WIAA State Tournament Recap: Day 3
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OSHKOSH — Wrapping up the 2020-21 season, Pewaukee completed their marvelous season with a Division 2 state title. In Division 1, Wauwatosa East capped off their massive turn-around from last season, capturing the gold ball… Grant Asman Grant Asman…
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Continue ReadingOSHKOSH — Wrapping up the 2020-21 season, Pewaukee completed their marvelous season with a Division 2 state title. In Division 1, Wauwatosa East capped off their massive turn-around from last season, capturing the gold ball…
Grant Asman Grant Asman 6'11" | PF Kimberly | 2021 State WI – 2021 – PF – Kimberly
Asman had a solid weekend, helping Kimberly reach the Division 1 state championship game. The Lipscomb commit was a consistent 3-point threat and rim protector. Asman had eight points and three blocks against Tosa East. Against DeForest in the semifinals, Asman tallied 15 points and four blocks. A lanky, sweet-shooting big man, Asman has a chance to really develop at the Division 1 level. He’s excellent in the pick n’ pop action, moves well for his size, and should take off physically in a college strength and conditioning program.
.@PapermakerBB books their trip to the state championship.@jacksonpavvv to @AsmanGrant pic.twitter.com/oCO00aiPUV
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) March 6, 2021
Charlie Bender Charlie Bender 6'3" | SG Lake Mills | 2021 State WI – 2021 – G – Lake Mills
Nothing flashy about what Bender does, he just knows how to play the game. The Capitol North Player of the Year puts himself in the right spots to be successful. Bender had a big day scoring the basketball against Pewaukee in the Division 2 semifinals and was extremely efficient while doing so. A long, multi-dimensional guard, Bender has a great feel for the game. Pewaukee has some really good defenders and Bender still put up 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Taking his talents to UW-Platteville next season, Bender also had three steals and two assists in Saturday’s loss.
Victor Desmond Victor Desmond 6'6" | SF Onalaska | 2021 State WI – 2021 – SF – Onalaska
Desmond finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists as Onalaska held off Xavier in the Division 2 semifinals. Using his strong 6-foot-6 frame, Desmond did an excellent job of muscling or spinning his way into the paint and finishing over the top or dumping the ball inside. Against Pewaukee, Desmond really had to work for everything he got, finishing against a longer front line. He led Onalaska with 10 points and six rebounds. A sure-fire Division 2 prospect, Desmond is a Division 1 athlete. His perimeter skills and outside shot continue to progress. If he develops consistency in those two areas, he could be a home run at the D2 level.
Jameson Dougherty Jameson Dougherty 6'9" | PF River Falls | 2021 State WI – 2021 – PF – River Falls
If it weren’t for Dougherty, the Wildcats may have been blown out. Thanks to his 25 points, one off his season-high, and personal-best six 3-pointers, River Falls had a lead late. Daugherty was unconscious from 3-point range, hitting six of his nine attempts. The Army commit kept finding himself open on the arc and he just kept knocking in them. Dougherty also had seven rebounds and three assists in Saturday’s semifinal loss to Tosa East. A lanky, athletic 6-foot-9 forward, Dougherty is going to be a project at the next level. But he’s got a good base physically with plenty of room to grow. His outside shot has come a long way in three years and he’ll give the Black Nights a rim protecting/outside shooting threat.
Jay Hinson Jr Jay Hinson Jr 6'4" | SG Wauwatosa East | 2021 WI . – 2021 – SG – Wauwatosa East
Hinson’s defense throughout Saturday was phenomenal. Going against two of the state’s premier scorers and shooters, Hinson’s on-ball defense was a big difference maker for Tosa East in their title run, holding his two assignments well below their season averages. Perhaps even more impressive, Hinson still had energy on the offensive end. The senior guard scored a combined 24 points. Hinson had a huge transition 3-pointer in the second half against Kimberly, blowing the game open for the Red Raiders. Think Hinson is a very good Division 3 recruit, even in the WIAC. He’s got 3-and-D value, but also has prototypical two-guard size/strength, able to slash to the bucket and finish against contact.
A.J. Hintz A.J. Hintz PG Pewaukee | 2021 State WI – 2021 – PG – Pewaukee
A prospect who wasn’t even ranked coming into this season, Hintz proved to be one of the most important players for a loaded Pewaukee team. The senior guard carved up Onalaska’s pack-line defense, scoring 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting. With all the talent the Pirates have, Hintz often gets forgotten about and he makes defenses pay. Using an explosive first-step off the dribble, Hintz can knife his way into gaps in the blink of an eye. When his 3-point shot is falling, Hintz becomes extremely dangerous. Hintz added two assists and two steals against the Hilltoppers. In the semifinal win over Lake Mills, Hintz posted 10 points and four assists. Division 3 programs have been starting to inquire fast and furiously about Hintz.
Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PG – Pewaukee
Getting Pewaukee off to a great start in the Division 2 state championship, Janowski had 14 points before the seven-minute mark of the first half. Janowski finished with 19 points. Loved the way Janowski moved without the ball, stepped into his shot, and let it fly. On the ball, Janowski has the best mid-range game in the state, able to probe in traffic, and effortlessly create space off the bounce. A fringe top 10 prospect in the 2022 class, Janowski has a chance to play his way to the mid-major level this summer. At worst, should be a relatively easy offer for Division 2 programs in need of a point guard who can control the tempo and score.
