Thursday’s Individual Matchups To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sectional rounds have arrived, and that means it's the best of the best competing across Wisconsin this week. I'll be taking a look at five individual player matchups to keep an eye on Thursday night! Stats via wissports.net</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1447229' first='Will' last='Garlock'] (Middleton) vs [player_tooltip player_id='981001' first='Simeon' last='Murchison'] (Milwaukee Hamilton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sun Prairie East will play host to an exciting post matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='1447229' first='Will' last='Garlock'] is just a sophomore, but standing at 6'10 he has the ability to make an impact in the paint for a top-3 Division One team. He moves well at his size, has touch around the basket, and has a solid frame for his age to withstand some contact down low. Garlock puts his size to use defensively, and has also put up 11.5 ppg this season, good for second on the team. He'll be faced off against [player_tooltip player_id='981001' first='Simeon' last='Murchison'], one of the top bigs in the state's senior class. Murchison is very dangerous in transition because he runs the floor just as good, if not better, than any other big, and then has the explosiveness to get up and finish with a dunk. In the half-court he can score from dump-off passes or face up and hit a mid-range shot. Uses his length and quick bounce to rebound and block shots at a high level. Murchison has averaged 19.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1362736' first='Jack' last='Lutz'] (Whitnall) vs [player_tooltip player_id='1289064' first='Elijah' last='Griffin'] (Westosha Central)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two sophomores have had big years for a pair of the top teams in Division 2. Jack leads a balanced Whitnall team in scoring at 17.2 ppg, but has been on fire as of late averaging 22.8 over his last nine games. He's a 40% shooter from deep, but can also get to his spots in the mid-range and knock down a pull-up jumper. Because of the talent around him, he doesn't have to force his offense and can make plays both as a scorer or facilitator. [player_tooltip player_id='1289064' first='Elijah' last='Griffin'] is one of the best passers in the state, and it shows with his impressive 7.4 assists per game average. He excels at getting into the paint and forcing defenders to collapse on him, allowing Griffin to quickly dish it off to a newly open teammate. Is good for at least one highlight level no-look pass per game. Also leads Central in scoring at 13.9 ppg, and is a streaky shooter who can put up points in a hurry once he sees a couple of shots go in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mitchell McCarty (Campbellsport) vs [player_tooltip player_id='1017916' first='Jeremy' last='Lorenz'] (Brillion)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back into the paint for this matchup as Mitchell is a do-it-all frontcourt player who plays a bit bigger than his size at 6'5. McCarty is a monster on the glass and can go to work around the basket using either power or finesse to score at the rim. Averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds per game. His matchup will be no small task though, as [player_tooltip player_id='1017916' first='Jeremy' last='Lorenz'] is one of the finalists for Mr. Basketball. Lorenz has the size and athleticism to score at a high level around the basket, and can also do a bit off the dribble. No slouch on the defensive side either, as last season at the state tournament he set a tournament record with 9 blocks in a single game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joah Bodden (Kettle Moraine) vs [player_tooltip player_id='1203034' first='M.J.' last='Stackhouse'] (Kenosha Indian Trail)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joah is the biggest player on Kettle Moraine, and his size with be much needed in a matchup with Indian Trail. At 6'6, his height will be necessary in protecting the paint as well as limiting the opposing team to one shot possessions with his rebounding. Joah moves well at his size and isn't afraid to shoot it from outside if you give him too much space. On the other side will be MJ Stackhouse, one of the top junior forwards in the state, and perhaps the most explosive. Stackhouse will look to dunk everything around the rim, and with his athleticism it doesn't take much effort for him to get off the floor and throw down in traffic. He does have the ability to step out and create space off the dribble, but is most efficient when he looks to operate around the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1043749' first='Emmett' last='Lawton'] (Notre Dame) vs [player_tooltip player_id='981202' first='Ethan' last='Heck'] (West De Pere)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two seniors can absolutely shoot the lights out. Emmett is scoring 21.2 ppg as a senior, and is someone who has the ability to score at all three levels. Never one to shy away from a big moment, Emmett wants the ball in his hands during crunch time, and will no-doubt be looking to produce at a high level and lead his team to another playoff win. [player_tooltip player_id='981202' first='Ethan' last='Heck'] is one of the best pure shooters in the state, shooting an impressive 45% from deep this season, and is coming off a 34 point performance in which he knocked down 7 threes. You just can't afford to let him catch into space, as he's able to quickly get squared up off the move and knock down threes off the catch. Can also drive and stop on two feet in the paint, utilizing his footwork to create shots from there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->