Grit Region Finals: Ramsey’s Sunday Notebook Part 1

<p>The calendar has officially turned from July to August and that means that AAU basketball is in the rearview mirror. While the day-to-day grind slows down between now and the start of high school basketball practices, there will still be plenty of coverage coming your way throughout this month as showcases and college elite camps take the stage. Before closing the chapter of AAU season we will empty out the notebook from Sunday at the Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals.</p> <h3>Illinois Bears Hold On Versus Tipping Point</h3> <p>Despite trailing 34-18 at the half, Tipping Point 2022 had Sunday morning's first game of the day down to just five points with five minutes to play. 6'7" forward Tyler Degroote (Schoolcraft H.S. 2022) scored 12 points in the second half to help get Tipping Point back in the game, but it proved to be too little, too late.</p> <p>Matching Degroote bucket-for-bucket down the stretch was 6'3" wing Ty Lenhardt (Waterloo H.S. 2022) who scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to secure the victory for the Bears. Along with Lenhardt who is an efficient three-level scorer, 6'6" Saxton Hoepker (Nashville H.S. 2022) was the other prospect to stand out for the Bears. Hoepker can really shoot it which coaches will love at his height.</p> [caption id="attachment_1254518" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Beck-Willems1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1254518 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Beck-Willems1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Beck Willems[/caption] <p>Degroote, a super physical forward with solid perimeter skills led the way for Tipping Point, but I came away most impressed with Beck Willems (Bethany Christian H.S. 2022). The 6'3" wing nailed five three-pointers showcasing the ability to hit tough ones off of screening action with sound footwork. High IQ player with a great motor. A.J. Williams (South Bend Riley H.S. 2022) was another intriguing prospect as a 6'6" forward. Williams plays incredibly hard on both ends of the floor and has a lot of raw potential. Super bouncy around the basket.</p> <h3>Brandon Trilli's Dominant Performance</h3> <p>The move-in from Arizona has been excellent all summer long for Indiana Game 2023 Premier really making a name for himself here in the Hoosier state. However, the 6'4" forward saved arguably his best game for the right time in the Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals. In the quarterfinals on Sunday, Trilli poured in 28 points against a very talented Dayton Elite 2023 squad to help Indiana Game escape with an 85-83 victory.</p> <p>Trilli is at his best scoring it in the paint with a variety of creative finishes, but he has continued to show that he is getting better and better from the perimeter as well. The Munster High School product knocked in two threes in his 28-point performance along with at least a couple others that I saw over the course of the weekend. If he can start becoming a consistent shooter along with all of his interior skill he will be one of the better scorers in "The Region."</p> <h3>INB Elite Advances Past Indiana Game Premier in Semis</h3> <p>Two highly talented Indiana 2023 teams turned in a spectacular semi-final matchup on Sunday afternoon at Fishers High School. Brandon Trilli, once again, was scoring it for Indiana Game with 9 points in the first half. However, future Purdue Boilermaker Myles Colvin (Heritage Christian H.S. 2023) got the best of the duel by scoring 14 of his own to give INB a 29-28 halftime advantage.</p> [caption id="attachment_1255296" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zane-Doughty.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1255296 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zane-Doughty-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></a> Zane Doughty[/caption] <p>In the second half, Marcus Northern (South Bend Washington H.S. 2023) got it going for Indiana Game but Myles Colvin was still too much to stop and INB was able to hold on to a 60-58 victory and move on to the 16u championship game. Colvin finished with 26 points for INB while Northern and Trilli scored 18 and 17 points respectively for Indiana Game in the loss.</p> <p>Big man Zane Doughty (Ben Davis H.S. 2023) was solid in this one for INB contributing 12 points while making a consistent difference on the defensive end with his rim protection. At 6'9", Doughty really bothered a mostly undersized Indiana Game team. A.J. Lux (Crown Point H.S. 2023) added 13 points for Indiana Game including a pair of threes.</p> <h3>Out-of-State Top Performers</h3> <p>Here are five guys from outside of Indiana that really impressed me throughout the day on Sunday:</p> <ul> <li>Trey Kolakovich (Croswell-Lexington H.S. 2023)- The 5'10" point guard shot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc against INB 2023 Elite Sunday morning. Kolakovich also has a lot of game off of the dribble and can finish around the basket with both hands. Very skilled guard.</li> <li>Javion Otten (Kenowa Hills H.S. 2023)- Otten is a very nice prospect as a 6'3" combo guard for Grand Rapids Thunder. He can shoot it from beyond the arc and is a nice finisher inside with his size. Has some explosiveness in the open floor as well. Scored 21 points in a quarterfinal win over Tipping Point 2023.</li> <li>Caden Pokorzynski (Rockford H.S. 2023)- A 6'5" wing, Pokorzynski has all of the physical tools you could want. He is an excellent rebounder from the wing, is skilled with the ball offensively, and his length lets him get into the passing lanes defensively. Pokorzynski poured in 25 points alongside his backcourt teammate for the Grand Rapids Thunder Javion Otten in their win over Tipping Point.</li> <li>Tyler Galluch (Springfield Central Catholic H.S. 2023)- Galluch is a 6'4" versatile wing that scored 28 points in an awesome back-and-forth battle with Brandon Trilli (who also scored 28) in Dayton Elite's loss to Indiana Game. He is long and athletic with a great inside-outside game.</li> <li>Donte Ferrell (Hughes H.S. 2024)- Ferrell scored a team-high 17 points as the Cincinnati Royals beat Team Teague 2025 in the 15u championship game. The 6'4" wing was dominate in transition getting the basket whenever he wanted.</li> </ul>