The Race for Mr. Basketball: Big Numbers by Many

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The candidates are picking up their game and putting up some monster numbers lately. Have a look at our favorites!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader. [player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] of Orono. </strong>What a monster weak. In a close game loss to BSM, Nolan had 45 points, eight rebounds and four assists shooting 15 of 27 from the field and 13 of 14 at the foul line. Then in a close game loss to top ranked Mankato East, Nolan had 34 points and ten rebounds. Last night? A cool 57 points in a win over St. Louis Park. With 11 rebounds and eight assists. And that is against [player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1874916' first='Micah' last='Curtis'], who are all on this list. Nolan just isn't the leader, he is a big leader right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five. [player_tooltip player_id='1574223' first='CJ' last='Armstrong'] of Richfield, [player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] of Alexandria</strong>. At this point I have to say I feel most comfortable about these three in the top five (with Groves). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Armstrong had 45 points in a win last week over Fridley and last night he scored 42 points for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] in a huge win over DeLaSalle. The type of win that puts a player like CJ right in the middle of the race and surely has him as a top five favorite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] is making his case for the award and he has a big game coming up with Groves and Orono (it is scheduled for this weekend but the weekend weather might have different plans). Thompson exploded for a double-double beating Sauk Rapids-Rice scoring 41 points and then last night he had 36 in the second half scoring a total of 47 leading Alex past Delano. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fighting for Two Spots</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] of BSM</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1310206' first='Tommy' last='Ahneman']</strong> <strong>of CDH, [player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'] of Totino-Grace.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson had eight points and eight boards on 4 of 12 shooting in the BSM win over Orono. He had some plays but a rougher day overall in a big spot. Wilson had 11 points last night in an 11 point win over Jefferson. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahneman has not played in three weeks but he is getting close and hopefully is back on the court Friday against East Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watley had 18 points in a recent win over Blaine but TG list to Park Center on Monday (no stats turned in). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Door is Opening for.</strong>.... <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] of Hopkins, [player_tooltip player_id='1874916' first='Micah' last='Curtis'] of St. Louis Park, [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] of Mankato East, [player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin'] of Tonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Micah got everybody's attention with that 57 against Chan and then followed that with 16 against Jefferson, 31 beating Breck, and I believe it was 30 points in the loss to Orono. The team is .500 but Micah has been outstanding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madson has his Cougars at number one in state and they just beat Orono as they continue to play at a high level. Brogan set the all time scoring and assist record at Mankato East last night in a win over Albert Lea. He had 26 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Madson also had 25 points and seven assists in the big win over Orono and 31 points, six assists and five steals in a 30 point beat down of Rochester JM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin'] had 18 points, five boards and six assists in a big win over Wayzata followed by 22 points and 7 assists beating STMA last night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith had 33 points on 11 of 19 shooting with 10 of 12 foul shooting for Hopkins in a win over Buffalo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->