Proving Grounds (Minneapolis): Friday/Saturday Game Recaps
Friday 6:30: 17U — Minnesota Fury-Kaupa 70 vs Iowa Prep Black 49
This Minnesota team could make some noise this weekend at Bloomington Kennedy High School. It has a little bit of everything; size, skill, quickness, and lots of savvy. Fury came away with countless steals in this one, and scored probably 20 points off Iowa Prep turnovers. Skilled 6’9 Prior Lake big-man Carson Schoeller led the way for Fury with 13 points. He told me after the game he’s offer-less. Luke Paulsen, Zachary Kloos and Nate Shikenjanski impressed as well. Iowa was led by rangy and tall junior wing Trevor Boje. He averaged 8.7 points on 62 percent shooting for the 1A runners-up last season.
Saturday 11:10: 16U — ND Attack 62 vs Rip City 47
This North Dakota squad can play, and after racing out to an early 22-11 lead — thanks to some scorching shooting from Jaxon Gunville — they would really never look back. For a brief moment at the beginning of the second half the Minnesota squad took the lead, but it was generally a dominant performance for the ND boys. They could do some damage this weekend at Kennedy High School. Rugby’s (ND) Jaden Hamilton led all scorers in this one with 14 points, Chance Danner added 13 and Gunville, 11 for North Dakota. Avery Virgin led Rip City with 11 points, including three 3s.
Saturday 12:15: 16U — Minnesota Select-Koch 65 vs Iowa Prep Red 52
This Minnesota Select-Koch unit is very likable. Their fans and coaches are supportive, positive and enthusiastic, and the players are enjoyable to watch. This was a fun game, with Minnesota racing out to an early lead before Iowa closed the gap late in the first half. It was 29-26 at the break. In the second half, it was Eagan shooting guards Jack Carlson and Finn O’Malley who took control, and the lead ballooned to as much as 16 before a late push by Iowa Prep cut the lead to seven. That’s as close as the Iowa guys would get, though. Four guys led Minnesota in scoring with 12 each; Cam House, Josiah Jordan and Carlson. Iowa was led by freshman (playing up a grade) Dane Fuller and Kieran Kohorst, each scored 10 in the loss.
Saturday 1:20: 17U — Minnesota Heat-Nelson 69 vs Universal Athletics Academy 31
Maple Grove junior point guard Jared Rainey was sensational, and he led his Minnesota squad into the Platinum Sweet 16 in convincing fashion. This one had a running clock shortly into the second half, and ended at the two-minute mark with a mercy rule. Rainey scored a game-high 20 points, and was aided by sniper Joshua Albers’ 14 points (four made 3s) and Hunter Damon’s 14 points. This looks like a dangerous Heat-Nelson unit.
Saturday 2:25: 17U — Next Generation 80 vs TC Finest 71
What a performance it was for Oswego, Illinois’ home-schooled point guard Julian Holland (2020). His was the most dominant performance we’ve seen yet in the tourney, and the slick 6’1 point guard sliced and diced the formidable Twin Cities Finest squad for 30 points and a handful of assists and steals. Isaiah Robinson of Simley High was good for TC’s Finest while scoring a team-high 18 points. Blake Sartin (2019) and Kaevon Anderson (2020) each scored 18 for Next Generation.
Saturday 3:30: 17U — Iowa Pump ‘N Run Gold 39 vs Minnesota Select-Brown 37
After a low scoring knock-down drag-out affair, it was Iowa Pump N Run Gold which was able escape with a narrow win and move on to the Gold Division’s quarterfinals. Iowa led by four at the break and extended that lead at the start of the second half, but then Minnesota got hot, particularly Evan Brodtmann, and Pump’s hard-fought lead was erased relatively quickly. But the guys from Iowa, led by Logan Rashid at point guard, scraped, fought and clawed their way back into the driver’s seat, and made the plays down the stretch when it mattered most.
Saturday 4:35: 16U — Iowa Prep Black 56 vs EGF Greenwave 41
For the first half of this one it was neck-and-neck, and the Iowa guys held a slim two point lead at the break, 21-19. But in the second half, Iowa Prep got real hot, real quick, in particular James Stimson, who canned back-to-back triples when the game was still somewhat tight, busting it wide-open. Cedar Falls power forward Gilmore Taiber led the way for Iowa, putting in a team-high 11 points. Stimson chipped in with 10. It was another Cedar Falls guy, Cade McCann who put the nail in the coffin very late in the game when he, too, canned consecutive triples to bury the Minnesota squad. Nathan Willett was good for the Greenwave, the sophomore shooting guard canned five 3s in the loss, and put in a game-high 15 points.