Recap: 2023 Viking Classic

MILWAUKEE -- The 2023 Viking Classic returned to Wisconsin Lutheran College featuring Fox Valley Lutheran vs. Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Wisconsin Lutheran taking on Arrowhead...'     [player_tooltip player_id='1142119' first='Bennett' last='Basich'] - 2024 - SG - Arrowhead   Basich sparked Arrowhead in the second half and made it a game momentarily. The Green Bay commit finished with a team-high 24 points. As always, regardless of the opponent or his individual matchup, Basich just went after people. He's an extremely confident, competitive guard who might hate losing more than he likes winning. Shaking off some early shooting struggles, Basich started getting two feet in the paint to help get himself going. This season, Basich is going to be adjusting to taking a lot more shots. I think it's a role he's comfortable with and embracing, but with no Mac Wrecke and Austin Villareal, the attention he's seeing from opposing defenses has increased drastically. There's going to be 10 eyeballs on him upon every touch and think Basich is performing admirably against that thus far.    [player_tooltip player_id='1364523' first='Jace' last='Gilbert'] - 2024 - PF - Arrowhead   Gilbert is one of the biggest x-factors in the state. What he means to Arrowhead goes beyond words. The Warhawks are asking a Division 1 football player to shut down the paint defensively, do a ton of the dirty work, and give them an offensive boost. There's a lot on his plate and just given how much time he's got to spend on football year-round to go play at Iowa State next season, Gilbert handles it all -- and then some. Chipping in with 17 points, Gilbert knocked down a 3-pointer, had some terrific post scores, set a tone defensively, owned the glass, and even took a charge. He's not afraid to get physical with anybody and have seen Gilbert hold his own against Division 1 forwards in this class.    Kon Knueppel - 2024 - SG - Wisconsin Lutheran   Knueppel was playing pretty well and then he took an inadvertent shot to the mouth while he was on defense. You know the expression "Don't poke the bear?" Well, the bear got poked.   Knueppel just went off in the second half as Wisconsin Lutheran pulled away from Arrowhead. Mixing up some mid-range jumpers and dribble drives, Knueppel knocked down a series of shots and was clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder thereafter.   Knueppel also put the game away at the foul line down the stretch, going 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. Think Knueppel looks a lot more athletic than last year. He effortlessly put down a one-hand dunk early in the game without a lot of momentum at the rim and had a graceful open court finish where he changed directions on the go twice. His mid-range pull ups and ability to create space appear much smoother as well and Knueppel wasn't shooting over the top of defenders as much, but rather getting a cleaner look at the rim. When all was said and done, Knueppel tallied a game-high 35 points (11-21), nine rebounds, and five assists.    [player_tooltip player_id='1893305' first='Adam' last='Loberger'] - 2024 - SF - Fox Valley Lutheran   Loberger really got going in the second half, pretty much right when Kettle Moraine Lutheran took a double-digit lead. You love to see that from a senior, putting a team on his back when things aren't going well. The 6-foot-4 senior knocked in a couple of triples in the second half and then just went off, scoring 11 consecutive points to put Fox Valley Lutheran in front around the midway point of the final period. Always ready to shoot, Loberger did an outstanding job of giving his teammates a target and being available as the ball was swung around the horn. Down one with 1:15 left, Loberger hit a nasty step-back jumper after going between his legs to momentarily give FVL the lead. Loberger finished with a game-high 29 points in the comeback win.    Garrett Murphy - 2024 - SG - Kettle Moraine Lutheran   Murphy scored the first five points for KML and continued to be effective throughout the first half. Murphy mixed it up with 3-point shooting as well as cutting hard off the ball and getting his momentum going towards the rim. Murphy is one of those players that doesn't do anything flashing, he sticks to who he is as a basketball player, and is consistently efficient and productive. Love his shot selection and decision making as a scorer. Murphy feels the game and defense. If he's hot, he's going to hunt, but still take high percentage, rhythm looks. If he's cooled off, he'll defer to his teammates and try to make plays for them. Going into Saturday, Murphy had 36 total points on just 25 shots.    [player_tooltip player_id='1159275' first='Logan' last='Rindfleisch'] - 2024 - SF - Wisconsin Lutheran   A potential breakout senior, Rindfleisch had 16 points, three rebounds, and two steals in Friday's win. Rindfleisch had a very efficient night scoring the basketball, going 8-of-12 shooting. He looked really comfortable facing up in the mid-range and rising over the top. The 6-foot-5 senior looked a lot better shooting off the dribble than he has in the past, hitting a tough jumper with a hand in his face as he was fading toward the boundary. He was pretty crafty too with his footwork the defender won the initial battle, maneuvering around people after he picked up his dribble.

MILWAUKEE -- The 2023 Viking Classic returned to Wisconsin Lutheran College featuring Fox Valley Lutheran vs. Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Wisconsin Lutheran taking on Arrowhead...'