10 Best: Ankeny Christian Academy 83 vs Martensdale St. Marys 71
Martensdale –– A dominant first half by Blue Devils (4-3) junior Brady Gavin was not enough to push his team ahead of a very balanced and very formidable Ankeny Christian Academy squad. Gavin scored 18 points in the first two…
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Continue ReadingMartensdale –– A dominant first half by Blue Devils (4-3) junior Brady Gavin was not enough to push his team ahead of a very balanced and very formidable Ankeny Christian Academy squad.
Gavin scored 18 points in the first two quarters and came down with a slew of rebounds, but that was neutralized by Drew Wilken’s 20 second half points for the Eagles (5-2). The 6-foot-1 guard was scoring from all over the court, and doing so rather impressively. Both Gavin and Wilken were markedly impressive in this one.
The difference was ACA’s supporting cast, and with guys like Griffin Laib, Caleb Grizzle and Clay Ramseyer, the Eagles seem like a real threat in 1A this season.
Team Scoring
M-SM 14 25 11 21 — 71
ACA. 24 22 18 19 — 83
Individual Scoring
ACA (83) — Drew Wilken 25, Caleb Grizzle 17, Griffin Laib 13, Clay Ramseyer 13, Jayce Goergen 13, Brayden Jacobs 2.
M-SM (71) — Brady Gavin 25, Dakota Gibson 16, Bret Barnett 11, Matt Holt 8, Jake Bakerink 6, Garrison Haupts 5.
MVP: Drew Wilken (Ankeny Christian Academy)
This was a close one between Wilken and Gavin. And though the Blue Devils may not have been in the game if not for Gavin, it’s possible the Eagles would not have won the game without Wilken. He was crafty and savvy en route to 20 second half points. And his offensive versatility was a treat to watch.
Play of the Game: Gavin Putbacks (MSM)
There was nothing that was stands out in this one as a single game-changing play. But there was one type of play that was routinely executed by the M-SM junior post; that’s the offensive rebound & putback. He was a beast in the paint, and came away with countless o-boards, several of them which he swiftly flipped off the backboard for close-range buckets.
Best Offensive Performance: Drew Wilken
We came in expecting to see a big game from the junior guard, and though he was quiet in the first half, he erupted in the second half. He showcased blow-by ability, a beautiful 3-ball and some creative finishing near the rim. It was a dazzling effort by the up-and-coming 2018 prospect.
Best Defensive Performance: Griffin Laib (ACA)
He’s big and fast and uses that to his advantage defensively. The Eagles played in a zone defense tonight, so it was tough to gauge his on-ball prowess, but he’s got all the tools to be a shutdown defender when needed this season for the Eagles.
Best Underclassmen: Caleb Grizzle (ACA)
This ACA sophomore is going to be very good, and he was flashing some nice versatility tonight on both ends of the floor. He is the tallest guy on the Eagles, so playing down low is a must, but he was seemingly just as comfortable playing from the perimeter, and even knocked down a 3-ball en route to 17 points.
Best Shooter: Drew Wilken
His percentages coming into the game were formidable, but he looked like elite shooter tonight. His shot from deep is pure and has a beautiful rotation, also, he shoots the mid-range confidently and effectively.
Best Sidebar: Bret Barnett, Baseball Prospect (M-SM)
Though he was a sniper from deep tonight, hitting three second half 3s helping to keep the Blue Devils within striking distance, Barnett is even better on the diamond. He’s headed to South Dakota State next year for his baseball prowess, and batted .341 last summer while sporting a 6-2 record on the mound with 2.06 ERA.
Best Intangibles: Brady Gavin
There’s plenty that Gavin possesses that cannot be taught. To start, he’s physically gifted; 6-foot-7 with a strong build and long arms. To pair, he’s skilled, and has a soft touch around the rim. I’ve been told that he’s perhaps more into baseball than hoops. But he’s certainly a college basketball prospect.
Best Coaching Decision: Selindh Calls Full-court Press (ACA)
Early in the game, ACA coach Paul Selindh called for a full-court press that had the Blue Devils frenzied and which caused several turnovers and ill-advised shots. Consequently the Eagles were able to build what had been a small lead into a substantial lead. They would need that ballooned lead late in the game when things got close.
Story to Watch: Brady Gavin’s Sport of Choice
Coming into this game Gavin was averaging 24.5 points on an absurd 77 percent shooting, and 12.2 rebounds to boot. Needless to say, we had high expectations coming in – and he exceeded those. Last summer, as a sophomore with the baseball team, he hit .329 and posted a 0.00 ERA in four appearances. It’s well-known that M-SM is a baseball school, and is seems Gavin could have a bright future on the diamond. But he could have a bright future on the hardwood too.