SF Christian is Class A State Champion
Why SF Christian defeated St Thomas More is the Class A Champion. For starters the Chargers raced out of the gate to an 18-3 lead. The Cavaliers were able to get that down to a couple scores but they were…
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Continue ReadingWhy SF Christian defeated St Thomas More is the Class A Champion. For starters the Chargers raced out of the gate to an 18-3 lead. The Cavaliers were able to get that down to a couple scores but they were never able to fully climb out of the hole the Chargers threw them in early.
After St. Thomas More caught up to SF Christian the Chargers refocused and there were several areas where they specifically were able to hold off their opponents. A big key in the third quarter was the Charger zone defense. They moved the ball rapidly to find Keegan Van Egdom for two treys on the wing and their ball movement found Chad Barkema at the elbow for a jumper and for an attack bucket.
By the time the fourth quarter started the Cavs had received five treys from Jake Satter. However, the 6-foot-5 wing was then chased heavily by 6-foot-6 fellow junior Dejay Fykstra and his length and tireless chase forced the hot hand of Satter to go cold in the fourth quarter. Add in a nice defensive effort from Austin Schreur on Isaac Kortemeyer deep in the paint and some outstanding free throw shooting and you have a Sioux Falls Charger state champion for the first time in 14 seasons.
Ten State Championship Game Player Notes
- Chad Barkema (SF Christian senior forward). Barkema is going to be a day one standout for Dordt, he is such a fantastic get from them you have to qualify it as a steal. If you charted 15 areas of basketball to rank and scored them 1-10 I don’t believe there is a South Dakota senior that would have a better score than Chad. He does everything. From his outstanding rebounding efforts to his perfect outlet passes to the mid-range jumper, to the face-up attacks, and the backside activity for results Barkema does some of everything and he does it well. Scored a game high 19 points.
- Dejay Fykstra (SF Christian junior small forward). Dejay grows more and more as a prospect every day. The biggest thing he did for the Chargers was deny Jake Satter in the fourth quarter, chase him around screens, and use his length to make every late Satter shot a contested one. Dejay had a couple late scores and key boards but it was his defense on Satter in the fourth quarter that was one of the biggest pieces to the win.
- Keegan Van Egdom (SF Christian senior shooting guard). At the start of the second half the Cavs went zone, they lost Keegan twice, and Keegan made them pay. Those zone busting wing three-pointers stopped Cavalier runs and then at the end of the night Keegan hit several big free throws on his way to 17 points and a state title victory.
- Jake Satter (St. Thomas More junior wing). Another example of how his touch at his size at the arc can change games. At one point many left St. Thomas More for dead but his triples in the second half gave his team life and then a couple more in the third quarter brought them so close to taking the lead. He’s a game changer and his intelligence cutting off screens and of course the touch at the arc, few can defend in a way that will slow him down.
- PJ Freidel (St Thomas More senior point guard). I thought PJ’s scores in the final minute were a fantast representation of what he has done for this team. PJ improved in a big way this season and never quit battling. His improvements at point guard are a big reason that the Cavs found themselves playing for a state title.
- Isaac Kortemeyer (St. Thomas More junior PF/C). His low post position is so improved and the reasons for that are technique of position and his strength to hold guys behind him on the block to collect the ball and make a move. He looked more confident this year as well as more hungry to succeed. Consistency has improved and now he needs to make his low post moves more consistent in terms of finishing. The position turn, footwork, and shoulder turn look good. Now the finishing of the moves over size is the big focus. Had a nice year.
- Lincoln Unruh (SF Christian sophomore point guard). Lincoln did the job he needed to do with regular starting point guard Jackson Schipper benched by the flew. Unruh limited mistakes and made sure key pieces had the ball in their hands.
- Austin Schreur (SF Christian senior center). Austin played his part keeping Korteyemer in front of him and making each shot the junior center took one that was over length and further off the block than he wanted. Austin’s defense in the low post was a key part to the Charger victory.
- Tayton Maher (St. Thomas More shooting guard). Another improved Cavalier, thought Maher competed more confidently and definitely tougher as the year went on and between he, Arity, Kortemyer, and Satter, that is an outstanding group returning.
- Jackson Schipper (SF Christian senior point guard). In the previous two games PHD watched of Schipper playing early in the season he was facing heavy competition but was the best guard on the floor. Feel bad for him that he had to miss this tournament due to illness.