Five Takeaways: North Polk at Gilbert

Hayes Gardner

February 5, 2019 @ 01:00 PM

When these teams first met, Gilbert rolled past North Polk pretty easily. But that was not the case Monday night, as North Polk jumped out to a 21-6 lead, forcing Gilbert to claw back and eventually win 63-57. With the win, Gilbert improved to 15-4, while North Polk fell to 4-13. Here’s what stood out:   A boost from the bench North Polk jumped out to an 8-0 lead just 75 seconds into the contest and maintained that energy throughout the first half, so much so that Gilbert coach B.J. Terrones turned to his bench to keep his team afloat. The reserves played well, cutting North Polk’s lead to just nine at half. Sophomore Tucker Hanson entered the game with just two points this season, but canned a 3-pointer in the second quarter and provided good energy. Senior Ben Simodynes played well, too, making good passes and taking a charge. Terrones also pointed out the play of junior Jack Dresser. Said Terrones: He had three steals, that was a big part of us being within striking range for that second half when our starters were able to come back in.”   Ockey shows up in second half In the first half, Gilbert’s starters combined for just six points. But in the second-half, leading scorer Matt Ockey scored 10 of his 12 points to help right the ship. Ockey, a junior, scored the first bucket of the second half after turning a steal into a fast-break layup, hit a 3-pointer with three minutes left to keep Gilbert’s lead at eight, then scored a fast break layup with 40 seconds left to preserve the win. A scoring 5-foot-11 guard, Ockey demonstrated the ability, as he has all year, to score from beyond the arc, at the rim and at the line. The Tigers boast a balanced scoring attack (10 players scored Monday), but Ockey is their most polished scorer and should catch the attention of college coaches.   Big moment from sophomore Trailing in the third quarter, back-to-back and-ones from Gilbert’s Tanner Henningsen and Ockey, then a corner three from Henningsen, knotted the game for the first time, at 32. A 6-foot-3 sophomore, Henningsen scored all nine of his points in the third quarter and also added 11 rebounds for the game. A super accurate shooter this season (53/54/83%), Henningsen is a solid scorer, but is more impressive as an all-around player.   Gilbert’s senior starters A one-point game entering the fourth quarter, it was senior starters Will Turner and Matt Barragy who combined to score 17 points in the final frame. Turner, a reliable point guard, did his damage at the line as the Comets fouled him late, while the 6-foot-5 Barragy was a force inside.   North Polk’s senior trio The Comets start five seniors, and it was three of them who did the bulk — and almost the entirety — of their scoring. It wasn’t until 3:31 remained in the third quarter that North Polk got a fourth scorer. Those three were 6-foot-2 Cameron Markert, 6-foot-1 Colten Parkins, and 5-foot-11 Braden Hoksbergen. Parkins scored all nine of his points in the first half, but Markert and Hoksbergen scored throughout. Hoksbergen, a quantity shooter, was adept at finishing inside and creating his own shot outside. He scored 12 of his 23 points in the final period. Markert, a wiry ball-handler, ran the Comets’ offense and scored tough shots around the paint, and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the line in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points.