Five Takeaways From Neenah’s win over Kimberly
Here are Prep Hoops Wisconsin’s five takeaways from Neenah’s 57-56 win over Kimberly… Neenah had the benefit of depth: Neenah’s vibe of confidence rose from their bench depth or Kimberly’s lack of it. Lee Rabas had seven players crack the…
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Continue ReadingHere are Prep Hoops Wisconsin’s five takeaways from Neenah’s 57-56 win over Kimberly…
Neenah had the benefit of depth:
Neenah’s vibe of confidence rose from their bench depth or Kimberly’s lack of it. Lee Rabas had seven players crack the box score last night, as Max Klesmit, Ethan Parker, and Jake Hablewitz each scored in double-digits while Sam Dietrich and Jake Dietz defended at an elite level. The Papermakers were an easy book to read on offense, as 79 percent of their scoring came from Levi Nienhaus-Borchert and Jake Buchanan. Hanging your hat on a sixth and seventh man to contribute is thin on the ground, and that helped Neenah pull the upset.
Kimberly needs Reed Miller on the offensive end:
The biggest variable from past Neenah and Kimberly matchups has been Reed Miller’s scoring. In their second regular-season meeting, Miller drained five threes en route to 27 points. Last night, zero threes, eight points, and a loss for Kimberly.
Levi Nienhaus-Borchert deserved the FVA Player of the Year:
While Neenah’s Max Klesmit, Kaukauna’s Donovan Ivory, and Oshkosh West’s Karter Thomas are unquestionably on the same talent tier, Nienhaus-Borchert hits all the checkboxes for the accolade. His dominance in the paint demanded a double team almost every game this season, and as we saw last night, that usually doesn’t stop him from finding a crease in the defense. And as far as his rebounding, Nienhaus-Borchert saved almost five possessions in the first half alone on offensive rebounds.
It’s also of note that Kimberly’s success in the regular season may have given Nienhaus-Borchert the edge over others in contention.
Kimberly couldn’t shoot, and that mucked up their offense:
Kimberly is a team that’s laden with shooters. Last night, wherever they were, they stood in the dark. The Papermakers connected on just one shot from beyond the arc, which came during Kimberly’s final gasping attempt to snatch the lead. Their struggles from beyond the arc, along with a pesky defense from the Rockets, suppressed Kimberly’s offense to only 56 points compared to their average of 73.
Neenah is primed for State:
After knocking off a blue blood while gelling as a team, it’s obvious that the Rockets are hitting their stride. They’ll play Hudson this Sunday (3 PM @ Wisconsin Rapids), who just beat Appleton West in their sectional matchup. While they’re no cupcake team, Neenah is on a different level on every aspect of the game and should advance to State.