The Class AAAA Simulation Series: Sweet 16
It’s another day and another round of the MN Simulation Series in Class AAAA. 16 teams remain and we run through all eight matchups today! For Round 1 results and stats, click here and here. Game 1: Lakeville North 103,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s another day and another round of the MN Simulation Series in Class AAAA. 16 teams remain and we run through all eight matchups today!
For Round 1 results and stats, click here and here.
Game 1: Lakeville North 103, Champlin Park 77
John Oxton throws some extra playoff magic dust on this one and the Panthers are led by Carter Patterson Carter Patterson 6'1" | SG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN again (29 points in round 1) who scores an impressive 36 against a stout Rebel defense. Noah Frechette Noah Frechette 6'4" | PF Lakeville North | 2020 State MN scored 22, Cooper Laufenburger Cooper Laufenburger 6'5" | SF Lakeville North | 2021 State MN added 17 with strong D and Josh Kamara Josh Kamara 6'0" | PG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN added 16.
The backcourt pair of TJ Moberg TJ Moberg 5'10" | PG Champlin Park | 2020 State MN and Josh Strong scored 20 apiece to lead CP, and Francis Nwaokorie was productive inside once more with 16 points.
Game 2: Park Center 85, Prior Lake 71
The Pirates rolled again thanks to Dain Dainja Dain Dainja 6'9" | C Park Center | 2020 State #48 Nation MN putting up his second straight 32-point performance outplaying the strong Prior Lake frontcourt. David Ijadimbola David Ijadimbola 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2020 State MN controlled the pace on the perimeter with 20 points and Josh Brown Josh Brown 6'3" | SG Park Center | 2020 State MN knocked out some triples for 17.
All five players were in double figures for the Lakers, led by Dawson Garcia Dawson Garcia 6'11" | PF Prior Lake | 2020 State #26 Nation MN with 22. Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones 6'9" | C Prior Lake | 2022 State MN worked the glass for 16 and Tyree Ihenacho Tyree Ihenacho 6'5" | SG Prior Lake | 2020 State MN used that quick first step to beat defenders for 13.
Game 3: Chaska 76, Moorhead 71
A great back-and-forth affair with individual matchups we’d love to see in real life, the Hawks of Chaska held on against Moorhead thanks to a pair of 20-point games from Zach Lea Zach Lea 6'4" | SG Chaska | 2020 State MN and Mahad Faisal Mahad Faisal 6'6" | PF Chaska | 2020 State MN . Luke Strazzanti Luke Strazzanti 6'4" | SG Chaska | 2021 State MN hit some big shots down the stretch for his 18 as well.
Moorhead in defeat was led by Drew Hagen Drew Hagen 6'6" | SF Moorhead | 2020 State MN with 24 points. Blake Walthall Blake Walthall 6'0" | PG Moorhead | 2021 State MN added 19 and Donnavin Hinsz Donnavin Hinsz 6'6" | PF Columbia Heights | 2022 State MN muscled inside for 14.
Game 4: Cambridge-Isanti 84, Edina 82
The big guns came out for C-I as Henry Abraham Henry Abraham 5'11" | PG Cambridge | 2020 State MN dropped 29 points for the Bluejackets in a close win. Ryan Cox stepped up for a big 19 points and Connor Braaten Connor Braaten 6'5" | PF Cambridge-Isanti | 2021 State MN worked for 18 against a big Edina frontcourt.
Jacob Hutson Jacob Hutson 6'10" | C Edina | 2020 State #310 Nation MN poured in an efficient 24, Brady Helgren Brady Helgren 6'8" | C Edina | 2022 State MN made strides inside and out for 20 and 2022 guard Sammy Presthus orchestrated offense while scoring 15.
Game 5: Tartan 81, Maple Grove 71
Tartan’s five-headed attack (no player contributed less than 14 points) was too much in the end for Maple Grove to handle. Joseph Kearney Joseph Kearney 6'3" | SG Tartan | 2020 State MN was key down the stretch with 19 and Curtis Favors Curtis Favors 6'3" | SG Tartan | 2021 State MN scored 18 in the frontcourt. Langston Binns Langston Binns 6'2" | SF Tartan | 2020 State MN hit tough jumpers for 16.
RaShaun Parker RaShaun Parker 6'2" | SG Maple Grove | 2020 State MN and Jon Haakenson Jon Haakenson 6'2" | SG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN made smart offensive plays off the ball to each get 18 points while Sean Bergstrom Sean Bergstrom 6'5" | PF Maple Grove | 2020 State MN and Lovell Williams Lovell Williams 6'2" | PG Maple Grove | 2020 State MN scored 16 and 15 points respectively. Caden Boettcher Caden Boettcher 6'5" | SF Maple Grove | 2021 State MN , after scoring 46 in round 1, was held to 4 points.
Game 6: Rochester Century 78, Irondale 69
With Jack Fisher Jack Fisher 6'2" | SG Rochester Century | 2020 State MN having another night under his average (scored just 12 points), Gabe Hanson stepped up for 19. Daunte Grafe added 18 and Mark Leonard scored 16 at the forward spot. The Panthers are 2-0 in the simulation thanks to role guys stepping up, a huge factor in playoff games.
For Irondale, Kwame Herzog Kwame Herzog 6'0" | PG Irondale | 2020 State MN used some crafty separation skills to hit all kinds of shots and score 19 points. Yeshi Dorjee might be 5-8 but he can hit from range, and he added 18. Iggy Ejiofor’s athleticism and improved inside finishing helped him get to 14 points.
Game 7: White Bear Lake 82, Cretin-Derham Hall 77
In an upset nobody saw coming, the Bears pull off a huge conference rivalry win over CDH with guards Jack Janicke and Kanye Raheem Kanye Raheem 6'2" | SG White Bear Lake | 2021 State MN pouring in 22 apiece and Brice Peters Brice Peters 5'9" | PG White Bear Lake | 2020 State MN shooting from outside for 20.
Amari Carter Amari Carter 6'6" | SF Cretin-Derham Hall | 2020 State MN had another strong game leading the Raiders with 20 points. Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN and J’Vonne Hadley J’Vonne Hadley 6'6" | SF Cretin-Derham Hall | 2020 State #363 Nation MN had 18 each while Curtis Jones Curtis Jones 6'3" | SG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2020 State MN hit three bombs for 15 points.
Game 8: Spring Lake Park 76, Eden Prairie 70
The Panthers have been one of the hottest teams in the state and taking out possibly the best team in the last four years is no small feat. Blake Remme Blake Remme 6'6" | SF Spring Lake Park | 2020 State MN took over with 27 points, Gabe Myren Gabe Myren 6'3" | SG Spring Lake Park | 2020 State MN scored a steady 23 and Kaleb Skelly Kaleb Skelly 6'4" | SF Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN added 12 providing muscle inside.
John Henry John Henry 6'5" | SF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN kept EP in it most of the way, hitting momentum-stopping threes for 26 points. Drake Dobbs Drake Dobbs 6'1" | PG Eden Prairie | 2020 State #293 Nation MN controlled the offensive flow adding 20 of his own and Connor Christensen Connor Christensen 6'7" | SF Eden Prairie | 2020 State #451 Nation MN gave a hard-earned 16 points in defeat.
Stay tuned for the quarterfinals:
Park Center vs. Spring Lake Park
Tartan vs. Lakeville North
Cambridge-Isanti vs. Rochester Century
White Bear Lake vs. Chaska