Tuesday Night Preview & Predictions
Tuesday night is typically the most full schedule wise and this evening there are 146 games games being played around the state. Here are ten to keep an eye on along with a short preview and prediction. Melrose at…
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Continue ReadingTuesday night is typically the most full schedule wise and this evening there are 146 games games being played around the state. Here are ten to keep an eye on along with a short preview and prediction.
Melrose at St. Cloud Cathedral (Game of the Night). It almost feels too early for this. Like, we aren’t ready yet. These are two top ten teams in the state that haven’t played yet. Teams that have been squaring off to go to state as well as be top ranked Class AA squads for several years now. Top players in state graduate but these teams keeping building talent to play more memorable games. We pick Cathedral by a score. Nick Schaefer and Jackson Jangula leading Cathedral against Preston Keaveny and Reegan Nelson will headline. Let’s Go!
Eastview at Chaska (2). There are big expectations at Eastview this year because of a talented junior class and so far so good. They ran all around Park 90-66 led by Steven Crowl’s 28 points scored in front of the college coaches that were in town for the US Bank Classic as well as the event at CDH. Chaska doesn’t have the same type of size to slow Crowl but they have tough players and can match Eastview in the backcourt. Northern Colorado bound Cole Nicholson and scholarship talent Zach Lea might be the tougher group to slow. Chaska backcourt vs the Eastview size. It will be a fun match-up, Hawks by four.
Wayzata at Buffalo (3). This is the classic tale of the established group (Jacob Beeninga, Luke Paulson, Connor Hale) taking on the up and comers (the Buffalo juniors). The Trojans aren’t all veterans, Kody Williams and Camden Heide are talented young players that also play a key role. The spot by spot battles of Matthew Willert vs Luke Paulson, Kody Williams vs Tony Dahl, Camden Heide vs Aidan Bouman, Brandon Maatz vs Jacob Beeninga should make this fun. Wayzata pulls away late by nine but a good, fun game.
St. Cloud Apollo at DeLaSalle (4). This game is very, very interesting. Apollo has a strong group of juniors that will open their 18-19 season in a super strong way, the preseason #1 team in the state who just beat the big school second ranked team (EP). Apollo will actually be longer up front so if 6-foot-8 Deng Diew and Nasrudin Mohamed are in position they have the size to put a hand up on Jamison Battle. Guard wise Mike Gravelle is very good but the Islanders not only have the best senior guard in state Tyrell Terry but a host of others. DeLaSalle wins it but Apollo comes off the tip flying around.
Princeton at Delano (5). The defending state champ versus the preseason second ranked team in state that crushed Sauk Rapids-Rice last week. Jon Stimmler dominated up front with 20 while it was a nice debut for transfer Reilly O’Neil scoring 16. Delano will be a stiffer test on the night they raise a banner (assuming some parent doesn’t complain about that as well in that town). They lost some key players but Derek Techam and Trey Longstreet won’t let things slip very far. Princeton by seven.
Mahtomedi at Columbia Heights (6). Big challenge for Mahtomedi facing the team that beat them twice last year (eight each time) keeping the Zephyrs from the playoffs. This will be game one for the Zephyrs where as the Hylanders have a game under their belt (lost to Roosevelt by one). Jordan Jones, Jarvis Wright, and freshman Muja Burton had double figures in game one of CH. We think Mahtomedi takes a big step tonight with a seven point win.
Jordan at Maranatha Christian (7). These are teams from Class AA both right on the outside of the top ten (Jordan was 12, Maranatha 15 in the Class AA Power Rankings we did). The Hubmen are led by Ryan Samuelson while MCA is led by Montana-Billings signed Clarence Daniels. MCA has more coming back to their team and is at home. Close game that will come down to execution and who makes the right chess moves. With MCA having a more veteran team they get the one score win.
New Prague at Lakeville South (8). Cougar sophomore Reid Patterson has blown out the gates scoring 44 points helping the Cougars to a pair of wins already. South hosts New Prague this evening and because they’ve got two games under their belt they have a serious advantage. Riley Mahlman and his future national ranked football physique will do battle with Nathan Brusseau and likely Hunter Nielson some. Tyler Kemp is the ex-factor. South has the experience of two games where as New Prague has a strong senior class. This is an interesting game and I give the edge to South because they’ve played twice already and they are at home. Cougars win by one.
Redwood Valley at BOLD (9). Redwood didn’t have Cole Woodford versus Minnewaska Area last week losing by three scores. If Cole is back they have a shot at BOLD but it will be tough. BOLD crushed YME to start the year but Redwood Valley will be a tougher opponent with or without Cole. BOLD wins either way but it’s tough to say on the score without knowing about Cole’s status. Cole would put that BOLD backcourt to the test like he put Howard Pulley to the test this summer. That said, not sure how anybody is going to limit Carter Henry who is the great small school advantage.
Breck at Cristo Rey (10). The swarm of Pumas guards against the frontcourt court numbers of Breck. Who wins? Love this game. James Sommer and Erick Burgess lead the dynamite younger backcourt of the Pumas that will challenge an inexperience Breck group of guards. That said, Colorado State signed David Roddy and fellow forward Joey Ganley are a monster pair that will control the middle. Fun game, I lean towards David Roddy dominance leading Breck to a four point win.