Prep Hoops’ Midwest Cup: Sunday Recaps
10:40 (16U Semifinal): AFES 72 vs Beyond Ball 63
It was raining 3s for AFES — a Fort Dodge-based squad — in this semifinal match-up, and the hot second half shooting helped them erase a 10-point halftime deficit and stave off an athletic and aggressive Beyond Ball group. Humboldt 2019 Calvin Carlson and Fort Dodge 2019 Jackson Kochendorfer combined for seven second half 3s, many of them timely, and were key in staving off a couple of relentless last rushes by Beyond Ball. The Beyond Ball squad has already won several games this spring, and is a team that will win a lot more this summer, especially as it continues to gel. Lino Malual, Sam Glenn, Gatdoar Bijiek and Co. get better each time we see them.
11:45 (17U Semifinal): Minnesota Rise 71 vs Tryon Gym 68
Parker Badding came out red-hot for Tryon Gym, and notched 16 points in the first nine minutes of the game, while also helping his squad to a big early lead. But the Kuemper guard would cool, and with it came a run by eventual champion Minnesota Rise. Mankato East wing Damani Hayes was having his way in the paint throughout this semifinal match, getting to the free-throw line with regularity en route to a team-high 17 points. Badding began to takeover again late, and brought his team back from a double-digit second half deficit, he finished with a game-high 23 points. This Tryon team can ball, they’ll be one to watch the rest of the spring and summer.
12:50 (17U): Iowa Pump N Run Black 78 vs Team Iowa 56
This Pump N Run squad continues to impress during the spring, and this time around it was Iowa City High guard Will McIntire who was stealing the show. In a game on Saturday, the 5-foot-10 2018 netted an absurd 12 3s, and he stayed red-hot in this one, connecting on five of six outside attempts — he finished with a team-high 15 points. Logan Hoffman was steady as usual, he was flashing an array of moves en route to 13 points. Grant Arnold was showcasing his offensive versatility early and often for a short-handed Team Iowa squad, he led them with 15 points. Ankeny Centennial point guard Hunter Strait — one of Iowa’s best — added 14.
1:55 (15U Champioship): Martin Bros 73 vs Beyond Ball 71
What an entertaining game this one turned out to be, and it was a gritty, comeback win for Martin Bros against this upstart Beyond Ball squad. Easton Darling got things going late, and scored 11 second half points to help his team overcome a double-digit deficit. And it was Waterloo West point guard Nick Pepin who had the play of the game, a dime to Cedar Falls 14U forward — playing up for the day — Chase Courbat with three ticks left to seal the win. Beyond Ball was without its best big, Will Berg, but still played a tremendously competitive game. Mason City point guard Avery Mellman had a coming-out party in this one, he was utterly sensational while dropping a game-high 20 points.
Waterloo West 2020 Nick Pepin with dime at the end of the 15U final — game-winner for Martin Bros @PHMidwestCup pic.twitter.com/NTtfhsCnoH
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) May 21, 2017
3:00 (17U Championship): Minnesota Rise 56 vs Iowa Intensity 50
Garrett Sturtz was handing out hugs after the game, going down a row of teammates and embracing them one by one. It was his last tournament with the Iowa Intensity team, he’s accepted an invitation to play on the adidas Gauntlet this summer with the Iowa Barnstormers. The 6-foot-2 Newton guard was superb all weekend, and especially in this game, when he sliced and diced his way to a game-high 34 points, and doing so without making one 3 (he only shot one). But the Minnesota squad was firing on all cylinders in this one after a sluggish start, and used a nice run midway through the second half to take control and never let up. Coach’s son and 2019 guard, Jake Ketner, was great while scoring a team-high 14 points. Mankato East forward Uhana Ochan had the dunk of the weekend, he flew and slammed it hard to ignite the second half run — it was a remarkable play, and definitely one of the best dunks I’ve ever seen at the high school level.