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<p>Turning our eyes to the smallest class, who will stand atop 1A Div. II as the Most Outstanding Player? There are some fine candidates to consider as we approach playoff time.</p>
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<p><strong>The Frontrunners:</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080198' first='Jaxson' last='Brandl'] (pictured) – There is really only one frontrunner. Brandl stood atop the classification last year when he led the Jackrabbits to a championship with an incredible tournament. Brandl has the team rolling once again, ranked first in 1A Div. II with just one loss. Brandl does it all, and he's able to produce under pressure and to make those around him better.</p>
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<p><strong>The Risers:</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1212165' first='Alec' last='Carlson'] – Carlson would be the second frontrunner behind Brandl due to his incredible ability to score the ball. He is averaging 25 poitns per game, while also dishing out 4 assists. Most important, he has Pawnee Heights ranked fifth, a big improvement over the Tigers' 12-11 season a year ago.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1756349' first='Kenton' last='Thalheim'] – A key player in the run to third in 1A Div. II last year, Thalheim has taken over the driver's seat this season. The junior is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists and even more important, he has the team ranked second.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1378446' first='Carson' last='Shimer'] – There aren't a lot of big men in the lowest classification, which makes Shimer a contender for Most Outstanding Player. The physical 6-foot-3 forward can really lock down the paint and get his way on the low block. He is averaging 16 points and 11 boards.</p>
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<p><strong>The Sneakers:</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1749053' first='Teagan' last='Thompson'] – The most important thing to know about Thompson is that he led his team to the state tournament a year ago despite a tiny roster. He's doing his best to do it again, racking up 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists as a senior.</p>
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<p><strong>Brock Woolf</strong> – Ok, so Woolf probably won't get many votes for Most Outstanding Player. His team – Triplains/Brewster – is well below .500 as the season nears the playoffs. But you can't ignore that, as a 6-foot-5, 265 pound post he is able to do things no one else can. The future Kansas State football player is averaging an astounding 17 points and 15 rebounds.</p>
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Turning our eyes to the smallest class, who will stand atop 1A Div. II as the Most Outstanding Player? There are some fine candidates to consider as we approach playoff time.
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