The Minnesota Hoops Weekend: Preview and Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We not only give you the top games of the weekend we talk about the key match-ups and predict the games for you! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2AAA DeLaSalle at 3AAA Richfield (Saturday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2533408' first='Deon' last='Wallace-Johnson']. Hagler is the second leading scorer for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''], Wallace-Johnson is the high potential long wing. I think this is the biggest match-up of the game in terms of these guys being ex-factors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126145' first='Waleed' last='Muhammad'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas']. Thomas is bigger Muhammad will shoot more, both are top two/three scoring options on the team, both need to score to get the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560817' first='Adin' last='Inda'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2126102' first='Jaeden' last='Udean']. India is a shooter, Udean is a game changing shooter. India balances out the line-up, Udean can change the line-up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1560744' first='Evan' last='Miller']. Collins is a 20ppg guy while Miller is a worker for the Islanders that can get size and defense on Collins who the Islanders need to limit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko']. Idoko is a longer 6'7 player, Horne is not as tall but one of the most explosive players in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. I think Richfield will be the more motivated team. They are the home team, they are the team that has heard all the DE vs TG chatter for 1 vs 2, and remember they beat De last year by 11 and the other game was a one score loss. And Richfield is deeper this season! But still not deeper than the Islanders. Also sounds like the Islander might be a bit healthier so I am going with them..... 83-80</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1AA Belle Plaine vs 8AA Caledonia at Rochester Mayo (Saturday) at the Southern MN Hoop Fest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacoby Hammell vs [player_tooltip player_id='2792633' first='Caden' last='Koepp']. These are juniors that are the second scoring options for their team. Hammell from Caledonia, Koepp from Belle Plaine. Both are good players and the guy with the better game might lead their team to the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. This is a complex one. I'm not sure Caledonia's young team is ready for a Pequot Lakes Friday game followed less than 24 hours later with a Belle Plaine game. But I am also not sure if Belle Plaine is fully ready for the pressure of being number one, although they did just handle Marshall by 13 points. I am going to say Caledonia 72 Belle Plaine 69 as when in doubt, go with the best guard on the floor, [player_tooltip player_id='2387331' first='Grant' last='King']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Ridge at 1AAA Totino-Grace (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2431593' first='Aidan' last='Galvin'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman']. The Raptors will get scoring from [player_tooltip player_id='1560882' first='Cedric' last='Tomes'] and they should be able to get some buckets from a guys up front but if they can free Galvin for some threes, that would go a long way. And guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman'] need to do the work on Galvin as well as Tomes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. TG has had over a week off and are ready to get back on the floor after the Trojan loss. I think they win it by double digits, TG 86 East Ridge 73</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7AA Pequot Lakes vs 8AA Caledonia (Friday) at the Target Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2395557' first='Gus' last='McKenna'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2387331' first='Grant' last='King']. These are the big name sophomores for these teams. McKenna is a 6'7 big man that has led is team in scoring a few times this year. A chance for Gus to make a big name for himself today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. This is a sneaky fun, sneaky big game on the Wolves home floor. A total toss up, I say Caledonia by a basket in the 60s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1A Cherry vs Blake (Saturday) at Duluth East at the Lake Superior Classic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2402106' first='Benji' last='Dillon'] vs Kalub Brown. These are the third scoring options for both of their teams. Dillon has to do more than Brown but against a team like Blake, Brown might need to knock out a few big shots to take the pressure off of Noah and Isaiah. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. I take Cherry 87-82. Blake is deeper but they have some youth and I think Isaiah will have a big game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4AAA Mahtomedi at Byron (Saturday) at the Southern MN Hoop Fest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan Heimer vs [player_tooltip player_id='2843078' first='Joey' last='Wright']. These are newcomers to the line-up that are earning a big spot for their teams. Heimer is a 6'2 scoring wing that is now the Byron second leading scorer. Wright is a freshman guard playing in a veteran line-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Mathomedi is more experienced, they are taller and longer, and I think they are the team that can travel a great distance, play on the road in a tough building and win by twelve. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->