River Valley Conference Shootout: Top 2024 Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG Brody Marchik (Tipton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-2 guard who showed the ability to play with and without the ball in his hands, Marchik impressed with his court vision and passing throughout the Tigers' win over Beckman Catholic, dishing out 5 assists. He sees the floor really well and is able to thread the needle and get passes through tight spaces to cutting teammates for buckets. To go with his helpers, he also scored a team-high 14 points on 5-8 shooting (4-6 3P), showing a smooth, quick release off the dribble and the catch. He also proved to be an impact player on the defensive end, coming up with 4 steals and 2 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1751111' first='Hunter' last='Putman'] (Bellevue)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick 5-10 guard who shoots it really well both off the dribble and the catch, Putman put up 29 points in the Comets' win over Mid-Prairie, going 10-19 from the floor and 6-11 from behind the arc. He's a confident shooter and three-level scorer who can create looks for himself off the dribble, and his off-ball movement puts constant pressure on his defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2325496' first='Michael' last='Martin'] (Regina)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin has been really good for the Regals this season, helping them put together a 12-game winning streak, and he was really good again in their win over Monticello, scoring a team-high 18 points on 5-9 shooting (3-5 3P, 5-5 FT). He's a high-level shooter, especially off the catch, who moves really well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release. He has been a senior leader for the Regals on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1807351' first='Eddie' last='Petersen'] (Regina)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Petersen buried the game-winning 3 in Regina's win over Monticello, knocking the Panthers from the ranks of the unbeatens. A heady 6-0 guard who shoots it well off the dribble and the catch, Petersen is also a talented passer who sees the floor well and keeps the ball moving. He uses his length effectively on the defensive end, getting into passing lanes and getting a lot of deflections. He had 14 points on 5-9 shooting (4-7 3P), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the Regals' win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1171662' first='Holden' last='Arnaman'] (West Branch)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arnaman was held in check for the first half of the Bears' loss to Maquoketa, scoring just 7 points in the first half, but he exploded in the second, finishing with 30 points on 11-19 shooting (4-8 3P) to go with 8 assists. You know what to expect out of the future Minnesota State guard - tough shot making, unlimited range, and beautiful, pin-point passes. That was on full display on Saturday night once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1751093' first='Tyler' last='Hinz'] (Maquoketa)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A jitterbug of a guard who changes directions without losing any speed, Hinz is a ton of fun to watch as he zips up and down the court on every possession. He plays at a tempo that is matched by few players in the state, and that speed puts constant pressure on the opposition on both ends of the floor. He also pairs that breakneck speed with an effortless, feathery stroke from the arc, a quick release, and great footwork and ball handling that he uses to create a tiny bit of space to get his shot off. He had 25 points on 8-13 shooting (7-12 3P) in the Cardinals' win over West Branch, as well as chipping in 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1376691' first='Tye' last='Hardin'] (Maquoketa)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hardin is a good complement to Hinz, a tough, physical guard who likes to play downhill and get to the rim, both in transition and in the halfcourt. He finishes well around the rim through contact and looks to push the tempo often. He had 27 points on 11-15 shooting (2-3 3P, 3-4 FT), 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in the Cardinals' win over West Branch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1376709' first='Carter' last='Meyer'] (Maquoketa)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented three-level scorer who puts up points in an efficient manner, Meyer had 18 points on 7-9 shooting (2-3 3P) with 4 rebounds in their win over West Branch. He shoots it well off the catch and moves really well without the ball in his hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->