Recap: WIAA State Tournament Day 2
MADISON — The 2018 WIAA State Tournament carried on from the Kohl Center on Friday. Day two featured the Division 1, 2, and 5 semifinals as the field is set for what should be an exciting championship Saturday…
Quincy Anderson – 2018 – G – Oshkosh North
Anderson was big time as Oshkosh North survived a scare from Sussex Hamilton. Iowa State commit Tyrese Haliburton was bottled up most of the night, but Anderson made Sussex Hamilton pay in the Division 1 semifinal.
Quincy Anderson (@Q___DOT) with a clutch block to protect the lead with 2.2 seconds left. @northhoops @IA_Barnstormers #wisbb pic.twitter.com/k6VEt5rSpF
— Prep Hoops Wisconsin (@PrepHoops_WI) March 17, 2018
The unsigned senior scored a game-high 26 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Anderson simply broke people down. When he saw a lane, Anderson didn’t hesitate, made his move, and got to the bucket. A skilled, athletic combo guard, Anderson has a great crossover sweeping from left to right that leaves defenders in the dust. He’s also a terrific spot up shooter and can do some things off the bounce from mid-range even with a hand in his face.
Still looking for a home next season, Anderson has a couple Division 2 offers with interest coming in from Division 1 programs.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. – 2021 – G/F – Sussex Hamilton
This is a can’t-miss prospect in the state of Wisconsin. Getting his first taste of the big stage, Baldwin did not disappoint.
The freshman led Hamilton with 22 points on Friday. He got some help from his teammates, but Baldwin hit some big shots to lead the Chargers back from the dead after they trailed by as many as 18 points. A smooth sharpshooter, Baldwin can get any shot he wants with his 6-foot-8 frame. What’s a bad shot for a lot of prospects usually turns out to be a decent look for this kid as defenders struggle to contest his jumpers. Baldwin also added six rebound and two assists in 31 minutes.
Baldwin has NBA-type game. Comfortable scoring from all over the floor and able to take advantage of just about any mismatch, Baldwin already has the makings of an elite talent nationally. The scary part is, he’s going to get a lot better, particularly physically as he’s got a ton of weight he can put on.
Hayden Baughman – 2018 – SF – McDonnell Central Catholic
Loved the way Baughman drives and dishes with the basketball. A smooth, 6-foot-5 forward, Baughman created a ton of offense for his teammates by putting the ball on the deck, drawing defenders, and whipping passes across the floor. Deerfield really tried to harass Baughman and did a good job of making him work for everything and forcing some rushed opportunities. Still, it didn’t affect the rest of Baughman’s game, even though he didn’t shoot the ball as well as he would have liked. The senior worked very hard away from the ball, running off screens and never being stagnant offensively. Baughman scored just nine points, well below his average, but contributed six assists, six rebounds, five steals, and four blocks.
Patrick Cartier – 2018 – PF – Brookfield East
This guy should probably be playing Division 1 basketball next season. Instead, it’s Division 2 Hillsdale who will reap the rewards.
Cartier did what he’s done all season…dominate. The 6-foot-8 senior led Brookfield East to an upset win over Sun Prairie Division 1 semifinals. In overtime with the game tied, Cartier put home a tough bucket around the rim as time expired. He finished with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and six blocks.
Patrick Cartier (@patrickcartier_) sends @BrookEastBball to the Division 1 state championship game. #wisbb pic.twitter.com/2jiHJ1M0vo
— Prep Hoops Wisconsin (@PrepHoops_WI) March 17, 2018
Cartier makes defenders very uncomfortable. He’s so skilled on the block and is comfortable with his secondary moves that he’ll just wait until his defender makes a mistake and take advantage. If you leave him alone 1-on-1, it’s almost automatic. If teams double, Cartier is surrounded by efficient 3-point shooters, who went 50.0 percent from downtown on Friday. An imposing, physical presence, Cartier protects the paint at a high level. We didn’t see it on Friday, but he can also handle the ball in transition and do some special things for his size.
Jordan Dinsmore – 2018 – PG – Milwaukee Washington
Dinsmore was Mr. Big Shot on Friday. Pouring in 14 of his 16 points after halftime, Dinsmore had a nice surge to put Washington in the lead and they never looked back. Dinsmore got hot, scoring eight points in roughly two minutes, including back-to-back triples. One of the most unsung players in the state, Dinsmore is the piece that holds it all together for a talented Washington squad. A floor general and extension of the coach, Dinsmore is always orchestrating the offense and getting his guys into the right spots.
