B Championship – Impressive Players – Kindred 40 E-K-M 34

Michael Herrick March 20, 2021 @ 11:11 PM

Coming into the Championship game Kindred was the #5 seed and had a 20-4 record. E-K-M was the #3 seed and had a 24-2 record. These two squads played earlier in the year and E-K-M won in a low-scoring game 44-39. Before this game, the Vikings averaged 60.1 ppg and give up 42.3 ppg. The Rebels scored 59 ppg and allow 44.4 ppg. Halftime Score – Kindred 16 E-K-M 16 Final Score – Kindred 40 E-K-M 34 Made 3’s – Kindred= 1 E-K-M= 5 It was a tough physical game that was low scoring, yet wildly entertaining. Kindreds length and athleticism was the difference in the game. The Vikings and Rebels are both excellent on the defensive end. The best defensive team in Class B won the championship tonight! Here are the top players from tonight’s game: 1. [player_tooltip player_id="812227" first="Paul" last="Olson"] (2022) (6-4 G| Kindred – 23 pts, 5 reb, 1 triple, 6-7 FT’s. If the Vikings did not have Olson tonight, they would have struggled to score. Paul began his scoring with a post-up turn-around jumper in the 1st quarter. Later in the first half, Olson scored on a middle drive that ended with a smooth floater. I was impressed with his 1-dribble 15-foot jumper in the first half. He blocked multiple shots on defense. Paul also had multiple offensive rebounds and he was able to score off putbacks. He ignited the Vikings in the second half with a breakaway 2-handed slam dunk. Paul showed off his shooting ability with a left-wing 3-pointer in the second half. When breaking the press, he had a high-light reel lob pass to Peraza for a dunk. He was solid at the FT-line tonight and he helped close out the game from the line. What a game for Mr. Olson! <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/alexhuber-crop-687x451-1613779304.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1135313" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/alexhuber-crop-687x451-1613779304-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> 2. [player_tooltip player_id="750172" first="Alex" last="Huber"] (2021) |6-5 F| Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier –17 pts, 7 reb, 3 triples, 2-2 FT’s. He started the Rebel scoring with a mid-range pull-up jumper. Alex showed off his shooting range in the 1st quarter with a 3-pointer. He had an excellent drive and dish in the first half that gave his teammate an easy basket. Huber had an efficient baseline drive in the first half that he finished for 2 points. Alex made a great hustle play to save an offensive rebound that he threw back inbounds to a teammate and it led to 2 points for the Rebels. I love his long and quick first step. In the second half, Alex showed off an amazing spin move that he finished with defenders draped all over him. He also hit a top-of-the-key 3-pointer and a sweet step-back 3-pointer. Huber is a great basketball player! <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Gavin-Keller.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1147641" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Gavin-Keller-214x300.jpeg" alt="" width="214" height="300" /></a> 3. [player_tooltip player_id="731867" first="Gavin" last="Keller"] (2021) |6-9 F| Kindred – 6 pts, 5 reb, 5 blocks. He showed off a nice drop-step early in the game for 2-points. I like his elbow jump-shot. In the first half, Gavin caught at the elbow, dribbled twice, and pulled up for a 1-handed jump-shot. That play was impressive, I had not seen him make a play like that this season. He was an eraser on defense blocking shots. I liked the way he made the extra pass on offense, very few big men can pass like that. It was a perfect way for him to end his high school career, with a State Championship! 4. [player_tooltip player_id="1123710" first="Jaiden" last="Peraza"] (2022) |6-4 F| Kindred – 8 pts, 5 reb. He made his the biggest impact on defense while chasing and limiting Huber. Jaiden started the scoring in the game with a basket off a back screen lob pass. He had multiple offensive rebounds and 1 put-back basket. Peraza made a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk in the second half. I was impressed with a great cut he had in the second half and his left-handed finish. He is a supreme athlete. I have a hard time imagining how tough of a player he will be by next November! 5. Paxton Mathern (2021) |6-0 G| Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier – 7 pts, 4 reb, 1 triple. I liked his 1 dribble pull-up jumper early in the game. He also showcased an awesome right-wing 3-point pull-up jumper in the first half. I was impressed with Paxton’s help-side defense. Late in the game, Paxton made a smooth baseline pull-up jumper. This was not how he wanted the year to end but it was a great season for Mr. Mathern and the Rebels!