Gavin Mcgrath Gavin Mcgrath 6'10" | C Onalaska | 2021 State WI – 2021 – C – Onalaska
McGrath has just gotten better and better over four years. The scary part, his ceiling is still so far away. McGrath had 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals as Onalaska bested Xavier in the Division 2 semifinals. In the title game loss to Pewaukee, McGrath also registered nine points. McGrath has shown more consistency to step outside the arc and shoot the ball. His back-to-the-basket game needs work, but McGrath has always provided a strong rebounding and rim protecting presence and certainly plays with an edge despite a lankly frame.
Jackson Paveletzke Jackson Paveletzke 6'1" | CG Kimberly | 2022 State WI – 2022 – G – Kimberly
Like Storm Murphy, Drake Dobbs, etc. — schools are going to overlook Paveletzke because he doesn’t have traditional size/build. Like Dobbs and Murphy, schools are going to make a mistake. Paveletzke is a better prospect than both and an easy offer for most mid-major programs. He’s skilled and talented enough to potentially work his way to the high major level as well and be a similar player to that of Riley LaChance. Paveletzke just owned the semifinal win over DeForest, going for 28 points on 19 shots, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. He was slowed down against Wauwatosa East, but one of the reasons Paveletzke is so special — he doesn’t have to score to help his team up big numbers. Paveletzke had six more assists against the Red Raiders and probably should have had a lot more if the usual shots for Kimberly went down.
Brian Parzych Brian Parzych 6'2" | PG Wauwautosa East | 2021 State WI – 2021 – PG – Wauwatosa East
In the Division 1 semifinal win over River Falls, Parzych did what he does best — rise to the occasion in crunch time. The Northern Michigan commit scored seven points over the final 3:51 to lift the Red Raiders to the title game. With Tosa East trailing 47-45, Parzych hit a cold-blooded 3-pointer at the top of the key. He capped off his 19-point, five-rebound performance with a steal and a bucket that sealed the deal with 17 seconds remaining. In the championship game against Kimberly, his performance wasn’t as timely, but it was just as effective. Parzych had a flurry of two points and three assists in the midst of a 13-0 run. He finished with eight points, nine assists, and two steals.
Capping off a tremendous career, Parzych isn’t overly blessed with size, athleticism, or even elite basketball skill. What he doesn’t lack is heart. Nobody on the floor wants to win more than he does and that takes him from being a B player to an A player and one of the most valuable players in the state.
Game on the line?
Brian Parzych Brian Parzych 6'2" | PG Wauwautosa East | 2021 State WI time.@Bparzych24 @TosaEastBoysBB pic.twitter.com/KgdHDK2r3L
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) March 6, 2021
Charlie Pfefferle Charlie Pfefferle 5'9" | PG Xavier | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PG – Xavier
Pfefferle gave Onalaska fits during Saturday’s semifinal loss. The junior guard put up 28 points, four rebounds, and four steals against the Hilltoppers. Pfefferle is an uptempo guard that’s always looking to push. He sees the floor so well in transition and can thread the needle with the pass. When Xavier can’t get out in transition, Pfefferle can pick defenses apart with the 3-ball. The lefty went 5-of-9 from beyond the arc in Saturday’s loss.
Alex Singleton Alex Singleton 6'4" | PF Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI – 2021 – F – Wauwatosa East
How important was Singleton to the Red Raiders in their championship win over Kimberly? With him on the floor, Tosa East was +24, eight points higher than the next closest teammate. The senior forward scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, and had two steals. In a big matchup for him personally against a pair of scholarship front line players on the Papermakers, Singleton rose to the occasion. He was absolutely relentless around the rim — attacking the offensive glass, cutting hard to the rim, and going up aggressively. During a 25-3 run, Singleton scored 12 of those points, including six in a row as the Red Raiders blew the game wide open.
Josh Terrian Josh Terrian 6'4" | SF Pewaukee | 2022 State WI – 2022 – SF – Pewaukee
Is there anything Terrian won’t do for his team? The junior wing took two charges and hit a couple timely 3’s among other things in Pewaukee’s semifinal win over Lake Mills. His energy and effort isn’t unusual at all for one of the top blue collar prospects in the state. Leading a balanced effort, Terrian had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pirates. He only had one bucket in the second half, but it was a big one, halting a Lake Mills room and it was a 3-pointer that would give Pewaukee the lead for good. In the title game win over Onalaska, Terrian had another all-around effort, posting seven points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Max Weisbrod Max Weisbrod 6'1" | CG Deforest | 2022 State WI – 2022 – G – DeForest
Weisbrod was clearly the focal point of Kimberly’s offense and he was harassed for 36 minutes. Despite the loss, Weisbrod showed why he’s a top 25 prospect in the junior class, scoring 20 points and dishing out four assists in the Division 1 semifinals. Weisbrod has good positional size at 6-foot-3 and his athletic ability has come a long way in two years. He’s got point guard DNA as an unselfish prospect who wants to make sure his team gets the best shot available, but has takeover ability as a scorer. In his last two outings against Arrowhead and Kimberly, we’ve seen Weisbrod really unleash as an isolation scorer when his team finds themselves desperate for a bucket.