Mounds View 64 CDH 51 - Five Things to Know

Two of the top contenders for the SEC title met in game one and it was the veteran, experienced team that won out. Mounds View knocked off CDH 64-51. One. The Veterans Won Out. Mounds View earned this opening night win for a variety of reasons, and all of them have to do with the Mustangs being the more experienced team. <ul> <li>What bench was louder and more into the game? Mounds View</li> <li>Which team moved the basketball not just with regularity, but with a purpose, and with an idea of what their teammates were doing? Mounds View</li> <li>Of the two teams who was the better help defensive team, the better team in defensive communication, and the squad that played with more defensive energy? Mounds View</li> <li>And at the end when [player_tooltip player_id="774923" first="Cole" last="Sorenson"] bounced the ball hard on the ground and the team ran out on to the floor like they won a section game, not a season opener, it was Mounds View that seemed to want it more. </li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="774870" first="Evan" last="Kim"] (10 points making both his threes - the only shots he took), [player_tooltip player_id="774923" first="Cole" last="Sorenson"] (14 points, 5 boards), and [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] (8 points, 7 boards, 5 assists) are Mounds View veterans that had big roles last season and that gave Mounds View the biggest edge. Two. Don’t Let This Game Fool You. Cretin-Derham Hall is breaking in a lot of new players. They had four starters last night that haven’t started before plus a full slate of reserves that have no experience. This is not the CDH team that you will see 6-7 weeks from now. Many of these players still have to learn how to play with [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"]. I commend Tre for keeping the ball moving as he tried hard to get others involved but in game one many of his teammates are still finding a comfort for the offense. The Raiders have pieces with Tre being an All-State star, [player_tooltip player_id="532602" first="Jack" last="Tauer"] a top defender, Peter Howard having strong low post potential (9 points 7 boards), and Jack Plum (15 points, 9 boards) looking like an active workhorse. I’m not saying the Raiders will win the state title but when the section is decided, and when conference match-ups get heated, the Raiders will still be in the thick of things. They will need some time though. Three. Kobe Kirk’s Breakout Game. Last summer 6-foot-3 Mounds View junior Kobe Kirk had a 24 point, 7 rebound game for the Minnesota Heat in a blowout. It wasn’t against a top team but it was a glimpse of what Kobe could be. We saw Kirk stroke the basketball and do it with a great lift and a quick release that can be tough to defend. CDH’s defense will attest to it as well. Friday night Kobe made 7 of 11 field goal attempts (four threes made) including the dagger three coming off a ball screen late in the game. Kirk’s ten point explosion down the stretch put Mounds View over the top putting all of us on notice that the Mustangs may have two big scoring options on the wing (along with Wheeler). Kirk is certainly a shooter, but there’s some burst to his step, a confidence, and a lift to him that could make him a strong prospect. Four. [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"]. Defensively [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"] could/should become an elite college basketball defender. His ability to laterally explode over the screen as well as the strength and knowledge of how to avoid being screened ranks with the best I have seen. Tre’s determination as a defender, his quickness of hands, and his anticipation are elite. Offensively I commend Holloman for doing his best to try and get his team going offensively and not just through attacking and dishing, but not forcing his offense. Instead Holloman was skipping passes over the top and reversing the ball because Tre knows for his team to be good his teammates need to build experience and confidence. Holloman will be the top scorer for sure and he did put 16 points on the board. Holloman had a tough night scoring from the field - missed all but one jumper and missed a couple deep paint attempts - but Tre confidently knocked out 7 if 8 foul shots. Holloman is the ultimate competitor and I’d expect him to come out hungry versus Irondale tomorrow. Five. Player Notes. Here are notes on some other players from the CDH/MV game. [player_tooltip player_id="1071206" first="Joey" last="Bruggers"] of Mounds View (6’4 SF Sr)/[player_tooltip player_id="774870" first="Evan" last="Kim"] (6’3 SG Sr). In half one [player_tooltip player_id="1071206" first="Joey" last="Bruggers"] knocked out a couple triples, moved the ball intelligently for three assists, and was an active all around player. Bruggers is a talent we saw this summer with the Crossfire and a player we noted. He played his role and then [player_tooltip player_id="774870" first="Evan" last="Kim"] - last year’s Mounds View’s leading scorer - came on later and scored ten points (hitting his only two attempts and all four foul shots). Peter Howard of Cretin-Derham Hall (6’8, PF/C, Sr). I think the Raiders have something in Howard up front and that’s why they put in a solid effort to get him low block touches. Howard has a big frame that worked himself into solid low post position most of the night. He has a soft touch that the Raiders entered the ball into 8-9 times. Howard scored nine points on 3 of 5 shooting from the field, and 3 of 8 foul shooting. Mounds View didn’t have a player that could move Howard off the block nor will many others. So when CDH’s guards/wings get more comfortable entering to Howard, and when Howard is able to take advantage of opportunities more, I think he can be a college post at the D3 level. Jack Plum of Cretin-Derham Hall (6’4, SF, Sr). One of the surprises of the night was Plum’s 15 points and nine boards. A lot of his numbers were sheer effort. Plum is an active player who chased down boards and moved off the ball constantly. Plum recorded second chance points, he cut off the ball for scores, and was overall a tough player to chase all game. [player_tooltip player_id="774923" first="Cole" last="Sorenson"] of Mounds View (6’0 PG, Sr). Simply put I loved how Sorenson played leading his team. As a key decision maker Cole actually scored a quick ten points making his first four shots of the game. However, it never swayed Cole from keeping the Mounds View offense moving in a constant motion. He scored 14 points with five boards and 2-3 assists. An energetic, veteran performance. [player_tooltip player_id="532602" first="Jack" last="Tauer"] of Cretin-Derham Hall (6’4, SG, Sr). Tauer was tasked with defending [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] and he was up to the task forcing Wheeler into a single digit scoring game missing six of nine field goal attempts. That was Tauer’s number one job and he did it well. [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] of Mounds View (6’5, Wing, Jr). As we just said it was a tough day for Wheeler shooting (3 of 9 for eight points). That said, Wheeler was crucial to the Mounds View win. He hit a clutch three late in the game that helped put Mounds View up double digits. Dylan had a team high seven boards and a team high five assists. Without the space needed Wheeler helped Sorenson, Wheeler, and others get the open looks needed to win.