Midwest Live!: Saturday Game Recaps
17U (8:00): Iowa Pump ‘N Run 60 vs Wisconsin Playmakers – Clark 54
What a gritty comeback win for this Iowa squad, which was led by Logan Hoffman who paced a balanced scoring attack with 13 points. For much of the game Iowa trailed the skilled Wisconsin squad, but a late push — including a cold-blooded Jocoh Kerschen 3-ball to put them up one in the final two minutes — propelled them to the narrow win. Fort Madison point guard Caleb Cresswell was the most dazzling player for Iowa, using skill and savvy to be the best playmaker on the floor. A very impressive win over a good Wisconsin team for this Pump ‘N Run group.
17U (9:05): Team KoCiago (MO) 86 vs Iowa Cornsharks Select 83
This was a thriller with some nice pace to it. When I walked into the gym, the ‘Sharks trailed by 10, but within no time, Roosvevelt big-man Shamaree Tomkins had himself a flurry of buckets at the rim, and by half the ‘Sharks had trimmed its double-digit deficit to just one. In the second half a barrage of 3s — seven of them in total — helped to give the ‘Sharks a lead, and they pushed it to nine at one point. But some late full-court pressure from the Missouri-based program was troublesome, and in the end too much for Iowa. Tomkins was impressive, and at just 6-foot has an unbelievable ability to finish in the paint, he led the ‘Sharks with 21. Erik Milewsky, Urbandale’s scrappy and athletic point guard netted 16.
17U (10:10): 43 Hoops (MN) 63 vs Team Iowa 49
This Minnesota outfit is one of the most athletic teams in the tournament, and Team Iowa played toe-to-toe with them, particularly Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Derrick Diggins. The 6-foot-2 guard has been sensational this weekend, and although he was T’d up early in the game, that chip on his shoulder aided him throughout. Hunter Strait was challenged more than usual by the aggressive and athletic opponent, but like Diggins was able to go toe-to-toe with what are surely some D1 prospects on 43 Hoops. Team Iowa falls to the consolation where they’ll face Kingdom Hoops Elite in the loser’s bracket. Strait and Diggins each finished with 21 points.
16U (1:25): MOKAN Select 57 vs Beyond Ball 41
Gatdoar Bijiek is going to can a lot of 3s for Des Moines over the next two seasons, and he nailed four of them today, but his squad simply ran into a better MOKAN team in this one. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard finished with a team-high 16 points, and electric Polar Bears teammate Lino Malual added 10 in the Sweet 16 loss. MOKAN was led by dazzling 6-foot-2 point guard Clifford Talton, who’s handle and shooting was sharp all afternoon. The Missouri-based program advances to play in the Elite 8 against the winner of Minnesota Fury and Thunder Elite Platinum (NE).
16U Elite 8 (2:30): All Iowa Attack Red vs KC Spurs
Jappanah Kellogg came up with some timely rebounds and Jace Davidson was very good late to help Attack Red advance to the Final 4 of the 16U White Bracket. It was Thomas Faber who was sizzling early, netting eight points before the Spurs could even get five; he finished with a team-high 15 points. Collin Lister might be the most improved player in Iowa’s 2019 class over the last 12 months; he netted 12 points. This Attack squad has enjoyed a very successful start to their spring, and regardless of what happens tomorrow against the winner of MOKAN Select and Thunder Elite Platinum, this has been another successful tourney for the squad.