Tuesday Night Match-Up: R-P vs Caledonia, L North vs Shakopee

<p>We have two top ten contests taking center stage this evening in Minnesota high school basketball: Rushford-Peterson vs Caledonia, and Lakeville North vs Shakopee.  Here is Tuesday Night Match-Up.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Rushford-Peterson vs Caledonia</strong></p> <p>Austin Meyer vs Malachi Bunke. Austin Meyer  scored 11 as he and [player_tooltip player_id="1262106" first="Lewis" last="Doyle"] are the under six foot Warrior players that will have a responsibility to keep in front of the smaller Trojan guards who are quick and productive. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"] vs Justin Ruberg.  The leading scorers.  Both are about 6’3, both having great years.  Eli is one of the two frontrunners for the Mr. Basketball award right now I would say (in a very close race) while Ruberg leads the Trojans with his 6’3 skilled and tough approach.  Caledonia limited Ruberg to two points in the first game (a 60-49 win by Caledonia).  Eli had 20.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="962288" first="Grady" last="Hengel"].  Jackson is option two for the Warriors and he’s one of the better second options in Class AA basketball.  Kopeke had a dozen in the first game.  Hengel is a smaller guard so doubt he will be on the floor against Jackson but they are both important pieces. </p> <p>Ja’Shon Simpson vs Andrew Hoiness.  Simpson and Hoiness are the picture of what the teams will want to do to be at their best.  Simpson is a strong, 6’3 wing option that will go at the up and score.  Hoiness is 5’6 and one of many smaller guards RP has.  If RP is too quick, Caledonia may have to go smaller.  If Caledonia is too big for Hoiness and others to stop, RP may have to change up the gameplan.  </p> <p>Chris Pieper vs [player_tooltip player_id="1288816" first="Dawson" last="Bunke"].  Pieper is the Caledonia starting five but don’t forget [player_tooltip player_id="1225624" first="Thane" last="Meiners"] plays a lot too when Caledonia goes smaller.  Bunke is a really good 6’4 forward that is having a breakout season so Pieper’s D will be important.  Dawson hit three threes in the firs game scoring 13 points.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lakeville North vs Shakopee</strong></p> <p>Will Drake vs [player_tooltip player_id="850717" first="Cade" last="McGraw"].  The ball handlers.  Drake will give way to Robison at times while McGraw is both a scorer and a tough lead guard, he will allow the Snells to handle for his team at times.  Drake is more of a role player in North’s rotation while McGraw has the ball in his hands a lot. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1226375" first="JT" last="Thornton"]/[player_tooltip player_id="1139350" first="Hudson" last="Vaith"] vs  [player_tooltip player_id="958711" first="Quinten" last="Snell"]/[player_tooltip player_id="1284142" first="Issac" last="Snell"].  Thornton had 13 in game one while Vaith either missed the game or went scoreless (not listed in box score).  Thornton and Vaith are bigger wings than the Snells, JT is very agile at 6’3 while Vaith is about a 6’4/6’5 shooter.  The Snells are tough, smart competitors that defend well.  Quinten scored 15 in the first game. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1284147" first="Jack" last="Robison"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="850728" first="Nick" last="Katona"].  I could see Katona on Robison as Nick is one of the top defenders in the state and he can guard several spots.  Robison is a rare talent at 6’7 that can play four positions comfortable on the wing and with the ball in his hands and Nick has done well against that type of player.  Although Robison had 16 in the first game. </p> <p>Brayden Manning vs [player_tooltip player_id="1144100" first="Yonis" last="Mohamud"].  Kind of the ex-factors in the group.  Yonis is an explosive wing scoring threat that can get excited and get the team going.  Manning is a tough, active forward that will do more around the basket.  Shakopee is smaller as a team but the senior group with more skill.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962214" first="Nolan" last="Winter"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="1267322" first="Sam" last="West"].   I’m not entirely sure how these teams matched up the first time around when Shako won 68-56 but I know that Winter was limited to 13 points.  I am guessing that the Sabers used West’s toughness on Winter often in what every defensive look they went with.  West will certainly fight in the post working to move Winter away from the cup. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>