State Tournament Quarterfinals: Top Performers

The best of the best when it comes to player performances at the state tournament on day one.   [player_tooltip player_id='1310206' first='Tommy' last='Ahneman'] of Cretin-Derham Hall (6'11, 2025).  Facing a player his size Tommy did just about everything he would usually do save hit some eight foot face up jumpers.  He blocked a lot of shots in the paint (6) and contested others and was the most dominant player on the glass with 11 rebounds.  Scored 14 points on seven makes and he really passed the ball well out of the post leading to five assists.    MarNaries Ferguson of Duluth Denfeld (5'10, 2025).  The Denfeld scorer has been at his best in the past few games.  He had 40 to beat Hibbing and then had 41 points in the first round loss to Totino-Grace. Ferguson is a speedy player that turns the corner quick, and hits angles and small lanes even quicker to score.  Went for 41 against TG and did it on 13 of 28 shooting from the field with 12 of 14 foul shooting (three threes).  Impressive guard.    [player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] of Orono (6'5, 2025).  I don't want to say [player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] is Mr. Basketball and Player of the Year just yet, because I want to see what [player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] does this week, but man, this is quite the run away winner right now.  He had 44 points against DeLaSalle today!  The Euro Steps, the extensions, the spin moves, the pivot to finish, its all so dang good.  He scored his 44 on 14 of 25 shooting plus 15 of 19 foul shooting.  And he had 8 rebounds, 6 assists plus chased around Udean late in the game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1946855' first='Samson' last='Hagstrom'] of Alexandria (6'2, 2025).  The Cardinal I was most impressed with was Samson.  He was everywhere defensively not just getting five steals but deflections, contesting shots, some of everything.  He also had a dunk, a couple threes, and six offensive boards.  In a balanced effort, I think Samson was the best all around two way Cardinal for this game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1939373' first='Colin' last='Hansen'] of Byron (6'7, 2025).  Going against [player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] and the Cards, Hansen had one of his more impressive games of the season scoring 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting plus grabbing 11 boards and dishing out four assists.  The most impressive thing Hansen did was be productive in an active way on the move as opposed to just being a big body in the paint.  The future Gopher football player has great timing, body control, hands and feet.    [player_tooltip player_id='1560840' first='Jason' last='Johnson'] of Cretin-Derham Hall (5'11, 2026).  Johnson's number one role was to stop [player_tooltip player_id='2422068' first='Brayson' last='Sawyer'] and he did that, stopping the strong shooter from making an impact. Johnson hounded Sawyer allowing one make in eight tries.  Johnson hustled down four boards, ran the offense, and when JM didn't defend him at the arc, Johnson hit two threes.  Throw in late foul shot makes and it was 12 points.    [player_tooltip player_id='2381222' first='Deng' last='Lueth'] of Rochester JM (6'11, 2025). If I am a juco I am all over Deng.  He has a load of potential with some of the biggest hands and longest legs I have ever seen in a player.  He gave Tommy issues when defending one on one as Tommy had trouble going over the top of the length cleanly, and Lueth scored six times at the cup for 13 points.  He has come a long, long from his first varsity game just under 14 months ago.    Waleed Muhammaed of Breck (6'2, 2027).  The slashing scoring/playmaking of Waleed really took a small Breck lead and broke the game wide open.  It was attacking every angle he found in quick transition or ball rotation, and Muhammad scored 18 points on 9 of 16 shooting plus he dished out five assists.  This was a statement game of a player who could become a top scorer in his class.    [player_tooltip player_id='2126102' first='Jaeden' last='Udean'] of DeLaSalle (6'2, 2027).  Udean is the play that can get hot and change a game.  That is what he does on a basketball floor: catch and make threes, or go at the rim and attack to make some of the more incredible touched in contorted shots you will see.  He scores at awkward angles on the attack plus of course his range is deadly.  Had 27 points on 9 of 14 shooting with three threes and 6 of 7 foul shooting.    [player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'] of Totino-Grace (6'2, 2025). Watley was crucial at crucial times: his early first half scoring run got the lead to double digits, his buzzer beating jumper at the half got his team a bigger lead at the break, and he put the game away with his attack in half two. Moved the ball for a balanced attack but scored at crucial times for his team to get a comfortable first round win.    Lucas Wherley of Shakopee (6'5, 2025).  Anoka is not a big team and Wherley took advantage immediately.  Wherley was at the rim scoring relentlessly with 11 baskets on 14 attempts plus he dished out seven assists, grabbed eight rebounds, and had one of the best games of his career in the state quarterfinals.    [player_tooltip player_id='1484016' first='Brady' last='Wooley'] of Orono (6'9, 2025). I know Nolan was great but also keep in mind the incredible game that Brady had with 22 points making 10 of 13 shots plus grabbing 11 rebounds. His rim running and putback chances were huge to take pressure off of Nolan and give the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] something to finish possessions both ways.

The best of the best when it comes to player performances at the state tournament on day one.