Ten Best: Zimmerman vs. Central Minnesota Christian
The third game of the day at the Monticello Invitational turned out to be one of the most entertaining as the Zimmerman Thunder went head to head to with one of the top teams in Class A in Central Minnesota…
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Continue ReadingThe third game of the day at the Monticello Invitational turned out to be one of the most entertaining as the Zimmerman Thunder went head to head to with one of the top teams in Class A in Central Minnesota Christian. Behind excellent senior guard play, the Bluejays controlled the game down the stretch on the way to a 77-72 win.
The Thunder used a frenetic pace to take an early 24-17 lead but Ethan Brouwer and Tanner Stoel ignited a 19-7 run to close the half.
Central MN Christian controlled most of the second half though Thunder Heyer and Chandler Wellman hit a flurry of shots late to give Zimmerman a brief lead before Matthew Van Eps knocked down a huge 3-pointer and tacked on free throws late. Brouwer led all scorers with 22 points while Stoel and Van Eps added 17 and 15. Heyer led Zimmerman with 17.
MVP: Matthew Van Eps (Central MN Christian)
Picking an MVP from of this game wasn’t easy because there were several guys that really made a mark. Van Eps gets the nod because he not only came up with clutch plays down the stretch — more on that in a bit — but he also only turned the ball over twice against a team that plays a frenetic style. He did a great job of handling pressure throughout the game and making good decisions against Zimmerman’s traps.
Best Offensive Performance: Ethan Brouwer (Central MN Christian)
Brouwer turned in a terrific offensive performance, showcasing a variety of skills Saturday. Scoring 22 points on just 12 shots is impressive and Brouwer did it in every way imaginable. He hit a 3-pointer, went 9 for 10 from the free throw line, knocked down mid-range jumpers and scored on drives in the paint. He did a great job using his strength to bully Zimmerman defenders on his way to the basket.
Best Defensive Performance: Thunder Heyer (Zimmerman)
Zimmerman plays at an extremely fast pace and it was clear from the start that the Thunder wanted to press and trap as much as possible. Sometimes early in the season, teams play too fast and the game devolves into a foul fest. That happened a bit for all of Zimmerman’s guards except for Heyer. His activity level on the perimeter was outstanding. Heyer did a good job disrupting drives and passes throughout the contest. The Bluejays seemed to have the game well in hand midway through the second half, but Heyer’s defensive energy ignited a comeback that ultimately fell just short.
Best Play: Van Eps comes up clutch (Central MN Christian)
It wasn’t necessarily one play as much as it was a string of plays late in the second half. Following a Thunder Heyer 3-pointer, the Bluejays trailed with less than three minutes left in the game and for the first time since late in the first half. On the ensuing possession, Van Eps worked his way around a screen, got open at the top of the key and buried a 3-pointer to give the Bluejays the lead right back. The Thunder had all the momentum, a lead finally and Van Eps pretty much daggered the comeback. After a stop, Van Eps came up with a loose ball and sunk a free throw to give the team a four-point lead with less than two minutes to go.
Best Guy off the Bench: Brett Bauer (Zimmerman)
While foul trouble in bulk isn’t ideal for any team, it gave the Thunder a chance to see what they had in a lot of their bench guys. It looked pretty good Saturday. Brett Bauer gave the team a great spark off the bench, scoring nine points in the game and providing pressure defense in large doses. Bauer played a big part in the team’s comeback late in the second half, knocking down a couple key shots.
Best Intangibles: Austin Marcus (Central MN Christian)
Marcus is the “big” guy for the Bluejays despite being listed at just 6-foot-2. Marcus played bigger than that Saturday, scoring 11 points and hauling in seven rebounds. The senior forward had a steal and a block and did a lot of the dirty work all game for the Bluejays, oftentimes freeing up his teammates with solid screens or just by flashing hard in the lane. Guards will likely do a lot of the scoring for this Central MN Christian team this year, but Marcus is a valuable piece for the Bluejays inside.
Best Under-the-Radar Performance: Tanner Stoel (Central MN Christian)
It takes a lot for kids at most Class A schools to get noticed. Unless they are major standouts on the AAU circuit or high-major talents, kids are generally flying under the radar. A guy that really impressed Saturday for the Bluejays was senior guard Tanner Stoel. Stoel scored 17 points, knocking down three 3-pointers. He had his fingerprints all over the 19-7 run the Bluejays used to take a 36-31 halftime lead and his control under pressure was a key in allowing the Bluejays to run efficient offense throughout the game.
Best Catch-and-Shoot Guy: Chandler Wellman (Zimmerman)
Wellman had a quiet first half as he was saddled with foul trouble. He broke out in a big way in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points in the second frame. Wellman drilled two 3-pointers in the half, displaying a beautiful shooting stroke in pick-and-pop situations.
Best Aspect of the Environment: Prinsburg brought the town
Ok so bringing the town isn’t a huge thing when there are about 500 people but considering Central Minnesota Christian is about an hour away from Monticello, the showing by the Bluejay faithful was great. At points in the second half, it felt like the entire gym was shaking because of fans stomping their feet on the bleachers in Monticello’s gym. If the Bluejays get that kind of showing for their home games, it’s going to be a house of horrors for opponents.
Coach Said:
“They definitely put the pressure on our guards. They are a good team. I’m real proud of the way the guys played today. Doesn’t matter how we play now it’s about the end of the year but these are fun tests to see what you need to work on. It’s a fun game and it was a great atmosphere.” — Ted Taatjes