Minnesota State Tournament Semi-Finals: Friday Top Performers

The title games are set!  Annandale versus Minneapolis North and Hayfield against BBE.  Here are Friday’s top performers from the semi-final rounds of Class AA and Class A!

De’Meiko Anderson De’Meiko Anderson 6'1" | SG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis North (6’1 Sr).  Anderson has become a taller and stronger shooting guard and it greatly helped his impact on the game.  Demeiko led North in scoring this season and in the Tiger game today Anderson led his team with 19 points.  The biggest key was the four threes on six attempts that Anderson sunk for his team.  A shooter that I think is just getting started as a prospect. 

Isaac Asuma Isaac Asuma 6'3" | PG Cherry | 2024 State #102 Nation MN of Cherry (6’2 Soph).  Isaac scored the most efficient 36 points that you may ever see.  He shot 14 of 20 and a few of those misses were shots he had to take late despite the degree of difficulty.  The biggest thing for me was the way Isaac set up his makes.  We saw him crossover left, moving his defender to set up a spin move.  Isaac used a fake crossover look to freeze his defender to set up a pull-up.  And we saw Isaac head fake a pass that opened up an attack.  Asuma was unselfish, he was efficient, and Asuma has range on his shot that he doesn’t abuse (in other words, he doesn’t take dumb threes).  We have him as a top ten player in his class and now we have to think…. top five?  A favorite for Class A Player of the Year.  And Isaac is a sophomore. 

Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis (6’6 Sr).  Butler is the plug and play guy.  Type of player that is skilled, has size, and can do a number of things.  Tonight the Polars needed him to rebound, be a threat en route to the rim, and keep his length in front of the four man.  Butler responded with 18 rebounds total: 14 that were quickly pushed the other way and four offensive boards that he turned into points.  Jacob went to the cup to get all of his 14 points which was six of six foul shooting and four scores at the cup.  

Easton Fritcher of Hayfield (6’2 Sr).  Fritcher was Hayfield’s ultimate mismatch.  He was often defended by somebody that stodd five foot something which was an impossible task for Cherry players.  Easton is one of the strongest players at the state tournament this year so he out-muscled players for 8 of 10 shooting, he grabbed a dozen boards, and he got to spots in the offense to feed teammates for five assists.  Future Gopher baseball player. 

Carson Gagnon Carson Gagnon 5'9" | PG Annandale | 2022 State MN of Annandale (5’8 Fr).  Carson got hot.  Red hot.  So hot early in the second half that he flipped a four score Warrior lead into a four score Annandale lead.  Six threes hit in a short time span and seven threes made for the game on his way to a 30 point outing.  Annandale spread the floor brilliantly and moved the ball to find Gagnon in spots that Caledonia couldn’t stretch to. Gagnon also made all seven of his foul shots. 

Zander Jacobson Zander Jacobson 6'6" | PF Minnesota Valley Lutheran | 2024 State MN of Hayfield (6’5 Soph). Zander was defended by players 4-5 inches smaller and about 30 pounds smaller all game.  Jacobson posted his frame on the block, moved within the sets or motion offense, and caught and finished eight of ten field goals.  It wasn’t complex, Jacobson used his size to give a target and he finished deep in the paint for 15 points and eight boards. 

Eli King Eli King 6'2" | PG Caledonia | 2022 State #151 Nation MN of Caledonia (6’3 Sr).  Eli King Eli King 6'2" | PG Caledonia | 2022 State #151 Nation MN has been the king of late game comebacks but tonight the difference between his team and Annandale was far too great.  King did his part: 24 points on 8 of 21 shooting, a dozen rebounds, six assists, seven steals, perfect foul shooting on six attempts, and the type of all around impact that will make him the Class AA Player of the Year.  King will likely look at the game and find a couple shots he would have liked to have had back but in the grand scheme of things it was another excellent all around performance from a nationally ranked talent. 

Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN of Morris Area (6’8 Sr).  Loge’s team lost but Jackson put together what was likely a legendary individual performance.  Jackson blocked eight shots, limiting the Polar paint scores in the halfcourt set.  Loge grabbed 14 rebounds, he passed the ball well against pressure once again, and of course he scored 37 points.  Loge’s hands and footwork rank with the best.  His ability to catch the ball on the move and make a play is a part of the high level of body control and coordination, plus the Loge post work is high level.  Throw in that he’s been a 40 percent three point shooter the last couple years (three tonight) and you have a big time performance.  Jackson scored on 14 of 26 attempts. 

Isaac Matti Isaac Matti 6'1" | SG Hayfield | 2023 State MN of Hayfield (6’2 Jr).  The most noteworthy score for me (from Isaac) today was his step back three.  But the biggest thing was that Matti just played his part in the gameplan to help the Vikings beat Cherry.  Hayfield had a massive strength and size edge against Cherry so they ran several sets to get their size the right touches.  Matti played his role within that, but also scored six buckets for 13 points. 

Ethan Pack Ethan Pack 6'1" | SG Hayfield | 2023 State MN of Hayfied (6’0 Jr).  Pack scored a team-high 19 points and a key part of that was his 7 of 11 foul shooting.  Pack is often the team’s three point threat and Ethan did that early hitting a couple threes.  But as the game went on, Ethan used his size advantage to get to the rim within the structure.  In addition, Hayfield’s defense limited the Cherry role players to 25 points and Pack did his job defensively.  

Rio Sanders of Minneapolis North (6’0 Sr).  This was the biggest impact I have seen Rio have on a game and you could argue that his approach both ways could have made him game MVP for his team before he was hurt.  The basket push by Sanders led to five scores of his own and five assists to teammates going at the cup.  Sanders was also a key piece in the Polars press that forced 14 Tiger turnovers. The halftime buzzer beater was a key basket for North. 

Brady Spaulding Brady Spaulding 6'7" | SF Annandale | 2022 State MN of Annandale (6’6 Sr).  Spaulding wears a number of hats for this Cardinal basketball club.  He often is the main ball handler but also a strong rebounder who grabbed six defensive boards tonight and moved the ball the other direction.  Spaulding scored four times, dished out four assists, and often made the right first read so that Annandale halfcourt offense could spread and dice their opponents.