Tuesday Night Match-Up and Predictions!
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The biggest high school basketball night of the week, Tuesday! It’s Tuesday and time to talk match-ups and predictions. Sauk Centre at 2AA Albany Damian Ahrens vs Andrew Olson. Ahrens and Olson may not be stars but they are both…
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Continue ReadingThe biggest high school basketball night of the week, Tuesday! It’s Tuesday and time to talk match-ups and predictions.
Sauk Centre at 2AA Albany
Damian Ahrens vs Andrew Olson. Ahrens and Olson may not be stars but they are both tough. Olson will ball pressure, Ahrens will have a touch, both will get the team into their offense.
Jay Neubert Jay Neubert 6'2" | SG Sauk Centre | 2024 State MN vs Zeke Austin. While Ahrens and Olson will handle, Neubert and Austin are the playmakers and the big number players. Neubert just became the school’s all time leading scorer while Austin is a state champ that has pushed his team back to second in the state. It’s a great match-up to watch.
Andrew Drevlow Andrew Drevlow 6'3" | SG Sauk Centre | 2024 State MN vs Elliott Burnett Elliott Burnett 6'2" | SF Albany | 2025 MN . Drevlow is a nice scoring option for the Mainstreeters who can hit from the outside but score around the cup now too. Burnett has taken a good step going from that all around worker, to that worker that gives some solid numbers and will be a good match-up but Drewlow has been getting results for awhile.
Ethan Riley Ethan Riley 6'1" | SG Sauk Centre | 2024 State MN vs Hunter Harmann. Harmann is mostly a post option and may see more of Herkikhoff but there is a four inch difference there where as Riley is the inside/out threat that matches Hermann at 6’3.
Chad Herkickhoff vs Sam Hondl Sam Hondl 6'7" | SF Albany | 2025 State MN . These are the two 6’7 guys but very different players. Hondl is the 6’7 scholarship offer junior talent that does so much while Herkickhoff is a developing big. Hondl may see more Riley although Riley does not have the same size.
Prediction: Albany seems to have caught their groove and they are making their run. I see them winning by six.
Legacy Christian at Heritage Christian
Micah Strand Micah Strand 5'11" | PG Legacy Christian | 2024 State MN vs Joshua Sokeye Joshua Sokeye 6'0" | PG Heritage Christian Academy | 2025 MN . This is a fun match-up. Sokeye is scoring 19 a game really stepping up what he is doing as a scorer but also being that playmaker. Strand is a veteran ball handler running Legacy Christian. This looks to be a really fun match-up.
Amdrew Mulvihill vs Jonah Moulton. This might be your ex-factor match-up. These are the fourth option guys scoring a dozen a game. If one of them has a bigger game than the other it could sway the game.
Dominic Zoa vs Owen Haag Owen Haag 6'3" | SG Heritage Christian | 2025 State MN . Zoa is the Legacy leading scorer at over 20 a game while Haag is a shooter that must be located. They are similar in that 6’1/6’2 area size wise. Both have to be found with a good contest.
Daniel Zoa Daniel Zoa 6'2" | SF Legacy Christian Academy | 2027 MN vs Abu Tarawallie Abu Tarawallie 6'2" | SF Heritage Christian | 2025 State MN . These are the names to commit to memory as they will be talked about in a big way in the future: Daniel Zoa Daniel Zoa 6'2" | SF Legacy Christian Academy | 2027 MN is a growing 8th grader with really long arms and legs and huge hands, and he is scoring 13.5 a night. He is going to be a top 2028 prospect. Tarawallie is a major conference football star and one of the elite football recruits in the state. As a hooper he scores 15 a night.
Prediction: Have to go with Legacy Christian here. Both are 8-1 in league play but Legacy won big last season both times and holds that momentum until they are beaten. Legacy by seven.
Esko at 6AA Pequot Lakes
Clay Erickson vs Jacion Owens Jacion Owens 5'10" | PG Esko | 2025 State MN . Erickson has been scoring more from his guard spot, Owens is the guy Esko will put on to slow him.
Brayden Spiczka vs Dalton Spindler Dalton Spindler 6'2" | PG Esko | 2024 State MN . These are 6’2 versatile players that do a lot for their teams. Spiczka will score more as they need him to score more but Spindler is right there with him as a player.
Brayden Male vs Harrison Kennen Harrison Kennen PF Prior Lake | 2025 State MN . The 6’5/6’6 back to the basket bigs that have really taken a step forward this year and are making an impact.
Prediction: Notice I did not say Makoi Perich Makoi Perich 6'2" | SG Esko | 2024 State MN , as I am not sure that Pequot Lakes has a player to really guard him. That said, Pequot Lakes has good backcourt guard depth that is their edge. I do think Esko will be angry and come into this game and grab a one score win.
Hutchinson at 5AAA Delano
Kaden Butler Kaden Butler 6'3" | SG Hutchinson | 2024 State MN vs Jake Schultz Jake Schultz 6'0" | PG Delano | 2025 State MN . These are the shooters that might spend a lot of time on each other. Kaden is scoring 19 a game and can knock down a lot of shots while we know Jake is bulldog that battles and can hit.
Logan Butler Logan Butler 6'3" | SF Hutchinson | 2024 State MN vs Frankie Nau. Nau is bigger by a few inches but he will battle Logan who is a leader and a 19 point per game scorer. Nau does not need to score outside of the putbacks and dump off hustle plays, Logan does that and other thigns.
Carter Verhasselt Carter Verhasselt 5'10" | PG Hutchinson | 2024 MN vs Will Strandemo Will Strandemo 5'11" | PG Delano | 2024 State MN . The lead guards, Carter is having a very nice season. Similar in height, believe Will is a tad stronger and quicker. Will creates and scores.
Prediction: Delano is deeper, you will notice we didn’t even the match-up of Max Iversen Max Iversen 6'2" | PG Delano | 2026 State MN and his 20+ as he has a huge edge. And that is why at home we saw Delano by ten.
Moose Lake-Willow River at 7AA Crosby-Ironton
Nolan Nelson vs James Stokman James Stokman 6'3" | PG Crosby-Ironton | 2024 State MN . A couple guards in that 6’1/6’2 ranked. Stokman is in that high teens scoring each game with Nelson somewhat similar.
Prediction: MLWR is having a nice year but they are looking for that big momentum win. Is this it? I say C-I by three.