5 Takeaways from Bellevue West’s 74-56 Win over Lincoln Pius X
In a back and forth contest that featured 17 lead changes and seven ties through 3 quarters, the final twelve minutes of this one proved to be the difference-maker. In a matchup of two top 5 teams in Class A…
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Continue ReadingIn a back and forth contest that featured 17 lead changes and seven ties through 3 quarters, the final twelve minutes of this one proved to be the difference-maker. In a matchup of two top 5 teams in Class A boys basketball as Bellevue West used a late 3rd quarter run capped off by a Frankie Fidler 3 pointer at the buzzer, and a 4th quarter that saw them outscore the host Lincoln Pius X 21-7 to prevail victorious by a final score of 74-56. Coming into this matchup, as noted in my preview piece for this game, I expected Bellevue West’s forward play to be an advantage for them, and that prooved to be the case with the Thunderbirds winning the rebound battle 33-22. They started the game with two early post feeds to senior forward and Black Hills State Commit John Shanklin, who finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds while also doing a great job on the defensive end, making it a tough task for Pius’ guards to get to the rim tallying 3 blocks in the process. Bellevue West’s other two starting forwards 6’5 brothers Louis and Frankie Fidler had their best game of the season collectively, but we’ll get to talking about them later. The result of this clash is the first loss of the season for Lincoln Pius X, whose record is now 11-1, while the road victory improves Bellevue West’s record to 8-2. Here are 5 takeaways I came to following watching this game in person.
When Bellevue West is at Full Strength They Are Tough to Beat
Casual basketball observers in Nebraska most likely immediately think of 2021 Wisconsin commit Chucky Hepburn when they think of Bellevue West basketball. However, there is much more to the T-Birds than just one guy. Bellevue West got contributions tonight from up and down their lineup. On Thursday Bellevue West showed what can happen when they flex their muscle at full strength, and a lot of it is pure efficiency. The Thunderbirds finished shooting 60% from 3 point range. Chucky Hepburn, who is still somewhat getting back into the swing of things after missing 4 games earlier in the season, embraced more of a facilitator role for the bulk of the first three quarters and finished the night with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Chucky’s brother, 2020 guard Trey Hepburn played stout defense on Pius’s guards all night. Even 2023 guard Josiah Dotzler who I thought could play a roll tonight, did just that, playing savvy defense, and hitting two three-pointers coming off the bench for Bellevue West. There were two forwards however who were the stars of the game.
People Were Waiting for The Fidler Brothers’ Coming Out Party, and this May Have Been It.
Between the Hepburns, the Fiddlers, and Hoibergs there was plenty of brotherly love in the gym at Lincoln Pius on Thursday night. One pair of brothers stood out above the rest however and that was 2020 senior forward Louis Fiddler and his younger brother 2021 forward Frankie Fiddler. Frankie had a big summer playing for Team Factory Gold and even picked up his first division one offer from Omaha back in September. Older brother Louis holds an offer from NAIA Morningside College. Louis started Thursday night’s contest off hot, and stayed hot, while also showcasing an ability to score at all three levels. Louis finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-11 shooting, which included 2-2 from behind the three-point line. Frankie came on stronger as the game went on, caught fire in the 3rd
2020 Bellevue West Forward Louis Fiddlerquarter. The younger Fiddler was just as efficient as his brother, finishing with 19 points on 8-10 shooting, which included going 2-2 from three-point land. Combining for 42 points, on a combined 80% from the floor and 71% from 3 isn’t too shabby for this brotherly pair. After a somewhat slow start to their 19-20 high school campaigns, the Fiddler brothers reminded the state tonight just what they can do, as well as why they are both two intriguing prospects well worth keeping tabs on.
Kolbe Rada Remains One of the Top Uncommitted 2020 Prospects in Nebraska
I came into this game expecting 2020 Lincoln Pius X Guard Kolbe Rada to have himself a game, and boy did he not disappoint. Rada, who holds a handful of various D2 and NAIA offers, put his athleticism on full display whether it was diving on the floor for loose balls or showing his ability to finish through contact at the rim. Rada almost single-handedly was going toe to toe with Bellevue West, but when fatigue began to set in late, the visiting Thunderbirds were able to take advantage and pull away for good. There will be some games this year where Rada may single-handedly will the Thunderbolts to victories, but he has also showcased at times this year that he can successfully facilitate for his teammates as well. Rada has great athleticism and length for his size and is very solid on both ends of the floor.
Pius X Still Looking For Consistency From Supporting Cast
Last week I noted that Pius’ greatest strength is how fundamentally sound they are and how they usually make very few mistakes. Tonight was a somewhat different story. They didn’t necessarily shoot it bad, they finished the game with fewer turnovers than their opponents, they just couldn’t find another spark outside of Kolbe Rada. 2021 guard Sam Hoiberg is Pius’ second-leading scorer on the season, but he was somewhat held in check defensively. Same goes for his twin brother Charlie Hoiberg who came into the game, hit two three-pointers, and was a non-factor the rest of the night. The Hoibergs have shown so far this year that they are capable as leaders and scorers, but they and the rest of the Thunderbolts are still searching for some consistency on the offensive end like they’ve shown in small doses up to this point in the season.
I Would Love to See This Matchup Again in the State Tournament
High school basketball is alive and well in the state of Nebraska and that statement isn’t just limited to the talent on the court. The atmosphere alone made this game something I want to see again. There was an excellent crowd at Pius including a large contingent of visiting fans who made the drive down I-80. The Pius student section showed up, and both teams played with raw emotion that was evident from the opening tip. Both of these teams remain near the top of the heap in Class A, and as I mentioned in my preview piece the matchup of Kolbe Rada and Chucky Hepburn made it worth the price of admission alone. And that was before the almost twenty lead changes. I’ll gladly take a rematch in the State Tournament. Please and thank you.