Kimberly-Sussex Hamilton Standouts

Evan Flood

December 22, 2019 @ 08:52 PM

SUSSEX -- In a battle between top five teams, No. 1 Sussex Hamilton (5-0) topped No. 3 Kimberly (5-1) 68-65 on Saturday...   Jake Buchanan - 2020 - PG - Kimberly If this kid were 6-feet tall, Division 1 programs would have been lining up for Buchanan. Whether it's AAU or high-level games, Buchanan has generally walked off able to hold his head high. That was the case again on Saturday. The Rockhurst commit got off to a rocky start, absolutely caught fire in the second half, en route to a game-high 26 points. With Kimberly trailing by as many as 16, Buchanan just started ripping off shots. He took advantage of defenders that went under screens or didn't keep their hand up. Buchanan might be undersized, but he's one of the tougher players to defend in this state. He's got extended range beyond the 3-point range, but excellent handles and enough quickness to blow by defenders. Lucas Finnessy - 2020 - PF - Sussex Hamilton We saw Hamilton a week ago without Finnessy. After Saturday, it's safe to say there's a big difference with him on the floor. You just don't get many easy baskets inside when Finnessy is patrolling the paint. It's not that he's overly tall (6-4), but the Minnesota linebacker commit is built like a truck and can elevate better than most expect...in fact, he threw down a transition dunk in the second half off two feet. Finnessy owns the glass, which is a huge luxury, because it takes a load off their tallest player, Patrick Baldwin Jr., where's most comfortable and conserve his energy for the offensive end. Finnessy added 10 points and also had a few blocks in the victory. J.T. Hoytink - 2020 - G - Sussex Hamilton Not a knock on Hoytink, but when you play Hamilton, this is the one guy teams generally want to make beat them. With so many shooters on the floor for the Chargers, opponents have to give up something. That said, if Hoytink is making plays like he did on Saturday, the opposition is in big trouble. The senior guard had eight points and a handful of assists in the win. What Hoytink usually brings to the floor goes beyond the stat sheet. A blue collar prospect that brings a silent energy to the floor, Hoytink is a tone-setter and someone his teammates feed off of. Jackson Paveletzke - 2022 - SG - Kimberly Paveletzke had some eye-opening plays on Saturday. With Kimberly struggling in the first half, it was Paveletzke that kept things afloat. The sophomore guard was able to take over a bit offensively and make some plays for others. A physically raw, but lengthy guard, Paveletzke has plenty of skill and can create his own shot. Paveletzke has the potential to develop into a dangerous scorer in the next year or two. Not only can he shoot the rock from all areas, but Paveletzke showed great poise under pressure and reacted quickly to defenders trying to pressure him -- all while playing in a hostile environment. Logan Pearson - 2020 - SG - Kimberly He didn't have a big day offensively, but Pearson's most important work came on the defensive end. Against Baldwin, Pearson did an exceptional job, especially in the second half. Pearson stuck to Baldwin like glue and was always in great position upon the catch. He also drew a charge late that helped give the Papermakers a chance to tie the game. Carson Smith - 2020 - SG - Sussex Hamilton Smith continues to shoot the ball at a high level this season. The Northern Michigan commit just feeds off Baldwin so well. Whether its; running off screens or re-locating during a drive, Smith does an excellent job of finding the soft spots in the defense and letting it fly. Smith chipped in with 15 points, including three consecutive triples in the first half that allowed Hamilton to open up a big lead. He also made some scrappy defensive plays in the second half that led to a couple of runouts for the Chargers. Smith is now averaging just shy of 17 points per game this season.