Impressive Players – Kindred vs. Hillsboro/Central Valley

<p>The Vikings came out smoking hot! They went on a 13-0 run to start the game. Kindred hit a few 3’s early on and played good defense. [player_tooltip player_id="812227" first="Paul" last="Olson"] ignited his team with a 2-handed dunk and shortly after he slammed a lob from Mathew Pearson during a fast break. The first quarter flew by and ended with Kindred up 23-2. The rest of the first half was all Kindred. They dominated in all facets of the game. The second half slowed down, and Kindred was able to get in many reserve players. Give HCV credit, they never gave up and played hard.</p> <p><strong>Game Takeaways</strong> – Kindred is very long and athletic. Look for them to be the best defensive team in Region 1. They will be a great offensive rebounding team. Hillsboro/Central Valley is a gritty team that will only improve as the season goes on.</p> <p>Halftime Score<br /> Kindred – 41 Hillsboro/Central Valley – 14<br /> Final Score<br /> Kindred – 64 Hillsboro/Central Valley - 43</p> <p><strong>Kindred Vikings</strong></p> <p><strong>Ethan McKenney (2021) |6-4 F| Kindred</strong> – Tough athletic player off the bench. He is a versatile defender and an aggressive rebounder. Ethan is a “glue guy” that makes his team better. Every team wants a player like this on their squad. Look for Ethan to have a great year for the Vikings.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="731867" first="Gavin" last="Keller"] (2021) |6-9 F| Kindred</strong> – His presence was felt right away in the game on the defensive side. His height alone keeps smaller guards from coming into the lane. Gavin had a couple of highlight-worthy blocks in the first half. The most impressive block was when he came across the lane and swatted the ball off the backboard. He is a mobile big, he comes out on the perimeter hedging ball-screens and recovers in time. Gavin showed tonight why he is one of the best post players in the State. He moves well, he is long, agile, smart, good feet, soft hands, wiry finishing around the rim, alters shots, and is unselfish.</p> <p><strong>Matthew Pearson (2021) |6-0 G| Kindred</strong> – This left-handed guard can handle the rock and is an unselfish passer. He looks like one of the better 3-point shooters for Kindred. Matthew is a quick playmaking guard. Look for him to be the best on-ball defender for his team this season. If teams leave him to double in the post, expect him to be raining the 3’s.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1123711" first="Max" last="McQuillan"] (2022) |6-5 G| Kindred</strong> – A big strong guard. He looked to be the primary ball-handler early in the game. His strength and size make him a nice defender. Max is a good basketball player that is gifted with size and athleticism.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812227" first="Paul" last="Olson"] (2022) (6-4 G| Kindred</strong> – Get this player on your radar right now! He is a must-see player. Paul is an amazing athlete who can jump out of the gym. Early in the game he blew by the defender and slammed home a 2-handed dunk. A few minutes later he hammered down a lob from McKenney on a fast break. Olson is a solid defender and rebounder as well. He was the best player on the court in the first half tonight. His aggressiveness and ability to get into the lane leads to many free-throw opportunities. Look for him to be the most underrated scorer in Region 1.</p> <p><strong>Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1130543" first="Gannon" last="Limke"] (2022) |6-6 F| Hillsboro/Central Valley</strong> – A big athletic player. He is fundamentally sound on offense. Gannon has a nice shot-fake and a few crafty moves in the lane. As the season progresses look for him to progress into a legitimate scoring threat for HCV.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1130542" first="Jackson" last="Anderson"] (2021) |6-3 G| Hillsboro/Central Valley</strong> – A guard who is athletic and hard working. He never gave up, no matter how much his team was down. Jackson has a nice shot from outside who will hit his fair share of 3’s this season. He was the best player for the Burros tonight. Look for Jackson to have a breakout senior season, and potentially be an All-Region selection.</p>