Comets Shootout: 17U Sunday
There surely was drama Saturday and Sunday but in the end the expectations of a Comets/D1 Minnesota final were fulfilled and D1 earned themselves a ten point title game victory.
Matthew Hurt was the game changer once again when D1 Minnesota was having some first half struggles. The Eagles gave them a run but Matt changed everything using a pump fake to lift his man followed by a clear triple. The next time down Hurt used the same fake to get his man in the air drawing a foul for three foul shot makes. A two score game became a double figure lead. Hurt hit three treys, scored 22 points, and played less than half of the game.
How players develop isn’t always a clear thing from year to year but at 6-foot-9, thick, and quite agile at his size Dain Dainja has a chance to be special. As a 2020 his body is still young so it will change when he hits the weights and matures. That’s the scary thing because with that could come more core strength, more agility, and he will definitely get more fluid as the skills come. Scored off a pick and roll catching and completing a finger roll, had a nasty drop step dunk, and there was a pretty reverse that started with a step through away from the defense.
The Eagles gave D1 Minnesota a run for about a dozen minutes and it was Nathan Macho (Oh Yeah, Snap into it!) moving without the ball carving himself space to finish. The Eagles faded away but Macho was the player that had the physical ability to move and finish with this high caliber team. Led the team as the only Eagle in double figures.
Kyler Kluge had a quiet first half against Select but when he started playing well the Comets started to play well. He scored a solid ten, dished out five assists, and most importantly his defensive effort was constant, it was perfectly positioned, and it was game changing. Kyler helped turn an 11 point halftime deficit into a 17 point win over Select. Nathan Rund helped with eight second half points.
The Comets would have been in bigger trouble had Matt Todd not carried them for about 60 percent of the game. Nobody could keep the Monticello guard in front of them so Matt hit his floater, pull-up, and extending attacks plus made three treys. At one point he scored or assisted on seven of eight buckets. Matt had 21 points and five assists.
Comets/Hopkins big Joseph Hedstrom is on the verge of many scholarship offers I believe. The local schools will be first, the mid majors will think about it and some will go, and some high major will watch because Joe is 6-foot-10 and he’s agile. Hedstrom made all eight of his shots against Select making eight of eight looks including two dunks and a pair of face-up baskets using a shoulder turn in each way. His baby hook looks great and Hedstrom’s face-up touch is high percentage. Moves very well for his size.
Select had an 11 point lead and is likely kicking themselves for their second half effort. That said Cire Mayfield finished up a strong weekend with another quality performance. Scored 15 points, defended well keeping good guards in front, and I love his burst up the floor. Also, CJ Dickson had ten and six, Luke Martens grabbed seven boards playing as tough as anyone, and Nick Fulford had nine. Fulford is a bouncy, active, and skilled 6-foot-6 player who I think will see his stock soar.
Michael Jones (Woodbury shooting guard) had a tremendous first half scoring 17 points on five threes. His killer instinct catching and burying led to a Fury first half lead and lot of lurking eyes. Jones continues to be the type of shooter that I feel will be having to tell many schools thanks but no thanks as he locks on to a nice group offers. I feel strongly that will come soon and this was another example of why.
Spencer Rolland played one of the better games I’ve seen him playing physically getting position, catching, and completing. At one point he worked Thompson deep in the post, caught, gave a massive shoulder bump and scored. Produced two more late on his way to a 13 point game against D1 Minnesota.
Jones had a great first half but the defensive effort of Matthew Hurt in the second half limited his touches much less scores. In fact the only time Jones was able to score in half two was when Hurt got stuck on a guard. Matt’s length and battle to get over screens resulted in Jones having a quiet half two.
Anders Nelson and Both Gach were the offensive reasons D1 Minnesota overcame a double digit deficit to beat the Minnesota Fury. In mid game Both produced a corner three, an open floor score, and then an attacking one hand pull-up that gave D1 Minnesota the lead. He finished with 16 and it was Nelson that put the game away. His back to back scores of a three and an attack were part of the momentum swing and then he put the game away down the stretch as Fury didn’t have a guy that could keep him in front.
The championship game. It was won by D1 Minnesota 69-59 and it was somewhat of a replay of the semi-final. Key contributions with Race Thompson scoring two late baskets that were crucial, Calvin Wishart making a few plays off the bounce, and Zach Theisen hitting a pair of triples. The biggest contributions though were once again Matthew Hurt, Both Gach, and Anders Nelson (in terms of multiple big plays).
Matthew finished off possessions with two late monster two-hand jams and also had a putback along with a deep post finish. His 19 points and nine rebounds headlined. Both Gach scored a dozen including a late three and late foul shots while Anderson Nelson hit a pair of these and scored ten points.
For the Comets Joseph Hedstrom was outstanding in the deep post again. He finished all the dump-offs and leads from teammates plus scored with his back to the basket for his 15 points and seven boards. Matt Todd had 14 points on 11 shots and Kyler Kluge had 11. Everyone is always asking who is better among the guards and I still don’t think answers are clear. I think it’s a personal preference. Myself I believe that Todd, Wishart, Kluge, and Nelson are all very good.
In the Gold title game Fab 48 was able to defeat Minnesota Rise on a 30 point performance from Lu’Cye Patterson. The freshman guard had no problems crafting himself space against veteran southern Minnesota players to produce his giant point total.