The Class AAAA Simulation Series: Round 1, Games 9-16

<p>We finish out the first round of games in the NHR Class AAAA Simulation Series tournament to see who advances into the Sweet 16 today. You can see the results from the first half of Round 1 <a href="https://prephoops.com/2020/04/the-class-aaaa-simulation-series-round-1-games-1-8/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Game 9: Edina 96, Rochester Mayo 79</strong></p> <p>One of the best bigs in the state that still might not be talked about enough is 2020 Loyola-Chicago commit [player_tooltip player_id="846108" first="Jacob" last="Hutson"]. He scores 30 inside and out (his shooting range is D1-caliber on top of his frame) to lead the Hornets. Chandler Reeck stepped up for 20 and point guard Sammy Presthus took more steps forward offensively with 19.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="721826" first="Mason" last="Madsen"] scored 26 to lead the Spartans and [player_tooltip player_id="774831" first="Michael" last="Sharp"] caught fire from deep for 20. [player_tooltip player_id="846106" first="Gabe" last="Madsen"] was held to just six points on the night, and center [player_tooltip player_id="955662" first="Riek" last="Riek"] showed off his stretch five versatility with multiple long jumpers.</p> <p><strong>Game 10: Chaska 95, Buffalo 70</strong></p> <p>One of the more underappreciated forwards bursting onto the scene this year was 6-7 [player_tooltip player_id="721980" first="Mahad" last="Faisal"] of Chaska, and he led the Hawks in the big win with 26 points. [player_tooltip player_id="774803" first="Jack" last="Frick"] was a big secondary figure in the game adding 23 and [player_tooltip player_id="846120" first="Zach" last="Lea"] was consistent at lead guard making plays for the wing scorers and getting himself 18.</p> <p>For Buffalo, the driving force for a 70-point output was St. Cloud State-committed Matthew Willert scoring 24. Recent Northwestern-St. Paul commit [player_tooltip player_id="846180" first="Brandon" last="Maatz"] was instrumental adding 17 and [player_tooltip player_id="721845" first="Tony" last="Dahl"] has recovered well from injury putting up 16 points and a plethora of rebounds.</p> <p><strong>Game 11: Irondale 93, Wayzata 86</strong></p> <p>Irondale really has come on with some strong prospects this year (they came within mere single points of winning a playoff game for the first time in I don't even know how long). They get the win over Lake member Wayzata. Senior center Ahmad Berry put up 30 as his strength and speed combo couldn't be matched, and guard Evan Romes contributed 21 as well.</p> <p>2022 sensation [player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"] put up 24 for the Trojans, and 6-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id="850713" first="Carter" last="Bjerke"] was creative on the perimeter and in the paint for 22. The backcourt trio of [player_tooltip player_id="774744" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"], [player_tooltip player_id="532609" first="Kody" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="796955" first="Ryan" last="Harvey"] scored 17, 13 and 10 respectively.</p> <p><strong>Game 12: Maple Grove 95, Owatonna 53</strong></p> <p>The biggest scoring output of the tournament so far goes to 2021 forward [player_tooltip player_id="774895" first="Caden" last="Boettcher"], a 6-3 wing with high shot release and relentless work on the glass. He spearheads the Maple Grove win with 46 points, almost outscoring the entire Owatonna squad. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="958650" first="Jon" last="Haakenson"] added 21 and [player_tooltip player_id="721976" first="Lovell" last="Williams"] had 18.</p> <p>All Husky players scored between 10 and 12 points, with [player_tooltip player_id="774921" first="Nolan" last="Burmeister"] scoring 12. 2022 big man [player_tooltip player_id="850718" first="Evan" last="Dushek"] was held to 10 points, a number that is definitely out of character for such a big point producer.</p> <p><strong>Game 13: Cambridge-Isanti 78, Lakeville South 62</strong></p> <p>A senior-laden Bluejacket squad came out on top of the Cougars from Lakeville South, a team with lots of potential in the 2021 and 2022 classes. A quiet game from [player_tooltip player_id="846135" first="Henry" last="Abraham"] (15 points) was supplemented by strong nights from [player_tooltip player_id="957221" first="Connor" last="Braaten"] (24 points), Ryan Cox (16) and [player_tooltip player_id="846173" first="Micah" last="Ladd"] (15) and made the difference for C-I.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"] led Lakeville South with 18 points, while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="850730" first="Sam" last="Fliehe"] was active around the rim for 14.</p> <p><strong>Game 14: Champlin Park 91, Woodbury 54</strong></p> <p>The second lopsided game of this pod of eight, Francis Nwaokorie crushed the Woodbury front line for 26 points. The 6-6 throwback post used a flurry of footwork and shoulder turns to get his scores. Summer teammate Josh Strong threw in 21 from the perimeter and [player_tooltip player_id="721848" first="Cooper" last="Olson"], a U of Mary signee, added 20.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="846235" first="Parker" last="McMorrow"] led the Royals with 18 inside. [player_tooltip player_id="774930" first="Devin" last="Padelford"] added 11 and [player_tooltip player_id="774787" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] scored 10 in the backcourt. Prominent wing scorer [player_tooltip player_id="774752" first="Bradley" last="Cimperman"] was held to five points.</p> <p><strong>Game 15: Rochester Century 69, Mounds View 65</strong></p> <p>On an off night from leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="549381" first="Jack" last="Fisher"] (8 points), Gabe Hanson opened the floodgates with a 22 point performance. [player_tooltip player_id="955885" first="Stephen" last="Olander"] also chipped in 19 to push the Panthers into victory formation.</p> <p>For the Mustangs, Drew DeBacker was the hot hand scoring 18 while point staples [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774870" first="Evan" last="Kim"] put up 15 and 14 respectively. A strong defensive effort on both sides in this matchup!</p> <p><strong>Game 16: Tartan 82, Shakopee 73</strong></p> <p>William Penn commit [player_tooltip player_id="846184" first="Langston" last="Binns"] was hot from downtown scoring 30 in the win for the Titans. [player_tooltip player_id="774743" first="Dorian" last="Singer"] used his athleticism to add 18 and lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="721853" first="Joseph" last="Kearney"] was consistent avoiding turnovers and putting up 14 points.</p> <p>Shakopee seniors [player_tooltip player_id="846112" first="Charlie" last="Katona"] (24 points) and [player_tooltip player_id="721855" first="Will" last="Cordes"] (23 points) were the lone high outputs for the Sabers and their production couldn't get Shako over the top against Tartan. [player_tooltip player_id="549438" first="Bruce" last="Lockwood Jr"]. was strong on the glass and defense as usual and contributed 12 points.</p> <p>We move onto the Sweet 16:</p> <p>Lakeville North vs. Champlin Park</p> <p>Park Center vs. Prior Lake</p> <p>Chaska vs. Moorhead</p> <p>Edina vs. Cambridge-Isanti</p> <p>Tartan vs. Maple Grove</p> <p>Irondale vs. Rochester Century</p> <p>Cretin-Derham Hall vs. White Bear Lake</p> <p>Spring Lake Park vs. Eden Prairie</p>