Prep Hoops Wisconsin State Tournament: Sunday notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some observations from the games I was able to attend Sunday at the annual Prep Hoops Wisconsin State Tournament, held at the Champions Center in Appleton. <br><br>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] -- Dillon cruises to the championship in 17U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paced by the in-control pace and decision making of 2025 PG Trye Frye III of Menomonee Falls, the [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] -- Dillon group coasted to the championship in the 18-team, 17U field. In the title game -- a 62-37 victory over [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] -- Frye finished with 11 points. More importantly, the uncommitted backcourt ace set the table for his teammates with his ability to turn the corner against defenders, His ball handling, passing and ability to score basically controlled the entire game for the Lions, who also got strong showings from 2026 G [player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'] (5-11) of Milwaukee Lutheran and 2025 F Warren Jasper (6-2) of Menomonee Falls. Allen got off to a slow start, but found his soft shooting touch in the second half while scoring a team-best 19 points. He made four triples in the contest, including three in a row in the second half. Jasper used his physical strength, timing and athleticism to dominate the glass. He finished with 12 points. Athletic 2026 F [player_tooltip player_id='2815773' first='Dereon' last='Starnes'] (6-3) of Milwaukee Riverside also had a strong showing for the Lions, who went 4-0 in the tournament after finishing 5-1 and in second place in the Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals in Chicago last weekend. For [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'], the 2026 guard tandem from Assumption did what it could to keep the game close as shifty [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] (6-0) finished with 10 points while sharpshooting [player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'] (5-10) had 12 points on four three-point baskets. Nystrom finished with 28 three-point baskets in five games for [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'], which posted impressive wins over [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire'] (73-67) and [program_tooltip program_id='2347629' first='Wisconsin' last='PHD'] (67-58) among its four victories.<br><br><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] rallies to upend Low Taper Fade Elite in 17U action</strong><br><br>[program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] trailed by 14 points and half and by close to 20 points early in the second half before mounting a spirited rally to register a 72-66 victory over Low Taper Fade Elite. The catalyst behind the comeback was 2026 G [player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'] (6-2) of Roncalli. Cowley scored 29 points in the game, including 21 in the second half. He swished seven three-point shots in the game, but he also used his size, strength and shiftiness to get to the basket and the foul line. Cowley got plenty of help from 2026 G [player_tooltip player_id='1561882' first='Micah' last='Kubsch'] (5-11) of Manitowoc Lincoln. A very good shooter, Kubsch finished with 17 points and drilled three triples for United. Cowley, Kubsch and 2026 F [player_tooltip player_id='2420137' first='Dominik' last='Frozena'] (6-5) of Roncalli made clutch foul shots down the stretch to help United stay in front. Frozena, a inside-outside forward with good skill, finished with nine points while 2026 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'] (5-11) of Reedsville added eight. Low Taper Fade Elite, a group with a much-talked about team name and consisting of players from the north shore area of Milwaukee, got strong showings from 2026 F [player_tooltip player_id='2833578' first='Dylan' last='Merryfield'] (6-6) of Germantown, 2026 G [player_tooltip player_id='2874937' first='Bryson' last='Fogle'] (6-1) of Slinger and 2026 G Sam Boden (6-0) of Slinger. Merryfield was very active with his length and skill near the basket and finished with 20 points. The lanky big man also showed the ability to step away from the basket as he buried a three-point shot and was able to get out and guard Frozena on the perimeter at times. Fogle took and made some shots from well beyond the three-point arc and generally played with plenty of confidence while scoring 15 points. And Bode, a backcourt teammate of Fogle's at Slinger, added 18 points and drilled four three-point shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] advance to 16U title game with come-from-behind win over MTXE</strong><br><br>The [program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] never panicked in its 16U semifinal contest with MTXE and, as a result, utilized its poise to register an impressive 71-59 come-from-behind win over MTXE Premier. The 26ers trailed by five at intermission, but slowly took over the lead behind steady and productive guard play, particularly from 2027 G [player_tooltip player_id='2226077' first='Gabe' last='Servais'] (6-0) of La Crosse Central. A two-year varsity performer for the Riverhawks, Servais used that experience to shrug off a slow start with a big second half. He finished with 18 points to lead a balanced attack for the 26ers. Also scoring in double figures for the 26ers were 2027 G [player_tooltip player_id='2842447' first='Taj' last='Hauser'] (5-11) of Holmen with 18, 2027 G [player_tooltip player_id='2481761' first='Anthony' last='Jones'] (6-0) of La Crosse Central with 14, and 2027 G/F [player_tooltip player_id='2833128' first='Jayden' last='Bartels'] (6-2) of Holmen with 13. Servais, Bartels, Hauser, Jones and 2028 G [player_tooltip player_id='2842454' first='Ayden' last='Reister'] (6-2) also made three-point baskets for the balanced and team oriented 26ers. MTXE, which has improved throughout the spring, got 15 points each from 2027 G [player_tooltip player_id='2841012' first='Liam' last='Minessale'] (6-0) of Milwaukee Marquette and 2027 F [player_tooltip player_id='2841010' first='Simon' last='Dustin'] (6-6) of Lake Country Lutheran. Wauwatosa West's 2027 G [player_tooltip player_id='2423561' first='Max' last='Gogin'] (5-11) contributed 10 points for MTXE, which went 3-1 in the tournament.<br><br>The 26ers played Ultimate Team Camps -- Fire out of the Wausau area in the 16U championship contest with UTC coming out on top 78-71.<br><br><strong>Strong team defense propels [program_tooltip program_id='2512324' first='Wisconsin' last='Legends'] 15U into championship tilt</strong><br><br>An impressive team defensive performance by the [program_tooltip program_id='2512324' first='Wisconsin' last='Legends'] 15U squad propelled the program into the championship game where it dropped a 63-62 decision to [program_tooltip program_id='2852049' first='Foundation' last='Athletics'] South. In the 52-44 semifinal victory over the [program_tooltip program_id='2224082' first='Milwaukee' last='Trail Blazers'], the Legends held their opponent to 18 points in the first half and 16 points in the second half by challenging just about every shot with solid man-to-man defense. On the other end of the court, the Legends got good productivity from skilled 2028 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2828760' first='Tyson' last='Bookter'] (5-8) of De Pere, who finished with 12 points, and 2028 G/F [player_tooltip player_id='2828758' first='Beau' last='Chernick'] (6-2) of Notre Dame Academy, who also had 12 points. In addition, 2028 G [player_tooltip player_id='2828763' first='Liam' last='Ryan'] (6-1) did an excellent job of handling the ball and making foul shots as he contributed 14 points and made nine-of-11 charity tosses. For the Trail Blazers, 2028 G [player_tooltip player_id='2855849' first='Jackson' last='Koester'] (5-11) of Milwaukee Marquette led the way with nine points while 2028 F [player_tooltip player_id='2568116' first='Austin' last='Couillard'] (6-4) of New Berlin Eisenhower contributed eight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->