 this year…
Prospect Watch: 1- Ishmael El-Amin (2017, SG), 2- Goodnews Kpegeol (2018, SG), 3- Simon Wright (2017, SF), 4- Anthony Davis (2018, SG), 5- Vinnie Shahid (2016, PG)
Prediction: Hopkins 81 NSP 72. This game is going to be closer than people think because NSP is a veteran, hard working team. Hopkins is the more experienced team as far as big games like this and that experience will be important.
Apple Valley (28-1) vs Blaine (19-10)
Apple Valley Line-Up: SG Gary Trent Jr (26.9pg, 6.0rb, 2ast), PG Tre Jones (16pg, 6.3rb, 7.1ast), PF Cameron Kirksey (15.6pg, 4.9rb), C Brock Bertram (13pg, 9.8rb), SG Luke Martens (5.4pg, 3.1rb), SG Jordan Reddick (2.4pg), PF Aaron Ertz (1.9pg, 2.1rb)
Blaine Line-Up: PF Ben Scherer (15.4pg, 7.9rb), PF Zach Baker (8.1pg, 2.6rb), Jared Kaul (7.2pg), Kurtis Weigand (7pg, 7.1rb), G Sam Gerrety (5.9pg, 2.8rb, 2.6ast), Dakota Neppl (5.3pg), PG Byron Bynum (4.3pt, 3.4ast)
Notes: Gray Trent Jr is a five star ranked talent and Tre Jones is a top 30 sophomore nationwide…Brock Bertram has already signed with Buffalo…Apple Valley has won state titles in two of the last three years…The Eagles have won four straight league titles (71-1 record in conference)…Ben Scherer has signed with UMD…
Prospect Watch: 1- Gary Trent Jr (2017, SG), 2- Tre Jones (2018, PG), 3-Cameron Kirksey (2016, PF), 4- Zach Baker (2016, F), 5- Luke Martens (2018, SG)
Prediction: Apple Valley 85 Blaine 61. The Eagles are jacked up now that they have role players hitting stride, Trent Jr back healthy putting up huge numbers, Tre coming off some huge games, and Bertram being a top five Mr. Basketball finalist.