Fall League Check-In: Two Austin Powerhouses Set the Tone Early

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fall league basketball isn't just filler hoops before the real season; it's the proving ground. Coaches get a chance to evaluate chemistry, emerging leaders get their reps, and hungry underclassmen get a taste of the spotlight. Last night at the Rise Up Fall League, we got a front-row seat to one of the most entertaining early matchups in Central Texas, <strong>St. Michael's Prep vs. Westlake</strong>, two programs that have become synonymous with high-level basketball in the [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''] metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2987631,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Screen-Shot-2025-10-10-at-11.03.09-AM-crop-694x456-1760112312.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Screen-Shot-2025-10-10-at-11.03.09-AM-crop-694x456-1760112312.png?w=693" alt="" class="wp-image-2987631" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Early Energy and Fireworks</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even before tip-off, you could feel the tension building. Both squads were electric during warmups — windmill dunks, net-only threes, and slick hesitation moves filled the gym. Despite a few key players missing from each roster, the gym was buzzing with talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening tip featured two familiar faces, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560944' first='Bo' last='Ogden'] (Westlake, '26)</strong> and <strong>Sun Jinkal (St. Michael's, '27)</strong>, former teammates now facing off as two of the area's elite prospects. From the jump, the pace was ferocious. Westlake set the tone with high-pressure defense, trapping Jinkal early and often, turning live-ball turnovers into fast-break points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Point guard Pow Frickenschmidt ('27)</strong> was the engine, pushing tempo, picking pockets, and getting Westlake out in transition. <strong>Alex Allen ('27)</strong> matched his intensity with relentless effort on the glass and strong finishes at the rim. The Chaps jumped out to a quick lead behind their defensive energy and cohesion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Settling the Storm</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Michael's eventually found their rhythm. <strong>Senior forward and St. Edward's commit [player_tooltip player_id='2574827' first='Nolan' last='Barkley']</strong> provided the early spark with a series of tough finishes through contact and classic “and-1” plays that settled his squad. Once they slowed the tempo, the chess match began.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ogden, the <strong>Texas Longhorn commit</strong>, reminded everyone why he's one of the most polished players in the country. He let the game come to him, picking his spots, moving without the ball, and then erupting with a flurry of three-pointers and pinpoint assists. Jinkal, his counterpart and former teammate, responded with relentless drives and physicality in the paint, showing flashes of why his stock has been rising after a standout summer with the ASAK Adidas program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior guard Will Gasnik</strong> added steady leadership for St. Michael's, applying defensive pressure and orchestrating the offense with smart reads and timely passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ogden Takes Over</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westlake held a six-point edge at the break, but the second half turned into the [player_tooltip player_id='1560944' first='Bo' last='Ogden'] show. The 6'6” standout went on a heater, connecting on <strong>five three-pointers</strong> pure, net-only jumpers that had the gym buzzing. Every time St. Michael's made a push thanks to <strong>Barkley's inside work</strong> and some timely perimeter shooting from <strong>Natayan Varma ('27)</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen continued his workmanlike performance, hitting mid-range jumpers and attacking the rim with force. Jinkal kept fighting, slashing and finishing through contact, but the gap never fully closed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the buzzer sounded, Westlake walked away with a seven-point win in a fall league classic between two of [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last='']'s most complete teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Final Takeaways</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both programs have the makeup of deep playoff contenders once the regular season tips off. Ogden is the real deal: efficient, unselfish, and commanding. Frickenschmidt's motor at the point is elite, and Allen's versatility gives Westlake a multi-dimensional edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For St. Michael's, Barkley is solid and will continue to be consistent, Jinkal continues to blossom into a high-major-caliber combo guard, and Gasnik's leadership is invaluable. Add in other key players that were out for this game, and this is a group that can make serious noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Cooper Land (St. Michael's)</strong> and <strong>Coach Robert Lucero (Westlake)</strong> have both built cultures rooted in discipline and player development. If this fall matchup was any indication, expect both teams to be in the hunt for hardware come March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->