Prospect Standouts: Neenah Outlasts Chippewa Falls

<p>Neenah knocked out Chippewa Falls tonight in a thrilling 49-47 Sectional victory. Below, Prep Hoops Wisconsin dives into the individual performances, covering everything from buzzer-beating shots to breakout games.</p> <p><strong>Jake Dietz - 2021 - Neenah:</strong><br /> Dietz brings something new to the table every week. Tonight, aside from a put-back layup that gave Neenah the win, scoring and rebounding separated him from the pack. At 6’4”, his contested shooting ability and mechanics demanded defensive attention. He countered that with his inside play, too, thwarting Chippewa Falls’ size advantage with sound box-outs and aggressive rebounding, which ultimately lifted Neenah out from their deficit and into the lead down the stretch.</p> <p>It’s only a matter of time before he enters the junior rankings.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="865837" first="Chevalier" last="Emery"] - 2022 - Neenah:</strong><br /> Emery’s potential as a two-way prospect has materialized late in the season. He stepped away from the three-point shot and began using his shiftiness and explosive first step to get to the rim. On the other side of the ball, he uses strength to irritate opposing guards and take away space for pull-ups and catch-and-shoot jumpers.</p> <p>His impact was crucial for Neenah in the first half and a key reason Chippewa Falls struggled to score early.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="880982" first="Peyton" last="Rogers-Schmidt"] - 2020 - Chippewa Falls:</strong><br /> Besides a deep-two and a few rebounds, Rogers-Schmidt couldn’t get things rolling in the first half (mainly because of heightened defensive attention from Neenah). The defense sagged more in the second half which allowed the forward to get a full head of steam when attacking the rim. His length and size prevented defenders from stopping him once in the lane, and he had a mini solo run due to a lack of help defense.</p> <p>He isn’t as dominant as an on-the-block scorer, but he was able to rebound with position down low as well.</p> <p><strong>Jacob Walczak - 2021 - Chippewa Falls:</strong><br /> Falls needed momentum at the end of the first half, and with their stars struggling to score, Walczak stepped up. He drained back-to-back corner threes to get Falls within striking distance. He didn’t score much beyond that, but his stroke at 6’4” along with solid strength makes him a unique player to watch. Assuming he continues to improve next season, he’s a guy that could be looked at as a breakout prospect.</p> <p><strong>Carter Thomas - 2022 - Neenah:</strong><br /> Thomas is a persistent paint scorer. In the second half, it fueled Neenah’s surge past Falls. He isn’t the strongest, but his length and ability to contort his body around defenders allowed him to finish over Falls’ frontcourt. As he expands his skillset over the next two seasons, the forward will surely enter the rankings and garner some college looks.</p> <p><strong>Joe Rueter - 2021 - Chippewa Falls:</strong><br /> Reuter showed flashes of his vast arsenal tonight. He connected on a tough fadeaway jumper in the post, utilized a natural pull-up game, and displayed primary ball-handling skills. His frame was especially evident, though. His wingspan allowed him to make wide pivots and keep the ball from reaching defenders. He also contributed on the glass as a rebounder, hinting at a possible small-forward role in the future.</p> <p>Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id="544541" first="Max" last="Klesmit"], Nick Bruder, Bryce Henderson, Charlie Wolfgram</p>