Minnesota Playoff Central: Islanders Look Tough

<p>It’s the final week of playoffs before the state tournament.  Upsets, DeLaSalle rolling, games in Section 1 tonight, March Madness rolls on. </p> <p><strong>Playoff Central</strong>.  Saturday night I watched DeLaSalle defeat Waconia 72-46 in a game where the Islanders missed just 13 or 14 shots (I left my notes at home unfortunately) and shot 17 of 22 for the first half with eight threes made.  If DeLaSalle is shooting like that, they will be very tough to beat.  Especially the way the Islanders defend.  DeLaSalle’s ability to switch a screen and bring a defender that looks even hungrier at the ball, it’s mentally defeating.  And for years they’ve done it better than most. </p> <p>Entering the playoffs sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962218" first="Nasir" last="Whitlock"]</strong> is feeling comfortable as a go to playmaker while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774807" first="Evan" last="Boyd"]</strong> is playing some of the best basketball of you career.  Whitlock had 17 points in the first half scoring on three triples and all his foul shots.  Boyd paired that with another 17 points making three threes and six of eight shots total.  Add in the production they know <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"]</strong> will provide (scored 12 points) and DeLaSalle is a dangerous squad playing well at the right time. </p> <p><strong>Upset City</strong>.   At 16-1 and ranked in the top ten of Class AA basketball the Mora Mustangs were the favorite in the 2/10 game of Section 6AA Saturday.  The fear?  Sauk Centre has some young players that are playing much better team basketball at the end of the year.  The Mainstreeters had won six of their last seven games coming in and Saturday they put together a strong performance for a 53-50 victory.  Freshman <strong>Jay Neubert</strong> is one of the best players in his grade statewide and his 18 points led the way. </p> <p><strong>The Big Stage.  </strong>Park of Cottage Grove had one of the upsets of Class AAAA basketball this year when they knocked off 3rd ranked 17-2 Eastview 55-52 on Saturday. The Wolfpack are a budding program with talent that was capable of this win, but many expected the Lightning to be contending for a title.  Eastview is very talented but the one thing they have been short on is a low post player with center size that can stop a player like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958715" first="Pharrel" last="Payne"]</strong>.   Payne scored 20 in the overtime victory as he continues to help push the Wolfpack program to a higher level. It’s Park vs Rosemount for state this week.</p> <p><strong>Players To Watch</strong>.   There are only four games tonight and they all come from section 1 in Class AA and Class A.  Semi-final games. Who can you see this evening?</p> <p><strong>Lake City</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="796956" first="Justin" last="Wohlers"], freshman Hunter Lorenson) vs <strong>Stewartville</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"], [player_tooltip player_id="956149" first="Nolan" last="Stier"], up and coming Miles HettingerO</p> <p><strong>PEM</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="774814" first="Blake" last="Herber"], [player_tooltip player_id="957642" first="Connor" last="Schumacher"]) vs <strong>Caledonia</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="957133" first="Sam" last="Privet"], [player_tooltip player_id="774936" first="Andrew" last="Kunelius"], Jackson Kopeke)</p> <p><strong>Hayfield</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="957199" first="Ethan" last="Slaathaug"], Easton Fritcher, [player_tooltip player_id="962284" first="Isaac" last="Matti"]) vs <strong>Lyle-Austin Pacelli</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="962256" first="Buay" last="Koak"], Cole Walter)</p> <p><strong>Southland</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="774824" first="Ethan" last="Forthun"], Eli Wolff) vs <strong>Rushford-Peterson</strong> ([player_tooltip player_id="958808" first="Justin" last="Ruhberg"], [player_tooltip player_id="774776" first="Luke" last="O’Hare"]))</p> <p><strong>Tip of the Hat to the Career</strong>. Albany (17-3) knocked out Eden Valley-Watkins (17-3) in the best 4/5 game you will see all March.  In the EVW loss, [player_tooltip player_id="567037" first="Joshua" last="Streit"] scored 16 and had his outstanding career come to an end. Streit has always been a do whatever it takes kind of player and that’s what he will do for North Dakota State the next several years.  Joshua always carried himself with class, always played the role he was asked on whatever team, and is well respected.  </p>