Ten Best: Orono vs. Fergus Falls
In a matchup featuring two of the top teams in Class AAA, the Spartans showed why they should be considered a legitimate contender. A back-and-forth affair for about the first 28 minutes of the game at the Breakdown Tip Off…
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Continue ReadingIn a matchup featuring two of the top teams in Class AAA, the Spartans showed why they should be considered a legitimate contender.
A back-and-forth affair for about the first 28 minutes of the game at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, it was Orono’s depth that ultimately tipped the scales in the Spartan’s favor. The Spartans used a 14-2 run halfway through the second half to gain separation and despite a late run by the Otters, Orono pulled out an 81-68 win.
Colton Codute led the Spartans with 24 points and Thomas Lecy scored 21 off the bench. Nathan Rund had a tough shooting night but led the Otters with 18 points.
MVP: Colton Codute (Orono)
Codute was the best player on the floor Saturday and it wasn’t really close. His did a great job getting Spartans into their offense all night and balanced getting other players involved and finding his own shot brilliantly. Codute scored 24 points, including 16 in the second half. He keyed a 14-2 run in the second half which essentially won the game. His defense on Nathan Rund was also excellent as he held the star guard to just three made field goals.
Best Offensive Performance: Nathan Rund (Fergus Falls)
Codute did a great job keeping Rund in check Saturday and while the highly-rated junior guard didn’t shoot well, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about. Rund scored 18 points in the game but only made three field goals. He missed several open 3-pointers, but he also showed he could create a great shot out of seemingly nothing. His ability to break down defenders and get into the lane was impressive. Rund missed a lot of shots from the field, but he still found a way to do damage. Rund hit 10 free throws in the game and had he shot the ball up to his capability, he might’ve scored around 30 points.
Best Defensive Performance: Jarvis Thomas (Orono)
Thomas made his presence felt in a big way on the defensive end of the floor. The 6-foot-8 center has ridiculous athleticism and range and his ability to patrol the paint was a huge factor in the outcome of the game. The Otters ended up taking a lot of outside jump shots and 3-pointers, seemingly avoiding trying to drive the lane. When they did, Thomas was there to disrupt what would be easy looks against another opponent.
Best Underclassman: Matthew Johnson (Fergus Falls)
Johnson gave the Otters a big spark in the second half Saturday, scoring 10 of his 12 points. The 6-foot sophomore guard knocked down a pair of spot-up 3-pointers and did well in limited opportunities creating offense for himself. Johnson is only going to get better, which means the Otters are going to be loaded with scorers for a while.
Best Shooter: Thomas Lecy (Orono)
There were a number of solid shooters in this game, but Lecy was dead-eye from deep. The 6-foot-1 junior knocked down seven 3-pointers in the game. With Colton Codute and Max Bjorklund handling a lot of the ball handling responsibility, Lecy’s role is pretty set. But he performed well in it by making the Otters pay for over helping.
Best Player off the Bench: Lecy (Orono)
The sign of a great team is its ability to get contributors from unlikely places. Lecy didn’t come out of nowhere but he definitely isn’t the first guy on opposing team’s scouting reports. That might change soon though as he gave the Spartans a huge lift off the bench. His five 3-pointers in the first help helped Orono get out to a big lead in the first half.
Best Under-the-Rader Performance: Elijah Colbeck (Fergus Falls)
While Rund and big man Matthew Monke get a lot of the attention, Colbeck is a big difference-maker too. The senior guard scored 15 points, knocking down a couple jumpers off the ball, creating shots with the ball and scoring in transition. Colbeck doesn’t have great size but he’s got a crafty style and he’s very good with and without the ball.
Best Inside Player: Matthew Monke (Fergus Falls)
The guy that kept the Otters in the game early wasn’t Rund. It wasn’t Colbeck. It was senior big man Matthew Monke. The 6-foot-5 post was a force in the lane early in the game, dominating on the offensive glass and scoring in a variety of ways that included a mid-range jump shot, a drive from the mid-post and an offensive rebound stick back. Monke scored nine of his 11 points in the first half. He got in foul trouble and had to sit most of the second half, but when he was in the game, he was a stud.
Best Play: Codute ignites 14-2 run(Orono)
Orono controlled the game from almost start to finish. Despite the game being competitive and entertaining throughout, it never felt like the game was in jeopardy for the Spartans. The Otters did take a brief 51-50 lead about halfway through the second half. That lead would last all of 15 seconds as Codute came down and drilled a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Codute scored eight points, keying the team’s 14-2 run to retake control of the game.
Best Storyline Going Forward: Conference races
Both of these teams look like top-five teams in Class AAA this season. DeLaSalle is a giant in Orono’s section but the Spartans certainly don’t lack the talent to compete with the Islanders. The Otters look like a heavy early-season favorite in Section 8AAA. Both teams play in great conferences too, so it’ll be interesting to see how these two teams do in their conference.
For Fergus, St. Cloud Tech looks like a powerhouse in Class AAAA and in the Central Lakes. Alexandria is good and Rocori should be strong. The Spartans compete with fellow top-10 team, Delano along with Waconia and New Prague in the Wright County East Conference.