Midwest Live!: Friday Game Recaps
17U (6:00): Kingdom Hoops Elite 64 vs Missouri Combat 29
This Kingdom Hoops squad is stacked, and what makes them especially tough is the inside lengthy and bouncy duo of James Betz and Blake Brinkmeyer. Some grassroots teams struggle to get one legit big guy on their roster, Kingdom Hoops has two. And though they combined to score a pedestrian 16 points, it was the swats and offensive rebounds that were most impressive for the duo. Camden Vander Zwaag led Kingdom with 14 points, and Austin Alexander added 12 — those two combined for eight 3s. This team will be a very tough out this weekend.
17U (7:05): Iowa Mavericks Purple 76 vs SSA Elite (KS) 74
In an overtime thriller, it was West Delaware’s 6’5 wing Tyler Kelley who put in the game-winning bucket for a shorthanded, but very talented Mavs squad. This Kansas-based squad had some very nice players and were red-hot from deep, particularly in the first half. But despite a big early deficit, Griffin Clark and Co. were able to scrape and claw their was to the gritty win. Clark continues to dazzle, and has had one of the finer springs of anyone in Iowa. Peter Timmerman and Kyler Bell led the charge in the second half. This could be a team that makes a deep run on Championship Sunday.
17U (8:10): MOKAN Elite EYBL (16U) 72 vs WOTN-Ewing 41
We stopped into this game for one reason: and that was to check out Des Moines North point guard, Tyreke Locure. He’s spending his summer with nationally renowned MOKAN Elite, and it was clear tonight that he’s one of the team’s best players. It’s a team mostly made up of Kansas City area guys, but Locure fits in well. He’s more of a jump-shooter on this team than he is with North, and he shot it well today, knocking in three 3s en route to 13 points. Even while playing with guys more close his to his preternatural level, it’s clear he’s a cut above the rest. Big things could be coming up soon for the sophomore playmaker.
17U (9:15):Team Iowa 53 vs Indy Heat 43
What a talented group this Team Iowa squad is. With Hunter Strait and Derrick Diggins making up one of the more formidable duos in the state, this team will be tough to beat. If Grant Arnold plays every game the way he did tonight, a deep run could be in store for this squad. It was the Diggins show in the first half, he was doing a little bit of everything while showcasing his blazing speed and high-level athleticism. Strait took over in the second half en route to a game-high 17 points, and Arnold was solid throughout.