Ten Best: Andale vs. Parsons
EMPORIA, Kan. — The Andale Indians got 15 points from 2018 Codi Urbanek and held off Parsons on Saturday to capture the third-place game in the Kansas 4A II tournament in Emporia.
Andale closes out the season 21-3, while a young Parsons team ends its season 17-8.
Here, Prep Hoops Kansas takes a look at some of the top performers from Saturday’s third-place action.
MVP: Codi Urbanek (Andale). A 6’2 2018 forward who can play inside and out, Codi Urbanek put together a strong performance in Saturday’s third-place game, going for 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Urbanek scored 19 points in Thursday’s first round game against Smokey Valley in a 73-54 win. Blessed with terrific athleticism, Urbanek can score in the paint, attacks the offensive glass and has a nice mid-range game with terrific athleticism.
Best Offensive Performer: Codi Urbanek (Andale). See above.
Best Defensive Performer: DaQuan Johnson (Parsons). A 6’0 2020 guard, Johnson came in off the bench and scored nine points (all in the fourth quarter) in just 12 minutes, including a key 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining that cut the Andale lead to three points. Johnson is a smooth guard with terrific athleticism and the ability to get to the basket. On Saturday, he also came up with three blocks and a steal and provided some much needed energy off the bench. This after he scored 21 points, hauled in eight rebounds and came up with five steals in 28 minutes on Thursday in a win over Anderson County.
Best Rebounder: Grant Fairchild (Andale). The easy choice here would have probably been Urbanek who led both teams with 11 boards, but we went with Fairchild, a 6’4 2018 forward, who chipped in nine boards, including three on the offensive end of the court, in just 20 minutes of game action.
Best Youngster: Dariq Williams (Parsons). A long, rangy and athletic 5’11 2020 guard, Parsons’ Dariq Williams scored seven points and added seven rebounds on Saturday. He brings solid ball handling, quickness and the ability to get to the basket to the court. He has the ability to play above the rim, and brings versatility to the floor. He probably didn’t have his best game on Saturday, going 3 for 15 from the field, but you can see the potential even when he’s not playing his best.
Best Passer: Parker Bruce (Andale). A 6’1 2018 guard, Bruce didn’t put up big offensive numbers, scoring five points in 30 minutes, but played a key rule in the backcourt, handling the ball, setting up the Andale offense and providing good leadership and a steady hand at the point. Bruce led both teams with a game-high six assists and also chipped in six rebounds in the contest.
Best off the Bench: Nicholas Carney (Andale). Until the final moments of the game, Carney was struggling to put the ball in the basket, missing his first five shots. However, it was Carney’s three-point play with 1:10 remaining that turned a 43-41 Andale lead into a 46-41 lead. A few moments later, Carney went to the line and sank a free throw that gave the Indiana back a four-point lead. A skilled 6’4 2018 forward, Carney went 8 for 9 at the free throw line and finished with 10 points and three rebounds in just 10 minutes.
Most Underrated: Joel Schibi (Parsons). A 5’11 2010 guard, Joel Schibi is a tough, aggressive guard who brings a scorer’s mentality to the court. He went for 11 points on 4 for 12 shooting before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Best Shooter: Baron Biermann (Andale). A 5’10 2020 guard, Biermann came off the bench to knock down two 3-pointers, going 2 for 3 from behind the 3-point arc and finished with six points in 17 minutes off the bench. He has a quick release and plays the game under control.