Hard Work Region Finals 17U: Its Fury Gold!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a classic final contest, [player_tooltip player_id='1560747' first='Alex' last='Schroepfer'] took over the title game and earned Gold for his team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Schroepfer Takes Over Title Game</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'5/6'6 as a forward, Eagan's versatile [player_tooltip player_id='1560747' first='Alex' last='Schroepfer'] is one of a number of forwards that division two schools are evaluating. Alex is a consistently productive forward that can handle, that can attack, he will rebound, and he will finish going at the rim with regularity. The battle for those D2 scholarships is a hefty one as there are only so many scholarships to give and experienced transfers are taking more and more of them. But after yesterday, Alex could be next in line somewhere. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Select and Fury were interlocked in an outstanding battle at 17u for the title. It took two overtimes to find a champion, but with the clocking winding down inside of three seconds the ball was moved to Alex at the top of the key and Schroepfer beat the late close-out to the left and he touched in a shot at the rim with his left scoring over a guard right at the buzzer for the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the perfect play to describe the day Alex had as he attacked similarly to score 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting with nine rebounds to go with it. Alex out-played a good forward from Chapman Academy and then out-played the Select forwards to get his team the result. And maybe one of those three D2 schools that stayed through early Sunday evening to see it might come through!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Great Dane</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think people often forget that all situations are different. That all players are different. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] had a nice junior year but he was playing behind a couple future college athletes that were also good. There are people that are flustered by Dane's scholarship offered to Northern State but I got news for you all, Dane earned it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First of all he's physically ahead of many other candidates and that matters. Have a look at the Danielson first step as a forward and you see a very quick 6'6 player with the ball in his hands. Dane is also stronger, quicker off his feet, and he moves better laterally than some of the other 6'5/6'6 players he is compared to. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But let's also throw in the production. Week after week Dane has been productive with the jumper, and with the attack, plus defending and rebounding. He led his team in scoring in the title game with 15 points. In the semi-final Danielson was a couple boards and a point away from a double-double in a grind it out semi-final win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lucas Can Distribute </strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] has the look of an 80s professional wrestler that had a gimmick that had to do with delivering from a store. And every time I talk up Lucas after another excellent performance I mentioned that he is scoring with his quick release and short separation in his six foot frame like this former wrestler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But I was never relaying that to Lucas in terms of delivering as a passer, but I should have been!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last two events I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the incredible leads that Gustafson has been giving his teammates. A constant stream of bounce passes to cutters, no-look passes, and quick zips to teammates before the defense can notice. In the 17s title game Lucas had eight assists plus he hit four threes. Clutch threes including the 59-59 game tying three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a delivery service of both scoring and assisting, and DWU offered Lucas after the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What about Buckets? </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell']'s 20 point playmaking effort against Heat Conyers was another example that this young Waseca standout is a scholarship hooper and scholarship football player. As a basketball guy I am thinking "play basketball in college" but in reality, this is a young man with football offers from Washington State, Montana State, Colorado State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Fordham and others. He has the Gophers looking at him in football too! So as he good as he as a hooper - and I think he could play for a couple of those school in basketball too - he's an even better football player. And that is saying something. But he has also stepped in and made Select Ohnstad a top five team in 17u after a slow start to the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Introduction to [player_tooltip player_id='1560850' first='Tristan' last='Hanson']!</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One reason Centennial was much better than expected this season was the 15-16 points a game from 6'5 junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1560850' first='Tristan' last='Hanson']. That's great and all, but can he do it against good teams at the 17u level? Yes he can!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanson was outstanding this weekend averaging over 20 points per game. And he was scorching hot against [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] hitting threes, pull-up jumpers, and getting to the rim. This weekend elevated Hanson, who plays with [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Conyers and is a major reason they have pushed into the top ten in 17u, as a player and as a prospect. He's no longer a nice piece to a 17u team. Tristan is a major factor for the Heat and a player teams must locate before the tip off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Quick Hitters</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fury needs [player_tooltip player_id='2120494' first='Cameron' last='Cramble'] to board and finish at the rim. He did just that in the title game including five of five shooting for ten points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've spent a lot of time this month talking about Rochester Mayo and with good reason... they are going to be good next year. [player_tooltip player_id='2417626' first='Will' last='Gyarmaty'] is one of six or seven experienced returning pieces that is playing very well this spring. He had a nice showing scoring in double digits in both games I saw Fury Reyes play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2145758' first='Thomas' last='McEachern'] isn't just an athlete that stands out in multiple spots, this is an explosive finisher that can also knock out some threes. Don't be surprised when this Zimmerman/[program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] talent is bursting up the charts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1521424' first='Kayden' last='Oakland'] recently committed to play football for South Dakota State but he also had a 10 point, 10 rebound game in the final for Fury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->