5A State Tournament: Consolation Bracket Top Performers
While all of the teams playing in the 5A state tournament consolation round certainly were hoping to not be playing on a Thursday morning, the action was spirited. The results may not have been close but there were several individual…
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Continue ReadingWhile all of the teams playing in the 5A state tournament consolation round certainly were hoping to not be playing on a Thursday morning, the action was spirited. The results may not have been close but there were several individual performances that caught our eye – especially one in particular.
In the first game, Thurston broke open the game in the second past and ran past La Salle, 68-50, and in the second game, Crater pretty much dominated from start to finish in a win over Pendleton, 78-62.
Here’s a quick look at the top performers in the two games played.
Nathan Bittle (2021 Crater HS) – Stats: 40 pts, 16 reb, 10 blk, 16-for-26 fg
Bittle’s performance was the best individual game we’ve seen so far this season. The 6-foot-11 sophomore was dominant on both ends of the floor, setting an all-classification state tournament record for blocks in a game and that didn’t include the many shot attempts he simply altered with his presence. Offensively, he knocked down open threes (4-for-11) and was money around the basket, shooting 12-for-15 for two. Bittle ran the floor, finished strong, and was simply unstoppable.
Kruger Edwards (2020 Crater HS) – Stats: 15 pts, 4 reb, 5-for-10 fg
Edwards certainly looks the part as he has a strong build and moves well for his size. After reportedly looking a bit timid in Crater’s first game at state the 6-foot-5 junior played with some confidence and showed some aggressiveness offensively. He stepped out for a three but also finished around the rim including one thunderous dunk on the break.
Jayden Vranes (2020 Crater HS) – Stats: 7 pts, 9 ast
Vranes didn’t put up huge scoring numbers, but he was very shifty with the ball in his hands and was extremely effective running the break for Crater. At 5-foot-10 and under 140 pounds, he’s definitely a smaller guard but he has decent quickness and most of all he has a non-stop motor as he never gives up on a play on either end. In one sequence, he lost control of the ball but as the opponent rushed to the basket, Vranes quickly caught up and stripped him clean of the basketball.
Tyler Newsom (2019 Pendleton HS) – Stats: 31 pts, 8 reb, 10-for-24 fg, 10-for-13 ft
Newsom ended his high school career with a tremendous offensive effort. The 6-foot-4 wing showed the ability to score at all three levels and was able to do so in some creative ways. With Bittle blocking everything near the basket, Newsom wasn’t afraid to drive and adjust his shot to go over the outstretched arms of the elite shot-blocker, and a number of those teardrop floaters went in. Newsom is looking to go the JC route and is currently looking at a number of NWAC programs.
Dakota Sams (2021 Pendleton HS) – Stats: 17 pts, 3 reb, 7-for-19 fg
Sams has the reputation as a shooter and he showed flashes of that against Crater. The 6-foot sophomore canned a few long range threes but also attacked the basket as well. Sams plays aggressively and with some swagger – late in the game he and a Crater player got into a bit of jawing which ended up costing him a technical foul.
Isaac Lange (2019 Thurston HS) – Stats: 27 pts, 5 reb, 11-for-16 fg
Lange typically plays the point for Thurston but focused more on his own offense against Thurston. The 6-foot-1 senior mostly attacked the basket where he was able to effecively use his athleticism to finish plays but also stepped out and knocked down 2-for-3 from three point range. Lange simply is an athlete and extremely hard to contain off the dribble and around the rim.
Mason Miller (2019 Thurston HS) – Stats: 11 pts, 9 reb, 5 blk
Miller made a huge impact in the first half with his defense as he protected the paint and blocked some shots. He started to score a little more in the second half (including one big dunk) and all game long he was tough on the boards. Miller scored his 1,000th career point in the game. According to Thurston head coach Blaine Liberatore, Miller will be attending Washington State as a regular student but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trying to walk-on to the basketball program.
Trey Bryant (2021 Thurston HS) – Stats: 16 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast
Bryant is one of Thurston’s stars of the future and this season the sophomore has played more of a defensive role. The 6-foot guard continued to do that for the Colts but also showed some flashes of offense, knocking down a couple of threes and 5-for-6 from the field overall.
Alex Boyd (2019 La Salle HS) – Stats: 12 pts, 5 reb
There weren’t many highlights for La Salle unfortunately as they really struggled to shoot from the field. But Boyd finished out his senior season leading the team in scoring. The 6-foot-3 forward who will be Kenyon College in Ohio next seaosn took it strong to the basket for some finishes and also knocked down a three.