NHR Scout: Delano at Waconia
Delano’s 83-80 win over Waconia on Friday Night was the type of game that Friday nights are all about. Dads bringing their young kids to run around and get a glimpse of high school basketball, die hard fans with friends…
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Continue ReadingDelano’s 83-80 win over Waconia on Friday Night was the type of game that Friday nights are all about. Dads bringing their young kids to run around and get a glimpse of high school basketball, die hard fans with friends enjoying the game, rows and rows of home student section fans, and a close, hard fought game from start to finish.
The game was close, it was for section and conference positioning, and it was a league rivalry game between a pair of teams that are always battling for the top spot.
The stars stood out. Delano’s Matt Kreklow and Calvin Wishart played like the were expected to, Joey Kortuem had a huge second half and brought his team close to winning the game, and Coach Hayes and Coach Techam battled back and forth trying to give their team an edge.
There was youth that stepped forward to produce despite the magnitude of the contest. Delano freshman Derek Techam and Waconia sophomore Charlie Gove both played well. Don’t forget senior role players stepping forward, like Delano’s Logan Pulis and Waconia’s Connor Schultz.
With Wishart at the line with 14 seconds to go he missed a free throw up only a point. If Waconia was able to get the board they would have had a chance for a go ahead score the other way but nobody blocked out Wishart so he grabbed his own rebound in Larry Bird fashion (sprinting to the carom, elevating, and finishing as the ball came off the rim of his own miss). This play but the Tigers up three and was pretty much the game winning play.
Delano
Matt Kreklow (6-8, Sr, PF). Excellent day for Kreklow. He’s a power forward but on this team he is also the last line of defense shot blocker and he did that job well with six swats that kept the Cats from scoring several low post baskets. Also had nine boards and scored most of his 20 facing up (including two treys). Kreklow is having a great year and U of Mary may have signed a steal.
Logan Pulis (6-4, Sr. PF). Logan has settled into his role player spot next to Kreklow very well. Pulis scored an active 11 points moving without the ball to get to space and finish around the rim. Is a trusted position defender, does a nice job moving opponents off the block, screens well and then moves off ball to make trusted plays.
Calvin Wishart (6-1, So, G). This was the first time I have seen Calvin in a high school game and I was very impressed. Scored a game 25 points with five assists and four rebounds plus he did an excellent job limiting Kortuem in the first half defensively. Did a great job making every catch and touch his man had difficult defensively (Kortuem couldn’t get space on or off the ball in half one) and offensively opponents weren’t able to keep him in front at all. His dribble separation game is too good for the conference they are competing in, nobody will be able to stop him from getting middle in the league. Not with one guy anyway.
Derek Techam (5-11, Fr, G). What I took away from this game was his rainbow treys that three times found the bottom of the net including a couple late in the game. Scored six key points down the stretch on his way to 14 points for the contest. Did some ball handling, like the decisions made in the halfcourt set. Not exactly sure which guard spot he will play in the future (maybe both?) but right now he looks like a deadly feet set shooter who also makes the right plays offensively.
Waconia
Connor Schultz (6-4, Sr, F). Plays the five position to start the game and then move over some when the bigger Jordan Notch or Nick Fulford come off the bench. This is a trusted player that is the type of guy you want teaching the youth players in the area the fundamentals of halfcourt defense. Does a great job in help, communication, positioning, work rate, etc. Scored four times early moving off ball to get baskets and then worked his way to 16 points for the game with two second half triples.
Charlie Gove (5-10, So, PG). This young man is a fighter. Belongs in the Spider Man deep stance club as he gets deep and laterally explodes with a high level of effort on his man. Grabbed five rebounds battling at 70 inches tall, moved the ball for four assists, hit a couple treys, attacked his way to the line for free throws, and outright battled.
Josh Rands (6-1, Sr, PG). Rands scores over 16 points a night but in this game he had seven as he was 2 of 11 from the floor. Not the game he wanted offensively but Josh never stopped competing and finding ways to help his team. Chased down a game high ten rebounds and moved the ball for four assists. Another guy who you can trust to compete.
Joey Kortuem (6’2, Sr. SG). After missing seven of his first nine attempts Kortuem came out of the halftime locker room and gave his team a chance to win the game. They long armed dangerous shooter with range made five of six shots in the second half including three treys and five of six foul shots. After having trouble getting space Kortuem was able to move without the ball in the offense, catch, and produce nearly leading Waconia to the win. Also did an excellent job rebounding from his guard spot (nine).
Jordan Notch (6’7, Sr. PF). Came off the bench to face-up and use the touch to finish softly over the top. Really does look comfortable facing up and he runs the floor really well too. Solid bounce to the boards usually although had just one board against the Tigers.