Montana State has offered. Other Division 1 programs showing interest include Holy Cross, Sacramento State, and Bradley.
Michael Foster – 2021 – F/C – Milwaukee Washington
Foster had the crowd impressed as Washington got past La Crosse Central in the Division 2 semifinals. A physical specimen, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound freshman runs the floor like a deer, getting a couple of transition dunks. What makes Foster even more special is his jumper. For his size and age, Foster is ridiculously smooth from mid-range and beyond the arc and connected on some tough corner shots off the bounce. Foster finsished with 16 points and three blocks.
Deontay Long (@DeontayLong5) with the find. Michael Foster with the finish. Milwaukee Washington heads to the Division 2 state title game. pic.twitter.com/aky3ZvP6Vh
— Prep Hoops Wisconsin (@PrepHoops_WI) March 16, 2018
When schools take commits this early, you often wonder if they’ll regret it down the road. Foster is about as close to a sure thing as it gets this early and should be a heck of a get for Arizona State.
Drew Johnson – 2018 – G – Bangor
Bangor looked like a top seed on Friday. With four players averaging in double figures this season, it was Johnson who carried the load in the semifinal victory over Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran. A poised and skilled guard, Johnson has a soft touch from mid-range. He drove into high percentage areas and displayed some beautiful arc and touch on his shots. The Cardinals ran away with the game early as Johnson scored 15 first half points. Johnson would finish with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and four rebounds in a blowout victory.
Jordan McCabe – 2018 – PG – Kaukauna
Westosha Central defended the heck out of McCabe. But in the end, the West Virginia commit had too much. McCabe finished with 20 points and 11 assists as Kaukauna reached their second state title game in three seasons. Down the stretch, McCabe was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line to keep the Ghosts in the driver’s seat. McCabe was dynamic from all areas of the floor and his step back jumper was flat out deadly. With the Falcons trying to ride him off the arc, McCabe’s passing took over. The 5-foot-11 senior worked past contact into the paint and set his teammates up beautifully. McCabe didn’t shoot particularly well, but still managed to get his team a double-digit victory.
West Virginia commit Jordan McCabe (@JordanMcCabe5) with the icing on the cake. @Kaukaunabball into the Division 2 title game. #wisbb pic.twitter.com/cxffh7QZWl
— Prep Hoops Wisconsin (@PrepHoops_WI) March 16, 2018
Nate Siewert – 2018 – F – Deerfield
Siewert was a difficult matchup for McDonnell Central Catholic. The 6-foot-5 forward is a little bouncy and has a unique game for his size. Siewart lives in the high post/short corners and is comfortable shooting off-balance and/or fading away from the rim. However, when he does catch on the block, Siewart’s a kid that’s already done his work early. Siewart establishes great position and puts defenders right where he wants them to set up easy buckets. Deerfield struggled to score most of the game, but Siewart kept his team alive. Siewart had an admirable effort, posting 20 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
Terrance Thompson – 2020 – PF – La Crosse Central
This was a big test for Thompson against Foster and that Washington front line. Despite the loss, Thompson played well and showed some big flashes. He’s been working on his jumper and knocked down two 17-footers on Friday. In what was a physical affair, Thompson held his own on the glass and protected the rim at a high level. A nice blend of size, strength, and athleticism, Thompson still has plenty of ceiling left to reach. He’ll showcase more of his game in the spring when he gets into more of an uptempo setting, but Friday’s performance was a nice step in the right direction. Thompson finished with a team-high 13 points and eight boards.
Jaeden Zackery – 2019 – SF – Westosha Central
We keep saying this kid is one of the best kept secrets in the state of Wisconsin. Friday’s Division 2 semifinal against Kaukauna was a chance to prove it. Zackery stepped up, scoring a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds on the big stage.
Zackery has a terrific pull-up jumper going to his right. The junior wing set up his ball screens very well with a hard dribble left before he came back to his strong hand and just took what the defense gave him, rising and firing from around 15 feet and hitting consistently. Zackery has a nice looking frame and can slash from the wing. When he gets to the rim, he’ll absorb contact, hang, and finish. Also a standout defender, Zackery had four steals and made McCabe work for everything he got.