#MNStateHoops19 – Class AA Semis Top 5 Performers
Minnehaha Academy’s Buckets-to-Go business was booming on Friday night nearly producing a running time win on Lake City. Meanwhile Minneapolis North beat Perham setting up the rematch! Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy. Prince made sure that fellow freshman Justin Wohlers…
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Continue ReadingMinnehaha Academy’s Buckets-to-Go business was booming on Friday night nearly producing a running time win on Lake City. Meanwhile Minneapolis North beat Perham setting up the rematch!
Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy. Prince made sure that fellow freshman Justin Wohlers of Lake City was locked up (one field goal make) and then he did his thing defensive rebounding (9 boards total) and cutting to the rim for 15 points on 5 of 7 shots. The highlight was a one hand lob dunk.
Chet Holmgren of Minnehaha Academy. It wasn’t the blocks of Chet that changed the game defensively today (3 of them) as much as it was his body just being in the paint. Nearly half of the Lake City shots came at the arc and a big part of that is nobody wants to attack that eight foot stretch arm around the basket that quickly gets off the ground resulting in an 11 foot fence. Chet opened the game with a couple threes and moved to the rim for numerous dunks on his way to a 23 point, 11 rebound game (10 of 14 shooting).
Nasir El-Amin of Minneapolis North. Nasir’s demeanor was simply different than the rest of the guys on the floor. In this pressure packed situation of TV cameras, state television, bright lights, etc, Nasir didn’t change his expression and just got down to business. He used his quick hands for steals and his strange frame and quick feet to fight for defensive position. Nasir pushed the ball for four assists and battled to the rim for six field goals. A team high 13 points and an approach that a team jumped on board with.
Jalen Suggs of Minnehaha Academy. Jalen helped turn every Lake City long miss and turnover into a transition score the other way. He collected nine defensive boards and quickly pushed for his seven assists, or some of his nine highlight finishes. Jalen improved his jump shooting touch but 11 percentage points this year and we saw that in his pair of makes at the arc. The highlight finishing and strong And1 completions we know about but it was also his defensive rebounding and forcing jumpers over the top that also played a big part. Suggs had 24 points and 11 rebounds on 9 of 16 shooting plus teamed with Sigel Howard to force Lake City’s best player into a 5 of 24 shooting game.
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North. The Polars freshman was the energetic spark with that floater over length, scoring with the two hand dunk in the last minute finally forcing Perham to give it up, and 11 points on eight shots. Wilson did some handling and continues to improve defensively.
Five More
Omar Brown of Minneapolis North. Seven points, seven boards, and a complete refusal to ever be screened. Omar is one of the elite defenders in the state. Changed the quarterfinal game with his defense too.
Finn Diggins of Perham. The man with the ever running motor. The sophomore forward had 14 points on 7 of 11 shooting plus seven boards.
Reid Gastner of Lake City. Gastner showed the state of Minnesota his shooting range knocking out five three-pointers. It was a tough day for Lake City but Gastner represented himself and town well with 21 points.
Josh Jeziorski of Perham. Perham didn’t have a great day but Josh made some plays on both ends athletically that may help him get on the floor at Bemidji State. Love that finish swerving through four North players and the defensive contest at the rim was strong. Hit three threes scoring 15 points with eight boards.
Kaden Johnson of Minnehaha Academy. Defensively Kaden only allowed Reid Gastner to score twice inside the arc plus he had four assists to cutters and scored 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting.
Davon Townley of Minneapolis North. There is something about this kid’s passion to compete and improve I really like. Had a couple moments that he got down on himself about but no worries, 12 points and eight boards on 6 of 10 shooting.