Section Scout: 8AAAA Semifinals

**Photo courtesy of Rich Moll Photography**   Friday night at Monticello was a busy one. The Section 8AAAA semifinals took place a day earlier than usual due to projected snow so the TC Hoops Czar and I jumped on 94 West for a pair of regular season rematches. <h2>Semifinal 1: Maple Grove 65 STMA 48</h2> Maple Grove was looking for a hot start from their guards and they got just that. Senior Kyle Dreyer had 11 quick points on three treys and Nate Adams buried a deep bomb as well to give the Crimson a big 30-13 lead; then junior Knight Evan Wieker came in off the bench to hit a couple shots and STMA was within 34-25 at half. Maple Grove's bench play was key all game. In recent years the guard depth was thin so it was tough for the Crimson to sustain when their starters sat. Lovell Williams came in to facilitate and beat defensive closeouts and rotations nicely and Maple Grove ran away in the last nine minutes for a 65-48 victory. Kyle Dreyer (SG, 6-0, Sr., Maple Grove) - The Crimson aren't going to blow you away with athleticism but their heat checks are tough to catch up to. The four-out dribble weave/handoff actions froze STMA guards and gave Dreyer openings to fire from deep. He scored 16 points picking up some steals as well. Nate Adams (SG, 6-2, Sr., Maple Grove) - Adams is a star golfer headed to NDSU but he is stepping up recently on the floor, serious about getting the Crimson to State. A deadeye shooter, he's expanded his game to attack closeouts and polish a middle-of-the-paint finishing repertoire. He's also tasked with guarding the best wing on the other team and made the bigger STMA forwards work harder than they wanted in the post. Scored 17 to lead MG. Ryan McGinnis (PF, 6-6, Sr., Maple Grove) - The lanky stretch forward is a good shooter but usually gives up pounds on defense. He changed things up on Friday playing in the short corner and hitting baseline jumpers off of Jared Rainey drives, and rebounded well against STMA's bigger and stronger frontcourt. Possibly his best game all season, and he saw minutes down the stretch. Evan Wieker (PF, 6-4, Jr., STMA) - Wieker's a physical combo forward with growing wing skills, as proven by his efficient shooting on Friday. He scored 11 on the game with two triples near the end of the first half. He's playing with Comets DLR this spring. Peyton McLean (SF, 6-3, Jr., STMA) - McLean's an interesting player. He's long and has a clean stroke from downtown, scoring 11 points on the night. He moves well defensively too and mixes it up on the boards. Will be a factor going forward for the Knights. <h2>Semifinal 2: Buffalo 84 Moorhead 71</h2> Moorhead knocked off Buffalo earlier this season 91-80 and both of these teams have plenty of scoring punch to make it interesting again. The Bison came out scorching with a typical large dose of center Aidan Bouman, who was getting easy paint touch after easy paint touch. Add in some late-half Tony Dahl drives in the four corners offense and it was a 49-31 Buffalo lead at half. Maleeck Harden-Hayes was quiet with just two points and a couple fouls. Then Moorhead started moving the ball better and attacking gaps, including giving Harden-Hayes opportunities in the post which led to free throws. The Spuds got it as close as 7 with a handful of minutes to go, but Harden-Hayes and Drew Hagen fouled out and Buffalo prevailed to advance to a second straight section final. Tony Dahl (SF, 6-3, Jr., Buffalo) - I don't know what position to list him as. He starts at power forward, is the most reliable ballhandler and passer, but also is the de facto backup center. He hardly ever comes out of the game. He scored 22 points and added 5 assists. He can play all five positions proficiently, you hardly ever see that in top level high school ball. Aidan Bouman (C, 6-5, Jr., Buffalo) - Bouman is a master of post position and seal-to-scores. He had a double double of 28 points and 10 rebounds despite fighting foul trouble in the second half, and the smaller Moorhead interior couldn't handle his wide stance for easy layups. Maple Grove will have their hands full with him. Antonio Bluiett (PG, 5-9, Fr., Buffalo) - The lone starter not in the class of 2020 is a freshman who is not only fearless in big moments, he goes harder than anyone else. For being 5-9, his rebounding was extremely impressive crashing for offensive second chances and he has really quick feet and hands guarding the ball. Scored 7 points and did more than that outside the box score. Promising underclassman. Drew Hagen (SF, 6-5, Jr., Moorhead) - The junior has seen just about everything possible in the Spuds program over the last three years. He goes out this season having scored his 1,000th point just before fouling out on Friday. Falling short in the playoffs of a promising season is no fun, but he is a huge part of the turnaround Moorhead has pulled off going from a 5-win team to a 20-win team (with a bright future) in just three years. Scored 9 on the game with some tough makes late. Brady Walthall (SG, 6-0, So., Moorhead) - The Spuds return just about everybody next season (minus Harden-Hayes) so the core of Hagen, the Walthall twins, Quentin Hegg and Donnavin Hinsz is a great group to build on a 20-plus win season with. Walthall scored 18 to lead the way and fought hard to get to the rim against bigger Buffalo defenders. Maleeck Harden-Hayes (SF, 6-5, Sr., Moorhead) - He struggled to score in half one but got aggressive inside to get to 14 points on the game. He fouled out on a tough call when the Spuds were making a comeback. A tip of the hat to his career and explosion onto the scene over the last 12 months. He's got a promising college career ahead. - Maple Grove and Buffalo will face off in the Section 8AAAA finals at St. Michael-Albertville High School on Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m.