Class AA: Williams Arena
At Williams Arena, JCC beat Caledonia in the best game of the day while Annandale played to their gameplan extremely well in beating Esko. JCC will face Annandale on Friday but before we get to that point let’s look back…
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Continue ReadingAt Williams Arena, JCC beat Caledonia in the best game of the day while Annandale played to their gameplan extremely well in beating Esko. JCC will face Annandale on Friday but before we get to that point let’s look back at what the teams did to get the victories.
Why JCC is moving on with a win over Caledonia. How is it possible that a team turns the ball over 23 times in a state tournament game, gives up 21 offensive boards, and moves on by two scores? Let’s start with their shooting 16 more free throws many of which were down the stretch made in clutch fashion. From there you move on to the 20 points and 18 rebounds from Bodey Behrends around the basket and JCC made 9 treys on 21 attempts while Caledonia needed 41 attempts to hit their nine triples.
The teams played equally as hard in the most exciting game of the day both getting feisty at times and both teams putting forth memorable runs like the Bodey Behrends dunks and swats on consecutive court trips as well as the Jacob Christopher clutch foul shots. Caldeonia had a run of an And2 from Owen King preceded by a three from his brother Noah King. The game was exciting both ways but the Huskies were able to get better shots which were more high percentages shots leading to the victory.
Jacob Christopher scored 27 points highlighted by 11 of 13 free throws, Bodey Behrends gave 20 points and 18 rebounds, Matt Ringkob totaled 16 point and seven assists, and Colton Timmer had 11 from JCC all in the second half. Caledonia got 25 from Owen King, 19 from Colton Lampert, and seven points and 11 rebounds from Gavin Schroeder who was often in foul trouble.
Why Annandale is moving on with a win over Esko. The game was even for a half with both teams scoring 19 in the first 18 minutes combining for 39 shots (and only six turnovers). As even as the game was in half one, it changed in half two. The Eskomos had nobody to guard Cardinal Jarod Wilken who was too big for most the guys in blue and too small and quick for 7-foot-2 Adam Trapp. Wilken played lead guard bringing the threat of Trapp’s shot blocking away from the basket and when he wasn’t attacking the basket the ball movement was leading to his teammates scoring in space without the fear of Trapp’s enormous wingspan in their way.
Brock Fobbe, Brett Wadman, and Brad Weege all scored three or more baskets near the rim attacking to finish or cutting to catch and score. How did they have space? Wilken brought Trapp away or Esko put the big on the bench and the Cards had space to get to the front of the cup. Anndandale’s defense also did a fabulous job on Esko’s top two scores Adam Trapp and Jaxson Turner. Up into the last five minutes of the contest the pair that usually scores 29 a night for a slow temp team had only four points. Turner scored three field goals late to bring that total up but the Cardinal defense swarming Trapp with three guys and giving Turner a step so they could not get beat off the bounce kept the top Esko players from hurting them on the scoreboard when the game was close.
Jarod Wilken scored 19 for Annandale along with four boards and three assists while Brad Weege had 12 with five boards. For Esko, Isaak Blue scored 14 and Alex Walther had ten with a game high seven boards.