Previewing the Top Player Matchups in State Semifinals
After an extremely entertaining regionals and sectionals, we have just four teams who remain in each division. With the state semifinals quickly approaching, let’s preview some of the most alluring player matchups. Terrance Thompson (La Crosse Central) Vs. Michael Foster Jr. (Milwaukee…
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Continue ReadingAfter an extremely entertaining regionals and sectionals, we have just four teams who remain in each division. With the state semifinals quickly approaching, let’s preview some of the most alluring player matchups.
Terrance Thompson (La Crosse Central) Vs. Michael Foster Jr. (Milwaukee Washington)
If La Crosse Central wants to advance to the D-2 finals, Terrance Thompson will need to find a way neutralize Michael Foster Jr. Foster and Thompson faced off in last year’s D-2 semifinal. The result was a Milwaukee Washington win, but Thompson scored 13 points and missed just one shot. Foster Jr., on the other hand, scored 16 points and shot 61 percent from the field. Expect this matchup between the two forwards to go a long way in determining which team is able to walk away with the win.
Brock Voigt and Delaware Hale (Sun Prairie) Vs. Jacob Fierst and Shilo Bowles (West Allis Central)
The two leading scorers for both Sun Prairie and West Allis Central are both frontcourt players. Sun Prairie’s duo of Brock Voigt and Delaware Hale are scoring 28.1 points per game. The Cardinal’s opponents on Friday night are putting up just as impressive of numbers. The tandem of Jacob Fierst and Shilo Bowles are pouring in 36.3 points per contest for their squad. The duo that gets the advantage in this matchup will give their team an edge when it comes to advancing to the finals on Saturday.
Marcus Domask (Waupun) Vs. Zane Short (Denmark)
Marcus Domask has been almost unstoppable in his senior season. The NKU commit is averaging an efficient 26.8 points per game and has led his team to the state semifinals. Denmark’s Zane Short will be the player who draws the short end of the stick as he will likely be forced to guard the Mr. Basketball frontrunner. Stopping Domask will be no easy task for the senior forward.
Short, like Domask, has proved himself as a scorer in his senior season. He is scoring 20 points per contest in his final season of high school basketball. Short will need to play well on offense and defense in order for his team to have a shot at advancing.
Zane Short vs. Marcus Domask may not be the marquee matchup at the Kohl Center this week, but it is certainly one of the most important player vs. player matchups.
Max Klesmit (Neenah) Vs. Cole Nau (Brookfield Central)
In these playoffs, Neenah has been riding the hot hand of Max Klesmit. The junior standout is averaging 29 points in his four playoff games. Klesmit has had a preposterous season, but he will have his hands full on Friday. Brookfield Central’s Cole Nau will likely be guarding Klesmit on Friday night. Nau has been regarded as one of the best on-ball defenders in the state.
As Max Klesmit goes, so does Neenah. If Cole Nau is able to slow down Klesmit, it could be a long night for the Rockets.