Comets Shootout: Sunday 17U Review
Team Notes D1 Minnesota handled Heat Vang 70-33 and once again they dominated the glass without any trouble. There were different scoring runs from several players that went on their own scoring runs with Nathan Reuvers and Matthew Hurt too…
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D1 Minnesota handled Heat Vang 70-33 and once again they dominated the glass without any trouble. There were different scoring runs from several players that went on their own scoring runs with Nathan Reuvers and Matthew Hurt too talented up front for anybody to defend and the team ball movement was outstanding. Defensive rotations can’t do much when the ball is moving to active size like Reuvers, Hurt, Jericho Sims, and Goanar Mar. Not only are they talented but they are playing extremely well together.
Fury Zurn threw a couple different defenses at WOTN and it built a quick double figure lead that grew to near 20 early. The Fury effort was outstanding led by Myles Hanson and Broc Finstuen plus they put together a balanced scoring effort with Owen Chose, Jordan Horn, Finstuen, and Hanson all getting double figures. The highlight was a two hand dunk from Weston Baker Magrath over the top of another player. WOTN had some second half fight that got the game down to ten points but things went back to near 20 in a hurry. Fury Zurn moved on to the semi-finals.
D1 Minnesota defeated Comets Lewis 73-66 the game was close at 8-8 but then a McKinley Wright three score run put the game in double figures where it would stay until late when Bryce Irsfeld and Simon Wright brought the Comets within two scores late. What was the difference? McKinley Wright had 26/7/6 and did an important thing when he put Gavin Baumgartner in foul trouble after Gavin had a great first half. D1 Minnesota also had a big edge up front where Nathan Reuvers had 11 first half points and Matthew Hurt had eight points compared to three field goals from the two Comet frontcourt guys.
Minnesota Fury Zurn looked like their weekend was over towards the end of the game but the Warriors had trouble with a free throw box-out and after some tapping around Weston Baker Magrath tied the contest and put it into overtime. Broc Finstuen had a couple huge late boards including the go ahead tap-in and Jordan Horn scored 22 for the game to get to the final.
17U Final. D1 Minnesota won 58-51 and held a rebounding advantage of 33-21. This was a bit of a sleepy game all around until Matthew Hurt went on a bit of a scoring run highlighted by a nasty dunk on Weston Baker Magrath. Weston had five blocks and after the one on McKinley he had some words to say and then Hurt threw it down in a nasty way. Moments later McKinley Wright crossed Owen Chose over in the backcourt sending him to the ground and then Wright hit a pull-up three. Jordan Horn and Owen Chose had really good games but Wright and Hurt took that game over.
Player Notes
Weston Baker Magarth (Fury Zurn/Marshall). Controlled the boards all contest. Had one of the nastiest two handed slams I’ve seen as he extended over the top of another player to throw it down. Only had four shots and made three but his seven/eight boards started breaks and controlled the glass.
Gavin Baumgartner (Comets Lewis/Wayzata). This weekend Minnesota learned that Gavin is willing and capable of creating shots, taking big shots, and competing against just about anybody. Trojan forward is able to separate against athletic defenders to get to a one dribble attempt, he can finish above the rim in transition, and of course he can hit at the arc. Multi-dimensional scorer.
Nick Christenson (Heat Vang/East Ridge). A bright spot for Heat as the 6-foto-1 guard found space to make four shots showing off a clean jumper that teams in the SEC saw all year long. Scored ten a game over the winter and is doing the same for the Heat.
Owen Chose (Fury Zurn/EP). Owen is becoming one of the elite shooters in the state. EP became reliant on that touch and for the Fury that touch is a game changer. Made three treys and scored 15 against WOTN making half of his dozen attempts. The three point feet set attempt and the one dribble attempt from him is becoming deadly. Like how he’s defending too. In the title game Owen scored the first ten points for his team making two threes and top high arcing pull-ups over length. Made seven of 12 shots and continues to prove that he can score with feet set or off the dribble against higher level guys.
Ishmael El-Amin (D1 Minnesota/Hopkins). Struggled to get going at the arc early so he attacked in transition several times in half two and recorded double figures in a game changing way when D1 went up 20 points in the second half. Also rebounded very well versus the Comets grabbing nine. Also grabbed six boards in the title game.
