Max’s Weekend Standouts

<p>Over the weekend I was able to catch a pair of games, with one in the metro and the other in out-state Minnesota. On Friday night I watched Woodbury defeat East Ridge in a close game, and Saturday afternoon I took in Stewartville @ Lake City to catch a handful of talented prospects! These are seven of the players who stood out from the two games.</p> <p><strong>Hunter Lorenson (5’9 2024 PG, Lake City)- </strong>I have a feeling that Hunter Lorenson will be making a name for himself in Class AA over the next few years, as the freshman point guard showcased a nice blend of skills and confidence on Saturday. Hunter is extremely quick and has a nice handle for the ball, allowing him to remain calm under pressure. Though standing at 5’9 he showed no fear getting into the paint and making things happen with his vision and ability to put up a soft floater. He has a smooth shot from outside, and he made plays on the defensive end with his ability to read passing lanes and move his feet quickly. Hunter finished with a team high 20 points against Stewartville.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"] (6’9 2021 F, Stewartville)- </strong>Though not his best scoring performance by any means, Will put up a team high 18 points to help Stewartville defeat a scrappy Lake City team. Will faced constant double teams, and was going up against a box-and-one defense during the first half, limiting any easy looks. If he caught in the post he was constantly being swarmed, but was able to find his open shooters. From the perimeter he knocked down a few threes, and looked improved creating his own shot off the dribble compared to last season. To start the second half he hit a smooth turnaround jumper on the baseline, and though he didn’t score much the rest of the half, he was able to draw some fouls for a couple of trips to the charity stripe. Defensively his length around the rim also made some of Lake City’s players think twice about shooting in the paint.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774787" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] (6’2 2021 G, Woodbury)- </strong>After Woodbury started off the game ice cold, it was [player_tooltip player_id="774787" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] who stepped up and help push them to a win. At 6’2 he has a nice frame and some athleticism on the wing, and he used his shooting touch to get Woodbury going. He moves well off the ball to find himself openings on the perimeter, and has no shortage of confidence letting it fly off the catch. Already knowing he could shoot the ball, I came away impressed with a couple of his drives getting into the paint and then dishing it off through tight windows for the assist. Add in his defensive effort that helped limit East Ridge’s offense throughout the game, and it was a strong performance. Finished with 16 points in the win.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962211" first="Alex" last="Mattes"] (6’3 2023 G, East Ridge)- </strong>With East Ridge missing their leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id="962211" first="Alex" last="Mattes"] stepped up into a bigger role and had some nice flashes. He’s so good at playing with a calm demeanor, and then surprising his defender with a quick burst to attack the rim. His ability to accelerate and then glide to the rim allowed for a few scores at the basket, and he also looked confident in his outside jumper. At 6’3 he could handle the ball for his team, and also play on the wing, with that versatility translating to the defensive end as well. He scored 9 points in what was a low scoring game for the Raptors.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="956149" first="Nolan" last="Stier"] (6’2 2021 PG, Stewartville)- </strong>Nolan continued his strong run of play on Saturday, scoring 13 points as Stewartville knocked off Lake City. Nolan is so slippery with the ball in his hands, able to effortlessly weave in and out of defenders, and push the tempo in transition. In the first half he had a quick scoring burst hitting multiple threes with his quick release, and had a huge rejection in transition on the defensive end. In the second he didn’t score as much, but had a really nice take to the basket from the top of the key leading to a soft floater over the top. Nolan does a good job of remaining calm and composed throughout the game, and sets up all of his teammates with clean looks and opportunities to succeed.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957235" first="Donald" last="West"] (6’4 2021 F, Woodbury)- </strong>Playing for an experienced Woodbury team where it seems like someone new can step up every night, it was [player_tooltip player_id="957235" first="Donald" last="West"] who brought energy and toughness to the floor on Friday. Not afraid to bang in the post against taller defenders, Donald put together a strong run in the first half with a handful of tough finishes in traffic around the rim. Defensively he was constantly locked in, preventing clean looks from East Ridge’s post players, competing for every rebound, and even blocking a couple of shots. He also hit a clutch three and two free throws late in the game to help his team secure the win. Perhaps the most impactful though was his constant energy and communication, a trait that I’ve noticed as being especially effective this season with limited fans.</p> <p><strong>Ryan Heise (6’5 2023 SF, Lake City)- </strong>Ryan Heise was a pleasant surprise at Saturday’s game. At 6’5 he’s an extremely long and lanky wing prospect, and despite being the tallest player on the floor for the Tigers at times, he does his damage from the perimeter. Ryan was a shooting threat all night long for Lake City, doing well to get into space on the wing and then firing up a high arcing shot that he hit consistently. Part of a strong young core for Lake City, he’ll be a key player for them over the next few seasons. Looking forward to watching Ryan develop as he continues to improve both athletically and skillfully. </p>