Greg's Notes: Friday and Saturday at The Last Dance

With action underway at three facilities in the greater Chicago area, I was able to take in games at all three levels. As usual, there were plenty of strong player and team performances. Here are a few notes to recap some of what I saw on Friday night and Saturday at The Last Dance.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nail-Biters</h2>   An OT Thriller   I was drawn into a Friday night game between Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] 2027 and [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] 2027 Black. To be honest, the game was a bit of a rock fight early with not many shots falling and some aggressive defense leading to turnovers for both squads. [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] got out to a 7-point lead late in the first half but Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] turned up their defensive intensity with positive results. [player_tooltip player_id='2381444' first='Graeson' last='Geiger'] had a strong take to the hoop in traffic to finish a run by Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''], putting them up 27-26 at the half.   Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] took that momentum into the second half and went up double-digits with strong defense from [player_tooltip player_id='2140933' first='Jaxon' last='Ladron'] and scoring runs by Geiger and [player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger']. But [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] wasn't done yet. They came charging back to take the lead with five minutes to go and things remained back-and forth down to the wire. Geiger hit a three with just under a minute to go in a flurry of back-and-forth buckets which sent the game into overtime. The teams traded hoops in the extra frame with a missed free throw factoring in for Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']. [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] came out on top in the end with a 69-68 win.   17 Point Lead Whittled Down   In 16u action at Romeoville Athletic Center on Saturday morning, 24:Up 2026 Batchelor appeared ready to roll. The team jumped out to an early 17-point lead over Infinity Sports 16, beating backcourt pressure to score in transition with a variety of players involved in the action. [player_tooltip player_id='2381818' first='Michael' last='Czarnecki'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2381804' first='Austin' last='Warner'] used their size advantages to crash the boards on both ends and both added to the scoring barrage from 24:Up.   Infinity Sports 16 took a timeout and made defensive adjustments, ensuring they had players back to stop the quick transition scoring by 24:Up. It worked, with Infinity Sports getting stops, which gave them some juice that led to more efficiency on the offensive end as well. 24;Up still took an 11-point lead into the half, but Infinity Hoops was showing signs of clawing back into the game.   Picking up with full court man-to-man defense to start the second half, Infinity Sports got scrappy, fought for 50/50 balls and kept chipping away at the deficit they faced, getting the margin down to 4-points with four minutes to go. Infinity Sports did not submit a lineup for the tournament, but #15 was aggressive to the hoop in the second half, drew fouls and converted at the line, ran the court, rebounded and was in constant motion on defense. With his efforts, along with a couple of late threes by #22, the game was tied at 63 with just under a minute to go.   A three from [player_tooltip player_id='2381814' first='Liam' last='Devine'] gave 24:Up the lead with fifteen seconds to go. Infinity Sports could only muster a layup for two from there, leaving 24:Up with a one-point victory.   Tight First Half Action   Late Saturday night, the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 2025 took on [program_tooltip program_id='2622592' first='Flight' last='Athletics'] Inc. Green. This was a back-and-forth affair early with plenty of points in transition or off quick possessions. To be honest, there wasn't much defense to note at the start of this one. It didn't take long and the scoreboard showed a 20-16 lead for the Playmakers. Things settled down a bit from there, with defense picking up and more half-court sets. Just past the midway point of the first half, a two-handed stuff from [player_tooltip player_id='2399493' first='Gavin' last='Kenny'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2622592' first='Flight' last='Athletics'] put his team up six, as the scoring moved back and forth. Kingley Whitebird had a strong first half and overall game for the Playmakers and led the way for his team as they battled to a 41-37 lead at halftime.   In the second half, the Playmakers gradually built on their 4-point halftime lead and with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/[player_tooltip player_id='2406142' first='Jayden' last='']-brown-6/">[player_tooltip player_id='2432845' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2406142' first='Jayden' last='']' last='Brown'], Grantsburg - Prep Hoops</a> and some others pitching in offensively, the lead stretched. When the final buzzer sounded, the Playmakers had secured a comfortable 35-point win.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Trio of Undefeated Teams from Wisco</h2>   As of the end of play on Saturday night, there were three Wisconsin-based teams left undefeated at The Last Dance. All three teams are 3-0 going into Sunday action. The are:   <ul> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2025 Black </li>   <li>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2027 Black</li>   <li>[program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 2025</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strong College Representation</h2>   More than 25 colleges have representation at The Last Dance, including coaches and scouts from Divisions 1, 2, 3, NAIA and JUCO. Take a look at <a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/925/colleges">the list </a>to see who has been watching this weekend.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitter Standouts</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1874982' first='Kane' last='Donnelly'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 2025 National) is a Swiss army knife. I've seen him play before and I know he can score, but he has shown plenty of other attributes this weekend. The strong 6'3" athlete routinely takes on and manages larger players defensively and hits the boards with sound fundamental box outs. He moves around the floor really well, in fact it seems like he is moving in 1.25 speed compared to everyone else as he works to find open spaces on offense and hustles on defense. He plays a team-oriented style and makes smart basket cuts and passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='2140915' first='Eric' last='Dusick'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2027 Black) is a tall, long player who is very fluid on the court. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and can take it to the hoop, spin into a fade-away, hit the 13-foot J or throw it down in transition, which he did twice in the game I watched. Dusick also got it done on the defensive end securing some steals in the process.   [player_tooltip player_id='2381444' first='Graeson' last='Geiger'] (Wisconsin [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] 2027) is a standout scorer. He can hit the three, but I was most impressed with his creativity and ability to get to the bucket off the dribble. He can be strong and direct to the hoop, but also has good body control and slid in some nice finger-roll layups around defenders. He is also opportunistic, getting out front on fast breaks to convert off of turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='2111727' first='Jesse' last='Napgezek'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 2025) is a consistent double-digit scorer for his squad, taking his opportunities within the flow of the game, rather than forcing shots. He handles ball pressure and double-teams well, with confidence and poise. The 6'4" guard is quick defensively and will parlay a backcourt steal into a layup quickly. Napgezek can finish through contact and has good athleticism, which was on display as the right-hander completed a smooth Euro-step in the lane with his left hand.   Kingley Whitebird ([program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 2025 North Showcase) had a strong game on Saturday night, as noted in my game recaps earlier. The quick point guard scores in a variety of ways, converting in traffic, rebounding and putting it back up, taking steals the other way, and through traditional jump shots. He also uses his quickness on defense and does a nice job getting back to slow fast break action. On one particular play he beat the offensive player back in transition, cut him off just outside the lane and blocked the shot. He added an additional blocked shot later in the game.

With action underway at three facilities in the greater Chicago area, I was able to take in games at all three levels. As usual, there were plenty of strong player and team performances. Here are a few notes to recap some of what I saw on Friday night and Saturday at The Last Dance.