Broc Finstuen (Fury Zurn/Pine Island). Can he play the three? Is he a pure three? Without a doubt. I am now convinced that Broc has the frame, agility, and skill level to be a pure three. A pure three that also rebounds in big numbers and can play on the block. His there point stroke looks confident and pure plus going at the rim his body control on the move to finish is up there with the best threes in this state. Very impressed with him against WOTN.
Myles Hanson (Fury Zurn/Chaska). Myles is one of the most consistent players in the state. Nobody should ever question that. I also would not like to hear anybody ever question his toughness either. Hanson straight battled in St. Cloud this weekend. Fought on defense, fought on the boards, fought to beat guys to spots. Had a pair of treys against WOTN (he always seems to have a pair of treys) scoring 14 with seven boards. Love his floor run when he gets the board or when he is running with the ball on the wing.
Zach Hanson (WOTN/New Prague). Has three point range and extremely good footwork around the basket. Had trouble with the Fury frontcourt athletes but did show St. Cloud his craft inside and touch from the outside.
Burt Hedstrom (Comets Lewis/Minnetonka). Smart and intelligent defender who gives full effort, understands positioning, and consistently keeps him man in the position he wants. Hit a trey in the semi-final and also had three active buckets too. Has really grown in all regards and will make for an excellent worker and three point weapon.
Jordan Horn (Fury Zurn/Tartan). The transformation from when I watched him two years ago to now is really incredible when you think about it. I recall a guy that was handling but also playing some inside and now he’s a strong framed guard with a ton of separation skill. He was the guy that Fury went to go get late shots off as Jordan scored 15 on 17 attempts. Excellent separation game and ball pressure didn’t seem to bother him in starting the offense.
Matthew Hurt (D1 Minnesota/Rochester JM). Had a solid eight and four in the title game and then put up 14 points and eight rebounds in the championship including a late run of scores that put the Fury away for the game. His two hand dunk on Magrath rolling off a screen will be a play people remember for a long time. His game as a freshman in high school playing at this level is simply incredible. He has to be a national top 10 player, maybe top five and I highly doubt there are kids playing this well at his age on other 17U top level teams around the nation.
Bryce Irsfeld (Comets Lewis/Browerville). Did McKinley have the upper hand? Yes. But did Bryce show that he can compete? Definitely. Put up 18 points with five boards and five assists including four treys but more importantly he battled never backing down. Love him defensively and I feel like Bryce would challenge any guy put in front of him. NSIC sure bet? I have a hard time imaging many NSIC schools wouldn’t want him. Local D1 schools? I have a hard time believing that they won’t take at least a hard look.
Jonathan Mattern (WOTN/Chanhassen). Mattern has improved to become a really nice face-up four man. Made five of six shots including a three plus he led WOTN in rebounding. Like his face-up game all over the court and he’s shown some nice footwork on the block too when he had space to work.
Jericho Sims (D1 Minnesota/Cristo Rey). Didn’t have huge numbers but did rebound very well in the title game grabbing six in quick jumping pogo stick style. Few will forget his coast to coast dunk in the title game as it was a memorable highlight. He definitely looks like he added some weight.
Jay Sullivan (WOTN/Owatonna). Like Jay as a defender. Consistently showed a deep stance, good lateral quicks, intelligence in position, and a fight to beat guys to a spot. Interested to see him play going forward.
McKinley Wright (D1 Minnesota/Champlin Park). When his team needed him to break an 8-8 game McKinley scored eight points of his own to break the Comet momentum. When Gavin Baumgartner was playing well and guarding McKinley in half two McKinley went after him every possession and put him in foul trouble. Wright put the game away with four late free throws, he was on the glass on both ends again, and McKinley showed us a couple more of those nasty dribble separation step-back makes. 26 points, seven assists, and six rebounds is a great semi-final. In the final he had the most memorable separation move into a three and he and Matt Hurt teamed up together for several big plays late. Put up 24 points, six boards, and three assists in the title game.
Simon Wright (Comets Lewis/Hopkins). Had a terrible first half in the semi-final missing seven of his first eight attempts but then went inside where he scored five times between back-downs, face-ups, and free throws. From there Wright had his grove so he hit a pair of treys and scored 20 to bring his team within two scores.