Five Key Questions as We Head Into Friday’s Action
Madison, WI- After some appetizers last night, the real deal is finally here. Here are five key questions as we head into the first full day of action at the Kohl Center… Which Guards Will Step Up For Sun Prairie And West…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMadison, WI- After some appetizers last night, the real deal is finally here. Here are five key questions as we head into the first full day of action at the Kohl Center…
Which Guards Will Step Up For Sun Prairie And West Allis Central?
Both Sun Prarie and West Allis Central have reached this point due to their terrific frontcourt play. The two leading scorers for both teams are frontcourt players. Because both teams have great frontcourt tandems, the importance of guard play will be amplified.
Sun Prarie’s Colin Schaefer and West Allis Central’s Glenn Martin will need to play well if their squad is to move onto the next round and play for a championship. Schaefer is coming back from a recent injury and is averaging 12.7 points per game since his return. Martin is averaging 12.9 points in his senior season.
In a game where both teams share many similarities, the play of Schaefer and Martin could be the biggest variable in determining who will survive and advance.
How Will Elkhorn Attempt To Slow Down Nicolet?
We have seen many teams attempt to slow down Nicolet this season. Most of those attempts, however, have not been successful. This Nicolet team has no weakness, and if it does, it is concealed by the pure talent and athleticism of players like Jalen Johnson and Jamari Sibley.
Advancing to the state championship will certainly be an uphill battle for Elkhorn, but it will not be impossible. In Nicolet’s last game against Kaukauna, the Knights looked beatable. The Ghosts were able to hang around for most of the game as they only lost by 13 points.
Despite Nicolet’s sloppiness in the sectional final, Elkhorn will need Nicolet to shoot themselves in the foot if the Elks are to pull off the incredible upset. If Nicolet takes care of the ball, shoots well from three-point range, engineers some stops on defense, and does not take Elkhorn lightly, the Knights will advance to the championship game. If they don’t, they will leave the door open for an upset.
Elkhorn will need to play their best game of the season if they are to become the next giant-killer and take down Nicolet.
Is Brookfield Central The Favorite To Take Home The D-1 Gold Ball?
After multiple surprising upsets in the Division One bracket, Brookfield Central was awarded the one seed. Does this mean that the Lancers are the favorite to take home the Gold Ball?
Brookfield Central may be the most complete team left in the D-1 field. The backcourt duo of Cole Nau and Ben Nau have already proved to be difficult to stop in crunch time. The brothers always seem to make the right play when the game depends on it. The impressive backcourt duo is not the only thing that makes the Lancers special. The frontcourt talent is just as good, if not better. David Joplin is leading his team in scoring and rebounding with 16.9 points per game and 8.8 rebounds. Malik Abdul-Wahid has also provided his team with good play in his junior season. Abdul-Wahid is scoring seven points per game and snatching five boards per contest.
But if Central is to take home the Gold Ball, they will need they get past a pesky Neenah team on Friday night.
Is La Crosse Central Being Overlooked?
Despite making their fourth consecutive trip to state and only losing two games this season, La Crosse Central got the three seed. Due to the star power of Milwaukee Washington and Nicolet, the Red Raiders have been an afterthought in terms of D-2 championship contenders.
La Crosse Central does not have the five and four-star talent that Nicolet and Milwaukee Washington have, but the Red Raiders still have more than enough talent to bring home the championship trophy. The trio of Johhny Davis, Jordan Davis, and Noah Parcher are all scoring above ten points per game.
For most teams, being unable to match up with the athleticism of Nicolet and Milwaukee Washington would be the first sign of a blowout loss. But, unlike many other squads, La Crosse Central should be able to weather the storm. Johnny Davis and Jordan Davis are both 6’4″ and they both have plenty of athletic abilities. Then, the anchor for the Red Raiders is Terrance Thompson. The 6’7″ junior forward is very strong and versatile. Thompson should have no problem matching up with the athletes from Milwaukee Washington or Nicolet.
Despite not getting the hype of Milwaukee Washington or Nicolet, La Crosse Central is just as good as any other team remaining in D-2.
Which Underrated Prospects Will Shine?
One of the best things about playing games on such a big stage is that it provides exposure for prospects who otherwise would not get an opportunity to showcase their skills. Here is a list of underrated players who will have a chance to impress on Friday.
Jacob Ognacevic
Jacob Ognacevic is one of the best prospects in the 2020 class, but because he plays in D-5, he does not get the recognition that he deserves. Ognacevic is scoring 30.5 points per game, which is good for third best in the state. Jacob’s team, Sheboygan Lutheran, will take on McDonell Central on Friday at 9:05 AM.
Ben Nau
Ben Nau, the younger brother of Brookfield Central’s Cole Nau, is primed for a big performance. The sophomore guard is coming off an 11 point performance that came in an upset win over Sussex Hamilton. It is probable that Neenah will key in on David Joplin and Cole Nau, but Ben Nau has proven to be just as dangerous. If Nau is able to get hot from deep, watch out.
Tre White
It is hard to call Tre White “underrated.” After all, the 2022 guard has been regarded as one of the best players in his class.
But because he transferred to Milwaukee Washington midseason, he is a relatively new name in the Wisconsin high school basketball community. I expect White to introduce himself this weekend. Since he joined Washington, White has been great. While he may not be underrated, Tre White will turn plenty of heads this weekend.