2020 NIAA 4A Northern Nevada Playoff Preview: Reno vs Galena
The playoffs in Nevada are off to full gear and Wednesday February, 19 2020 the Reno Huskies (16-9) will square off against the Galena Grizzles (17-6). As far as match ups are concerned both teams are stunningly equal. In fact…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe playoffs in Nevada are off to full gear and Wednesday February, 19 2020 the Reno Huskies (16-9) will square off against the Galena Grizzles (17-6). As far as match ups are concerned both teams are stunningly equal. In fact the last time these teams squared off this season Galena pulled off a one point victory 53-52. The rematch could turn out to be just as compelling especially with so much at stake. So who are both of these teams and what are their keys to victory?
Galena Grizzles
Galena is led by second year head coach Karen Friel, Friel is one of two female boys coaches in the North. She leads a very junior heavy team that has a (17-6 ) and 7-3 league record. This team is led by its suffocating man to man defense they average 10 steals per game. They are also a solid rebounding team averaging about 28 rebounds per game on the year. What makes this team special is they built a solid foundation and they have all played with each other as young sophomores. A season ago they were looked at as one of the younger teams in all the state. They took their lumps early to now make some noise in this year’s playoffs.
Jack Cherry 6’4 G Galena 2021- Cherry who is featured in the picture is a young guard with solid size and he is an excellent knock down shooter the first time Galena played Reno he led the game in scoring with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He is this team’s ultimate tone setter. He has 4 double- doubles on the year if Galena wants to win it will be behind the leadership of Jack Cherry. Cherry is averaging 6 rebounds on the year so as soon as the ball touches his hand he is ready to make something happen with it. With his size he is able to see the court well and rise up over defenders when he needs to. He’s second on the team in steals.
Isiah Duve 6’1 G Galena 2021- Duve is one of the better two-way player’s in Northern Nevada. He leads Galena in steals averaging 2.2 steals per game. He is a kid with long arms and plays the passing lanes rather well. He’s a tone setter. He’s the player that you put against the other team’s best player and that match up will be fun because Duve will give you hell for 60 mins. He has multiple 5 steal games this season. He can score as well as he is the second leading scorer on the team. Duve and Cherry make for a solid overall back court. Last time he played Reno he had 11 points and led the team in three-pointers. He was also able to accumulate two steals and being the reason for a lot of individual turnovers for Reno.
Issac Woods 6’3 G Galena 2021- Woods is a lineage player for Galena. As a few of his brothers played for Galena. Woods offers solid height on the wing for Galena. He is another that can go off anytime for a big night. He has shown that he is capable of making open three-point shots when left open and he is another strong defensive player. He didn’t have his best shooting performance the last time they played Reno. Since that game he has ended the regular season scoring in double-digits 4/6 games. He is coming in with a moderately hot hand.
Reno Huskies
Led by Head Coach Matt Ochs. Reno is coming into the game with a (16-9) and 5-3 league record. Reno is a very athletic team having only two guys who play just basketball. Three of the multi-sport athletes are the Reno team captains. Skylar Hales, senior, who is a baseball player and will sign with Santa Clara for that sport. Drue Worthen, senior, who was one of the top football players in the North last season, and Trey Wilmot, who plays baseball. This team is well conditioned and built for a strong playoff run. Like Galena they average 28 rebounds as a team and are strong on the defensive end averaging 12 steals per game. Also like Galena they are a very junior heavy team.
Skylar Hales 6’4 F Reno 2020- The team is led by the senior forward. Hales is one of the better baseball players in all the state. He pitches shut outs and can do that in basketball too.He is the team’s leading scorer. He does a lot of effective work from mid range and inside the paint. He is a solid rebounder and he sets the tone for the team on the defensive end with strong steals and block shots. In the first game against Galena he was able to get into the paint he had 12 points and 8 rebounds. Hales is this teams muscle and attitude.
Trey Wilmot 5″11 G Reno 2021- Wilmot another baseball player. Has also shown for the most part that he is one of the better PG’s in the North. Wilmot is matched up a lot against some of the better guards in the North and he holds his own every time. Last time against Galena he led the team in scoring with 19. He is one of Reno’s better on ball defenders. If Reno needs a big three Wilmot would be the one most likely to hit it as he is shooting 32% from beyond the arc. He is a solid knock down shooter. When Wilmot gets into his rhythm watch out!
Grayson Grinsell 6’1 G Reno 2022- Grinsell is one of the better sophomore players in the North. His game is starting to come into its own he ended the season as well as any person could scoring 17 points and adding 5 steals in a win vs McQueen. Every game at the varsity level he is growing more and more comfortable. He is a solid on ball defender that can hit open shots. He’s the baby of the team but has been pretty consistent. He does whatever is asked of him and he has led the team in effort and strong defensive performances.